OK, so Strange/Stupid pick question?...

[sotua]

I personally like the Dunlop Flow 2mm (for both guitar and bass) or the Dunlop TriStubby 3mm (for bass). Thick and rigid (so that the notes break precisely when you want and there's no slight fudge factor due to a pick bending instead of breaking through the string) and also with a nice fat rounded bevel so that your notes keep good bottom and don't get shrill (happens to me with sharp picks).

Picks

• sotua
• May 20, 2020
• pick

In this picture the TriStubby on the left, the Flow on the right, and the Flow JP (which is essentially a slightly smaller 2mm Flow with the DT logo, red color and no texture) in the middle - the JP I don't like for bass, only for guitar, I feel it slips away when I'm playing bass. The other two have much nicer textured grip so they stay in position easier when dealing with the bigger mass/reaction of the bass strings. The dime is for size reference.

 

[Adam Wright]

I’m a huge fan of bluegrass guitarists and a lot of them use Blue Chip picks. I use the 1.5mm TD60 pick for bass. It’s pricey but I a/b’ed with a lot of stuff and it just sounds better to my ears. TD60

 

[Nev375]

I've tried tons. As far as standard picks I was fine with about any shape and material that wasn't flimsy. (thinner than medium)

Eventually I settled on a thumbpick so I could have both fingers and pick available all the time. It was hard to get used to, but I was determined to make it work. ...And I did.

That's the thing. Don't overthink it and just practice. My advice is to get used to something thats very common. That way if you lose it before a gig you don't have to be picky about what your guitarist loans you.

 

[Jefus]

.73 seems to be the sweet spot for me. I like textured picks like the Brain Picks, Dunlop Nylons, or my absolute favorites, Herco Golds.

If your technique isn’t great the thinner picks are more forgiving in terms of dynamics. The textured ones are just easier to hold on to.

 

[Lobster11]

As far as picking technique is concerned, watch these two examples and do what they do:



and

 

[SunByrne]

Not a dumb question by any means. The problem is that everyone likes something different. I'll tell you my story not because it will necessarily work for you, but just to give you another option to think about.

I went on a quest last year to find my perfect pick and spent... well, way too much money and time trying all kinds of things. Beats working, I guess. Anyway, I thought it'd be easy, since all I wanted was a grippy small triangular pick that was not too light but not too stiff. That was harder than you'd think.

The ultimate winner was this:

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They're on the spendy side and if you're really digging in, they degrade kind of quickly (and leave a lovely white powder on your bass) so they have downsides, but they feel and play like nothing else, so there you go. Definitely not for everyone, but they're right for me. For now.

 

[Rib 13]

Dont forget the Drop Test: Drop a bunch of picks (all the same gauge) about 8 inches from a solid table top/hard surface. The brighter the "plink", the brighter the attack. The brightest for me, so far, are Dunlop Ultex picks

 

[Old gold]

I started playing in 2020, so I’m a newbie. Because I have big time arthritis in my hands, I almost stopped as soon as I started. Finger plucking was just too painful. The lower knuckle on my right index finger would simply swell and refuse to participate. So, I decided to try using a pick. The knuckle in my index figure is so weird (it bends away and down from my middle finger) that I cannot hold a pick like Carol Kaye recommends. I have to use my thumb to hold the pick against the tips of my index and middle fingers - a three point hold. I don’t anchor my hand and use up and down strokes.

I also tried LOTS of different picks. What works best for me is a standard Fender heavy. Nothing thinner. Sometimes I use a thick felt pick for a softer tone, but they wear out quickly and once they get floppy, they become useless. I have had some luck with a thick, soft rubber pick, but I keep going back to the heavy plastic pick for my purposes. So far, I have been able to play without much pain. I would like to be able to finger pluck because of the tone, but it is what it is.

 

[gln1955]

Choosing a pick:
Grab a huge pile of everything they have at the store nearest to you and try them all out.

then end

This is really what you need to do.

I've settled on two different picks depending on the song. Usually a generic plain thick plastic pick. The other is a very thick rubbery one, the Wedgie brand to be specific.

As far as technique, for me the most helpful thing was relaxing my hand and not playing too hard. You shouldn't need a death grip on your pick, just enough to keep it from flying across the room.

 

[WestyBassBob]

I did a search, didn't find what I wanted, may have missed it....

