For the “just falling off” problem, the easiest solution, if the picks fit snuggly, is to just lick your finger tips. Saliva has natural “sticky” elements in it. I do this, and it lasts for hours.

Alternately, get some fiddle rosin, and rub some on your finger tips.

I use dunlops and propik for thumb. I dont have this problem but i do keep them tight. Mine are as far up the finger as i can get them without my finger sticking out.

Jubal,
Not sure if you have tried this or not I picked it up from the forum and it has really helped with slipping picks. Before I put them on my fingers, I just stick my finger in my mouth and then slip the pick on and they really stay secure. I know, seems a little crude but it works great for me. Just something to try.

Shane, I sent a PM.

There are various compounds out there that you can use to help keep fingerpicks on.

I did a review several years ago on Sticky Fingers and Gorilla Snot. Both work well to keep picks on snugly. Gorilla Snot was the best, but the hardest to work with because if you got too much, your fingers stuck to everything. Sticky Fingers was easier to use because it wasn't so sticky.

Having said that, I use the old "lick and stick" method as stated above. Usually works and can be quickly redone without worrying about getting too much "stickum" on things other than your fingers.

And, if you're fairly new, part of the problem might be just that and time will take care of it with more practice and experience.

EDITED to change Gorilla glue to Gorilla SNOT.  Glue would NOT be good to use as a sticky for your fingers.  Sorry about the type and thanks to the one who caught it for me. 

Yuk.  Y'all are not touching my banjo.  

What happens with Dunlops is that the bands are not parallel but angled inward toward the tip and outward toward the knuckle.  Therefore, there is a predisposed tendency for pick to feel very comfortable yet slide right off, depending on the shape of your finger and how close the pick is to the tip of the finger

So either have to squeeze the bands a lot more (obviously) which may not help all that much for those picks, or get picks with parallel bands that fit your individual fingers better.

But first, with your own personal hygiene discretion, try not too much spit, just kidding! My nickel fingerpicks are Dunlop .0225's and they darken in my jeans pocket from heat. So the enzymes and the finger oils make a a tiny sheet of personal adhesive.
What Sherry said.

I learned it here on the hangout from....Sherry.

There are a lot of folks who are obsessed with the old National finger picks. I've used them in the past, and I've given away or lost dozens of them. They were my preferred choice. However, when the National NP2 picks were introduced some years ago, I bought a pair. I found that they worked just fine, and I've been using them ever since.

The problem of finger picks not staying on your fingers has always perplexed me, because that problem is easily solved. Bend the picks the way Earl Scruggs did and push them back on your fingers the way Earl did. The purpose of finger picks is to provide a metal surface that will produce a particular sound when a metal string is plucked with them. They're not intended to provide an additional appendage on your finger.

I've attached photos that show how Scruggs used his picks. Use your picks that way and they won't fall off your fingers. And, you'll get better tone out of your banjo.

Spray the inside of your picks with hair spray and let it dry. When you’re ready to pick just dampen the end of your finger and push the pick into position. In a few seconds that pick will be SECURELY attached! You don’t have to apply the hairspray every time you put the picks on, just wet your finger tips and slip them back on. I’ve been doing this for a couple years now and it works great.

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Originally posted by Texasbanjo

There are various compounds out there that you can use to help keep fingerpicks on.

I did a review several years ago on Sticky Fingers and Gorilla Glue. Both work well to keep picks on snugly. Gorilla Glue was the best, but the hardest to work with because if you got too much, your fingers stuck to everything. Sticky Fingers was easier to use because it wasn't so sticky.

Having said that, I use the old "lick and stick" method as stated above. Usually works and can be quickly redone without worrying about getting too much "stickum" on things other than your fingers.

And, if you're fairly new, part of the problem might be just that and time will take care of it with more practice and experience.

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Sherry,

I think you mean Gorilla Snot and not Gorilla Glue. Gorilla Snot is made for drum sticks and finger picks. Gorilla Glue is for gluing various things together permanently.

Robert

For decades now I've kept my finger picks steady on my fingers by putting tiny strips of masking tape on the inside of the picks, and then periodically putting rubber cement on the inside, over the masking tape. Also, it takes time and multiple adjustments to get new picks feeling just right on your fingers; don't be afraid to experiment until you get it right. And then, try the masking tape and rubber cement trick, and you'll be in good shape. I've found that a jar of rubber cement - available at Staples or any office supply outfit - lasts about a decade.

Another point: once you get your picks adjusted just right, never, never let anyone else use them; they will inevitably reshape them, and you'll have to work some more to get them just right. I always carry a spare set of picks to lend to others as the need arises, so I won't appear selfish but still protect my personal picks.

I use a Dunlop 15ga. finger pick for my index finger and (I believe it is called) a heavier gauge Nit Pic for my middle finger.

