JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Guitars and Guitarist Forum How do YOU get your pick out of your guitar?

Oh Yow. Gross. Gotta see that.. I love that song. A Lighter Lit A Gale.
Graham

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http://www.soundclick.com/bands/2/grahamhendersonmusic.htm

If one drops his pick into the soundhole while playing air guitar, does it vanish???

Do air guitars have sound holes?
I would have thought it would be airholes if any holes at all.
Would think most air guitarists would choose solid bodiless guitars myself.
Never have seen an acoustic, or folk section in the comptetitions.
Graham


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http://www.soundclick.com/bands/2/grahamhendersonmusic.htm

Most air guitars are solid body electrics - thus the soundhole is not a problem. Of course air guitars work best with air picks so it can be tough to find them when dropped. Luckily, all you have to do is think good thoughts and another appears "out of thin air". Then again, if you like heavy picks you're out of luck.

I would think iy would be hard to think all good thoughts and create the atmospherre of a Black sabbath, AC/DC, or metalilica riff.
Graham

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http://www.soundclick.com/bands/2/grahamhendersonmusic.htm

I play air acoustic, air banjo and air mandolin.
It's really a loser when you flip one of the air picks into the air mandolin. Those little f holes make in nearly impossible to get them out. The oval holes are about like my air acoustic. Most times you can't find the air picks when they finally shake out unless you're playing in fog.
The absolute worst is playing air banjo getting some really hot licks going and losing the air finger picks and the air slide all at the same time. Danged air picks fly all over the stage & they're so light they have a tendency to float so you have to wait until they come down before you can even hope to find them. I think I'm gonna have to use brass air slides from now on too. The glass air slides just can never be found if it slips off your finger.
I've never lost an air slide playing air bottle neck guitar. Some others of you may have and can give some insight as to finding those air slides.

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DakLander

Don't know if it helps but when playing air lap steel or pedal I have taken to just pretending i got a slide in my hand. Is only the real pros can pick I am faking it.
Do the same playing air harp. That way I never have to change harps to suit the key.
Gee Dak. I wonder if that's why there ain't many words in the english language with silent F's in them?
Air Balaliaka is way cool cos the hole is too small for even the smallest pick to fall into.
Which means ya have to put jelair beans in it if ya want to use it as a shaker.
Graham



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http://www.soundclick.com/bands/2/grahamhendersonmusic.htm

Graham, I gotta tell ya, that's some good advice. I'll have to try faking the air slide when I'm playing air slide banjo & air acoustic bottle neck guitar. That just may be the trick. If it works for lap & pedal steel it aughta work for my applications.

Now, as to the non-silent "f". It can be, at least here in SoCal. It comes out eh'. So, with an archtop acoustic or those squiggly holes in the top would be "eh holes". In the fast paced environment here it comes out "a holes". I wonder if it would be the same with those bluegrass mandolins...

By the by, I did my version of "Just Another Day" at the Canyon Amphitheater last weekend. I didn't get boo'd off the stage so I guess it was alright. Actually, some fairly raucous reactions. I'm gonna do my slide banjo version this coming weekend at the, post cancer benefit golf tournament, music gig I'm going to be part of.
Now, that'll be a winner, if I don't lose the slide....

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DakLander

Glad I could help Dak. And gladder Nutha day is doing it up there.
Regarding audience reaction, I gotta tell ya the other night I did finished off a bracket in which I felt i had done real good and was already to have to pretend to be oh so humble when the clapping and cheering and "more more" started.
Nothing.
Dead silent.
Then I figured it.
That is what airplause is all about.
I must really done real good.
We have A holes down here too Dak. Not on instruments.
We let them run the country.
Graham


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http://www.soundclick.com/bands/2/grahamhendersonmusic.htm

Once in a while I play my air guitar. It's acoustic though. Bar chords are really easy to play on it. I don't use a pick with it though. One thing I do have trouble with is my air violin. I keep poking myself in the eye with the bow. Have a hard time getting the rosin on it as well.

