playing without pick

[Jing]

Is playing without pick consider a "correct" way to play? I feel it more comfortable playing without playing pick. Anyway do not get me wrong, I am not playing with my 4 fingers aka spanish style, I am playing it with the position of holding pick but without holding and pick and pluck strings with my 1st finger. Is there any famous artist that play that way? What is the downside of this? Oh yeah one more thing, I got very short nails so its literally impossible to "alternate pick" without the usage of pick.

[Davey]

Yep, Mark Knopfler plays without a pick.

Playing without a pick alters the sound because you don't get the attack and snapiness you would with a pick. Also it makes certain techniques (artificial harmonics, etc.) very difficult to play.

[JESTER700]

Lots of country players also go pickless (or use a combination of pick & fingers). Just to clarify what I think you meant: you CAN get snappiness & attack (listen to those country players!). But it's a different kind of "attack" & "snap".

[Davey]

Yeah true, I know what you are saying.

I was being pretty single-minded because I was thinking about shredding

[fono22]

There is no real correct way to play guitar, it's all up to the individual.

I didn't use a pick for years as I found it more difficult to start off with. It pays to know how to use a pick however (especially if you want to get different sounds out of your guitar).

Play however you like, even if it means playing with ya toes. You can also develop different techniques later.

Lance

[fono22]

By the way, I alternate pick without a pick... it is tricky but I learnt as I am useless at keeping plectrums for longer than a week.

As long as your fingernails aren't painfully short, you will be able to do it with some practise.

[Jing]

Are u guys playing it with all 4 fingers? Or the same way im playing? I can only use one finger

[Davey]

Best thing to do here... just learn to use a pick.

6 Months down the road you'll look back and be glad you did!

[AirGuitar]

I can do both quite happily, depends what you want to do really.

You cant go playing shred without a pick, but ill quite easily play blues and jazz stuff without a pick.

I still rather a pick though, just depends if i can find one

[vette6600]

i think it depends on what style/sound you're after. if you're on this site, you probably dig vai or satriani's music. if thats what you want to play, go with the pick. or, a guy like brent mason (country session player) uses thumb and one finger. i believe he uses fingerpicks, which might be something you want to consider. you don't HAVE to choose one over the other, though. why not be able to do both?