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Post by Admin on Apr 2, 2014 10:26:57 GMT -5
I used a pick many years ago as a regular thing. Always used a Fender medium pick back then. But one day a couple of years ago, I tried one of them new fangled "Blue Chip" TDR picks...man, what a difference.
But both cases, they were those triangular shaped with a rounded tip. Only way to go for flatpicking...IMHO
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Post by earleg on Apr 2, 2014 10:46:54 GMT -5
I alternate pick only, pick + fingers, fingers only and back of nail for some chording/arpeggios. Makes for different sounds and cheaper than effects pedals!
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Post by Steven B on Apr 2, 2014 10:51:26 GMT -5
yes-sir......I use a pick for both acoustic and electric. For the last few years, I've been using modified "Golden Gate" picks for acoustic. They are really heavy. I normally sand down the edges a little bit and drill a couple of holes in them to keep the pick from turning in my sweaty hands. I've heard a lot of good comments about those Blue Chip picks but I've never seen or tried one out.
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Post by Pistol Pete on Apr 2, 2014 15:36:48 GMT -5
Thumbpicks all the way for me, at least for gigging - it works just as well as a flat pick for strumming stuff & allows you the freedom to go straight into fingerpicking as and when...
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Post by dadfad on Apr 3, 2014 9:40:50 GMT -5
While I'm almost a totally fingerstyle player now, the last flat-pick I used with any regularity (and still use on those rare occasions) is a good old-fashioned US quarter coin. About as "heavy" as it can get, plus all rounded sides!
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Post by Admin on Apr 3, 2014 9:47:10 GMT -5
John, your post reminds me of a question I have for others:
What is the most unusual item you've used as a guitar or mandolin pick?
I've used a tooth from a pocket comb, a folded up matchbook cover (Remember those?) for starters.
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Post by dadfad on Apr 3, 2014 11:12:25 GMT -5
John, your post reminds me of a question I have for others: What is the most unusual item you've used as a guitar or mandolin pick? I've used a tooth from a pocket comb, a folded up matchbook cover (Remember those?) for starters. LOL! I think I've used those too, Jim! Probably the most "unusual" pick I ever used was a good-sized (maybe 1") fossilized shark's-tooth I found on the beach on a key near Sarasota! Nice and firm and the Y-shape had a pretty good non-slip grip. It lasted me a couple of months gigging every Friday and Saturday night. But, alas! It eventually... "bit the dust." [laughing]
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Post by Steven B on Apr 3, 2014 11:56:14 GMT -5
sharks tooth......."bit the dust"........hehe - Funny to me! I guess some of the weirdest things I've used as a "plectrum" was....... #1 - part of a wooden "spoon" that they used to give you when you would buy those little tubs of vanilla ice cream. #2 - I one time had to cut the corner off of a credit card and use it. (it did work better than that sticky ice cream dipper, tho!)
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Post by Admin on Apr 3, 2014 12:14:52 GMT -5
John, now that would make the notes a little "sharp"? Bad pun
Steve...my credit cardwould "bounce" too much....
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Post by steve on Apr 26, 2014 6:30:04 GMT -5
I use a pick a lot though I do like to do the odd solo without one- I like the sound of a pick but equally there are times when the sound of a picked string is nicer. I also used a bit of a credit card once though I've used an old sixpence piece( like Brian May).Most of my picks are Dunlop green ones whichever the thickness is, I can't recall off hand. I do have one made of fossilised bone which is lovely though a bit think between the fingers. I also have one made of a hard wood which is lovely on acoustic. Somewhere in the house if a "jelly fish" pick which is a plastic ti with small steel spines. That is interesting and intended for acoustics.
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Post by JamesP on Mar 30, 2015 15:15:19 GMT -5
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Post by JamesP on Oct 14, 2016 13:52:19 GMT -5
The choice of pick is really something that is a personal preference and everyone I know is constantly looking for the "best pick. There is a wide variety of pick types that are used, so there really is no "standard" pick for flatpicking. Having said that, there are some guidelines in general, which you are already aware of I'm sure.. That the thinner the pick, the thinner and brighter the tone, however, the easier the attack The thicker the pick, the more mellow the tone, however, the attack is more difficult and may give you a "clicking" sound. Also, the more pointy the pick's point, the brighter the tone. The more rounded the pick's point, the more mellow the tone.
Many flatpickers like a more woody, mellow, thick, rich tone, so they use a heavier pick, or one that has a more rounded edge, or both. However, some flatpickers like a brighter tone and use a thinner, pointier pick. And some use a variety based on the particular song.
In addition to tone, you want the pick to feel comfortable in your hand and you want to be able to push the pick through the strings without feeling like it is a struggle. I would recommend starting with a standard shape pick tortex (teardrop), using the point of the pick , with a thickness of about .8 to 1.0 mm and see how that feels and sounds to you. After you have gained a feel for that, use it has your measuring stick and try others of different shapes, sizes, and materials, and see if they feel and sound better or worse to you. In the end it all comes down to personal taste. I think that every flatpicker that I know is constantly experimenting. Even if they stick with one pick for years, they sometimes change later. So I recommend that you start somewhere in order to set a standard and then experiment from there.
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