What are those things on your fingers? - QNA #2 

I've worked these for a long time and allow me to give you a couple of tips that you may want to try. First, snip the middle band out. You don't need it! If the picks fit in the first place, you will only reduce the grip of the pick to your finger by about 5%, while reducing the funkiness of the look and the "cloddiness" of the feel by about 70%. You are "wrapping" them on with tape anyhow! PLUS your downstroke will work better because you can get more nail on it without it catching. I long ago found an old video of the guy who invented them showing how to use them and that's how he meant for them to be used or at least how he uses them himself. No Lie! I have no idea why he ever put the middle band in. Second, forget tape. The solution I found that works well is that you can make exactly the width, shape and elasticity of rubber band that you need for each finger yourself. From what? Remember the old rubber fingers that secretaries used to use to sort a stack of papers? They still make them. Swingline Rubber Finger Tips come in many sizes. I found I could make the 3 sizes of bands I needed all from the medium/large #12 size (they are an inch or so long and tapered, allowing you to cut different sizes and widths). They have little nubs on one side so I would turn them inside out. Perfect grip by using them at the back of the pick and they slip right on and off and are reusable for a month or so. The only advantage masking tape might have, depending how you play, is that if the parts of the fingers that have the rubber band on them rub together a lot then it will be a bit grippy rather than slick which is an imperfection, but one I never found to be a deal breaker. That's the best I came up with. Personally I'm moving on from these picks because one issue I could never surmount is being able to grip the thumbpick with a flatpick style grip when called for and still maintain the comfort and dexterity I want while wearing the Alaska's. I'm Currently re-exploring the many theories of reinforcing the nails artificially in a sane and sustainable way. Wish me luck! Cheers.

thank you for responding so quickly, I will give these a try.

THANK YOU MUCH MAN : )useful information and you were on point and speedy in your response for the 100 millionth time somebody asked you about those things on your fingers. :)

Thanks for this! I have the world's worst fingernails, and can't use those regular metal and plastic finger picks. I bought a few of these and have been watching a few videos on them that are out there. Your directions are concise and complete! I feel brave now and will start clipping and filing.

Thank you! You've helped inform my decision to buy these for classical guitar. I can't have natural nails because I work a day job that would prove to be very hard on them, making it impractical to even try.

You are an Awesome person. I've been fingerpicking without picks for 20 years...considering moving to picks but it feels so awkward compared to the intimate sensation of strings with flesh (the reprogramming curve steep for me). But this added some clarity and thought to the matter. Also you made me smile.Thank you for your awesomeness.

Instead of masking tape try bandage tape. The kind the vets use. It's like a velcro and it stretches and you can re-use it.

Your awesome dude thank you

Thanks dude. I just ordered some of these Alaska picks. Also some butterfly picks. Have you tried butterfly picks? If so, which do you prefer?

hello i’m not english...so don’t understandthe whole tutorial...i have a question: in the fitting procedure i need to cut only on the edge of the Alaska pik or on the sides? thank you

Half-inch wide 3M Surgical Tape to hold them on your fingertips. Micromesh, going from fine to ultrafine, for a smooth glassy finish.

Hi friend. I would like to know that if it's not weird or difficult to use alaska piks for thumb. Is it possible to play easily?

Jon, do you use the tape to keep the ring of each pick at the correct circumference through multiple uses, or must you re-tape each pick each time you put them on?

Do you have a lesson using thumb and finger pics? If so please provide the link thank you

Will they help if your finger nails don't go over the tip of your finger? Like will it be easier to play fingerstyle guitar?

like tap-dancing with snowshoes on

Whatsup! just wondering why every american under 35 has to say Whatsup dude? I'm old and my nails now break all the time, it's sending me insane. Hopefully Alaska piks will work. If not I'm getting a set of drums!

So, you use a thumb pick and Alaska picks on each of your 5 fingers? So you're polydactyl? 🤠

Funny Bro you are :D like all of your videos

That’s my question how do you use them? If no one knows what they are they should not be using them

Alaska*n picks need to use materials that remain firmer on the finger and don’t fall away when picking a little more aggresively. The material currently used is too flimsy.

Can you use these for flamenco ???

Where is the lesson how to use them

You shouldn't need to use tape on your fingers. I've been using picks for 30 years and tapes a new one to me.

Why would you use these for steel guitar? Most steel guitar players just use normal finger picks

I have always wondered about those things...hhahahhaha

Too much trouble

cut off the blood flow