As for keeping pics from slipping, I have tried Gorilla Snot, and the finger lick method and neither worked very well for me. In my case sweat was causing the picks to slip in the first place and adding moisture or something slippery just made the situation worse. Someone here on the forum suggested using violin bow rosin. I bought some violin rosin and gave it a try and it worked great. And why not? Baseball players have been using rosin in order to get a tighter grip on bats and baseballs for years. The rosin I got was a little block that looked like an amber colored chunk of glass. I just used a file to roughen it up some and the rosin came off fine. Just rub some on your thumb and fingers and no more pick slipping; and it is not messy at all.
Robert

Dotson 8’s curve around the tip of my fingers just perfectly and I molded them to each finger just tight enough they dont ever move.

Once you get your picks adjusted just right, never, ever let anyone else use them! Don't just throw your picks in your banjo case, or pocket. Store them is a dedicated case of their own, so they won't get bent out of shape. 35mm film cases work well. Also keep some ground up some fiddle rosin in a film case & dip your fingers before putting your picks on.

quote:

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Originally posted by TN Time

quote:

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Originally posted by Texasbanjo

There are various compounds out there that you can use to help keep fingerpicks on.

I did a review several years ago on Sticky Fingers and Gorilla Glue. Both work well to keep picks on snugly. Gorilla Glue was the best, but the hardest to work with because if you got too much, your fingers stuck to everything. Sticky Fingers was easier to use because it wasn't so sticky.

Having said that, I use the old "lick and stick" method as stated above. Usually works and can be quickly redone without worrying about getting too much "stickum" on things other than your fingers.

And, if you're fairly new, part of the problem might be just that and time will take care of it with more practice and experience.

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Sherry,

I think you mean Gorilla Snot and not Gorilla Glue. Gorilla Snot is made for drum sticks and finger picks. Gorilla Glue is for gluing various things together permanently.

Robert

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Yes, definitely Gorilla SNOT, not glue.  Thanks for catching that for me.  I'll go back and change it.

So noted.

I always have put my fingerpicks into the thumbpick to keep them from getting lost.
I keep them in my pocket, about 3 of these and a tuner without the clip that always gets busted. just perfect for a pocket tuner.

I fatigue picks.

Hi jubal

I switched from the Dunlops to the National NP2 picks for just this reason. The NP2's band is narrower and the blades are shorter than the Dunlops, which puts the band right at the sweet spot where there is a bit of a dent where the fingernail grows out of the cuticle. It makes a little saddle for the pick to sit in. I also use the saliva method. If you order NP2s be aware that the NP2 is nickel-silver and the almost identical-looking NP2 SS is stainless steel and will have a different sound and feel. I prefer the NP2s.

Saliva, "nose grease", hair oil, sweat, something called Gorilla Snot,  sticking fingers in mouth -- what's with banjo players and  these bodily effluents?

There may be a few more effluents, but I hope they never find a use on banjos.  If they do, feel free not to let anyone else know that might try to copy.  

I use Acripicks. Very comfortable and sound great!

https://store.banjobenclark.com/products/acri-picks-medium-brass-fingerpicks-pair

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Originally posted by Alex Z

Saliva, "nose grease", hair oil, sweat, something called Gorilla Snot,  sticking fingers in mouth -- what's with banjo players and  these bodily effluents?

There may be a few more effluents, but I hope they never find a use on banjos.  If they do, feel free not to let anyone else know that might try to copy.  

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I switched to using propiks with the split band from Dunlop/National picks.

Thé double band lets me cinch the forward small bands tight on my finger nail where the thicker rear bands more gently conform to my finger. Having them dig into my nail doesn’t hurt like having them too tight on bare skin

I also use the ProPiks and love 'em. Very comfortable and stay on pretty well.
A trick that I "discovered" is to use a glue bar on the finger tips. Not a lot, just enough to make finger sticky. It's not permanent and washed off with water. I used to keep a bar in my case.

I use a cheap Elmers glue stick if my finger picks won't stay on. Works great and it's water soluble.

All of the suggestions are great. When you are ready for a change of picks try those silver picks from Ron Landis.

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Originally posted by jubal

I have these Dunlop fingerpicks currently and the one I use for my index finger keeps falling off. It has just started doing this recently. Sometimes I hook the tip of it on one of the strings and it gets pulled off and other times it just flies off as I'm playing. I have tried rebending and adjusting, but it doesn't seem to help. I'm a relative novice though, so maybe I just don't have the technique down for correctly fitting the picks. Any advice here would be appreciated.

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Try ProPiks with the double bands. I used those about a year, and was very happy. Also, I went to Sammy Shelor finger picks (they have 8mm band and 10mm band). I bought both, and the 8s, for me are more than sufficient. They are longer, overall, and go almost all the way to the distal joint. Adjust them right (no gaps, no wobble), and you may have to go to the emergency room to get them off.