As for not being able to figure out the flat pick, I've seen lots of people have this issue. If you watch the jazz or R&R lead players you'll notice quite often that it looks like they're not holding a pick...but they are. It sort of appears that the pick is in a position where it seems to be extended out from the side of the thumb, while being held between the thumb and index finger. That's the accepted "Correct" way to hold it...just ask Mel Bay! For the past several years I've been using what I call a "Stealth or Ninja" pick. Made by cool. I give it that name as it's made of plastic, but a bit softer than conventional and they are flat black, once you set it down it's sometimes hard to see. The top has what feels like a gummy (but it's not) substance that keeps it from slipping around or falling off your grip. Down side is that they will wear out quicker than others due to the softer material. They're a bout $1.00 each. I'll buy them by the dozen when I'm ordering from Elderly. 
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I've been a finger picker all my life. In fact, over fifty-five years of playing both guitar and banjo, and I cannot use a flat pick. I cannot hold it right or something, but it doesn't sound right when I strum and I can't hold onto the damn thing. But anyway, it's metal Nationals and plastic thumb for me too, and my finger picks have never closed completely around my finger and I never thought about it. I have 55 year old finger picks in a box. Some of them are rusty, but I don't use them. I just don't throw anything away! Previous Message
Terry, for what it is worth, my picks don't close around my fingers, there is a gap
they are tight enough to stay secure
Maybe you need to squeeze them just slightly tighter than the end result you want as they will "spring back" a little bit after you stop squeezing, and then they will stay secure, even with the gap?
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Thanks Paul, It's the "Squeezing the finger picks" thing that's the issue here. I'm not THAT big where there can't be a model of finger pick on the market that will wrap all the way around to stay put on the finger. I sometimes work with a 5 string player, I've notice he has no problems keeping his picks tightly fastened and that they DO close completely around his fingers. I've noted that watching Georges DVD his picks fit that same way. I'm wondering why I can't find a version that will fit my fingers in that fashion. My fingers would be only slightly heavier that others I've seen. Previous Message
Terry, I also use National finger picks and a plastic thumb pick for both guitar and banjo
In addition to squeezing the finger picks so they stay on your fingers, watch how your fingers hit the strings and rotate the picks slightly as needed so they hit the strings perpendicular instead of sliding along and making a rasping sound on the wound strings
hope this helps, happy picking Previous Message
After all these years, I've started fooling around with finger picks. My fingers aren't all that fat...HOWEVER, I can't seem to find any that wrap far enough around to properly close and clasp, so they don't keep bouncing off.
I noticed on the George Grove DVD , his picks wrap all the way around the finger and then squeeze tight.
Who makes a wider one? Ideas welcome :>)
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on 1/11/2021, 10:20 pm, in reply to "