Fingerpicks are metal or plastic picks worn on the fingers, and they give a louder, brighter sound than bare fingers, which give a softer, warmer sound. Fingerpicks are used in bluegrass and country, and bare fingers are used in folk and classical, and the choice depends on the sound you want.
Should I use fingerpicks or bare fingers?
Fingerpicks are metal or plastic picks worn on the fingers, and they give a louder, brighter sound than bare fingers, which give a softer, warmer sound. Fingerpicks are used in bluegrass and country, where the guitar must be loud enough to be heard over the banjo and the fiddle, and bare fingers are used in folk and classical, where the guitar is played softly and the sound is intimate. The choice depends on the sound you want, and on the style you play, and many players use both, fingerpicks for loud songs and bare fingers for soft songs. The fingerpick is worn on the index, middle, and ring fingers, and sometimes on the thumb, as a thumbpick, and it is a curved piece of metal or plastic that fits over the fingertip, with the pick extending past the nail. The bare finger plucks the string with the flesh and the nail, and the sound is soft and warm, because the flesh is soft, and the fingerpick plucks the string with metal or plastic, and the sound is loud and bright, because the pick is hard. The C major guitar chord and the G major guitar chord are the chords most players first try fingerpicks on, and the metronome keeps the beat steady.
How fingerpicks and bare fingers differ
The difference is in the material that plucks the string: a fingerpick is metal or plastic, and it is hard, so the string is released cleanly and the note is loud and bright, with a sharp attack. A bare finger is flesh and nail, and it is soft, so the string is released gently and the note is soft and warm, with a round attack. The fingerpick is louder, because the hard pick transfers more energy to the string, and the bare finger is quieter, because the soft flesh absorbs some of the energy. The fingerpick is also more consistent, because the pick is the same shape every time, while the bare finger changes with the nail length and the skin. The fingerpick takes time to learn, because it changes the feel of the fingers, and the player must learn to pluck with the pick, not with the flesh, and the pick must be fitted, so it does not slip off or dig into the finger. The bare finger is natural, because it is the finger itself, and the player does not need to learn a new tool, but the bare finger needs nails, or the sound will be too soft, and the nails must be kept at the right length and shape. The D major guitar chord and the A major guitar chord are the chords the comparison is built on.
Worked example — the same arpeggio, two ways. Hold a C major chord, and play the P-I-M-A pattern with bare fingers, thumb, index, middle, ring, and listen: the notes are soft and warm, with a round attack, and the arpeggio is intimate and gentle. Now put fingerpicks on the index, middle, and ring fingers, and play the same pattern, and listen: the notes are loud and bright, with a sharp attack, and the arpeggio is clear and ringing, and it can be heard over other instruments. The notes are the same, C, G, B, E, but the sound is different, because the material is different, and the choice is the sound you want. The I–V–vi–IV progression in C major is a good progression to try both ways with.
How to practise with fingerpicks and bare fingers
Practise with both fingerpicks and bare fingers, so you know the sound of each, and you can choose the one that fits the song.
- Practise the P-I-M-A pattern on a C major chord with bare fingers, and listen for the sound to be soft and warm, with a round attack.
- Put fingerpicks on the index, middle, and ring fingers, and practise the same pattern, and listen for the sound to be loud and bright, with a sharp attack.
- Play the I–V–vi–IV progression in C major with bare fingers, and then with fingerpicks, and compare the sound of each.
- Practise fitting the fingerpicks, so they do not slip off or dig into the finger, and the pick extends past the nail by 1 to 2 millimetres.
- Practise with the metronome at 60 beats per minute, and increase the tempo by 5 beats per minute when the pattern is steady at the current tempo.
Common mistakes
- Wearing fingerpicks that do not fit — A fingerpick that is too loose will slip off, and a fingerpick that is too tight will dig into the finger and hurt, and both will make the playing worse. Fit the fingerpicks, by bending them to the shape of your finger, so they stay on and do not hurt.
- Using fingerpicks for every song — Fingerpicks are loud and bright, and using them for every song will make the soft songs sound harsh, because the pick is too loud for the song. Use bare fingers for soft songs, and fingerpicks for loud songs, and the sound will fit the song.
- Giving up on fingerpicks too soon — Fingerpicks take time to learn, because they change the feel of the fingers, and a player who gives up after one session will never learn them. Practise with fingerpicks for a week, and the feel will become natural, and the sound will be worth it.
Quick reference
This table compares fingerpicks and bare fingers side by side, so you can see the trade-offs at a glance. The fingerpicks are louder and brighter, and the bare fingers are softer and warmer, and the choice depends on the sound you want and the style you play.
| Fingerpicks | Bare fingers | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Metal or plastic | Flesh and nail |
| Sound | Loud and bright | Soft and warm |
| Attack | Sharp | Round |
| Volume | Loud, heard over other instruments | Quiet, intimate |
| Styles | Bluegrass, country | Folk, classical |
Use the table to decide which to use for a song you know: if the song is loud and needs to be heard, use fingerpicks, and if the song is soft and intimate, use bare fingers, and try both, so you know the sound of each. When you can choose confidently, you have the skill, and the sound will fit the song.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use fingerpicks or bare fingers?
Fingerpicks give a louder, brighter sound than bare fingers, which give a softer, warmer sound. Fingerpicks are used in bluegrass and country, and bare fingers are used in folk and classical, and the choice depends on the sound you want.
What are fingerpicks made of?
Metal or plastic, and they are curved pieces that fit over the fingertip, with the pick extending past the nail. Metal fingerpicks are brighter and louder, and plastic fingerpicks are warmer and softer, and the choice is the sound you want.
Do I need a thumbpick too?
Not necessarily, but a thumbpick gives the bass a clearer, brighter sound than the bare thumb, and it makes the thumb louder, so the bass is heard. Many fingerpickers use a thumbpick, and many do not, and the choice is the sound you want.
Can I switch between fingerpicks and bare fingers?
Yes. Many players use both, fingerpicks for loud songs and bare fingers for soft songs, and the switch is quick, because the fingerpicks slip on and off, and the bare fingers are always there.
Are fingerpicks hard to learn?
They take time, because they change the feel of the fingers, and the player must learn to pluck with the pick, not with the flesh. Practise with fingerpicks for a week, and the feel will become natural, and the sound will be worth it.