Is hybrid picking always harder?

[AllThumbsBruce]

I really like playing with a pick and so am trying an experiment of using hybrid picking while taking a finger picking class. It is definitely harder to learn than finger picking. My questions is for those that have mastered it - is it always harder? That is, will learning a new piece always be harder with hybrid picking than with finger picking? It seems it would be, since it makes more use of the less-coordinated fingers (ring, pinkie). But I have hopes that maybe after a learning period it sort of evens out. What sorts of pieces are easier with hybrid picking?

[vac4873]

I learned how to fingerpick using thumbpick and fingerpicks, and used them for quite a few years. I managed to be able to strum and fingerpick with the set of picks, but when it came to doing single note soloing, the fingerpick/thumbpick combination seemed to be very clumsy.

I decided to develop hybrid picking so that I could incorporate the single note stuff and fingerpicking into the same tune. It was pretty difficult at first to train my middle and ring fingers to do what I had learned what I did with my index and middle, but after an initial learning curve, for years now it seems as natural as using the thumb and fingerpicks, and I prefer the sound that I get.

That being said, I still use the thumb and fingerpicks to play banjo, and haven't ever been satisfied with the sound of hybrid picking on it.

Matt

[Mr. Dave]

I absolutely suck at flat-picking a lead, so I can't offer any advice in that regard. The reason that I switched to a "hybrid" style is that I wasn't getting as expressive a brush strum as I would like out of thumb-picks. I like the "responsiveness" of a medium flat-pick over that of a rigid thumb-pick.

In terms of straight finger-picking it ties up the index finger though, so I do notice some limitation. It took a little getting used to, but it is the configuration that I have come to prefer. I enjoy its flexibility.

[Brent Hutto]

The only way I've practiced playing with my fingers is with my wrist high (away from the strings) and all four fingers "floating". The only way I've practiced with a pick is with my wrist low and near the bridge and my ring and index fingers within touch-down range of the pickguard.

Mixing those two for hybrid picking is thus far beyond my coordination. When my wrist is low in flatpick position I'm spastic with my fingers and with my hand held away from the strings I'm hopeless with the flatpick.

[mmmaak]

I guess it depends on what you want to play. "The right tool for the right job", as they say.

If you're trying to play a complex fingerstyle piece with hybrid picking, then yes, you might encounter difficulties not just from having one less finger available, but also from "sacrificing" the most agile (index).

On the other hand, trying to play hybrid-picked arrangements, especially those that involve some strumming, with a pure fingerstyle approach would probably not sound "right".

Why choose? Learn them both! I find that different skills tend to build on each other :)