Bare-handed Electric, anyone?

[Robin, Wales]

The guitarist in our local cinema's house band plays with bare fingers. They are normally a funk/soul band but he can turn his hand to anything at the drop of a hat! This was a scratch band night we pulled together. He is a very talented musician and has a lovely touch.

[Rudy4]

Thank you, Robin. There's been a lot of great examples of bare-handed playing posted so far. Trixie Whitley is certainly in good company!

[rockabilly69]

Originally Posted by Rudy4

Some of my buddies who play clawhammer banjo have acrylic nails put on the right hand index and middle fingers at the local nail salon.

I have done that in the past when my nails got tore up. I also did a home brew mixture of superglue and powder from a crushed ping pong ball. I've learned to lighten up a little, and changed my technique a bit, so they don't get as badly damaged. When I did the acrylic nails (and my homebrew) I didn't like the feel. As I said earlier, I just don't use my nails as much for a while till they heal. I have a deep song selection so I lean on songs that don't require the nails.

[Rudy4]

Turned on the TV to catch the latest of PBS's Austin City Limits and the featured performer was Noah Kahan. I'm not familiar with him, but there were an awful lot of "admirers" who obviously knew every word of every song.

Acoustic and electric guitars, bare-handed!

[mjh42]

Cedric Burnside uses his fingers.

Both acoustic and electric.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8RiZ99FgT0

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by Rudy4

There are very few players who I've seen who play fluently without using a pick, and I'm aware that it very much keys into the style of music being played.

Oh I don't know, this chap seems passably "fluent"