Did we miss a killer guitarist who doesn't use a pick? Tell us about 'em in the comments below!

Jeff Beck definitely used a pick early in his career....

Beck actually did use picks at some point I believe I thought he stopped in the late 70's early 80's but either way I do agree his tone got way better with finger meat and his sound and style keep getting better with age even at 78 .. very rare also the pioneer of faux slide playing he can mimic a slide or harmonica even violin sounds on command crickets, birds and everything else! master of volume and tone knobs his toggles his 5 way selector switch like a machine gun! He really took the Hendrix torch of experimental blues rock/fusion to a level no other player has achieved! I bow to his Majesty's secret service of Beck's Bolero

I played for a period of about 10 years without the use of a pick and developed tones that are unlike anything you can achieve with a pick. I think this video has inspired me to revisit playing with just my hands again. Great video Mason! :)

I think Jeff Beck used a pick, in the 70's. There's the interview with him on TOGW where he runs through his effects (wind bag lol) where it at least looks like he's holding a pick... I could well be wrong ☝

Canadian singer/songwriter Bruce Cockburn is an incredible guitarist who has had an over 50 year career of fingerstyle playing of both acoustic and electric instruments.

Andy from Reverb!

Jeff Beck used a pick in the 60s and 70s. Mark Knopfler very occasionally uses a pick.

Jeff Beck used a pick until 1983. His best albums ‘Truth,” “Blow by Blow,” and “Wired,” we’re all recorded using a pick. His playing was much more incendiary and precise with a plectrum. Check out his phenomenal soloing with Clapton on “Further Down the Road” from the Secret Policeman’s Ball and the early version of “She’s a Woman,” from 1974 to see what we are missing with his pick-less playing today.

To me, there is nothing more dynamic than having the ability to alter the way you play each string in chord. Having a finger on each note in the chord allows me to get the exact sound I’m after on a track. Took a long time to get used to, but it was worth it.

Jeff Beck and Derek Trucks got my vote! Some crazy good tones there!

I guess you omitted WES MONTGOMERY because he’s in a league of his own.🎸

Most every time I fall in love with a guitarist's playing, it has turned out that they don't use a pick.

Ive never used a pick and when I try it throws me off and I sound terrible. Playing without one just feels natural.

Incredible, I was just at Mateo Mancuso's concert in Hendaia, Basque Country while you were releasing this video. This guy is insane, i'm pretty sure he's got hidden fingers. Amazing show.

Nice video. I saw Knopfler use a plectrum on a nylon strung guitar with the Notting Hillbillies....

Jeff Beck used one off and on in his younger years. It wasn't until the 90s that he pretty much stopped for good, and even then, he did use one for the Les Paul tribute stuff. I'm also not sure that Scatterbrain can be played without one, lol.

This is interesting to me because I don't use a pick. It started out just me not having one around and still wanting to play. But eventually, I thought I'd get more serious about it and really try to train myself to use a pick because there are certain techniques that you just can't do without one. Alternate picking, sweeping. But, it didn't work. It didn't feel right and it didn't sound right. I like the sound of my fingernail and I like the feel of the strings under my hands. And, oddly enough, I seemed to have gone backwards. I started out a rock musician and now I'm more of a folk guitarist and picker. Lol.

Lindsey is a master. Producer, player, singer, writer the entire package. Interesting note is that he is really a Strat guy. His 62 is used on most of the famous solos you hear. Still uses it to this day. Love your channel man.

They’re amazing and inspiring! Funny thing for me: I’ve practiced mostly strumming and picking with my thumb over the last year in order to play quieter and no wake up my in the morning. Now I prefer it, and using a pick feels clumsy while strumming. I also prefer I for the few licks I know.

WES MONTGOMERY (thumb)

Jeff beck used a pick primarily back in the day up until the 70s.

Look up Jeff Beck’s Rockabilly band; he uses a pick

Hey my Brotha!! RobFonkstarr (Bacon) here lol I actually "ditched" the pick some years back, opting to use the side of my thumb for "butter", or brushing strings for mellow rhythm, then use the point of my finger(s) & nail when I need more of a "pick" attack (single note lines, runs, etc..) Also the natural harmonics are much easier to squeeze out with the fingers... Overall, using the fingers feels more organic and "connected" to the guitar...

Enjoyed watching the video, great selection of players. Also Jonny Lang, Guy King Daniel Lanois and the late Sean Costello as tasteful finger pickers come to mind ;)

Yes, Jeff Beck used a pick. He dropped his pick one night and said he was too embarrassed to bend over and get it off the floor. After that he said he never used a pick again, but yes at one time, he did indeed use a pick.