Sorry in advance to the TL;DR people.

Anyway....Picks....

So I recently landed a cover band gig a couple months back, some of the songs are recorded with the bassist using a pick, and though I'm not required to use one (and haven't been), I feel that those songs sound best when played with a pick...and here's my question(s).

Pick selection... I'm running into 2 problems...

1st problem, my pick technique is absolutely terrible, I've just never needed to do it, so I never learned "the right way".

2nd problem, there are SO many types, shapes, thicknesses & construction materials that my head is swimming.

So, terrible technique (working on it), combined with options overload, has me pretty bummed...I've tried a TON so far, but I've been using the Tortex .73 (yellow, standard tip) the most, and I "think" I like them, but at the same time, I also think that I'm not getting the powerful attack of a thicker pick, but when I use a thicker one, I feel like a lose finesse if that makes sense?

To those that have used picks for a long time...how did you originally decide what gauge worked best for you, what made you choose a particular shape or construction material?

Sorry if these questions seem "nOoB" or silly, but I'm genuinely curious how you guys/gals ultimately chose your "weapon of choice" for picks, it seems that those who use picks are VERY specific with what they use, surely there must be a reason.

Lots of good advice here. I also find that a solid grip helps. I find a basic teardrop shape is good with a some texture like this: https://www.guitarcenter.com/Dunlop...0-Guitar-Picks-20-mm-12-Pack-1500000221997.gc

Ad others have said a thick pick works best. Too flexible and it will snap off of the strings and make an unpleasant sound. Plus the thicker surface gives you more control.

 

[Johnny Fingers]

Fender Medium or Heavy, or modern equivalent. Except Thin for 12 string acoustic guitar.

 

[40Hz]

I never found one pick that worked for every situation, string set, or bass when I decided to use one. So I’ve now have a pretty large selection of wildly different picks I’ve gathered over the years.

I don’t really have what I’d call a favorite. They’re in all shapes, sizes, thicknesses, and materials ranging from small celluloid mandolin picks up to 2mm rubber and extra heavy Delrin triangulars. But if I had to name what I use more often than most however, the current champion would be a Jim Dunlop Primetone 1.3mm small triangle/grip. They’re ridiculously overpriced IMO ($8.50 in a 3-pack) but I like the way they feel

And I’m easy on picks. I’ll maybe use one only 20% of my playing time since I’m mainly a fingerstyle player. So these three should last me awhile… unless I lose them first.

 

[6Bass101]

I’ve bought a bunch of picks in all shapes and sizes. I’ll have a bunch by amp in a variety of thicknesses ranging from .50 to 3.0. I’ll swap out as the mood/song takes me. Thinner picks give me more finesse, thicker ones more attack.

I do like the Bobby Vega grip (turn the pick on its side). I’ll do that with a .7 pick all day.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I did a search, didn't find what I wanted, may have missed it....

Sorry in advance to the TL;DR people.

Anyway....Picks....

So I recently landed a cover band gig a couple months back, some of the songs are recorded with the bassist using a pick, and though I'm not required to use one (and haven't been), I feel that those songs sound best when played with a pick...and here's my question(s).

Pick selection... I'm running into 2 problems...

1st problem, my pick technique is absolutely terrible, I've just never needed to do it, so I never learned "the right way".

2nd problem, there are SO many types, shapes, thicknesses & construction materials that my head is swimming.

So, terrible technique (working on it), combined with options overload, has me pretty bummed...I've tried a TON so far, but I've been using the Tortex .73 (yellow, standard tip) the most, and I "think" I like them, but at the same time, I also think that I'm not getting the powerful attack of a thicker pick, but when I use a thicker one, I feel like a lose finesse if that makes sense?

To those that have used picks for a long time...how did you originally decide what gauge worked best for you, what made you choose a particular shape or construction material?

Sorry if these questions seem "nOoB" or silly, but I'm genuinely curious how you guys/gals ultimately chose your "weapon of choice" for picks, it seems that those who use picks are VERY specific with what they use, surely there must be a reason.

Dunlop nylon picks

Anything .75 - 1mm

.75 is too floppy for me, but some like the thin middy tone it gives you. I won't touch a pick under .88, or higher than 1 ( that leaves me two options, and I'm happy with that)

 

[Spooge]

I’ve played with a pick for 15 years. Mostly rock. Not sure if you mentioned you preferred genre or the bands but depending on the desired tone I use the orange .60 tortex or the 1.26 Clayton picks. Different tones for different needs. Also depends how much pick sound you want to come through.

