Flat Picking / Finger Picking Who Cares?

[Mr. Jelly]

I know this is the wrong crowd to ask this question but I'm going to any way. Does it matter to the non-guitar playing public how an artist plays a guitar?

[rokdog49]

I sincerely doubt it matters. Most of the public is A.D.D. anyway.
They know your hands are touching the guitar and noise comes out...that's about it.

[beatcomber]

The non-playing audience either likes the music or doesn't like the music.

They don't care about how it is created.

[PiousDevil]

Originally Posted by beatcomber

The non-playing audience either likes the music or doesn't like the music.

They don't care about how it is created.

This. I tend to think most audiences will appreciate a good flatpicker over a poor fingerstylist, and a good fingerstylist over a poor flatpicker.

[Osage]

I've been playing for close to 30 years and I don't care. If I like the music, I like the music, regardless of how it's picked.

[love the guitar]

Except for fellow musicians, I don't think anyone cares much. The important thing is to get out your musical message via flat pick, fingers, thumb whatever.
It's the result that carries it.

[BluesKing777]

Originally Posted by Mr. Jelly

I know this is the wrong crowd to ask this question but I'm going to any way. Does it matter to the non-guitar playing public how an artist plays a guitar?

Ha Ha.

While we need to show respect for the paying public..hmmm

A hundred or so years back when I played solo spots, the crowd liked me fingerpicking a shiny guitar better than a wooden guitar. I have even been stopped in the street years later and asked if I still play the Dobro! Never been asked about my other guitars.

This one:






BluesKing777.

[srick]

Well honestly, I believe that it's always been about the song. Our guitars are tools that help create the song and impart musicality, but getting that song into the audience's head is the aim of most performances. The guitar is a versatile tool that can be used in many different ways to provide that accompaniment. Or maybe, what I am trying to say is, "Whatever works!"

[Glennwillow]

It's hard to know what an audience thinks, but I do know what I think. I enjoy hearing well played music: on the guitar, on a piano, with a violin, with an accordion, whatever. On the guitar, if it's well played, I am open to all styles of playing -- with a flatpick, with fingers, with finger picks, whatever. I enjoy well played music.

- Glenn

[Brent Hahn]

Seems to me that most "normal" audiences respond a lot more to good time and rhythm than they do to chops, whether it's flat picking or finger style.

[fumei]

Originally Posted by Brent Hahn

Seems to me that most "normal" audiences respond a lot more to good time and rhythm than they do to chops, whether it's flat picking or finger style.

+1 this

If the audience feels the time and rhythm (maybe even with a toe movement...), then it works. A connection has been made. They do not care about any style.

[gmr]

We have been attending a local bi weekly bluegrass show in our town. We are fortunate to live in the town where Byron Berline lives. He owns a music store in town and plays a bi-weekly show in the small Venus above his store. Of course, flatpicking guitar is king in bluegrass and they have a very good guitar player (former Winfield champ). They also have a gentleman that plays a short set before the show, who is a Chet Style fingerstyle player. He plays with the band during the band’s second set, taking lead breaks just like everyone else.... great music all around and I don’t think anyone even notices the difference, they just enjoy the show.

[TBman]

Originally Posted by Mr. Jelly

I know this is the wrong crowd to ask this question but I'm going to any way. Does it matter to the non-guitar playing public how an artist plays a guitar?

Not only do they not care about how it is played, I have discovered the following over my 50+ year guitar journey...

If you don't sing you stink...
If you don't sing well you stink even worse
If you don't play their favorite song you stink
If you don't play any songs they know, you stink

And they could care less about all solid wood, laminate and least of all,
Martin vs Taylor vs Gibson vs Larrivee vs......

[pvrfederico]

I read this forum regularly. Thanks to all of you for all that I've learned here. Also, I would like to say that I greatly admire this group because of its high level of intelligence, wit, and civility. It's especially rare to find the third in a public forum today.

Regarding the topic of this thread, my opinion is that it depends on the song. I write songs with sweet melodies and serious themes about the difficult lives of women (especially single mothers) in Latin America. Most of my songs just wouldn't work with flat picking. They sound sweeter and more dreamy with finger picking -- with a lot of emphasis on the treble strings.

My style is self taught, and somewhat unique. (I've never learned a picking pattern; I just play what I need by ear.) An ex Mexican girlfriend, who had played the guitar for more than thirty years, told me numerous times that I was was the only guitarrista that she'd met who could make the guitar cry. My songs often require that I evoke that type of sentiment, so I play mostly finger style. When I strum a song, I never use a pick, however I love to fool around with flat picking. I once saw Doc Watson play up close at a small venue in the LA area, so I've seen world class flat picking, and know how wonderful it can be.

I have several nice guitars (last year I converted from nylon to steel), and I devote 2-3 hours to playing each night. My music is a very private and very important part of my life.

Again, I want to thank everyone for all that I've learned from you.

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by TBman

Not only do they not care about how it is played, I have discovered the following over my 50+ year guitar journey...

If you don't sing you stink...
If you don't sing well you stink even worse
If you don't play their favorite song you stink
If you don't play any songs they know, you stink

And they could care less about all solid wood, laminate and least of all,
Martin vs Taylor vs Gibson vs Larrivee vs......

You forgot:
If you don't play "Free Bird" you stink.
Whether it's their favorite song or not.