I'm slightly staggered to see that MusicRadar have included myself/Friday Fretworks in their 2020 roundup of Best Online Guitar Personalities. If you felt so inclined to drop me a vote, that'd be wonderful! 🙂 Vote: bit.ly/FridayFretworks2020Vote
I've said it before but I honestly believe that you will be one of the most popular and influential guitar players in the world in the near future my friend. You have that 'it" factor.
having a top class and one of the most melodic contemporary guitar players going through the trouble of shooting a video, explaining his craft, playing guitar, editing the video and uploading it for us to enjoy totally for free.. man,what a great time to be a musician... Thank you for what you do Chris, cheers and stay safe!
@@chrislestermusic agreed. I think it is bizarre that anybody should go to the trouble of disliking this. Chris is explaining something he does and he is not sticking it down anyone's throat. I think there is a weird thing with TH-cam that even the best videos will always attract 1% dislikes.
@@chrislestermusic that's the internet.. it's very weird how certain individuals behave on the internet, as Robert said, why would anyone leave a thumbs down? It's definitely unexplainable, but that's our reality...
It really is surprising to me how few people are talking about how smooth his transitions are from using the pick to tucking it away. It’s really interesting to watch.
I am blown away that you haven’t blown up yet. Like you have one of the most pleasant, interesting, nuanced, identifiable and listenable playing styles and tones I’ve heard in a really long time. I really can’t wait until you blow up so more people can appreciate your music and more people can be inspired to make music like you!
I'd like to say that whatever you're doing with pick or no pick your musical expression is so real and so great. we should all consider how our preconceptions of what guitar playing is needs to be reconsidered. I really love listening to what you play no matter how you do it. It's exceptional and I hope more people discover your playing.
Its impressive how seamlessly you switch from playing finger style to playing with a pick and back again. The Paul Davids challenge introduced me to your wonderful, tasteful playing! Thank you for sharing your technique.
I've been doing something similar for years. I use jazz iii's which fit perfectly tucked away in my middle finger. I can still pick with that finger and my first finger, and I switch between my pick and finger subconsciously with no trouble at all. Its actually made my playing much better. I believe John Mayer does something similar too.
When the fight against the tyranny becomes too much for one day Chris reminds me we will build a new better world and hang out in the summer months and watch the best UK guitarist shine in his own beautiful light, Peace
Nice to hear those clean sweet tones. I’m so tired of hearing overdriven soup. I’m dating myself but started off in the 60’s with a 64 Tele, echoplex and an Ampeg portoflex . 55 years later I still prefer to let the guitar speak with a little delay and reverb.
Well, my bad. I wrote my last comment before watching to the end, and you have answered my question before the end. Thank you again. A new fan is watching you.
Showing me how you untuck your pick has just changed my life. I've been tucking it the same way, as I find that most comfortable, but I've had inconsistent results trying to get it back out. I will be practicing that move all day... lol. I appreciate you taking the time to share with us. Sometimes it's the golden nuggets you don't even know you're sharing that are the most important. Good thing I was paying attention. Take care, Chris.
Crikey, made me wince when he said that he basically wrecked his index finger nail from thrashing out bar chords during his adolescence and now it's too raw to use. Great video - lot's of great 'Insta' guitarists at the moment and this guy is one of the most unique and an absolute gent.
Some twenty years ago I quit playing bass because of an injury to my right index finger that made consistent tone between my plucking fingers impossible. I recently bought a new bass to experiment with ways to work around the problem. This video is fairly inspiring as far as that goes. Thanks.
I just, switched from a purple Tortex to a dark blue Dunlop Gator Grip(1.14mm, also). Now, I find the standard Tortex picks too big lol. These have a higher coefficient of friction vs the regular Tortex so it makes them a little more grippy. I swear it seems like they have more grip when your fingers are slightly moist/sweaty, too.
Touch is so lost on a lot of new players but it’s the very thing that makes the guitar arguably the most expressive instrument you can play. Great vid mate!
Maestro with or without it. Simply brilliant on everything I’ve heard you play. Thanks for first working so hard to develop your gift and second so freely sharing it with the world Chris.
