What a difference a pick makes

[naveed211]

Probably old news to just about everyone, but just wanted to share my experience.

After using a couple different pick sizes for a few years, I've pretty much settled into the standard .73 yellow Dunlop Tortex everyone knows for the last maybe 8 or 9 years. Never really gave it much thought. I read a thread somewhere (I think it was LTG) about guys trying heavier gauge picks, so, with the Amazon gift card I got for my birthday, decided to give some 1.14 mm Gator Grips a try.

Seriously, such a difference! Where my tone was kinda thin, bright and plinky before on my JF30, I was thinking about trying different strings to make it rounder and fuller. Just changing to the 1.14 mm made that tone change for me.

Is there a diminishing returns with pick size? If I go heavier will it get too round and bassy? I guess picks are so cheap I could try a bunch, but the 1.14 mm are getting me in the tone zone where I want to be.

 

[Daveyo]

Thats funny you should mention picks, Every now and then I pick up a thicker pick,or a different pick material.
I go back to what I have used for many yrs, a Fender medium
I will take what you say and keep trying other picks, kinda fun anyways.
Dave

 

[shihan]

It's a small thing, but a big thing, too. Finding the right pick is very important. I started using an old silver quarter ground into a pick a couple of years ago; now I can't do without it. Picks are cheap, try a bunch. Don't neglect non traditional models (brass, wood, stone, silver) you might find something that fits you.

 

[griehund]

I used fender Mediums for most of my life but when I started playing lighter gauge strings on my electrics I found they were too heavy. I bought some Tusq picks in two separate gauges. I use the lighter ones on the electrics and the heavier ones on the acoustics. I like them a lot cause they are both stiff and thin.

 

[Westerly Wood]

I recently switched to 2.0 mm. Awesome power.

 

[kostask]

I like the Clayton Ultem picks in .80 mm and thicker. I have also used the Dunlop Stubby om 2.0 mm. and in some ways like it better because of the thickness (eatier to grip). Even though the Dunlop is 2.0mm thick, it doesn't seem to mute the highs as much as a 1.14 mm Clayton Ultem. I like the tone with the Clayton .80mm the best.

Pick choice can make as much of a difference in tone as a bone saddle or a shring choice.

 

[dreadnut]

I have a large selection of picks made of various materials and I put them to the test one night when I had nothing better to do. Steel, brass, silver, bone, ivory, hardwood, tortex, plastic, nylon and probably a couple more I can't think of presently.

I decided I got the best tone out of my Guild acoustics with good old nylon. My current preference is 1.14mm Snarling Dog Brain picks or Cat's-Tongue picks. If anything, I'll go a bit thicker on my next purchase.

 

[Grahambythesea]

Most of us probably start with a fairly thin pick. The heavier ones seem harder to hold due to the resistance when we first start strumming,but as time goes on and ability improves this is less of a problem. The great gypsy guitarists used very heavy picks, shaped coins, lumps of torteshell because without amplification they needed VOLUME. However it seems to be a fact that you can play faster with a heavy pick than a light one, just listen to old Django records or to John Jorgenson playing his "Franco-American" Jazz at break neck speeds. All with a heavy pick. I think it may depend on you, some days it's a heavy some lighter, just keep a few in a box on your case and try different ones regularly.

 

[The Retro Rocker]

I mainly use Fender mediums too. They just seem to do everything I need. Down-stroke/up-stroke, heavy strumming, light flat-picking. Very "right-now" responsive (as opposed to nylon thins which have a different sound and attack.) And as the mediums wear, I use different sections of the pick...like when they get a little serrated on the sides, I sometimes use that for an effect (sort of chorus-y).

 

[naveed211]

I went back and forth between the two I had today (1.14 Gator Grip and .73 Tortex) and both were valid and brought something good to the table. I was a bit harsh with calling the tone "plinky" before, it's just bright and very present. I found that the thicker pick was excellent when a mellow tone was preferred, with the opposite being true for the .73.

