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Major Guitar Picks Post!!!!
Adrian Dupree
(6318)
Instructional Forum
1/9/2009 5:22:18 PM · 132 Views
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I have found that guitar picks make an enourmous difference. I have only tried two types of picks, Jazz picks and normal picks. By normal I mean the ones that are used most often such as Fender picks. The hardness of them is important. Before I say what types of picks I have used, I should say that I'm more of the fast-playing guitar type and I am looking for better recommendations on picks. I want to dedicate this post to what people's preferences are on picks. And the different types of picks in general. Anyway, these are the ones that I have tried:
Jazz Picks
I tried only one type. And to me it looked and felt like a miniature form of a normal heavy pick.
As far as the feel, I noticed that it is excellent for alternate picking since I didn't need to actually move the pick up and down nearly as much to skip strings. However, for some reason it doesn't seem to work very well with sweep-picking. My hypothesis is that smaller picks tend to make your thump come into closer contact with the string as you sweep. Eric Johnson admitted that he uses jazz picks which makes me wonder if I should use them. However, I love to sweep-pick. And I don't think it's a coincidence that Eric Johnson doesn't sweep-pick.
As far as the sound, I would say that it has much less "pick noise" and trebly tone. It's obvious why they name it a jazz pick to me. Even when I place my guitar setting on the bridge pickup of my strat copy guitar, it still sounds mellow.
Normal Picks
The picks I use are normal medium picks. I haven't experimented much with different thicknesses and hardness however.
Heavy Picks
Heavy picks to me a great for control. I no longer own these but I'll have to buy a new set eventually. Including fast picking such as alternate picking and even sweep-picking. They have a large size. On the other hand, they have limited dynamics. Picking soft will only increase the treble noise of the pick scratch.
Medium Picks
As noted earlier, these are the picks I use most frequently (they are the only ones I have anyway lol). They offer control and at the same time are great for lead playing. There is a better range for dynamics since they can be used for strumming, melodic arpeggios and shredding. I don't how much of an oppurtunity cost there is of using medium picks as opposed to heavy picks but I do know that these have worked well for me.
Light Picks
These are the picks that I have rarely used even before. I tried alternate picking with them and although they are easy to use, they lack control. They are deceiving when it comes to ease of use. Their advantage is that they have a softer volume. I would say that they are used for strumming very often.
Anyway, there are many picks out there. I have seen metal picks, wooden picks, large triangle picks, stone picks and even picks composed of bone. There are many others too.
What are your thoughts on picks you have used or just picks in general?
Adrian
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Responses
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Re: Major Guitar Picks Post!!!!
1/9/2009 11:54:05 PM
Randy Hano
(6662) wrote:
Twenty years ago when I attended MI I gave the speed pick a try. It helped me to develop my alternate picking and use shorter strokes on the string. As for picks I use Dunlop .96 picks. I will sometimes use the thicker gage as well to get a beefier sound. I don't use the pointed end to play like most people but use the rounded butt end. This will keep the pick on the string longer like properly goroomed nails on a classical guitar. Besides I have better control for comping, soloing and can control my attack on the strings. With this technique, I can play more dynamically on the strings by changing my attack when necessary and with enough overdrive to be not over bearing. As for string guage, I use 10's. I've thought about going to 11's at one time to thicken up the sound on the upper strings but gave the idea up as it muddied up the lower strings too much.
I hope that helps. Just my two cents. |
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Re: Major Guitar Picks Post!!!!
1/10/2009 8:33:37 AM
Dale Lindsey
(7850) wrote:
Picks do make a difference. Harder picks may give better control for fast leads, but can cause pick noise when strumming. Too soft picks can be "late" in response for fast playing, because they may still be bent from one string when they hit the other. I use medium picks for most of my playing because they seem to be the best compromise, but I sometimes use a harder pick when I am trying for more speed.
