Metal pick-players, what pick gauge do you use?

[Demon]

I found that when using a song on faster songs using down and upstrokes it gets kinda tiresome and you have to really force it through, and it feels like it gets stuck and doesnt sync to well with left hand. So what gauge do you guys use?
Also, have you found that having the bass at a certain height makes picking more comfortable?

[VanillaO]

My finger nail picks.. and I'm start to try to develop my own multi-finger picking technique.. it's bizarre and I can't really explain it in words.

[ElliotBass]

I don't play super heavy stuff but sometimes fast, i use a dunlop .96, its pink. Or the tortex .88 the green one

[morf]

For metal I usually go with thick, 1.5mm elipse is my choice there, for a grinding, heavy, fast riff.

If you're still forcing dont worry, you havent gotten used to it yet but you will. Same goes for synch with left hand, comes with practice. Keep at it, repeat exercises so that your hand learns the up/downstroke movement and you'll get better real fast.

[TheApostlePaul]

Originally Posted by ElliotBass

the tortex .88 the green one

+1

[lemur821]

I use a 2mm pick for all my pick playing.

[tplyons]

1.00 mm blue Dunlop Tortex Triangle

[Matt Till]

1.00 mm, but I think I'm going to go lighter when I buy picks again, I use a pick for one song (sometimes), but I'd like to more, but my hand wears out by the end, so I usually just suck it up and play fingerstyle. Props to pick players who can rock all night long, it's rough.

[jenderfazz]

I like Green Tortex's (.88mm) for most anything. Definitely nothing lighter, especially for metal. I find a slightly low-strapped bass is easier to pick than one that's high up, and the opposite for fingerstyle (but that's just me).

[Demon]

Originally Posted by Matt Till

1.00 mm, but I think I'm going to go lighter when I buy picks again, I use a pick for one song (sometimes), but I'd like to more, but my hand wears out by the end, so I usually just suck it up and play fingerstyle. Props to pick players who can rock all night long, it's rough.

Yeah, i dont see why people always diss pickplayers saying its for people who cant play fingerstyle. Pickplaying is harder if anything and requires more dexterity and stamina, and precision.

[Matt Till]

Originally Posted by Demon

Yeah, i dont see why people always diss pickplayers saying its for people who cant play fingerstyle. Pickplaying is harder if anything and requires more dexterity and stamina, and precision.

Nah, that's not what I'm saying (TONS of respect to pick bassists, I think in a lot of situations, a pick sounds better), BOTH methods require dexterity and stamina, and precision. My plucking fingers may be stronger than yours, your pick skills no doubt destroy mine... but it's because of the muscles we've been working out since we've started playing. One isn't harder than the other, and I fully believe bassists SHOULD do both so you can say, "This song needs fingerstyle/pick playing, so I'll do that."

I don't understand dissing pick playing either, but don't get too cocky.

[spudmaster34]

when I use a pick it is one of those "big stubbys" I think they are 2 or 3mm thick

[lemur821]

How do you thin pick guys (1mm and lower) make it through the night with those things? Thick ones glide over the strings and are responsive enough that you don't need to move much. Thin ones are either stiff, in which case they catch, or floppy, in which case you've got to move way past the string to have any hope of plucking it.

[Demon]

Originally Posted by Matt Till

Nah, that's not what I'm saying (TONS of respect to pick bassists, I think in a lot of situations, a pick sounds better), BOTH methods require dexterity and stamina, and precision. My plucking fingers may be stronger than yours, your pick skills no doubt destroy mine... but it's because of the muscles we've been working out since we've started playing. One isn't harder than the other, and I fully believe bassists SHOULD do both so you can say, "This song needs fingerstyle/pick playing, so I'll do that."

I don't understand dissing pick playing either, but don't get too cocky.

Actually, im far better fingerplayer than pickplayer I tried both when i started, but fingers felt natural, and i didnt have to practice it in how to strike the strings etc, so i played fingers mostly. Thing with pick is that you gotta move around a thing to play, and when switching strings alot it requires more precision and since you have two fingers you can stretch one of them and keep the other close to another string unless its really fast stuff.
But i guess it kinda depends on the song. Atleast i feel its alot easier with fingers when theres alot of string jumping.

[g-picker]

fender medium picks.... anything harder just kills my technique and feel.... and I grow tired too fast.

since I mostly play fast stuff, I tried using heavier picks because I felt they granted more precision.... then I discovered it's only a matter of right bass setup, and you can go fast with a light pick...

[trog]

The thickest one I can find. I much prefer the sound of a picked bass for rock, punk etc. - and playing those thousands upon thousands of straight quavers is easier with a plectrum. An economical picking technique where you're barely moving your hand can let you power through those notes all night long.

[Pruitt]

I use a wide variety of picks. The lightest guage I use is the green, .88mm tortex. I don't use those too often though. For tortex I mainly go with either the Blue, 1.0mm or Purple, 1.12mm tortex picks. I also frequently use either a 3.1mm or 5.0mm hard rubber pick made by Wedgie. Or I'll play fingerstyle. It's all good!

[LizzyD]

I like the Dunlop 1.14 Ultex. Anything under 1.0 has too much give for me, and I end up working too hard.

Drummers who use big sticks let the weight of the stick do a lot of the work, I feel the same way about picks. The heavier gauge makes a better, more consistent tone for metal riffage, IME.

[jsbass]

Dunlop Tortex Blue Triangle - 1.00mm

[Spector_Ray]

I like a little bit of flex in my picks.