I omitted the "a" and now I have to pay

[TBman]

I started learning to use thumb and finger picks at the end of last year. To make things easier on myself I made the decision to just use the picks on the thumb, index and middle fingers initially. Doing this made the process easier, but restricted my playing somewhat. I got somewhat fluent doing this, but time and time again things would feel "clunky" and overall I have to admit my playing suffered because of it.

It's not that I'm a finger style virtuoso, but there are times when I play that I need that right hand ring finger. Things just happen more naturally and were much more fluid when I used it.

Tonight I started the transformation of the ring finger from a bystander to a player again - and it ain't pretty

I'll get there, but tonight I spent a lot of time with my left hand muting all of the strings and playing open string arpeggios forward and back in slow motion,

[Gitfiddlemann]

Originally Posted by TBman

I started learning to use thumb and finger picks at the end of last year. To make things easier on myself I made the decision to just use the picks on the thumb, index and middle fingers initially. Doing this made the process easier, but restricted my playing somewhat. I got somewhat fluent doing this, but time and time again things would feel "clunky" and overall I have to admit my playing suffered because of it.

It's not that I'm a finger style virtuoso, but there are times when I play that I need that right hand ring finger. Things just happen more naturally and were much more fluid when I used it.

Tonight I started the transformation of the ring finger from a bystander to a player again - and it ain't pretty

I'll get there, but tonight I spent a lot of time with my left hand muting all of the strings and playing open string arpeggios forward and back in slow motion,

"a" for effort!
The arpeggio work should be very helpful in this regard.
Question: Are you using a fingerpick as well for the ring finger? I imagine yes, for evenness of tone, but just curious.

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by TBman

I started learning to use thumb and finger picks at the end of last year. To make things easier on myself I made the decision to just use the picks on the thumb, index and middle fingers initially. Doing this made the process easier, but restricted my playing somewhat. I got somewhat fluent doing this, but time and time again things would feel "clunky" and overall I have to admit my playing suffered because of it.

It's not that I'm a finger style virtuoso, but there are times when I play that I need that right hand ring finger. Things just happen more naturally and were much more fluid when I used it.

Tonight I started the transformation of the ring finger from a bystander to a player again - and it ain't pretty

I'll get there, but tonight I spent a lot of time with my left hand muting all of the strings and playing open string arpeggios forward and back in slow motion,

Hi Barry
As a thumb-n-3 player, it's easy for me to drop back to thumb-n-2 or thumb-n-1 for a song or passage. Not as easy nor versatile the other way round.

I think you made a wise decision. It'll be a good upgrade.

[rmoretti49]

Originally Posted by ljguitar

Hi Barry
As a thumb-n-3 player, it's easy for me to drop back to thumb-n-2 or thumb-n-1 for a song or passage. Not as easy nor versatile the other way round.

I think you made a wise decision. It'll be a good upgrade.

This is my experience as well.

[TBman]

Thanks everyone.

@Andre, yes I'm using plastic fingerpicks on i m & a now.