McGuinn's Metal Fingerpicks

[jimk]

1. Can anybody describe in a bit more detail how to best attack the strings with the finger picks? Using my finger pad method on my acoustic, my fingers come under the strings and pluck with the tip of the finger pad. Where does one look to strike the strings with the fingerpicks?

Be sure to slide the picks well back onto your fingers. And at the risk of stating the too obvious, the proper way to wear finger picks is like this:

2. Can someone provide a little more detail in terms of bending metal fingerpicks? Is it recommended to bend the tip up a bit over the tip of the finger, twist (cant) it, or both?

You can bend the finger picks a little over the tips of your fingers. I have done that and am happy with the resultant sound. If you need to twist one of the picks, you might do do by turning the angle of attack of the pick like so:


I hope this helps.
JimK

[Folkie]

Thanks a bunch, Jim! Very helpful photos!

[idealassets]

I began working on the Roger McGuinn finger pick technique as soon as I could figure out about what he was doing on most of the songs. I will never be able to duplicate what he does, but have develpoed a few of my own variations coming into it. Some of the variations are due to my being able to "feel" it better with how I do it, although not necessarily correct.

Roger claims that he adopted this techniqe in order to avoid changing his picks a lot during costly studio time.

Meanwhile I like to use a variety of pick arrangements in order to get a good number of different sounds. This includes the "Roger" picks, or just a flat pick, then: a thumb pick and 2 finger picks, or a thumb pick and 3 finger picks. I have noticed that the thumb pick gives me the tendency to sound like a travis picker, while the "Roger" picks can provide for some unusual varitaions on a wide variety of songs.

Its all good,
Craig

[RonnyK]

Thanks Jim for the photos-- and please don't worry about possibly stating the obvious (though in this case, I knew how to put on the finger picks) and everyone else for the input. I am going to keep at it and just practice, practice, practice. As I alluded in my prior post, one of the things I find most difficult is the precision of hitting the 12-string strings, where there is less room for error given the close stringing as compared to a six-string guitar.

[idealassets]

I find most difficult is the precision of hitting the 12-string strings, where there is less room for error given the close stringing as compared to a six-string guitar

After playing and fingerpicking mostly on the 12 string, I finally became accustomed to the string spacing and sound. Now the reverse is true, when I go back to 6 string it sounds a little empty and the string spacing seems far apart. Its not a problem, since I now know which guitar I like best for the songs that I do, mostly on 12 string.

[mcd220]

For anyone who is kind of new to Roger's style, or playing the Rick-12 in that fashion, may I recommend "The Day Walk" as an excellent place to start...most of the picking is sort of centrally located on the D, G & B strings, song has repetition, nice groove, straightforward and easy to play, and it's a good confidence booster to moving onto other songs.

Best, Christian

[admin]

Great photos and comments Jim. Finger picking on a 12 string is far from easy but the rewards for persistence are well worth it.

[jimk]

For anyone who is kind of new to Roger's style, or playing the Rick-12 in that fashion, may I recommend "The Day Walk" as an excellent place to start...most of the picking is sort of centrally located on the D, G & B strings, song has repetition, nice groove, straightforward and easy to play, and it's a good confidence booster to moving onto other songs.

Best, Christian

Good suggestion, Christian. Thanks. I never would have thought of that piece.
JimK

[RonnyK]

For anyone who is kind of new to Roger's style, or playing the Rick-12 in that fashion, may I recommend "The Day Walk" as an excellent place to start...most of the picking is sort of centrally located on the D, G & B strings, song has repetition, nice groove, straightforward and easy to play, and it's a good confidence booster to moving onto other songs.

Best, Christian

Can somebody post or direct me to the picking pattern for this? I found one version of the guitar tab online, but it doesn't seem right to me (and certainly doesn't focus on the D, G & B).

Thanks guys-- love the discussion.

P.S. I have been working away at metal fingerpicks Roger-style and am definitely making progress. The key for me was getting them canted just the right way on my fingers.

[8mileshigher]

Great photos and comments Jim.

Yes, this is a very instructive and informative thread. Thanks for all those RRFers providing insights.

[jimk]

There's the simple way to play Day Walk, and then there's the sophisticated way. And I'm uncertain as to whether or not Roger is doing either, but a third way. Man, we need to have a McGuinn workshop at the next SCARF what with all the guys on the RRF that can do his stuff, and all the players who want to learn. I can think of three panelists right now, Christian Bryan, Marc Miraglia from the Byrds Collective, maybe one or two others I'm forgetting, maybe me.
JimK

[idealassets]

"The Day Walk"

?- Can you provide some more information. This song doesn't show up anywhere on youtube. Where can it be found?

Thank you,
Craig

[Folkie]

Craig,

You might search for "The Day Walk" under the title "Never Before." It was the title track to a CD of rare Byrds material that came out in the early 1990's, and was a bonus track on the remastered version of either the album "Mr. Tambourine Man" or "Turn! Turn! Turn!" I can't remember which. Great introduction to McGuinn's guitar style (and a great bass line, too).

Robert

[Folkie]

Craig,

I just had a look at my CD's and found that "The Day Walk" is the first bonus track on the 20-Bit remastered version of the CD "Turn! Turn! Turn!" Before that CD came out, the song was sometimes listed under the title "Never Before." I hope this information has been helpful.

At any rate, there's a real dearth of good Byrds tab transcriptions out there, and whatever you find online will probably only give you the lyrics and a few basic chords. There is only one existing tab book on the Byrds, which has been discussed in a previous thread. It includes only ten songs and the tabs are sketchy at best. With all the Beatles tab books out there, I think it's about time someone transcribes the early Byrds stuff faithfully. That would be a job for several members of this forum, at least.

Robert

[idealassets]

I think it's about time someone transcribes the early Byrds stuff faithfully. That would be a job for several members of this forum, at least.

Cool, I nominate Rennaiscance Fair to be first. I "tabbed" Turn Turn Turn with the intro, instrumental, and outro on an excel file. I n oticed that a lot of tabs take a bit with a grain of salt. My excel tabs have exact measurements to every bar, so its right on the count. I would be willing to trade it. Don't really want 8 Miles High (too difficult), but do want Rennaiscance Fair. Anything else on Younger Than Yesterday or The Notoriuos Byrd Brothers would be nice to get.

-Craig