I had a friend who, the first thing his tutor taught him was to play fingerstyle. It made such an impression on me how quickly he progressed from there that, when I eventually decided to learn the guitar myself many years later, I jumped in straight away with learning to finger pick. Now that it's becomes second nature, It's such a satisfying thing to do that I've never really mastered the plectrum. I'll get around to it some day I'm sure.
Thanks. I think I was one of your commenters who inquired... and also thank you for going through the switch multiple times. I slowed the video to get details. Now... I've something else to practice
I really hope you get the respect you deserve in the guitar world over the coming years Chris. I've been playing guitar for at least 20 years , I have heard (and played with ) so many guitarists, I'm a nobody but I think I have a pretty good ear and blimey you have one of the sweetest sounds and class to your playing! There are so many guitarists out there who don't understand the value of a single bend played properly Vs a shredded scale.. and of course in a studio or live situation (unless you play metal at 170bpm) the first is what counts. Hands down to you, your quality and I really hope you'll get recognised for the great player you are.
There are always some angry bitter people in this world no matter the brilliance presented to them. And those are the 7 freaks that gave this video a thumbs down... I pray for them. I myself... I am in the other thousand plus people that recognize the absolute mastery and artistic brilliance that Chris shows in the marriage of his right and left hand and the marriage of his pick and fingers of his right hand. Damn! Dude the tone and musicality (yes I used the word musicality - not even sure that's a word but it works here) is amazing. Thousands of people apparently agree with me. I love your playing, commentary, channel and thank you for sharing all this with us! Just when I thought Fridays couldn't get any better... you come in and blow it all away!
Dear Mr. Buck, I feel like I switched over to another universe suddenly. Thank you for your generosity. I have been moved. I love Donald Fagen and he goes through a ton of session musicians per song to try to get the best emotional move and taste for his songs. I feel like I am listening to an obvious pro, though I am unsure of your outside professional reality. You are the only dude I feel can play as the only go to guy for any studio gig along the lines of whatever is needed. Again, I just moved to this universe and you are the god of guitar in this new universe. You literally moved me, maybe even dragged me here. Thank you so much!
Chris, this is so relevant to me. Barely an hour goes by when I don't sit and "play" my Hohner G3T. I have 7 other guitars but this is by far my favourite. I've been playing with thumb and finger(s) for years now with every note bent, slid (both up and down) and twisted and wobbled. I then think I ought to use the pick but when I do I lose that feel thing - that connection. You've convinced me to carry on as I am and leave the pick. I never play in public or even through my amps. I'd virtually given up until I stumbled across you. Thank you.
I noticed your pick tucking in the other video, was about to comment and saw this video listed. It is astounding how effortlessly and often you change what your right hand is doing.
Best Part: it takes hard work, "which is why we buy pedals and try to avoid." I think Chris was speaking directly to me, and my constant search for the "talent" pedal.
Practiced for a while and never before realized how much I rely on all five fingers when fingerpicking. It will definitely take a lot of practice to get used to having my thumb and only 3 fingers, but since it is my index fingernail which is the worst, your technique may be the answer I have been searching for. And now back to the woodshed.
thank you for this. I just recently found your videos and carefully watched both of your hands...and eventually assumed you both wanted to have the pick close at hand and didn't want to use your index finger. The difference in sound was obvious so the choices made sense. One thing from my very very past experience: I was jamming with a guitarist that I really admired for the first and only time and the one thing he told me that has stuck with me...that I didn't totally understand at the time...was: "you really know what you are doing with your right hand."
Tim Pierce was a close choice for me, but as my mother was Welsh, I feel a Celtic bond with you Bro' - I am a big user of thumb/with a concealed pick. Your playing is beautiful here Chris.
