what picks for faster playing?

[bon viesta]

i’ve used flats for a while now, and my pick i’ve realized is waaaay to thick if i want to be playing fast. it took me a while to realize that thin = faster playing. but... how thin can i go? i use roto rounds right now with a .73 pick, and it feels much too slow and harsh to okay fast. i’d have to beat the [bleep] out of the strings just to do some 16th notes or anything faster than 8th notes. and it makes a very harsh noise whenever i do that. what pick size do you recommend for easy and comfortable playing with a pick?? btw i’ve been a finger player until now but i realize picks are pretty cool sometimes so i want it in my arsenal.

 

[Slater]

Speed comes from technique and practice. Short strokes and a light touch using just your hand will improve picking speed. If you’re using your arm, that will slow you down. A rigid pick should help with speed. A flexible pick is slower to react. Everyone will have their own personal preference. I use Donlop Jazz III picks for guitar and bass.

 

[thabassmon]

+1 for Dunlop Jazz III picks for guitar and bass.

I find thicker picks easier to use than thinner, and in turn can play faster and more accurately with them.

Like most things in music, what works for one might not work for another. I suggest get a bunch of different thicknesses and find out what suits you.

 

[MrLenny1]

Welcome to picks on a bass.
You need fast fingers for sure. I use Herco heavy picks
for rock and some times Med guitar picks.

 

[Watchootognbout]

I use very thick 3-7mm Gypsy Jazz(Manouche)picks for fast sixteenth notes.

The blunt,rounded tip glances over the string.
Moving only the string with no flex deflection.

 

[AboutSweetSue]

Cough, cough...leather.

Other than that, I use medium or heavy guitar Fender picks or an equivalent for bass.

 

[Picton]

Fender medium.

And technique. Just practice some more. And don't get hung up on how you're "supposed to" hold the pick, between thumb and the knuckle of your forefinger. That never worked for me, so I just did what felt comfortable. The Plectrum Police haven't busted me yet.

 

[JimmyM]

i’ve used flats for a while now, and my pick i’ve realized is waaaay to thick if i want to be playing fast. it took me a while to realize that thin = faster playing.

I don't believe that to be true in the least. I consider it more work on my hand to use a thin or medium pick, and my hand burns and hurts within seconds if I don't use a heavy.

 

[bon viesta]

I don't believe that to be true in the least. I consider it more work on my hand to use a thin or medium pick, and my hand burns and hurts within seconds if I don't use a heavy.

with heavy picks, “theoretically” i see that it requires more energy to push the pick through the string with more force afterwards which makes it hard to stop the picks movement after you push through the string. so in other words, more work to push through a string and more work to get it going the other way again. that’s at least my experience with it, too. with thin picks, they bend very easily with the string so you can keep the pick in a similar place while playing a certain string and by simply moving it back and fourth the pick will work with you somewhat.

 

[JimmyM]

with heavy picks, “theoretically” i see that it requires more energy to push the pick through the string with more force afterwards which makes it hard to stop the picks movement after you push through the string. so in other words, more work to push through a string and more work to get it going the other way again. that’s at least my experience with it, too. with thin picks, they bend very easily with the string so you can keep the pick in a similar place while playing a certain string and by simply moving it back and fourth the pick will work with you somewhat.

The problem, though, is that the flexing causes your hand to have to work harder. If you want to play louder, you have to hit the string harder. Plus you have to wait for it to finish flexing. Now everyone's different, I'll admit, but for me, the thicker picks work much better.

 

[mmbongo]

Thicker picks are definitely much faster for me. You don't want a flexible pick for speed, that flexing means you are dissipating energy that is being wasted.

I use Gravity 2mm Strikers.
Gravity Picks Striker - Standard, 2mm, Polished, Multi-hole Grip

 

[steveinohio]

We play fast. I switched from a heavy to a lighter gauge Pick years ago because of hand problems. I feel like it’s improved my playing. I use orange Dunlop’s.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Have you tried Sik Piks?
Unfortunately there are no bass vids.
Sik Pik Sampler Set Twisted Guitar Picks For Speed Unused | bitpartz | Reverb




My Sik Piks.

 

[Clank Plank]

Tortex Triangle. I find the wider angle of the point makes for faster picking and a more natiral tone.

 

[Bob_Ross]

What was that pick that came out in the late 70s or early 80s, looked kinda large and oblong, might have been made of stone (?), and all the advertisements featured a guy with short hair and a moustache who looked like your dentist and talked about how it would "maximize your playing speed" yadda-yadda-yadda...

I of course chalked it up to pure Snake Oil so never actually tried one, but I'm sure a bass player somewhere gave it a shot.

 

[buldog5151bass]

There is a reason there are many different picks - everyone is different. They are also cheap. Buy a bunch and try.

 

[Watchootognbout]

What was that pick that came out in the late 70s or early 80s, looked kinda large and oblong, might have been made of stone (?), and all the advertisements featured a guy with short hair and a moustache who looked like your dentist and talked about how it would "maximize your playing speed" yadda-yadda-yadda...

I of course chalked it up to pure Snake Oil so never actually tried one, but I'm sure a bass player somewhere gave it a shot.

That must have been the Min'd pick.
I looked for them a few years back.
Couldn't find any.
MIND Pick NOS Stone guitar pick RARE | Dwayne's Gear Emporium | Reverb

But I did discover Timber Tones agate picks.

 

[Bob_Ross]

That must have been the Min'd pick.

That was it, thanks!

 

[FatCity]

I used to use Dunlop Yellow (.73) but ended up switching to the Purple (1.14) because I was trying to keep my pick and fingerstyle tone pretty close and I found that a thicker pick does that for me. It also turned out that the cramping that I was experiencing in my right thumb went away for the most part. Heavy pick- light touch works and whatever speed that I had did not suffer.

 

[ihixulu]

Dunlop Orange (.60mm) works for me.