Sorry that I haven't answered any questions that arose about fingerpicks. Andrew, I've been well satisfied with the Alaska picks. I also have some of the brass picks but usually prefer the plastic. As for strumming down, I have pretty good results with it but you're very limited, ie. it would probably be hard to play bluegrass with them but playing old blues and folk, I can strum with them pretty well along with the finger-picking. My all-time favoite blues guitar player, Josh White, used the strumming thing along with finger-picking. Gives a song the effect of having a rhythm guitar player also. David, thanks for the info on the picks. I'm down to two at present and with my loss rate, I need to order some now!!! lol .....................Jim