Love your playing brotha, you’re one of my favorite players.. l love playing with and without a pick and chicken picking.. certain things just sound and feel better with the fingers.. keep killing it brotha 🥇
This is really cool to see. My uncle does something similar but he keeps the pick in his middle finger. I personally experimented with dropping the pick entirely about 6 years ago before I quite playing for about 3 years. Just got back into playing again recently and am still dusting off the cobwebs. But what I figured out back then, and what I'm doing again is, I grew my nails out for finger style, and I use the index finger nail as a pick for anything I would need a pick for. If I did just that, my index nail would grind down to nothing and it wouldn't work for more than a a few songs. So what I figured out is putting a layer of super glue on top of the last 1/3 or so of my index nail and filing it down to a smooth surface after it dries. This makes for a great pick, but it's tone is more of a medium to heavy pick, so if there's a particular strumming centric song I want to play with that brushy light pick sound, I'll still use light picks for that. But for the most part, just by attacking the strings very particularly, I can mimic most of the sounds I could get out of a pick with my index pick. I can't get the fleshy muted sounds with the nails; I'd have to clip them. But since I play a lot of acoustic, that wouldn't give me the volume I want, so I settle for nails. There was a period when I just started playing again that attacking the strings to hard caused my index to hurt, but I went slow and toughed my finger up, and it seems to be doing fine now. I do wonder though about how that may change as I get older considering what you said about what happened to your finger.
This is nuts… firstly that I’ve just found this channel, second that someone else out there is holding their pick that way/thumb-middle finger dominant. My style is odd in that way too, but man you pull it off! The pop and feel in the dynamics you achieve on the the fingers you’re left with floored me mate. Quality! My weirdness continues into holding the pick between thumb, index and first finger mostly. I find I can deviate the angle of the pick, maintain a looser but reliable grip and feel the strings more with both fingers touching, but I find the middle finger comes off to do it’s own thing, muting or occasionally for really gentle stuff… I love how differently everyone approaches guitar, fascinating man.
Majestic. I also used my index finger as a pick until I was 16 or so - the nail is rekt, it grows more slowly on the right of my finger and splits all the time.
Such a clever technique! Especially forces you to start your solo smooth and slow, and when you wanna speed up you're picking! Simple! I'm stealing it ;)
Started playing in the late 60s ,we never used to put that much vibrato in our fretting fingers .Joe Pass ,Benson But you guys Maccusso ,you ,and the others all young do so beautifully
It's a superior technique. It gives you the ability to switch between plektrum and fingers effortlessly. I have started practicing it myself after watching you.
I love how you change from pick to finger tips whenever you want a different inflection. I've started to play like this somewhat just to keep me playing differently. Also, sweet guitar man!
After the first time I watched one of your videos, I subconsciously developed this technique, and I didn't realise until a few months after watching you that I got that from you
Really happy to have come across this not just because I play with my fingers, don’t use a pick at all but been considering it for the reasons you give, but because I’ve been having problems with muting with the right hand because of the angle of my hand, I use mostly my thumb and index finger, but seeing the angle of it with your middle finger instead seems to improve the angle of it. Might be a unintended consequence and sorry to hear about your finger (I nearly cut the tip of one of mine off on my left hand so I’m no stranger to finger troubles) but I’m glad to have found it
*THIS* is the video I've been wanting! Fantastic stuff man. Your articulation and dynamics are phenomenal! So glad I found you through Norm's Rare Guitars.
Well I must admit to wondering the same. I also must admit I tried the same with my pick....... that said I failed at handling the pick just as badly as trying to play and sound like Chris Buck. I guess this truly belongs to you Mr. Buck and now that the mystery is solved I feel ok being a guitar hack again.
I used to play with a pick, or fingers. Never mixed. I started to feel more intimate with the guitar when I would play with fingers so I started doing more often and now I write a lot of songs where I switch between the two. If I’m looking to get grit or speed I will use a pick, when I’m looking for elegance or dynamics I will use my fingers. This evolution in my playing has inspired a recording project im pretty excited about.
heheheh... I get it. I have a similar issue from nail biting for some 60 years, which for some reason trashes my first finger when I use a pick the traditional way, but not if I turn it sideways for reasons known only to the hand/finger. Life is a funny thing. Love your tone and style. Well done.
I have been doing this for 30 years. I took the idea from EVH from the live without a net video. Difference I move it to my middle finger. It was done so I could tap something with my pointer. I remember practice the move at first. Like you said it is second nature. Ultimately through time it enables me to switch back and forth. I use it for using my fingers similar to what you do. (No where near as good)😊
I have seen lots of players using mainly fingers instead of a pick so that specific detailed on your playing has never really raised my attention. Finger style playing has always been a criteria for me to say "OK HE/SHE KNOWS WHAT HE´S/SHE´S DOING AND FOR INSTANCE A GOOD PLAYER " (specially with bass players!! ) I learned to play guitar only using my right hand fingers (due to my classical background) and I am grateful today that I have the skills to do that. Learning the guitar with a just pick is a terrible mistake done by probably most of players today. So seeing you finger style playing just strengthen the idea that you are indeed a great player with a correct technique. PD: And to be honest the sound of fingerstyle is way much better and you have prove that. Having the control of your tone and playing while fingerpick is just a great tool and skill to we all should, at least, try.
