Do you need a pick to play acoustic guitar?

Question: Do you need a pick to play acoustic guitar!?
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Playing with a flatpick is a good idea if you're interested in strumming chords and/or picking out single note melodies and solos!. It gives you a much louder, crisper, punchier sound!.

Playing with your fingers (fingerpicking) gives a softer, mellower tone and allows you to play more than one line at the same time -- once you get good at it, you can pick out a bass line with your thumb and at the same time play an independently moving melody line with your other fingers!.

Personally I think it makes sense to learn to play both with and without a flatpick, just so you have the option of doing either, depending on what sound would be best for the song you're doing!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

No you don't need a pick to play an acoutic guitar!. Some steel strings guitar players don't use one!.
They call themselves "finger-style" players!.
also many players who play mostly the "melody"
instead of the "chords" in any musical number find
the fingers easier to use than the pick!.

None of the "classical" nylon-string guitar players
use a pick (but they could if they are used to steel
strings instruments)!.

Many steel string guitar players that play other instruments like the mandolin,banjo,etc!. do use them since they are use to the "mechanics" of using the pick!.

My guitarist friends tell me that the sound (for those with a very critical ear) is different when you play with fingers vs!. pick!. I am not an expert on this issue so I can only take their world for it!.

In the final analysis is a matter of personal taste/choice and ability to learn the different skills
required between pick playing and finger playing!.

Good Luck and Enjoy Your Music!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

No, I teach classical and acoustic and most of my students like and prefer finger style to using the pick!.!.!.!.!.students who like strumming prefer the pick!. If you want to hear an example of finger style go on youtube and type in this!.!.!.!.!.!.Peo Kindgren plays the Beatles Yesterday!.!.!.!.or if you prefer Peo Kindgren plays Claptons Tears In Heaven!.!.!.!.!.once on the site you'll see a large selection of his repertoire !!!!!!!!! I love this guys playing, and I'm sure that you will also !!!!!!!!!!!Www@QuestionHome@Com

Neither one of my guitars even have pick guards!. I fingerpick with mine!. Picks are ALWAYS getting lost, and really can't deliver the sound I am trying to get when playing!. That's why I use fingerpicking methods!. I used to use just a thumb pick but quit those too because they would drown out the treble!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

it helps!. i suggest buying a thumbpick, i play with flatpicks and usually drop them!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

No!. Playing the chords is fine also; especially if you are singing with it!. The picking can add a lot, but can come in time with practice!.Www@QuestionHome@Com