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Standard pick for newbie wanting to try pick style?

Discussion in 'Miscellaneous [BG]' started by FretNoMore, Jul 22, 2013.

  1. Jul 22, 2013 #1
    FretNoMore

    FretNoMore * Cooking with GAS *

    Jan 25, 2002
    The frozen north
    Currently I don't use a pick, but I'm getting interested in adding that option ... I never played guitar with a pick either so total newbie, I have no clue on thickness, size, etc.

    I realize it's down to personal preference once you get into it, but is there something considered a bog standard pick I should buy just to get started?
     
  2. Jul 22, 2013 #2
    hrodbert696

    hrodbert696 Moderator Staff Member

    Jan 15, 2010
    Like old Hampshire, but New
    Yes it's just personal preference, and picks are cheap, so there's no reason not to buy three or four different ones and try them out. Brand doesn't matter too much. Probably "standard" would be any brand in a teardrop shape and either medium thickness (which is like .7-.8 mm) or heavy (about 1.0 mm). I like heavy myself on bass strings. There are little "jazz" picks but I find them too small for bass, and then the big triangular ones which are OK. But just get some and try them out.
     
  3. Jul 22, 2013 #3
    FretNoMore

    FretNoMore * Cooking with GAS *

    Jan 25, 2002
    The frozen north
    Yes, it's not a major investment :) so I guess I'll go down to the local shop and grab a couple.
    I'll donate the ones I don't like to the guitar player.
     
  4. Jul 22, 2013 #4
    Bob Palmer

    Bob Palmer

    Apr 17, 2013
    As a baseline, you can't go too wrong with the Dunlop Tortex picks - they seem to get a lot of love, and are color coded by thickness. For bass, I'd get a pack of yellows, greens, and blues and start with those three and see what you like from there.
     
  5. Jul 22, 2013 #5
    FretNoMore

    FretNoMore * Cooking with GAS *

    Jan 25, 2002
    The frozen north
    I read the longer pick thread and Tortex is mentioned quite a bit, I'll include a few of those.
     
  6. Jul 23, 2013 #6
    winston

    winston Supporting Member

    May 2, 2000
    East Bay, CA
    I'd say get a bunch of Dunlops, an assortment of nylons (black and gray), 500s (pink and magenta) and Tortex (green, powder blue, and orange. For bass I like the black, magenta, and greens the best. Also try using the two bigger rounded edges for a mellower sound.
     
  7. Jul 23, 2013 #7
    Dr Improbable

    Dr Improbable

    Apr 15, 2013
    Wisconsin
    Tortex feels slippery to me. Anything heavy will do!
     
  8. Jul 23, 2013 #8
    FretNoMore

    FretNoMore * Cooking with GAS *

    Jan 25, 2002
    The frozen north
    My proud little test collection :p

    picks.jpg

    I had a go at Flight of the bumblebee but quickly lowered my
    ambition to Twinkle twinkle little star, which didn't work either. :help:
    This will take some time ...

    What's with the turtles and alligators?
     
  9. Jul 23, 2013 #9
    Rockin Mike

    Rockin Mike

    May 27, 2011
    Fender Heavy 1.0 was a standard forever until Tortex came along.
    Still worth a try.
    I like the Dunlop Jazz III carbon fibers. They may feel a little small and hard to handle if you're just starting out, though.

    Different picks have different sounds. Try a bunch.
     
  10. Jul 27, 2013 #10
    anonyMOuSrocker

    anonyMOuSrocker

    Dec 31, 2011
    Not sure about the alligators, but I think I heard that the turtles are there because they used to make them out of tortoise shells.
     
  11. Jul 27, 2013 #11
    SasquatchDude

    SasquatchDude

    Jun 30, 2012
    the 'burbs of San Diego
    A .88 Tortex (green) is my go-to for pickstyle... granted, that accounts for maybe 10% of what I play.