I found that I liked both sounds for different things I was playing. Maybe I'll hold onto those .73's after all, but for what I'm playing mostly right now and I'd say for me a good overall pick, the 1.14's are where it's at.

 

[Moose]

I've used traynor .51 jazz style for years.
Just recently tried a 1.5 and was impressed.
I've now tried a few different sizes.
Settled on a dava 1ml. Has some groved texture to it for grip.
Nice pick. However. It's an on going thing. The search for the perfect one continues

 

[griehund]

Most of us probably start with a fairly thin pick. The heavier ones seem harder to hold due to the resistance when we first start strumming,but as time goes on and ability improves this is less of a problem. The great gypsy guitarists used very heavy picks, shaped coins, lumps of torteshell because without amplification they needed VOLUME. However it seems to be a fact that you can play faster with a heavy pick than a light one, just listen to old Django records or to John Jorgenson playing his "Franco-American" Jazz at break neck speeds. All with a heavy pick. I think it may depend on you, some days it's a heavy some lighter, just keep a few in a box on your case and try different ones regularly.

When I switched to the Tusq picks I found that I was faster because of the stiffness and not the thickness. Pick angle is also a speed affecting dynamic. A friend gave me some shaped coin picks but they felt like lug nuts in my fingers. I believe the Tusq thicker gauge are .88 and the light gauge are .63. They have a raised logo on them that makes them easy to hold onto. Different strokes for various persons.

 

[F312]

I'm always trying new picks. I have over a quart bottle of picks but I play with Jim Dunlop nylon .46 mm which I can not get away from for many a year.

 

[Frosty]

I recently switched to 2.0 mm. Awesome power.

Likely awesome tone, too.

I agree that the choice of pick plays a major role in tone and performance. A fingerpicker
for the past 4 decades, I decided to learn something about flatpicking about a month ago.
I have only gotten my toes wet at this point, but I have found that I prefer the tone from a
thick / rigid pick.

Some recent favorites: Dunlop 207, D'Andrea ProPlec 1.5mm and the BlueChip TPR 60 1.5mm

 

[Westerly Wood]

Likely awesome tone, too.

I agree that the choice of pick plays a major role in tone and performance. A fingerpicker
for the past 4 decades, I decided to learn something about flatpicking about a month ago.
I have only gotten my toes wet at this point, but I have found that I prefer the tone from a
thick / rigid pick.

Some recent favorites: Dunlop 207, D'Andrea ProPlec 1.5mm and the BlueChip TPR 60 1.5mm

I hope you do some youtube vids of you flatpicking. Your fingerpicking is real complex and fantastic, so I can only imagine same when flatpicking.

 

[markb]

As a bass player (finger style) and a want-a-be acoustic finger picker, picks are somewhat of a challenge. Years ago I flat picked on electric but over the years I really cut down on pick use. With the exception of when playing mandolin. Recently I'm practicing with a pick again on guitar using Golden Gate MP-12 mando picks. Fat rounded suckers with a mellow touch and tone. Interesting and I'm familiar with the feel...and yeah I'm weird too.

 

[Frosty]

... guitar using Golden Gate MP-12 mando picks...and yeah I'm weird too.

If it works and you like the sound, it's a winner!

I have an MP-12 in my collection as well, and also initially for mandolin. David
Grier, as one example, is a flatpicker who uses a highly rounded, thick pick. His
tone is wonderful too.

 

[6&12]

It's definitely true that pick choice makes a big difference in sound. I'm a thick/stiff pick guy, and a Blue Chip user. They make less pick noise and stick to the fingers well, even though the surface is perfectly smooth. The price is steep, but it's a great "ask" for a Xmas/B'day/other present.

 

[walrus]

Like Retro Rocker said above, I like the standard medium celluloid plastic pick. I've tried others, but always come back to these, for both acoustic and electric. I like to find them with logos of bands I like, etc. Or, of course, mediums with the Guild logo!

walrus

 

[Br1ck]

I wanted to try a more expensive pick but not Blue Chip expensive. Bought some Wegen bluegrass 1.2 and some dippers, also 1.2, and haven't looked back. The feel and tone work for me.