Hey guys. So I use a pick most frequently, out of comfort and because my fingers aren't very consistent yet, but I feel like on the higher strings, the picks hardness makes me lose the low rumble of my tone. While I work on getting my right hand better, I'm going to take some felt or fabric and super glue it to my pick to get a softer edge. Anyone know of this idea being utilized in the past or have any thoughts on my plan? Oh I should mention that switching to a thinner gauge pick isn't an option I'd like to use, as I don't like to feel the pick bend on the string. Let me know what you think!!
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Finger Emulating Picks
- Thread starter Gingrilla1987
- Start date
Honestly, I had never even heard of those. I'll look into that now. See why I come here to ask questions?!
Felt picks are what McCartney uses. I use them once in a while, but they are truly a different animal. You really need to lay into them, or they are pretty quiet, and it's harder to be fast with them. The ones I've tried took a little breaking in, too. Kind of stiff and scratchy sounding until they soften up a bit.
I also find that the Dunlop Gators have a softer attack than most hard (nylon, celluloid, etc.) picks. I use the purple ones.
I also used to use something called Metacarbonate. But the ones currently available are stiffer/thicker and it kind of offsets the benefit of the soft surface. If you can find some of the old ones (not the dark blue ones) these are worth a try. I don't know what colors or gauges they originally came in. My favorite was a weird peach/gold color.
I'm mostly Dunlop and felt, now, unless I'm going for a picked sound, or doing some actual finger picking.
Gauge makes a big difference, too. My teacher had me using heavy picks, because "that's what you use for bass" but I've found more recently that I'm getting better results with picks more in the medium range. I bought into that heavy pick paradigm for over twenty years. Oh well. Live and learn.
I also find that the Dunlop Gators have a softer attack than most hard (nylon, celluloid, etc.) picks. I use the purple ones.
I also used to use something called Metacarbonate. But the ones currently available are stiffer/thicker and it kind of offsets the benefit of the soft surface. If you can find some of the old ones (not the dark blue ones) these are worth a try. I don't know what colors or gauges they originally came in. My favorite was a weird peach/gold color.
I'm mostly Dunlop and felt, now, unless I'm going for a picked sound, or doing some actual finger picking.
Gauge makes a big difference, too. My teacher had me using heavy picks, because "that's what you use for bass" but I've found more recently that I'm getting better results with picks more in the medium range. I bought into that heavy pick paradigm for over twenty years. Oh well. Live and learn.
Try the Wedgie picks. They are made of a hard rubber. I got one to try from Bassstringsonline.com with my last bass order and I LOVE it! I never felt comfortable with a pick before.
It is stiff enough for some good attack, but soft enough not to "click" and it has enough friction against the string for good control. Not as thuddy as a felt pick.
Going to order a few more for backup.
It is stiff enough for some good attack, but soft enough not to "click" and it has enough friction against the string for good control. Not as thuddy as a felt pick.
Going to order a few more for backup.
I'm going to try the original idea of glueing some felt onto my exisiting picks first. I looked at Guitar Center's website and it looks like they only carry two types of felt picks, the thinnest being 2.4 guage, which is roughly 3 times thicker than my current pick. If the gluing method doesn't work, I'll definitely be checking out some of the options you guys have suggested so far. Thanks guys!
When I first started playing I thought it would be a good idea to learn how to emulate all playing styles. But the first picks I bought were felt and kind of pricey. When the tips broke off I kinda gave up on that idea.
In other words, I'd avoid those felt picks. I've since used Dunlop Tortex with better success...
In other words, I'd avoid those felt picks. I've since used Dunlop Tortex with better success...
What you are talking about is 'pick laminating' using different types of pick and material together when playing.
Felt is great, just by packs of sticky back felt, cut them as slightly over size squares, peel off the backing and stick on one or both sides if the pick, then trim with craft knife or scissors dipped in white spirit.
The white spirt stops the glue sticking to you blade, reduces the effect called 'gathering' as the material bunches up due to a dull blade, and allows the blades to be cleaned.
Experimentation is the key.
Check out the link
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=M2Wfhf10Fhg
Felt is great, just by packs of sticky back felt, cut them as slightly over size squares, peel off the backing and stick on one or both sides if the pick, then trim with craft knife or scissors dipped in white spirit.
The white spirt stops the glue sticking to you blade, reduces the effect called 'gathering' as the material bunches up due to a dull blade, and allows the blades to be cleaned.
Experimentation is the key.
Check out the link
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=M2Wfhf10Fhg
Bassamatic and Fergie, great suggestions. I'm going to try both of these, myself.
Krag, I still think the Gators are the better choice in the Dunlop. Maybe this was what you meant? They are both Dunlops, after all.
Tortex is the pick that I use when I specifically want it to sound like a pick. They are very fast and a joy to play with, but at least for me, these are the hardest of any pick I've ever tried, to make sound like anything but a pick. If you can get a finger sound out of a Tortex, then my hat is off to you. In fact, I'm jealous.
Krag, I still think the Gators are the better choice in the Dunlop. Maybe this was what you meant? They are both Dunlops, after all.
Tortex is the pick that I use when I specifically want it to sound like a pick. They are very fast and a joy to play with, but at least for me, these are the hardest of any pick I've ever tried, to make sound like anything but a pick. If you can get a finger sound out of a Tortex, then my hat is off to you. In fact, I'm jealous.
Oh shwooops, you can't be jealous of me! They're just the only picks that I never broke! After much use and wear they get a more rounded tone though.
I'm going to keep practicing with fingers, but this is for use during the time where I get my hand up to snuff.
