What famous guitarists do not play with a pick?

Question

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Answer 1

Classical players rarely use it.

But I think you mean electric guitar. Well, there are many. Most significantly, many blues players don't use it...Albert Collins, Jeff Beck, Albert King and so on. You know, blues isn't technically challenging, it's all about feeling and one can perhaps control the tone better without pick (but it goes pretty well with it as well...I do use it too). Then Mark Knopfler comes to mind.

But it's always someone who plays more that feeling-based stuff. I can't really imagine Yngwie Malmsteen or Randy Rhoads playing their stuff fingerstyle lol.

Answer 2

Esteban doesnt, he has long fingernails.

Answer 3

i think you will find Mark Knoeppfler of Dire Straits doesn't use one

Answer 4

Almost NONE if they are playing a Classical guitar.   And it depends on the music if you want to use a pick on an Acoustic.  If you watch REALLY closely, you will notice a lot of musicians either don't use a pick or use a finger pick at least part of the time..  The exception is, of course, electric guitar players because an electric is almost impossible to play without a pick and most Country players use a pick on everything.

A lot depends on how you want the music to sound.  If you want it twangie.. you use a pick and if you want it soft and flowing, you don't use a pick, so the music determines the use of a pick.

Answer 5

Missing one of my all time favorites Derek Trucks who plays slide guitar with his SG with a method called hybrid picking