JeanB

PS: Did you guys really sacrifice those instruments in the fire, or was it an really an air fire?

being famous for my real cool blues, and even more so for my very cool audience responses to said real cool blues, there is little chance of me ever setting an instrument on fire Jean.
neigbours have tried to burn me out sometimes when i forget to stop practicing the bugle early enough though.
This aircoustic guitar playing thing is all so new to me. never heard of it bieng done before.
Sure would save a lot of putting the make up on time in the competitions each year.
It could catch on I think.
Can see them not hanging in the aircoustic section of every music shop everywhere.
The violin I can't help you much with jean. All I can say is keep practiceing, you may get to like it.
Maybe they have a patchchord you could wear til ya eye toughens up.
If you apply the rosen while standing on a circus horse, any dropped won't go to waste, and will stop you falling off.
Graham

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http://www.soundclick.com/bands/2/grahamhendersonmusic.htm

Well there you go AKA JeanB.
You're problem is probably 'cause you're using an airbow for an airfiddle on the airviolin. Those'll get you in the eye every time. Only way to avoid is to play the airviolin from the other side. That'll make the strings wrong but then you use the airfiddle bow and saw away upside down & it'll stay clear of your eyes.

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DakLander

The annual Hartford Chapter After Show Bonfire and Instrument Bar-be-que is definitely real Jean. I missed the Piano sacrifice and I am wondering what they have on the menu for the next one?

Brian

When does that go to air Brian? I got an old keyboard here is only good for burning.
Don't know if that will be of any use though as most sacrificials gotta be virgins, and that one sure ain't.
Graham

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http://www.soundclick.com/bands/2/grahamhendersonmusic.htm

[This message has been edited by Graham (edited 05-02-2003).]

Man, what century do you guys live in? Around here we play air guitar with air picks. No big deal if you drop one. The best part about air picks is that they never break and you never loose them.

BB

BB must be using that Gorilla air on his picks.

Wow, Brian. I shuddered to see that but then I thought about a couple of instruments I used to have that should have been burned and I got over it. Wonder if percussion instruments are next?

Dak, I tried playing the air violin that way but the music came out inside out and backwards.
I also tried to play it like a cello but I kept skinning my knees. Oh, who am I kidding, the air violin disappeared. A simple diet would probably help that though.

I tried playing it like a Hawaiian guitar but I had to stick my legs straight out to keep it from sliding off my lap. To fix that, I tried it that way on a recliner but the arms of the chair got in the way of the bowing. No matter how I fiddle with it, I still have the bow problem.

JeanB

Well Jean,
Now you're stuck with buying an airviolin bow. Some folks can get by with the airfiddle bow played as suggested but if it doesn't work you're out of luck.
As to the recliner trick...Try it on a vibrating recliner. If you set the vibration fast enough you can saw away and all your notes will be between the vibrations and that will keep the arms out of the way 'cause you'll be bouncing above them.

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DakLander

All else fails, it would do no arm to saw the arms off the recliner Jean.
Or sit on the floor would be OK too. and yo wouldn't have far to reach if ya dropped ya pick.
Suggest ya wear pants if you on a raised stage so the audience can concentrate on the music.
Woollen ones if it is a concrete floor.
Graham


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http://www.soundclick.com/bands/2/grahamhendersonmusic.htm

Brian, I think I might be fresh out of burnable instruments. But Ozone & I ought to browse the tag sales for another solid-body... that old bass just burned all night. Wonderful stuff.

& I'm still burning piano parts out on the patio now & then. 'Til next year...



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Shandy Lawson

Folk-noir Ballads and Acoustic Brawls
http://www.shandylawson.com

Great topic and I must say some very inventive ways have come to the surface.

Me I shake the Sh!!!! out of my guitar until it falls out, usually onto the floor where I have to bend down and try to pick it up untill the dog or one of my kids come around and it gets stuck to a paw or shoe and then I have to chase them for it and they think it is a game and run and before long I have forgotten what I was playing and then leave my guitar laying around until my wife reminds me to pick it up and by that time I am dozing in front of the tv after, I have searched high and low for the remote, ("Use the knobs on the tv never!!) and so woken up I am crabby and we get into a fight and then I go and pick...what was the topic?

Doug

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"You can do what ever you want to do where ever you want to go. It's up to you." John Denver

[This message has been edited by douglas (edited 05-03-2003).]

Hey, Shandy!
See that great whooshing gout of plasticine flame coming from the guitar's soundhole in Campfire pic 043? It's all those lost plectrums returning from Pick-Purgatory for their final glorious sacrifice (and morbid fascination of pick-losers everywhere).
Why do they do this, you ask? Why, to please the evil gods of Music, of course! Geez, I thought that was common knowledge and a certain "faith-based initiative" on the picks' part to gain re-birth as pickguards (or "gardes-du-pique" as we refer to them 'round here)!