The illusion of the travelling plectrum has been revealed but I will cling to my perception that it basically moves around on its own as Chris needs it to. Not having the index finger in the way does seem to give the ring and middle finger more space to work with but it definitely feels very odd when you’re not used to it.
Top playing as always, it never fails to transmit an irresistible urge to pick up the guitar and start playing too (but maybe not as well). lovely guitar too, great sound.
Yaaaaaas! Love this video and especially the clarification that some speed scales are done better with a pick. I’ve been trying to figure out why I just can’t finger pick everything but if you switch at that breaking point, guess I will too😎 GREAT video
Advice for anyone trying to emulate the softer touch of fingerstyle with a pick. Try a fatter 1.5mm (not too fat) pick and make sure it has nice rounded soft edges and it will sound closer. It will also get better and rounder on the edges with use. I use 1.5mm D'Addario Black Ice picks for this.
Hey if it works don’t change it! It makes a lot of sense particularly with the first finger injury you mentioned. For me I do a fair amount of hybrid picking and do occasionally just drop the pick entirely.
I'm slightly staggered to see that MusicRadar have included myself/Friday Fretworks in their 2020 roundup of Best Online Guitar Personalities. If you felt so inclined to drop me a vote, that'd be wonderful! 🙂
Vote: bit.ly/FridayFretworks2020Vote
Done!
Done 👍
I've said it before but I honestly believe that you will be one of the most popular and influential guitar players in the world in the near future my friend. You have that 'it" factor.
easy - uncle Ben wasnt nominated so you got my vote. well deserved!
Yes, did it. Such an easy choice.
having a top class and one of the most melodic contemporary guitar players going through the trouble of shooting a video, explaining his craft, playing guitar, editing the video and uploading it for us to enjoy totally for free.. man,what a great time to be a musician... Thank you for what you do Chris, cheers and stay safe!
And yet people still down vote and complain. Thankfully it is a small percentage. 🤦🏼♂️
@@chrislestermusic agreed. I think it is bizarre that anybody should go to the trouble of disliking this. Chris is explaining something he does and he is not sticking it down anyone's throat. I think there is a weird thing with TH-cam that even the best videos will always attract 1% dislikes.
@@chrislestermusic some people just look for reasons to be an @$$hole...
@@chrislestermusic that's the internet.. it's very weird how certain individuals behave on the internet, as Robert said, why would anyone leave a thumbs down? It's definitely unexplainable, but that's our reality...
Yeah who wants to just work on playing when I can geek out about not using a pick.
Can't think of many guitarists (apart from Jeff Beck) who have such effortless control over their dynamics. Just sublime.
Julian Lage
Check out Jimmy Herring... I agree that Chris is awesome as well though
Mateus Asato
Philip sayce definitely comes to mind
Roy Buchanan.
I would love a "Solo Album" collection of your TH-cam jams.... I would listen to it on spotify often
Add transcription and I'm buying :-)
yeah me too
THIS ^^^
Same!
^^ what he said
This dude is an absolutely incredible guitar player. There’s a of talented players on TH-cam but Chris is literally just next level. Mind blowing.
That opening jam is nuts... never fail to enjoy these videos.
IMO, this is THE TH-cam sleeper channel. Glad to see it growing so fast. You're on another level.
Love it when you play that neo soul type stuff. Your phrasing and note choice is simply incredible.
"What's that purple thing in your hand?"
"I was just playing guitar mum, honest"
Glad someone else got that joke 🤣😂. Just flew over everyone’s head.
Lmfao
@@BeefNEggs057 not 130 people's
Such an EXQUISITE guitarist and a fine gentleman too. Thank you, Chris.
It really is surprising to me how few people are talking about how smooth his transitions are from using the pick to tucking it away. It’s really interesting to watch.
The jam in the beginning is your best one. I come back to it every so often because the tone is just so gorgeous.
