Finger picks - which way is up?

[TBman]

I use Kalena finger picks. I see in their advertising that the finger picks are "reversable." Does anyone use these or other finger picks with the blade on the bottom (upside down)?

Just curious. I'm going to experiment to see which is quieter later tonight.

[gfirob]

Plastic picks sound dull to me compared to metal picks. Life long habit.

[JonPR]

Depends what you mean by "bottom" or "upside down".

I don't use them, but I sometimes metal picks with a similar design - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tone-Deaf-M.../dp/B000NGVQKO

These can only really go one way, with the fingertip protruding through the ring - as shown in the photo of the person wearing them, although the ring should really sit right up where the end of the nail would be - as on the index finger, so the ring circles the fingertip.
I find they feel surprisingly natural - the end of the metal ring is exactly where a good nail would be be - and even sound quite mellow, not harsh as you might expect.

The other way up, it's not held securely at all; it will move when picking the string, and the string can catch beneath it.

I don't know about the plastic ones, but I don't like plastic picks anyway. They are either too tight or too loose. Metal ones can be bent to fit as snug as you want.

In fact, I prefer fingernails generally. I only use the metal ones if I break a nail and have to cut it right back.

[Glennwillow]

Hi Barry,

I have never used Kalena finger picks, but I have used many other similar types. For me, the only correct way to use these finger picks is to orient them with the large hole toward the pad of each finger as shown in the 2nd picture from the left. If you turn these around as shown in the "reversible" image, the third picture from the left, the picks are going to get hung up on the strings as you use these.

- Glenn