Congratulations Frank. Now you'll have to consider becoming a regular member here.

You'll get a lot of advice about picks. Picks are a lot like lovers—well, they're actually not much like lovers at all come to think of it—everyone likes something different. I think both National and Dunlap each supply both fingerpicks and thumbpicks that are suitable for three-finger banjo use. Each, as I recall, makes plastic thumbpicks and metal fingerpicks. The most common fingerpicks used to be the National model with round holes at the pad of the finger and all around the grip or ring part. They were patent no. 1787136. I don't know whether or not they're still made but when I get my banjo out—which is rarely anymore—that's what I use.

My advice is to get a good teacher and use whatever your teacher uses. You can always experiment with different types when you're far enough along that choice of picks will make a difference.

Oh, and find other people to pick with as soon as you can make it through a few tunes.

      - Mark