Regardless of how you play, you are one of the new generation treasures.
I am blown away that you haven’t blown up yet. Like you have one of the most pleasant, interesting, nuanced, identifiable and listenable playing styles and tones I’ve heard in a really long time. I really can’t wait until you blow up so more people can appreciate your music and more people can be inspired to make music like you!
I dig your explanations as much as your playing. You are an exceptional communicator, mate.
I see this young guy on TH-cam thinking he's going to play like a metalhead, but nope, super classy and soulful playing, great stuff.
I think you can add "King of the P-90s" to your ever-growing list of richly deserved accolades...
I’d like to know all the gear he used for this video, I really like the tone
Great touch, articulations and tone. Your playing is instantly recognizable, which is about the best compliment I can give any player.
I'd like to say that whatever you're doing with pick or no pick your musical expression is so real and so great. we should all consider how our preconceptions of what guitar playing is needs to be reconsidered. I really love listening to what you play no matter how you do it. It's exceptional and I hope more people discover your playing.
Your dynamics and touch are simply AMAZING.
Boy do I need to practice!
Its impressive how seamlessly you switch from playing finger style to playing with a pick and back again. The Paul Davids challenge introduced me to your wonderful, tasteful playing! Thank you for sharing your technique.
I've been doing something similar for years. I use jazz iii's which fit perfectly tucked away in my middle finger. I can still pick with that finger and my first finger, and I switch between my pick and finger subconsciously with no trouble at all. Its actually made my playing much better. I believe John Mayer does something similar too.
Very accomplished and tasteful player. A guitar genius of our time. Thank you, Chris.
You were born to play guitar, my friend. Just incredible.
When teachers tell you to play with “feel “ they mean play like Chris .
Agreed
When the fight against the tyranny becomes too much for one day Chris reminds me we will build a new better world and hang out in the summer months and watch the best UK guitarist shine in his own beautiful light, Peace
Nice to hear those clean sweet tones. I’m so tired of hearing overdriven soup. I’m dating myself but started off in the 60’s with a 64 Tele, echoplex and an Ampeg portoflex . 55 years later I still prefer to let the guitar speak with a little delay and reverb.
Delay sucks
1:02 Ohh!! That tasty lick really leads me to Paul David's improv challenge video 😍😍
Well, my bad. I wrote my last comment before watching to the end, and you have answered my question before the end. Thank you again. A new fan is watching you.
Showing me how you untuck your pick has just changed my life. I've been tucking it the same way, as I find that most comfortable, but I've had inconsistent results trying to get it back out. I will be practicing that move all day... lol. I appreciate you taking the time to share with us. Sometimes it's the golden nuggets you don't even know you're sharing that are the most important. Good thing I was paying attention.
Take care, Chris.
Crikey, made me wince when he said that he basically wrecked his index finger nail from thrashing out bar chords during his adolescence and now it's too raw to use. Great video - lot's of great 'Insta' guitarists at the moment and this guy is one of the most unique and an absolute gent.
Some twenty years ago I quit playing bass because of an injury to my right index finger that made consistent tone between my plucking fingers impossible. I recently bought a new bass to experiment with ways to work around the problem. This video is fairly inspiring as far as that goes. Thanks.
You ever try a pick? It may limit you, but it's a way forward as long as it's not straight up blasphemous.
Your playing is sublime, I definitely love it. Great, no words
This guys very quickly becoming my favorite player
I hold a purple Tortex pick in my right hand too. Unfortunately, that’s the only thing I have in common with Mr. Buck
I just, switched from a purple Tortex to a dark blue Dunlop Gator Grip(1.14mm, also). Now, I find the standard Tortex picks too big lol. These have a higher coefficient of friction vs the regular Tortex so it makes them a little more grippy. I swear it seems like they have more grip when your fingers are slightly moist/sweaty, too.
Touch is so lost on a lot of new players but it’s the very thing that makes the guitar arguably the most expressive instrument you can play. Great vid mate!
Maestro with or without it. Simply brilliant on everything I’ve heard you play. Thanks for first working so hard to develop your gift and second so freely sharing it with the world Chris.
I had a friend who, the first thing his tutor taught him was to play fingerstyle. It made such an impression on me how quickly he progressed from there that, when I eventually decided to learn the guitar myself many years later, I jumped in straight away with learning to finger pick. Now that it's becomes second nature, It's such a satisfying thing to do that I've never really mastered the plectrum. I'll get around to it some day I'm sure.
