IMO you are wrong. Don't listen to this bs.
It's best to develop finger and PICK style if that's what you choose.
Edit: Just realized how old the thread is. Oops. But my opinion still stands.
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What type of Pick do you (should I) use
- Thread starter dbull
- Start date
IMO you are wrong. Don't listen to this bs.
It's best to develop finger and PICK style if that's what you choose.
Edit: Just realized how old the thread is. Oops. But my opinion still stands.
pbd
Commercial User
I find this interesting as I am primarily a finger player but have been gradually working more and more songs to pick. I think it matters on the music. As example, 80s metal needs a pick, most classic rock is fingers.
The thinner more flexible seem to be quieter and brighter. The heavy ones are deeper and louder. Just my experiences. I just got a bag of pink .8 Delrin from Clayton with "Ziggy" on them. The guitar players in the 80s/alternative band love them and keep asking for one. It might be a bit too hard for me. I have not decided yet.
2 cents.
- Ziggy -
The thinner more flexible seem to be quieter and brighter. The heavy ones are deeper and louder. Just my experiences. I just got a bag of pink .8 Delrin from Clayton with "Ziggy" on them. The guitar players in the 80s/alternative band love them and keep asking for one. It might be a bit too hard for me. I have not decided yet.
2 cents.
- Ziggy -
I´ve always preferred the thinner ones, because of the attack they give me, and I can crunch with them better without over-flopping my strings (in which case they are likely to go out-of-tune and sharp).
So, red Dunlop (the small teardrop) for me. I´m mostly a fingerstyle player, though...
So, red Dunlop (the small teardrop) for me. I´m mostly a fingerstyle player, though...
Dunlop Gator Grip 2 mm. They never break, and deliver that tight, focused pick attack.
Another thing to note - where you pluck the string makes a HUGE difference in the sound, so you should not only experiment with different picks, but you should also try different plucking locations.
Because I tend to be a bit active when playing, I tend to sweat a bit. This can make a pick difficult to hang onto. Ok, sometimes I jump around like a crazed gorilla on a testosterone-induced rampage... what can I say - it works for metal, but the congregation tends to look at me funny when I do it in church on Sunday mornings! As as means to make the pick stick to my fingers, I take a knife and carve a cross-hatch into both faces of the pick. I read an earlier post about drilling holes in the pick, which would probably work even better.
As for guys who say bass can only be played with the fingers... well, if you want to limit yourself, feel free to do so. But if we audition for the same gig, I'll have an advantage because I can bring more to the table.
Another thing to note - where you pluck the string makes a HUGE difference in the sound, so you should not only experiment with different picks, but you should also try different plucking locations.
Because I tend to be a bit active when playing, I tend to sweat a bit. This can make a pick difficult to hang onto. Ok, sometimes I jump around like a crazed gorilla on a testosterone-induced rampage... what can I say - it works for metal, but the congregation tends to look at me funny when I do it in church on Sunday mornings! As as means to make the pick stick to my fingers, I take a knife and carve a cross-hatch into both faces of the pick. I read an earlier post about drilling holes in the pick, which would probably work even better.
As for guys who say bass can only be played with the fingers... well, if you want to limit yourself, feel free to do so. But if we audition for the same gig, I'll have an advantage because I can bring more to the table.
Seen only one reference to the Clayton so far so I'll second that for your consideration:
I'm still green with the pick - still looking for my voice. I stumbled on these last week and they work the best thus far with my beefy clumsy man hands.
I dig the subtle non-slip string-grab texture, the slightly larger size and the shape, which to me combines the benefits of the "teardrop" AND triangle concepts.
I'm still green with the pick - still looking for my voice. I stumbled on these last week and they work the best thus far with my beefy clumsy man hands.
I dig the subtle non-slip string-grab texture, the slightly larger size and the shape, which to me combines the benefits of the "teardrop" AND triangle concepts.
I think you will find the hard body electric people will like thin picks I play acoustic/electric and go with a 2.0 to 3.00 mm pick.
Jim Dunlop Big Stubby 2.0, 2.5 to 3.0 mm and I like the Jazz III also. The Big Stubby has an indention in it - your index finger and thumb fit in that indention and I do not have them flying off into space as much.
Jim Dunlop Big Stubby 2.0, 2.5 to 3.0 mm and I like the Jazz III also. The Big Stubby has an indention in it - your index finger and thumb fit in that indention and I do not have them flying off into space as much.
Ok picks cost like $.50 each. Personally, when using a pick I use Fender Mediums. But picks are so dirt cheap that you can literally buy a hundred different brands, thicknesses, colors, shapes and sizes to form your own opinion. Asking others what you "should" use just makes a mess.
When I use a pick I rock the Tortex 88. It seems to have a nice balance of thickness.
I used stubbies but I found they were too thick and hard. inb4 that's what she said.
I used stubbies but I found they were too thick and hard. inb4 that's what she said.
I use Tortex 73's... good feel and great sound. I had mine printed so that I can use them for geocaching as well... I leave these in the caches I find.
edwinhurwitz
Supporting Member
My favorite is the Dunlop Big Stubby Graphite. No longer made, but lasts forever. The key is thin and stiff. The thinness gives the clarity and range of tone and the stiffness gives the control over the string and the range of dynamics. You can always make it feel less stiff by easing up on your grip. I also like the Adamas Graphite picks. Not quite as good a tonal range, but definitely the right feel.
Edwin
Edwin
Try some chalk on your fingers - like the stuff you put on the tip of a pool cue, or the powdered stuff rock climbers use. It not only absorbs the sweat, but it gets STICKY when wet. I used to steal a pinch of the bassist's chalk when I played lead guitar for the old band. Never lost a pick on stage like that!
I used to play in a cover band that did a ton of the dance stuff with keyboard bass lines.
I used a Fender medium and rolled off the hi end on the bass a little - It sounded good and I liked it a lot better than hauling around a keyboard.
Dont listen to anybody who tells you you shouldent use a pick- Sometimes these things are called for .
I wouldent want to play a Motown r&b song with a pick but a Janet jackson song is a different story.
I used a Fender medium and rolled off the hi end on the bass a little - It sounded good and I liked it a lot better than hauling around a keyboard.
Dont listen to anybody who tells you you shouldent use a pick- Sometimes these things are called for .
I wouldent want to play a Motown r&b song with a pick but a Janet jackson song is a different story.
As a rule I play mostly fingerstyle, but when the occasion calls for a pick I usually play with a thin teardrop pick (I don't care about the brand). After some experimenting I've found that a thin pick sounds cleaner and less "clacky" to me than a thicker pick. But, as usual, YMMV.
I tried several pics and like the Blue 1.0 Dunlop best.
I shred the edges of the Fender heavy pics after about seven songs.
Going to try a Dunlop Ultex 1.0 next
I shred the edges of the Fender heavy pics after about seven songs.
Going to try a Dunlop Ultex 1.0 next
I use Wedgie 5.0 mm medium and 3.1 mm hard rubber picks. I like how they give you the louder sound that a pick gives you but it still sounds like you are playing with your fingers.
The best suggestions is the one that most everyone else has given you. Got to the guitar shop and get several different types. That's what I did to find the kind I like. If you're lucky they will even have some demo picks that they will give you to try for free.
The best suggestions is the one that most everyone else has given you. Got to the guitar shop and get several different types. That's what I did to find the kind I like. If you're lucky they will even have some demo picks that they will give you to try for free.
