Carol Kaye picking method

[Govner22]

On Carol Kaye's website, tip #26 has the sentence "You want the broadest part of the pick to strike the strings." As someone who started on guitar I continued using the point of the pick to strike the bass strings. So I tried the end of the pick opposite from the point and found I regain some of the warm tone that can be lost when playing with a pick. It may have even taken some stress off my elbow. I may ask her this question directly but I'm curious if this is common practice that I've been overlooking, and if I should take it further and hit the strings with one of the long sides of the triangle. Thanks!

 

[JimmyM]

Many people use the butt end of the pick. Some people do the long side, too. I seem to remember Steve Morse saying he uses it on guitar. Me, I stick with the point when I use a pick. Works best for me. The important thing with Carol's technique is to avoid pain and stress, so if the butt end of the pick works for you, it's all good.

 

[Snakeman1066]

being predominantly a pick player (i use my fingers on some songs and parts of other songs) i favor these picks because they have different surface edges that give me a different sound depending on how i hold and use it...

you should try them!

 

[Govner22]

Thanks. The opposite end seems better suited to getting to the target for now, but either is less stressful on the elbow, at least for me. I'll check out those picks as well.

Instead of a summer novel I read the thread on this topic Jimmy M started. (Lol!) Happy to say the early returns from the method are very good.