What type of Pick do you (should I) use

[Sam Reese]

OK, so besides finger nails I sometimes use a drum stick and other times I use a quarter.

 

[timber22]

The only thing I pick is my nose....

Sometimes my butt...

and once in awhile, my bass.
I have tried 'em all, including thumbpicks.
Have pretty much settled on Dunlop Tortex - the really big ones - a little less than 1mm thick. Now, about picks, and I may just start a thread on this, I always have trouble with them slipping through my fingers just enough that I have to concentrate on hanging on to the damn thing. Happened when I started on guitar, too. This seems to affect me more than most other folks.
But I discovered a couple of good solutions.
First, I bought some "Dip-It" liquid rubber compound. Then I dipped lots of picks (all but the pickin part) into the stuff and hung them to dry. It dries into a semi-soft, flexible plastic coating that gets stickier as it warms up. Magic!

I've also had success with applying old-school "friction tape" from the electrical aisle in my local hardware store. It's the stuff they used to use before standard PVC electrical tape was invented. That's also great stuff. Glad that it's still available. It's a little too sticky for my preferences but it's way cheaper than the "Dip-it".

That's all I got to say.
For now.

I use fingers for 95% of my playing. When I use a pick, I use a fairly heavy one (about 1mm). I have the same problem as billoetjen with the pick slipping in my fingers. I borrowed a pick from my guitar player one day, and it was perforated (had holes in the part where you grip it) and I liked it except it was too thin. He didn't know what brand it was and I couldn't find any like it, so I took a few of my picks and drilled about 8 small holes through the top half of them where you grip 'em. They don't slip now.

 

[becker4567]

I have been told of rubber picks that are made for basses that give the same warm sound as fingers do. I am still in the process of checking that out, so if anyone has any info on them, let me know.

 

[Richland123]

I use my fingers for almost every song I play and only use a pick on on 2 or 3 songs mainly for speed or a sharper tone. When I use a pick, it is the heaviest I can find. I also developed a style I use often with the tip of my index finger as a pick with fingernail on one side and the fingertip on the other side for what I call a half tone; slightly mellow but bright or use the fingernail on the downstroke and the fingertip on the upstroke for a very unique but controlled sound.

 

[4stringman]

When I do use picks, I swear by Dunlop tortex .88's
They are the perfect balance between thin and heavy tone

 

[Thorsoundcore]

+1 for dunlop and fender picks

 

[Mads]

Dunlop Nylon .88

 

[Mudfuzz]

dunlop picks don't break, I like that about them.

 

[HEADLE]

I am mostly a finger player but lately I've been playing more and more with a pick. I like the orange tortex and the dunlop m10 speedpick. It has a 13 degree twisted tip that compensates for the angle in your wrist and allows you to attack the strings flatly. I have used this style on and off for 20 years.

H

 

[wicked_child]

if you want to play with a pick and still have that fingerpicked tone, try the thin ones, i mean really thin. you can get a good crunch if you dig in tho. just play it nice and simple if you want a warmer tone.

 

[ErebusBass]

Dunlop 1mm Nylons for me.

I used to use 1.5mm Gator Grips. I always got cramps in my right and broke a lot of strings. Never could figure out why...

I've found that it really helps to use a pick with a little bit of "give" if you know what I mean. Helps tone and feel.

 

[mcmatt]

I rarely use picks. Only when im playing "popish" type stuff. But what i use is a Dunlop 2.0 mm i believe it's graphite. or if for somthing softer a Fender Heavy"1mm" bass pick, It's nice because its wider than most picks.

 

[anyonefortennis]

1.5mm gator grips

 

[bdubs16]

I like the standard shaped Dunlop Tortex's, usually .88mm (green) and sometimes 1mm (blue)

+1 on the .88mm. I really like the way they play. I might try some thicker ones in the future to get a heavier, thicker tone but my tone is pretty thick as is .

 

[xanderjbass]

fender heavy, but make sure you get them in tort

 

[NortyFiner]

I mostly play with my fingers, but I also pick for some tunes (Motorhead!) or when my fingers are getting sore (I'm 40 and a mechanic, so arthritis is just around the corner). As far as my choice of picks, I just use whatever's handy, whether it's one of the many random heavy picks that I have laying around, or a penny from my pocket. The penny actually gives me a bright, strong attack for metal grinds, to the point that I almost prefer it for some tunes. It's hell on the strings, though...

 

[wysiwyg248]

I have been told of rubber picks that are made for basses that give the same warm sound as fingers do. I am still in the process of checking that out, so if anyone has any info on them, let me know.

Hmmm, this sounds to me like a veggie burger.
Why in the world not using your fingers, but a pick that sound like your fingers?

In any case (and I know plenty of you not going to like this), picking is for electric guitars and noses.

 

[Quadruple Jay]

Hmmm, this sounds to me like a veggie burger.
Why in the world not using your fingers, but a pick that sound like your fingers?

In any case (and I know plenty of you not going to like this), picking is for electric guitars and noses.

Lord forgive us lest we dare touch small wedges of plastic to a piece of taught metal attached to a wooden plank. 'Tis the work of the devil.

 

[dhomer]

I can play either way, fingers/pick. Depends on the song. My pick of choice, Dunlop .60. I play with a fairly light touch, I believe thicker picks are a bit too heavy-handed...

 

[Sera Wohldmann]

I too suffer from the accursed "pick dropping" syndrome. If I know I'll be using a flat pick for several parts, I use Cactus Grip Heavy's. I still have a few lying around. I also love switching off pick and finger, sometimes within the same song, so I pretty much swear by Thumb picks, usually Planet Waves since I buy my strings online from them anyways.

I don't always like the tone, though, and they only really come in about one thickness. I'm thinking of trying to mod the attacking edge with cloth or something.