Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed inspired me to start using a thumb pick pretty much exclusively. It truly is the most versatile option allowing all techniques. (Your how to do pinch harmonics video made me subscribe.) I've just been using the classic Dunlop thumb picks and can still sweep, tremolo pick etc. and never had a problem with palm muting. I want to try this thumbpick as well as the Black Mountain thumb pick though to see what I prefer.
The Black Mountain is the one that has got me using a thumb pick regularly now. Never could get along with the others, and the Bumblebee won't stay on. That said, I still have to try the Jazz and Light versions of the Black Mountain.
I would love to see you do a picking class. The way you play using a thumb pick combined with finger techniques. You are very fluid with your style. I dont see a lot of people out there using your combination and I think warrant a deep discussion.
same here - seeing you play so effortlessly and switching between fingers and alternate picking so naturally is quite eye opening. Not only did I get a Strandberg Fusion (and loving it), I also got some of the Fred Kelly thumbpicks and find them quite intriguing. There definitely is a learning curve, but it feels doable. For my taste, there is still a bit too much pick sticking out. I am also not 100% loving the tone that the picks give - I am used to Dunlop Jazztone 205's which, to my ears, have a smoother, rounder, warmer tone. I wish there would be customizable versions of these picks since the concept seems to be superior to me compared to sticking the pick in your mouth or blocking your index finger with holding the pick while cramping your right hand holding it. It looks good when Chris Buck is doing it, but I still feel the thumbpick is the better approach.
Glad you are loving the Strandberg! I wish the bumblebees could be a bit more customizable as well. Other materials and what have you. I did reach out to Fred Kelly Picks but haven’t had much luck yet. Maybe in the future!
Having seen you using this pick, I was intrigued to try one myself. For me personally, I find I just don't have the finesse and control that I have using Jazz III's. For playing solo lines, I could possibly get used to it but, for funk rhythm playing, I like to loosen my grip on the pick, which you just can't do with the Fred Kelly pick .... well I can't! I am 62 now and have used the Jazz III's for probably the last 20+ years, so I think it would be a step too far to change now. I have both a Strandberg and an FM3 so, as a certain Mr Loaf would say, 2 out of 3 ain't bad! 🤣😂.
Take the "Round Pick Pill." I used Jazz IIIs for like 25 years. I recently just realized I wanted a rounded pick, especially after hearing about Django using a button and Brian May using a coin. Round is the way to go, man. Small surface area too.
I have enjoyed your superb playing, and have watched a number of your other videos. Always noticed the Bumblebee pick. My experience was similar; probably tried every thumb pick out there, including slicing off the tip of a Dunlop pick and glueing on a flat pick. I did finally settle on the Bumblebee Jazz Heavy and had it thoroughly worked into my playing, then I noticed one day after playing for around an hour to some backing tracks that the top of my thumb had turned blue. Just seemed weird, so I went back to flat picks.
@@mathew_dale Just an update to my comment above: I happened to see a video of a guy resizing the thumb wrap portion of the Bumblebee, using hot & cold water, to permanently loosen it up. I have been able to go back to the Jazz Extra Heavy, and it is now super comfortable. (No blue thumb!) Thanks again for your videos!
Love the Jazz III (small/rigid works best for me) and my classical background should help. Looks like a nice complement to hybrid picking, too…which is my go to now. Only concern is funk rhythm. Definite touch involved there. Worth a go, though. Thanks for the tip.
Got the pick(s). Like it a lot. It’s going to require adjustments but I’m going to put myself to it. Someone mentioned how they’re too tight. I had that problem with thumb picks in general when I was all solo fingerstyle. This one’s no exception. You can loosen it up by putting it into boiling water for about five minutes. Take it out and pull it open /try it on/repeat until it’s right. Then wear it around the house for about an hour or so to allow it to set.
thanks for giving the details of your pick.. I guessed on one of your other videos that it might be a Graphtech thumb pick.. anyhow.. I'm wondering how it feels when you're doing some funk rhythm parts i.e. Nile Rodgers etc.?
Out of all the guitar players I know, I’m one of the few that uses nails, and the only one who uses acrylic. Definitely more popular in the classical community. Not saying this as a bad thing. Just that fingerstyle with nails is less common these days.
Try playing around with the angle of approach on the strings. If I'm strumming, I tend to angle the pick forward a bit more than I would picking individual notes. That helps to get the pick through the strings easier. Other than that, give it time. I played with a thumbpick for probably about a solid year before finally feeling as comfortable with it as a flatpack.
@@mathew_dale I bought your pick (the extra heavy) and my biggest hurdle is playing pinch harmonics. Too much of the pick sticks out of my fingers. Could you give a hint on what's the different technique? I normally the Jazz III or similar and to pinch with my thumb touching the string. Doesn't seem possible unless I sand the tip down. Great channel BTW.
@@johnspalding3842 This does take a while to get used to (probably the last thing to carry over from my flat picking days). I find that lifting my wrist to rotate my thumb and pick forward so my thumb and pick are on the string at the same time is the way to do it. This might warrant a video...
@@mathew_dale I'll give that a try for a few days and report back. The feature I like the most is to be able to pick using fingers 1, 2, and 3, like I do in normal fingerpicking. Being able to switch between flat and bumblebee picks seems like a useful skill to learn.
