The Right Hand Pick

I've been working on my right hand trying to get a convincing pick style sound out of my thumb and index finger. There are just some styles that need that pick sound/attack, but I never have a pick at hand. I'm using the thumb for downstrokes and the index for the upstrokes (ala Albert Collins).

It's coming along quite well, I suppose, but it does bring up an interesting observation about how completely muscle-memory becomes integrated. I suddenly feel like a complete beginner when practicing my new pick. It's been a long time since I felt this...ahmm...clumsy while running scales I know in my sleep. It's sort'a cool. It is making me examine all kinds of little angles and positions as I teach my hand how to do it.

So why post it to the blog? I guess just to suggest that if your feeling a little bored with your playing, then try to mix it up a bit with a strange technique. You will reap an instant return to that "beginners" mind.