Bonnie uses a thumb pick. Always has. I worked as a guitar tech for her on a short two week tour in '96

James "Blood" Ulmer has an interesting style using his thumb nail as his pick for strumming and lead work. It was many years ago, I sat right in front of the stage in a small club and watched his hands closely. He was the opening act for Eric Johnson. Great show.

Richie Kotzen is simply the fucken man on all fronts. Singing, writing and playing. Absolutely unreal

Well, Jeff Beck did use a pick until early to mid 80's. He finally said enough after dropping it too many times. Hence a totally different change in sound and technique.

Richie Kotzen played with a pick at the beginning of his career at Shrapnel Records, so "never" is not really appropriate here. But I'm glad you put him in this list. In my humble opinion, he is number one, Mark Knopfler number two and Jeff Beck number three. Congrats that's a good list. :)

Beck played with a pick in his early days.

Wes “The Thumb” Montgomery

"Never touched a pick " is a lie! "Were primarily finger style players "is much more honest.

Jeff beck used picks before 80s or earlier

Great video. I have never felt comfortable using a pick. It removes the connection with the strings for me. I get that it amplifies the sound to be brighter but it’s just not for me. But I always felt I needed to. I think this video confirms you don’t.

Mary Spender is another one who's worth a look. Great video here as always, keep rocking.

@5:40 - You know you're good when you have Clapton playing rhythm for you...

Jeff Beck did use a pick early on the yardbirds he use to drop it too much

add Toy Caldwell from Marshall Tucker Band just his thumb, T Bone Walker, Stanley Jordon

I find I drop the pick more often now myself which creates lots of possibilities , Jeff Beck has always been great with albums like Rough and Ready etc , ( think he still used a pick back then) but some of his incredible memorable playing has been without a pick !

That's really the way to play. I could never hold on the the damn things.

Django Reinhardt who's right hand was badly burned in a tent fire at the age of 17 or 18 and had to develop the finger picking form that a lot of people use today. He was a main influence for guys like Lindsay Buckingham, Jeff Beck & also Willy Nelson, Jerry Garcia and Tommy Iommi who the latter 2 both lost fingers in early parts of the careers.

Michael Hedges / Stanley Jordan/ Wes Montgomery. I think? Hedges is one of the most underrated guitarist of all time. Never on anyone’s list.

Jeff Beck used a pick on his Rock n' Roll party gigs.

Matteo Mancuso is just incredible. There's a reason why none other that Al Di Meola praises him.

Jeff Beck used a pick with the Yardbirds. Check out the New Musical Express Poll Winners concert here on KZfaq. He didn't drop it until he began his solo career.

Richie Kotzen's Fooled Again is on my 'On an Island' top 3 songs. I could listen to that song forever.

great idea for a video. thank you.

Derek Trucks inspired me to pick up the guitar glad to see he made the list

Jeff Beck used a pick in his beginnings, until the 80s: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/isCcebeT28yvgHk.html

Mark Knopfler used a 1961 brownface fender virbrolux which im not sure if the model was 6G11 or AG11-A but with that Dan Armstrong Orange Squeeze compressor and that brownface vibrolux amp it has that first album dire straits tones. I'm not sure why the dan armstrong orange squeeze is so much different than other guitar compressors. The brownface vibrolux model with that orange squeeze compressor is a good match not sure why they interface so well but there its very sensitive to picking dynamics ranges. You should make a video lesson about this combination because its an overlooked trick that Knopfler found by chance.

Richie Kotzen used picksat least in his Shrapnel Records shredding days when he used his Ibanez RG Guitar.

thank you for this. i think i’m losing sight of my dream. i write indie folk fingerstyle instrumentals. but not as many people will take the time to listen to that as they would a more popular genre, even though it’s very beautiful .

FYI, Jeff Beck used a pick early in his career (Blow by Blow, Wired albums) and he's a monster in picking! Ritchie Kotzen used to use picks in the late 80s to early 90s.

I use both methods, something I learned from Stevie Ray Vaughn, I use a pick and my middle finger(hybrid picking) but I also play just with a pick or just my fingers as well. I don't remember his name, but one of the guitarists in Molly Hatchet back in the early 1980's was playing the solo in "Flirtin' With Disaster" he threw me his pick, started playing with his fingers, never missed a beat, but his playing sounded the same! That's something I've never seen before or since!! Great video, you picked a lot of my favorite players.

Surprised by some of these for sure especially not realizing Jeff Beck doesn’t use a pick?! As a finger style electric guitar player it’s inspiring. Why Wes Montgomery or John Abercrombie was not mentioned is beyond me but this seems to be a rock oriented channel so it’s all good. I love all of these picks. Thanks for championing fingerstyle!

Marshall Tucker's Toy Caldwell no pick player.

Great stuff. Well researched. Very interesting to us guitarists.

