Willie Nelson uses a pick on his nylon string guitar. He's worn a hole right through it. Martin offered to repair the guitar for him free of charge, but he said he likes the way it sounds and will just keep on keeping on with what he's got.
I have a nylon string classical guitar as well, upon which I'm playing folk and country tunes mostly. I am trying to learn fingerpick (though I can't seem to get my thumb to pick a bass line while my fingers work independently on a melody), but I play with a pick sometimes too. I think of Willie Nelson and his beat up old guitar he loves so well each time I do it. How he gets the speed he does when he and the band get to jamming on songs like "Bloody Mary Morning" or "Good Hearted Woman In Love With a Good Timing Man" I have yet to understand.
And one last thing, when I was camping with some friends last month, one of them brought a guitar and was playing. His fingers got sore and he knew that I had been learning, so he asked me to play a few songs while he took a break. It was a folk style steel string guitar. It was FAAAAAAAAAR easier to strum than on my nylon string classical. When I learned to juggle, I used tennis balls because they're much harder than beanbags, so when I used bean bags things were really simple. I think learning to strum on a classical is kind of the same thing. It's harder to learn on, but once you've got it - YOU'VE REALLY GOT IT!
- Zurf
Granted B chord amnesty by King of the Mutants (Long live the king).
If it comes from the heart and you add a few beers... it'll be awesome! - Mekidsmom
When in doubt ... hats. - B.G. Dude