Thanks. I think I was one of your commenters who inquired... and also thank you for going through the switch multiple times. I slowed the video to get details.
Now... I've something else to practice
I really hope you get the respect you deserve in the guitar world over the coming years Chris. I've been playing guitar for at least 20 years , I have heard (and played with ) so many guitarists, I'm a nobody but I think I have a pretty good ear and blimey you have one of the sweetest sounds and class to your playing!
There are so many guitarists out there who don't understand the value of a single bend played properly Vs a shredded scale.. and of course in a studio or live situation (unless you play metal at 170bpm) the first is what counts.
Hands down to you, your quality and I really hope you'll get recognised for the great player you are.
Your finger style is truly amazing, and this video explaining your technique is very insightful! Thank you!
There are always some angry bitter people in this world no matter the brilliance presented to them. And those are the 7 freaks that gave this video a thumbs down... I pray for them. I myself... I am in the other thousand plus people that recognize the absolute mastery and artistic brilliance that Chris shows in the marriage of his right and left hand and the marriage of his pick and fingers of his right hand. Damn! Dude the tone and musicality (yes I used the word musicality - not even sure that's a word but it works here) is amazing. Thousands of people apparently agree with me. I love your playing, commentary, channel and thank you for sharing all this with us! Just when I thought Fridays couldn't get any better... you come in and blow it all away!
Dear Mr. Buck,
I feel like I switched over to another universe suddenly. Thank you for your generosity. I have been moved. I love Donald Fagen and he goes through a ton of session musicians per song to try to get the best emotional move and taste for his songs. I feel like I am listening to an obvious pro, though I am unsure of your outside professional reality. You are the only dude I feel can play as the only go to guy for any studio gig along the lines of whatever is needed.
Again, I just moved to this universe and you are the god of guitar in this new universe. You literally moved me, maybe even dragged me here.
Thank you so much!
Chris, this is so relevant to me. Barely an hour goes by when I don't sit and "play" my Hohner G3T. I have 7 other guitars but this is by far my favourite. I've been playing with thumb and finger(s) for years now with every note bent, slid (both up and down) and twisted and wobbled. I then think I ought to use the pick but when I do I lose that feel thing - that connection. You've convinced me to carry on as I am and leave the pick. I never play in public or even through my amps. I'd virtually given up until I stumbled across you. Thank you.
I noticed your pick tucking in the other video, was about to comment and saw this video listed. It is astounding how effortlessly and often you change what your right hand is doing.
The close-up only just made me go "holy shit" for a second time. Who cares how you play, what you play is really inspiring !
Oh my, the switch between fingers and pick is really impressive!
Your opening solo is utterly utterly sublime Chris. Just flawlessly beautiful. Man oh man!
The tone in that intro was gorgeous
Legendary Tone in all the fingers you use.
Best Part: it takes hard work, "which is why we buy pedals and try to avoid." I think Chris was speaking directly to me, and my constant search for the "talent" pedal.
I was shocked at how far I had to scroll down the comments to find someone mentioning that line.
Practiced for a while and never before realized how much I rely on all five fingers when fingerpicking. It will definitely take a lot of practice to get used to having my thumb and only 3 fingers, but since it is my index fingernail which is the worst, your technique may be the answer I have been searching for. And now back to the woodshed.
thank you for this. I just recently found your videos and carefully watched both of your hands...and eventually assumed you both wanted to have the pick close at hand and didn't want to use your index finger. The difference in sound was obvious so the choices made sense. One thing from my very very past experience: I was jamming with a guitarist that I really admired for the first and only time and the one thing he told me that has stuck with me...that I didn't totally understand at the time...was: "you really know what you are doing with your right hand."
The intro jams on all these are just mesmerising ❤️
That's some of the best playing I've seen and heard from you Chris. Inspiring. Also a great tone from the LP with P90s. Thank you.
Tim Pierce was a close choice for me, but as my mother was Welsh, I feel a Celtic bond with you Bro' - I am a big user of thumb/with a concealed pick. Your playing is beautiful here Chris.