Nice informative video. I have been using a pick for decades, but recently trying to use fingers (for blues especially). I am curious to know did these people use flesh or nails to pick (or both). I can't seem to get the nail length right and in most cases, the flesh part is good enough. When I want a sharper sound, I use the pick tucked in my palm. I thought shredding was only possible using a pick until I saw Matteo Mancuso some years back on YT! On another note, I read that Jeff Beck use a pick early in his career.

Question: When is it most efficient to solo using 3 fingers on the right hand vs 2 fingers on the right hand? Big thanks for your knowledge!!

Hi and may the Lord bless you all. I use to underestimate finger style technique on electric guitars. My mindset was “picks are for electric guitar as finger style is for acoustics”🤦🏻‍♂️ This days I ditch my pick almost entirety because of Mark And Richie Kotzen. I feel more control on my rhythm guitar parts using my fingers than I do with a pick.

Charlie Hunter. I think he has used a pick on 6 string stuff but the 8 string bass/guitar thing he does should be mentioned in the amazing no pick styles

Glad you put Jared James Nichols in the list. I've been following him for about 6 years now, he's an incredible young bluesman.

Weekly guitar lessons so long ago, 8 months later quit as I couldn't stand playing with a pick, sounding terrible with instructor unapproachable playing otherwise. So many years later, my few remaining picks are great cat toys, he loves 'em!

Andy from reverb.

Jeff Beck used to play with a pick! He stopped using pick in the 1980's!

Bonnie Raitt is a GODDESS!!!

I read not long ago a statement by Jared mentioning that he is actually left handed, so using a pick when learning felt foreign to him. And there are many left handed players that have learned playing right handed guitars so not that weird but the pick makes sense why he developed his picking style by going natural

Beck didn't move away from the pick until the mid 70s... but even up the the end.. whenever he played with his rockabilly band he always used a pick for that style of music..... a lightning fast picker at that.

Blake mills. His video on the fender channel is one of the most inspiring performance ever, plus points for his wonderful tone.

(Bonnie has a a thumb pick) but Love her playing. Learned a lot. Thanks for the vid bud.

Loved it!!! I stopped using a pick 10 years ago and it was the best move that I have ever made!!!!

Bruce Cockburn. AMAZING player and songwriter.

Beck used a pick for 20 years.Plenty of photo evidence till he quit in the late 70's.

Love your channel . John Hiatt wrote Thing called love I believe

Fantastic compilation of great “pick-less” players!

I hope this list isn't hierarchical, because if it is Jeff Beck needs to be way higher up on this list. No offense to the young guns at 1 and 2. Perhaps they'll fully earn those positions in a few years once they have a catalog as long and consistent as those who came before them. Love how Bonnie uses the middle position on her strat. That pickup seems to be forgotten about unless they're using position 2 or 4. We Montgomery and George Van Epps are notable absences.

You should have also mentioned that Albert King also plays a right handed guitar left handed. He left the strings just the way are supposed to be, with the high E as his top string. So from top to bottom is EBGDAE

With all due respect, Mason, Jeff Beck did use picks. It was some time in the late 70s or early 80s where he stopped using picks. I read an article in the mid 80s where he said he, 'locked out," of using picks. My guitar teacher stated the "locked out" statement but he did use picks in the 1960s.

I do both depending on what song style and guitar type. I was blessed to learn finger picking in my beginner days in high school. Learning from Chet Atkins, Flamingo and Classical guitarists my band mate and I would sit and play for hours learning these techniques. Even learning from Paul Simon and James Taylor. Bottom line is learning finger picking has given me a great tool to use even on electric. There are things you can do sonically that can only be done playing with your fingers.

I know there are plenty of famous guitarists that don't use a pick, so I always imagined the way I play was more common that I thought, but I've never seen anyone play the same way I do where I'm basically playing like you would if you were actually using a pick, but pulling my thumb in tighter and using the tip of my index finger like it is a pick kind of. I let the string (or strings) hit my fingernail then let it slip off almost like a weird downstroke finger pluck, but with my index finger mashed against my thumb almost like a fist so that the motion of my finger is my whole hand, not just my inder finger. I also have a weird hybrid version of this style mixed with what looks like pieces of Mark Knopfler's plucking up style with multiple fingers (I call it crabbing) for double stops and whatnot. I'm blues and country player so it works for me, but I dunno. I'm just weird I guess. This my friends is exactly why you shouldn't teach yourself, lol. I find myself struggling trying to learn more advanced techniques now because every teacher or youtube tutorial or whatever method of instruction you happen to use always just assumes you're normal and are using a pick.

Myles Mancuso is a great non-pick guitarist as well. He lives and plays in Key West, FL. He was a child prodigy.