 

[juancaminos]

I have been using Dunlop 8012 felt picks for years

 

[Bass Man Dan]

I did a search, didn't find what I wanted, may have missed it....

Sorry in advance to the TL;DR people.

Anyway....Picks....

So I recently landed a cover band gig a couple months back, some of the songs are recorded with the bassist using a pick, and though I'm not required to use one (and haven't been), I feel that those songs sound best when played with a pick...and here's my question(s).

Pick selection... I'm running into 2 problems...

1st problem, my pick technique is absolutely terrible, I've just never needed to do it, so I never learned "the right way".

2nd problem, there are SO many types, shapes, thicknesses & construction materials that my head is swimming.

So, terrible technique (working on it), combined with options overload, has me pretty bummed...I've tried a TON so far, but I've been using the Tortex .73 (yellow, standard tip) the most, and I "think" I like them, but at the same time, I also think that I'm not getting the powerful attack of a thicker pick, but when I use a thicker one, I feel like a lose finesse if that makes sense?

To those that have used picks for a long time...how did you originally decide what gauge worked best for you, what made you choose a particular shape or construction material?

Sorry if these questions seem "nOoB" or silly, but I'm genuinely curious how you guys/gals ultimately chose your "weapon of choice" for picks, it seems that those who use picks are VERY specific with what they use, surely there must be a reason.

I also gig in a cover band and I bet my pick technique is worse than yours!

I use a felt pick and I really like them.

 

[BassGH]

Felts (plus foam mute) for upright emulation on short scale bass
Thick heavy large triangles (not picky about other factors) for crispy rock sounds

 

[Corevalay]

Almost exclusively a pick player here and these have been my go to for years now. I find they are the perfect thickness, and I love the larger size. They just feel perfect to me.

Clayton Acetal Rounded Triangle Guitar Picks

 

[Rip Van Dan]

I did a search, didn't find what I wanted, may have missed it....

Sorry in advance to the TL;DR people.

Anyway....Picks....

So I recently landed a cover band gig a couple months back, some of the songs are recorded with the bassist using a pick, and though I'm not required to use one (and haven't been), I feel that those songs sound best when played with a pick...and here's my question(s).

Pick selection... I'm running into 2 problems...

1st problem, my pick technique is absolutely terrible, I've just never needed to do it, so I never learned "the right way".

2nd problem, there are SO many types, shapes, thicknesses & construction materials that my head is swimming.

So, terrible technique (working on it), combined with options overload, has me pretty bummed...I've tried a TON so far, but I've been using the Tortex .73 (yellow, standard tip) the most, and I "think" I like them, but at the same time, I also think that I'm not getting the powerful attack of a thicker pick, but when I use a thicker one, I feel like a lose finesse if that makes sense?

To those that have used picks for a long time...how did you originally decide what gauge worked best for you, what made you choose a particular shape or construction material?

Sorry if these questions seem "nOoB" or silly, but I'm genuinely curious how you guys/gals ultimately chose your "weapon of choice" for picks, it seems that those who use picks are VERY specific with what they use, surely there must be a reason.

When I started out in 1965, I'd use either a Fender Heavy or a Fender Medium pick. I could make either work. We didn't have an abundance of choices back then and most music stores carried Fender and Gibson picks as well as some off-brands. Dunlop was nowhere to be seen yet. I switched from using a pick to finger-style in 1968 and didn't worry about picks anymore.

If the pick you are using isn't giving you enough attack, before you go to the next heaviest pick, change the way your hold your pick and how strike the strings with it. While you are holding the pick so the flat part is hitting the string, drop your elbow just slightly (presuming your elbow is bent) and strike the string with the pick at about a 45° angle. You will be striking the string with the edge of the pick and applying pressure to the string with that edge. This is "edge-picking" and it causes the string to slide across the edge before dropping off the pick instead of just dropping the contact all at once. When the pick hits the string that way, there is more resistance from the pick to the string and it adds attack to your sound. See if that doesn't do the trick for you.

If not, buy the 12-pk assortment of Dunlop picks from Sweetwater or anyplace else that carries Dumlop picks and try them all out until you find the one that works best for you. Price for the 12-pk is about $4.99.