Well. I just hope you all realise what that whoosh of flame out of the sound hole did to the ozone layer Guys, and resove to only use leather picks in future to cut down on the damaging effects of plastic picks being incinerated along with epoxy glues and acrilic wood finishes.
Please do try to only burn guitars etc old enough to be stuck together with animal glues and finished with french polish, both of which should have less impact on the environment. Anything pre 1900 should be safe.
Graham (I'm so green, I spit when i get burned)Henderson

Hi BB,
I can't add much to the excellent tips already posted,but...have you ever heard of a store by the name of Bobs' Picks? Anyway,its a little franchise operation out of Chicago that sells only picks...that's all they do...just picks,picks,picks.They just opened a shop down the street and I bought one they had on special(I'm a sucker for sale items).Well it came with a money back guarantee...if one's guitar performance was not electrifyingly magnetic,you get your money back...even on sale items! So I bought two...and guess what?...when you buy two,they will give you a very cool hand held red and white lucky horse shoe shaped thingie that you can use to pick up iron filings if you got any and,and...also good for pulling your magnetic picks outta your guitar if they fall in. You gotta go there sometime BB...cool store.

See Ya

Bill

A store dedicated to selling nothing but guitar picks???
And even magnetic picks are available there???
That should be a real puller.
Poles apart from any other I have ever heard of.
Haven't got their contact number have you? I may be able to get them to carry my leather picks.
Graham


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http://www.soundclick.com/bands/2/grahamhendersonmusic.htm

I tried those magnetic picks. They pulled the pickups right out of my electric guitar.
Had to use a ball peen hammer & a drift punch to get 'em back into position.

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DakLander

Couldn't spell tried....

[This message has been edited by daklander (edited 05-08-2003).]

Lol Graham yes,yes...picks are fantastic...no wonder we hate to loose them...and a store dedicated to the lovely things...brilliant! Yes I had an idea you'd be interested,and will pass the message on to the good folks at Bob's. Always carry a pick in the pocket...it'll get you outta thight situations...just pull out your pick and the idea pops into people's heads....aahhh...cool dude.Marvelleous things they are!!

Bill

Holy Northern Christmas Daklander,thanks for heads up that ...I forgot to mention the fineprint warning that comes with the instructions on those little babies...

Was laughing so much, I forgot my password and had to think before i could get in.
Now that is a worry.
Lucky it wasn't the banjo Dak.Ya would have had touse the claw hammer approach.
Reminds me of the time I was playing guitar at my daugher's wedding. It was her second wedding and I had to cut costs.
Got told I was too disdaughtered.
Graham

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http://www.soundclick.com/bands/2/grahamhendersonmusic.htm

Graham, I thought I was the only one to have to "claw hammer" the banjo pickups back into postition. I found that the leather finger picks are much less prone to magnetic interference. The only problem with them is the difficulty in fitting each finger & the leather thumb pick is a real bitch to fit.
I'm still bipolar in that decision.

I've been dis-daughter'd all my life so I'm in complete symtathy there though my newest is doing ok so far. I know things'l change....


Oh, Bill,
I understand that two fer one thang. It doesn't seem to work with acoustics, nor does it work with slide banjo. The danged slide keeps gettin' caught by the magnetic picks so I's suppose the next best thang would be to shuffle the thang ta leather.
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DakLander


[This message has been edited by daklander (edited 05-08-2003).]

Think I figured ya problem with the leather picks Dak.
Bet my left ones, ya used CHROME tanned leather.
Only genuine vegtable tanning fluid will do. Oak or Wattle for preferance. Any other acacia as a poor third to the wattle is what'll do the job right.
Graham



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http://www.soundclick.com/bands/2/grahamhendersonmusic.htm

Yes I'm a bit steamed right now because I tried my horseshoe thingie on the magnetic picks and duh guess what...it repels them!Almost took my kids eye out thing flying accross the room...so I take it back down to Bobs right?...no sympathy...told me to stop being such a whoose and use a metal fork or something...ok no place is perfect.Anyway Dak with the electric guitar and the magnetics they say you gotta pump iron for at least 3 months to build up your forarms...you know curls with hand held weights...(or you could do babycurls too but best keep a good grip on the baby you don't want the missus upset...she's already upset with the electrifyingly magnetic and them serious looking babes in the front row last concert). Then you gotta strap down everthing tight on your electric...otherwise things start to lift...but the extra work is worth the effort they say,because you can create such a whirlwind action magnet force with the pump strumming...the the earth begins to tilt off its axis,and the building will begin to tip. Kids like it though. Girls like to roll on top of the guys and check out their bones without loosing their reputations...course the guys well the guys you know they ain't complaining.Building management don't like it though.Ya gotta be careful. What can I say.

Bill(never played an electric in his life)D.

