Using thumb?

[toast]

I'd like to play rock (Metallica sort)..and I don't use a pick. Are there any pros or cons to playing with your thumb as apposed to pick?

[jimmy smith]

i would say it is going to be pretty hard to play most metal riffs with your thumb, maybe you should start using a pick:cool:

[Mettra]

Impossible. Even if you were somehow able to work up the speed an accuracy with your thumb/fingers, you wouldn't get the right sound without the pick attack, and that would mess up a lot of rhythms.

Not to mention that the solos are very very fast.

[toast]

I've been playing piano for like 8years of my life (started when 5), my thumb hauls, and I mean haul. I play Metallica, ACDC, Led Zeppelin, whatever. Maybe, like some people are great at pulloffs, tapping, whatever, my specialty would be the thumb?

Give me a riff that's fast, but an above average 8month guitar player could play

[ibleedmarshall]

it doesn't matter if you can play it, not using a pick, it's not going to have the sharp attack that a pick brings....

[Mettra]

Can you play the riff in Metallica's Creeping Death?

Even if you could, it won't sound right. The sharpness would not be there.

Alternate picking with a thumb will be hell. Get a pick, man. Just give it up and get a pick. Get at least a medium to start out with. You'll get used to it and it'll make you a better player.

It's cool to be able to do stuff with your thumb and all, but focusing on that is gonna limit certain abilities that you would definitely want as a metal player.

[dillon]

If you really feel your thumb is fast enough you could get a thumbpick or grow your thumb nail out to get that attack sound. Otherwise you won't get that metal tone.

[brenden_nelson]

i have a friend who was in a similar situation, used his fingers, and wanted to learn some metallica he heard me playin. I showed him the song Masturbator of Puppets, and he kept complainin how he couldn't play it to where it sounded right, and then he started usin a pick, and he's well, he plays it better than me now.. lol

[curtislowe]

i dont know about you guys but ive seen some blues guys thumpick up a storm. they practice for a real long time but they can thumpick just as fast as any of those metallica characters. look champ, you already know you want to use your thumb, just try it out for a while and see what works best.

[curtislowe]

but a thumbpick is better than just the thumb

[spacecowboy]

just try it if you don't like it stay with the thumb

[GuitarMonky55]

actually i have to disagree with what most of you said. it is very possible to get the clarity of a pick with your thumb, it just takes alot of practice.

for a great example of this listen to any songs by relient k(especially pressing on or the outro of chapstick, chapped lips and things like chemistry) he doesnt use a pick, not only in any of his videos but i have seen them live several times and been extremely close to the stage...he uses his thumb. i tried it after seeing it and its a bit tricky at first but it can be done. i personally still prefer my pick.

now i know relient k is no metal and its not fast riffs and all, but listenin to them proves that you can obtain the clarity of a pick with your thumb

from watching him i believe it requires you to have a hitch-hikers thumb, so that when you straiten it the tip bends back a bit. just use the side of your thumb right below the fingernail