Love your playing brotha, you’re one of my favorite players.. l love playing with and without a pick and chicken picking.. certain things just sound and feel better with the fingers.. keep killing it brotha 🥇
This is really cool to see. My uncle does something similar but he keeps the pick in his middle finger. I personally experimented with dropping the pick entirely about 6 years ago before I quite playing for about 3 years. Just got back into playing again recently and am still dusting off the cobwebs. But what I figured out back then, and what I'm doing again is, I grew my nails out for finger style, and I use the index finger nail as a pick for anything I would need a pick for. If I did just that, my index nail would grind down to nothing and it wouldn't work for more than a a few songs. So what I figured out is putting a layer of super glue on top of the last 1/3 or so of my index nail and filing it down to a smooth surface after it dries. This makes for a great pick, but it's tone is more of a medium to heavy pick, so if there's a particular strumming centric song I want to play with that brushy light pick sound, I'll still use light picks for that. But for the most part, just by attacking the strings very particularly, I can mimic most of the sounds I could get out of a pick with my index pick. I can't get the fleshy muted sounds with the nails; I'd have to clip them. But since I play a lot of acoustic, that wouldn't give me the volume I want, so I settle for nails. There was a period when I just started playing again that attacking the strings to hard caused my index to hurt, but I went slow and toughed my finger up, and it seems to be doing fine now. I do wonder though about how that may change as I get older considering what you said about what happened to your finger.
This is nuts… firstly that I’ve just found this channel, second that someone else out there is holding their pick that way/thumb-middle finger dominant. My style is odd in that way too, but man you pull it off! The pop and feel in the dynamics you achieve on the the fingers you’re left with floored me mate. Quality! My weirdness continues into holding the pick between thumb, index and first finger mostly. I find I can deviate the angle of the pick, maintain a looser but reliable grip and feel the strings more with both fingers touching, but I find the middle finger comes off to do it’s own thing, muting or occasionally for really gentle stuff… I love how differently everyone approaches guitar, fascinating man.
Majestic. I also used my index finger as a pick until I was 16 or so - the nail is rekt, it grows more slowly on the right of my finger and splits all the time.
Such a clever technique! Especially forces you to start your solo smooth and slow, and when you wanna speed up you're picking! Simple! I'm stealing it ;)
Started playing in the late 60s ,we never used to put that much vibrato in our fretting fingers .Joe Pass ,Benson
But you guys Maccusso ,you ,and the others all young do so beautifully
It's a superior technique. It gives you the ability to switch between plektrum and fingers effortlessly. I have started practicing it myself after watching you.
Your intro solo is so good! Love your melodies, dynamics and use of effects! That reverse delay is a really nice touch. Thanks!
that jam is crazy
I love how you change from pick to finger tips whenever you want a different inflection. I've started to play like this somewhat just to keep me playing differently. Also, sweet guitar man!
After the first time I watched one of your videos, I subconsciously developed this technique, and I didn't realise until a few months after watching you that I got that from you
Ultimately, it's a style that you made uniquely your own, when I hear it, I know it's Chris Buck.
I never envied a guitarist for his playing abilities as much as I envy you.
Chris, Thank you for the back story. You got a unique thing happening there! Excellent Player. Great Feel.
Tone and dynamic, that's what I think when I watch u play for so long using pick and fingers. 👍👍👍
i tried to think of what to comment, but I’m just at a loss for words. Your jams only get better!
Really happy to have come across this not just because I play with my fingers, don’t use a pick at all but been considering it for the reasons you give, but because I’ve been having problems with muting with the right hand because of the angle of my hand, I use mostly my thumb and index finger, but seeing the angle of it with your middle finger instead seems to improve the angle of it. Might be a unintended consequence and sorry to hear about your finger (I nearly cut the tip of one of mine off on my left hand so I’m no stranger to finger troubles) but I’m glad to have found it
*THIS* is the video I've been wanting! Fantastic stuff man. Your articulation and dynamics are phenomenal! So glad I found you through Norm's Rare Guitars.
Well I must admit to wondering the same. I also must admit I tried the same with my pick....... that said I failed at handling the pick just as badly as trying to play and sound like Chris Buck. I guess this truly belongs to you Mr. Buck and now that the mystery is solved I feel ok being a guitar hack again.