Shandy -

I have an old chord organ - kid friendly size, wood console, plastic keys - that would be a good candidate for burning if I hold onto it until we're ready to do it again.
The kids never tocuh it anymore since its got a real cheesy sound and the electronic keyboards around the house are much more fun to play.

Graham that's got it. The chrome tanned picks are too magnetic. I'l have to try the bronzed picks & see it that'll be better.

Bill, I've been a pumpin' iron since I was a yonker so I don't thing that's the problem. I'm thankful your daughter's eye is still good. I'd be bitchin' at Bob to see if he'd give you a break on the magnetics from here on out.

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DakLander

ok,thanks, doclandman,I just had to loose my imagine a bit after a busy tax season.Daughters eye fine...how'd you know I had a daughter?...peace.

Will

ok try this: shake all the picks to one end of the guitar. Get two chop sticks and cut each so they will just fit into the body.Next drop a dish towel or some cloth into the whole and create a net type catch held secure by the chop sticks.Shake the picks down into the cloth catch.

That would work, Bill, but don't you have to loosen the strings to get the net in there?

It just occured to me, that maybe a little trap door at the bottom of the guitar would
work. You know … like the flap on long johns. Just open it and dump it out at the end of each performance.

hi AKA(sounds like juditsu!),

Cute suggestion,but the little doorknob on the trap door might be irritating...guess you could recess it( have tea and cookies at the same time) The cloth could slide under the strings and drop down(adventurous types that they are).You could entice the picks to jump into the `net' by lighting a match and yelling `fire,fire...jump,jump picks jump'as you tilt the guitar up.

Only if the picks play by ear.

And you had a heard of them.
Graham

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http://www.soundclick.com/bands/2/grahamhendersonmusic.htm

OK, what happens if you lose or break a pick on stage and you don't have a spare? Happened to me once. So, in a pinch, I cut up my Social Insurance Card into little triangles. Got through the gig, but it took me a year to get another card.

BB

Simple. Ask if anybody's got a spare pick on them. If ya have anybody at the gig that is of course.
There is always at least one person in any crowd just dying to let everybody know HE plays guitar. And is pro enough to always carry a pick.
On the other hand. If you use leather picks, the odds of breaking one is very slim. They do get lostba bit as folks justr love them so steal them at every chance.
To get by youi can always cut the pointy end of ya belt or guitar strap if it is leather and you are away.
Maybe about six to eight layers of gaffa (Duct) tape cut to shape may do the trick too.
Hope that helps.
Graham


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http://www.soundclick.com/bands/2/grahamhendersonmusic.htm

I'm seeing visions of frantic musicians whipping off their belts to use them as picks while their trousers are dropping.
AAACK

yeah Tom. It is what is kmown in the industry as belting out a tune.
often resorted to by strapped for cash musicians to attract a crowd.
Real bummer if ya ain't cute though.
Graham


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http://www.soundclick.com/bands/2/grahamhendersonmusic.htm

'ell, the new crop o' players can't do the belt to pick trick. They don't wear belts & their pants are about falling down anyway so what the hay....

Damn, I lost my airpick. That brings to mind, I can't find my air tuner either. Tough when you have an air string go flat.

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DakLander

I was chatting a chick upat a concert the other day and she told me I was a blataint flat airer and I didn't know what she meant. Thanks Dak.
Graham

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http://www.soundclick.com/bands/2/grahamhendersonmusic.htm

I participated in a JP Folks meeting last night. 2 hours before the event, while wrestling with my new puppy, he decided to pierce my right index finger with his baby teeth. Since it didn't stop bleeding, I had to wear a bandaid.
So I step on stage that night, and the first thought that ran through my mind and I blurted out was, "Oh great - now there'll be a whole posting on How do YOU get a bandaid out of your guitar??" There were a few chuckles.

The "sports strip" model has a much softer tone than a leather pick, by the way.

Ah. The pain of puppy love Tom.
Sport strip to me suggests getting ya clothes of and going swimming.
Well in winter I do leave the earmuffs on.
Will see if I can find one Tom.
With my flaying guitar style softer would be nice.
Just had a thought. If ya use double sided sticky tap instead of a bandaid, it has a good chance of sticking to the strings on the way down and not ending up in either the whole or the sunburst thang.
Graham

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http://www.soundclick.com/bands/2/grahamhendersonmusic.htm

[This message has been edited by Graham (edited 05-19-2003).]

I used to solve the problem by simply using a pick up. Then I refined the technique and began using pick up lines. That way I sometimes get lucky twice.

Trouble is John. Get to my age, it is the lines that make it harder to find a pick up.
Graham

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http://www.soundclick.com/bands/2/grahamhendersonmusic.htm