Stephen Stills

"Holiday Road" by Lindsey Buckingham was from National Lampoon's Vacation - not Christmas Vacation

Super idea for a video theme

Mason, Bonnie Raitt “made her way as a guitar player” in the 70’s, not late 80’s. She had a number of albums (without Little Feat) where she played slide as well as picking acoustically. Check out “Sugar Mama” and “Love me Like a Man”. Good show.

Yvette Young doesnt use a pick and is worth a listen, both solo and with her band Covet. Great musician

Jeff. Beck still uses a pick one song scatterbrained. I have couple a pick s Jeff used one was he opened with satana he handed it to me. I’ve seen it very beck usa tour from 80s till present. Up front. Most times from row have great pictures. Got to meet. Once when he played with. Brian Wilson. He s said interview s wasn’t happy about that one but I loved it

Yes, as noted by others below, Jeff did use a plectrum though would occasionally used fingers as needed. I read in an interview where he said he stopped using in the mid 70s when touring 'Blow by Blow' (or 'Wired'). Why? He claimed he kept dropping them and it wasn't cool to be bending over to pick them up (this is before people were taping them to mic stands and their guitars). Jeff would have been reasonably adept with finger playing because Merle Travis was one of his early influences, and so-called Travis Picking is country style finger work (listen to some of the licks on 'Jeff's Boogie' with the Yardbirds). The guitar on 'Because We Ended as Lovers' is the so-called Tele-Gib Jeff was given by pickup maker Seymour Duncan. At the time Jeff was recording, late '74, Duncan was doing guitar repair work at the Fender Soundhouse on London's Tottenham Court Road, a sort of boutique shop for various brands of guitars and other gear carried by Arbiter, the major UK instrument distributor (and creator of the Arbiter Fuzz Face). The guitar was a rebuild and featured two Gibson humbuckers. Those pickups came from Lonnie Mac's Flying V and were also rebuilt by Duncan. At the time Beck was switching between his 'Oxblood' Les Paul and the Esquire from his Yardbirds days. The Tele-Gib gave him the mix of those and appears on a couple tracks. Jeff ended up keeping that guitar though how that went down differs depending on who is telling the story. Jeff says he gave Duncan the Esquire in the studio and then watched it 'walk out the door'. But Duncan (and someone else who gave an account) said he was at work when one of Jeff's people showed up with a bag containing three guitars including a Strat and the Esquire. He was instructed to pick one in exchange for the Tele-Gib, so chose the Esquire because of its history. That guitar is now on display in a Hard Rock Cafe...or these days maybe the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. Jeff has occasionally lamented letting it go, but despite him and Seymour being friends - he even endorsed Duncan's own brand of amps at one point - the guitar never returned to him. Whether he ever asked for it, I don't know. And as we witness in many videos, Jeff doesn't need a whammy bar to create a bend or slide effect. As Clapton and Page have noted on various occasions, Jeff's mastery of manipulation of the strings, controls, and guitar itself set him in a league all his own.

A lot of country blues players never used a pick. BB King used a screen door wire nailed to a wall with a pocket knife for a slide starting out. Eventually, King favored a medium-sized pick with a real guitar because he could afford one later in his career.

Wes Montgomery and Andrés Segovia!

For reference, Beck is NOT using a G-BenderTelecaster either. Had to stop the video and go look at the full clip. The guitar strap is used to bend only the G string from the back on some Telecasters. Jeff Beck's Telecaster is solid.

WES MONTGOMERY!!!!!! He was literally nicknamed the thumb!❤❤❤

Thank You for sharing this video. I like the feel of the strings on my fingers.

The clip you showed of Robbie Krieger I was standing to the right of the stage for the whole performance,Jim Morrison never took his coat off, he was fresh from his troubles in Miami, but the gig was still good

Beck used a Les Paul and a pick when he recorded Blow By Blow. Cause We've Ended as Lovers is on that album. I saw him in 1975 when he played the songs on that album and yes, he was playing a Les Paul with a pick. He stopped using a pick sometime in the 1980's. He started playing Strats on the next album, Wired.

Chris Buck for sure uses a pick but switches back and forth so quickly even mid phrase. I'd love to hear his philosophy on it because that dude is totally proficient without a pick but still chooses to dig in sometimes with one.

If you think Jeff Beck has never used a pick I would encourage you to listen more closely and broadly.......All through his earlier and most well known Albums...("blow by blow", and "wired"....and much more are all played using a pick.....Actually....I'd say it's relatively recent (career wise), that he stopped using a pick..... mostly in the 1980's

Bonnie does use a compressor. That’s how she maintains those long, sustained notes. That plus great tone and talent, of course. She took a lot from Lowell George, and he played a lot in Open A tuning. In the live clip of “Thing Called Love,” she’s using Open A. Bonnie is one of the greatest examples of “less is more” as a player. She works the sound and feel more than using a lot of notes.