You are my favorite guitarist on TH-cam. I discovered you through Paul Davids collab video. Your tone is insane! Loving it brother!
I used to play with a pick, or fingers. Never mixed. I started to feel more intimate with the guitar when I would play with fingers so I started doing more often and now I write a lot of songs where I switch between the two. If I’m looking to get grit or speed I will use a pick, when I’m looking for elegance or dynamics I will use my fingers.
This evolution in my playing has inspired a recording project im pretty excited about.
heheheh... I get it. I have a similar issue from nail biting for some 60 years, which for some reason trashes my first finger when I use a pick the traditional way, but not if I turn it sideways for reasons known only to the hand/finger. Life is a funny thing. Love your tone and style. Well done.
I second the idea of a Solo album with only Chris Buck youtube intros. I would have it on repeat all year round👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
I think watching the close ups of you playing guitar is my favorite thing on TH-cam
Almost no one’s playing gets me too excited these days, except this guy.
Check out Guthrie trapp
@@joebill663 oh yeah. For sure. Maybe I should have said “and Guthrie Trapp.” The guy is a killer and keeps it exciting.
Chris: "Fingers are not made of plastic"
Toni Iommi: "Am I a joke to you?"
🤭🤭🤭
I have been doing this for 30 years. I took the idea from EVH from the live without a net video. Difference I move it to my middle finger. It was done so I could tap something with my pointer. I remember practice the move at first. Like you said it is second nature. Ultimately through time it enables me to switch back and forth. I use it for using my fingers similar to what you do. (No where near as good)😊
You’re such an amazing guitarist, Chris, so tasteful, a musician par excellence! Always a pleasure to watch your videos! Big kudos from Armenia))🙏👍
OMG - I literally was about to ask about your pick holding technique and there is the video!
Lurrrvvveeee all your vid intros when it's just beautiful tone & playing.
I have seen lots of players using mainly fingers instead of a pick so that specific detailed on your playing has never really raised my attention. Finger style playing has always been a criteria for me to say "OK HE/SHE KNOWS WHAT HE´S/SHE´S DOING AND FOR INSTANCE A GOOD PLAYER " (specially with bass players!! ) I learned to play guitar only using my right hand fingers (due to my classical background) and I am grateful today that I have the skills to do that. Learning the guitar with a just pick is a terrible mistake done by probably most of players today. So seeing you finger style playing just strengthen the idea that you are indeed a great player with a correct technique. PD: And to be honest the sound of fingerstyle is way much better and you have prove that. Having the control of your tone and playing while fingerpick is just a great tool and skill to we all should, at least, try.
The illusion of the travelling plectrum has been revealed but I will cling to my perception that it basically moves around on its own as Chris needs it to.
Not having the index finger in the way does seem to give the ring and middle finger more space to work with but it definitely feels very odd when you’re not used to it.
Top playing as always, it never fails to transmit an irresistible urge to pick up the guitar and start playing too (but maybe not as well). lovely guitar too, great sound.
Yeah man, you make every guitar you play sing like an angel
I like the way you alternate between using the pick and fingerstyle.
you are such an expressive player ...always a pleasure to listen to !
Yaaaaaas! Love this video and especially the clarification that some speed scales are done better with a pick. I’ve been trying to figure out why I just can’t finger pick everything but if you switch at that breaking point, guess I will too😎 GREAT video
Advice for anyone trying to emulate the softer touch of fingerstyle with a pick. Try a fatter 1.5mm (not too fat) pick and make sure it has nice rounded soft edges and it will sound closer. It will also get better and rounder on the edges with use. I use 1.5mm D'Addario Black Ice picks for this.
“Never” use the pick? Buck is a MASTER technician of when, when not, and how to use a plectrum. Master technique.
You're dynamics are incredible. Very talented picker right here!
Hey if it works don’t change it! It makes a lot of sense particularly with the first finger injury you mentioned.
For me I do a fair amount of hybrid picking and do occasionally just drop the pick entirely.
Tone. That's why you're not using that pick. Simply expression. Love your right hand technique and I'm trying to develop the same. Awesome playing.
Great video Chris. I have the same fingernail problem on my index finger. Mine came from doing Pete Townsend windmills back in the '60's
After discovering Chris's channel I tried this method. Cannot do it AT ALL. But love watching Chris do it.