The most important thing to me, though, is how easy it is to hold on to the pick. The biggest problem with picks has always been trying to keep them in my hand. I used to need about three to four picks to get through a song. They would end up on the floor (or inside my guitar if it was a hollow body) or seem to just vanish into thin air. I tried picks with holes and picks with bumps and picks with sticky stuff, but nothing worked. I love the new material they have come up with now. I don't know what it is called, but it feels dry even when your hands sweat and it sticks to your hands like glue. Oh, the wonders of modern technology. When I see some young kid playing with them, I feel like handing him one of the old tortoise-shell monsters and giving him the old "in my day" speech. "See if you can play it with that, hotshot!", LOL!
I have never worn out a pick. I have seen people who have literally torn up picks by playing with them. I don’t know if it’s because they play so aggressively or just that they keep them that long. I lose them so fast that I doubt if I have ever put more than a half an hour on one pick. They disappear faster than socks in the laundry (and probably go to the same place).
-Dale |
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Re: Major Guitar Picks Post!!!!
1/10/2009 3:34:27 PM
Craig Lindsey
(5430) wrote:
That's funny stuff, Dale. |
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Re: Major Guitar Picks Post!!!!
1/10/2009 4:13:05 PM
Chris Pinto
(22326) wrote:
I'm with you brother-Dale,
Throughout an entire song, I can't keep a pick in my hand to save my butt!
Chris |
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Re: Major Guitar Picks Post!!!!
1/10/2009 7:28:42 PM
Adrian Dupree
(6318) wrote:
I played in my swing band and I remember dropping a pick a couple of times. However, I was just strumming chords so getting a good grip on the pick was easy.
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Re: Major Guitar Picks Post!!!!
1/10/2009 2:07:17 PM
Blainer Howcroft
(71) wrote:
I personally like to use 1mm dunlop tortex and then I take a razor and cut into the top on both sides. Makes for a decent grip.
When I do get them locally I love the 1mm nylon picks as well.
For acoustic I play most of the medium, depends most on what I'm playing
Blaine |
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Re: Major Guitar Picks Post!!!!
1/10/2009 2:47:02 PM
Ken Richardson
(6286) wrote:
I like the Gold colored Herco picks a lot. They are medium thick, hard to ruin, and have a nice grip area on them so they don't slip too much.
I used them some when I first started, and recently got back to using them.
I have to use a really thick pick on the mandolin - by Golden Gate. I think its 1.0 or 1.5mm - much heavier than anything I like on guitar, but seems like you need a heavy one on the mandolin. |
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Re: Major Guitar Picks Post!!!!
1/10/2009 2:55:12 PM
Carl Phillips
(11819) wrote:
I use 1.14mm Snarling Dogs Brain picks for both acoustic and electric.
For harder practice sessions I'll use red Dunlop Jazz IIIs.
Carl |
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Re: Major Guitar Picks Post!!!!
1/10/2009 3:30:36 PM
Craig Lindsey
(5430) wrote:
Good post, Adrian. I end up with the Dunlop .73mm picks pretty often, or thin Fender picks. Bear in mind that I'm a pretty sorry picker.
I also like these Segovia triangle picks with the soft, medium and hard edges all-in-one.
Mostly though, I use Dunlop's thumbpicks. A thumbpicker can submerse them in boiling water to soften them up, then shape them to their particular appendage. Say, thumb. I suppose any heat source would do.
I especially liked the guy's response on here about using a razor across the flat-picks to create a gripping surface; I'm gonna try that one.
I did enjoy Taj Mahal's answer to this yrs ago.
He stated that he never cared for a plectrum, really. The tactile response of his fingers on the strings gave him the most sense of control. Think of pick-less Wes Montgomery.
CL |
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Re: Major Guitar Picks Post!!!!
1/10/2009 7:29:53 PM
Adrian Dupree
(6318) wrote:
OH and by the way, I remember Michael Angelo Batio saying that even heavy picks seem to melt in his hand. So he had to use very thick jazz picks. No joke.
Adrian
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