Beginer ???? Not useing a pick

I have found myself not useing a pick.. just useing my fingers... I feel more comfortable this way (I think)..... Is this a bad way to start out playing????

I don't think there is anything wrong with that at all. Different songs require different techniques and tools. I often learn songs by finger and then add a pick later if it is required. You'll prob find that many songs just sound better with a pick (and some don't) and when you are ready to play those songs you'll naturally begin to experiment with a pick. AND there are tons of songs that are meant to be played with the fingers. The most important thing is to learn to play well and play clean.
IMO
Phip

NO! not at all wrong!

i acctually picked with just my pointer finger for the first few months!! i acctually found it helpful! one day i decided to pick up a pick, and i totally got it! i also got pinch harmonics the same day! idk how but i wouldnt recommend it forever but no not at all wrong.

I'm really strict on practicing. I think its important to practice things that aren't comfortable to play, and build speed off of them. Speed doesn't make for a good song, but if you take your music seriously you will want to learn everything you can. I suggest that you play with both and pick and your fingers. Its important to play things until in fact they do feel comfortable. This is from someone who doesn't leave the house and plays at least 8 hours everyday, so really what do i know

Jeff Beck doesn't seem to have a problem in just using his fingers. Not only that, but because he's not using a pick he has more capacity for keeping his whammy close to hand at the same time as 'violining' with his 'pinky' so I'd say crack on with developing your pick free technique!

Because I started playing on a classical guitar, first I didn't use a pick AT ALL. Then, after quite some time I started using one (still on my classical guitar) and it felt kinda weird in the beginning but I knew I would need to know how to use one sooner or later so I learned to use picks.
I often play with no pick (grew my fingernails) for various reasons or just because I don't have a pick with me. And you HAVE TO use your finger when your doing arpeggios and stuff like that.
I suggest you get used to playing without a pick very well before moving on to the pick because I've seen many players that have never played with their fingers and now that they can use a pick they don't want to "waste" their time and learn using their fingers.

@deefa and before HIM, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, etc etc...

in the end you should be able to, finger-pick, cross-pick, flat-Pick Chet-Pick, Travis-Pick, etc
BUT
how and when you 'get there' is far less important than what you learn along the way.
knowing that you can pick in all styles (with or without a pick) frees you to explore more tonal options with your left hand, which leads to exploring more picking techniques which leads to ...you see where i'm going

"nothing is true--everything is permitted"- J Carroll

RAWK!
Cs

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HAHA...(drops off the chair laughing)...

Anyway, I didnt use a pick for long time from the beginning, I found its difficult to play rhythm with pick, but helpful in solos... (that might be cause of my lack of technique on pick (actually I dont have a clue how it should held right).

I think if you are playing rhythm in beginning, its not important to use pick yet, but if you practise scales and solos, use it. Thats how I do it now.

Cheers!
Empirism

PS. Carl, wouldn't it be cool if someone could make a little video lesson for holding a pick right?... haha, dont get me wrong m8 XD.

Cool thanks.....

.. i just started playing acoustic around chrismas and when i play acoustic i never use a pick ... just my lack of fingernails

exactly!

Like Everyone else said, it all depends on what you're trying to play, and sometimes might use both, there will be times when you're tapping for example u gotta keep your pick with some finger (or hold it with your teeth :P, depends) and tap with both hands , or there will be times were you got to play certain strings together without plucking all of the other strings while its a song for example that requires a pick, so u gotta use both at certain times.

that could also be bad because if it isnt comfortable then you could end up with bad technique and screw up something in your arm or hands

Check out the Dire Straits vocalist and lead guitarist, Mark Knopfler. He has a very unique style of playing that does not involve a pick, and he has some of the most memorable riffs of any guitarist out there (at least in my opinion).

There are also a few lesson videos of him explaining how he plays. Might help you out in your quest to understand this finger-picking thing :)

I've tried using a pick once or twice in the 20+ years that I've been playing...I would have had just as good of luck using a ham sandwich to strum with...I find them horribly constricting and uncomfortable...

Things may different today if I had started with one but I didn't and they are not...

I don't believe I'm missing anything not using one...

that all depends on what you play really, i see from your profile you like playing blues, which doesnt need a pick really, but if you try playing metal without a pick, when you start shredding and sweeping, your gonna have problems