opinions on different kinds of picks?
- Thread starter sally smith
- Start date
My favorite picks are dunlop tortex wedge 0.88mm. They are my go to but I also enjoy using the dunlop jazz sometimes and more recently the dunlop tortex sharp 1.00mm. I mostly switch between the three of those when I play guitar. When I play the bass, I use dunlop triangle 1.00mm simply because I need more strenght when I pick the bass string and the pick is bigger so more stability. In conclusion, it took me 5 years to find the pick im more comfortable with so really, its to each their own. The material, the size, the shape.. its all personal so basically youll have to constantly try until you find the ”nirvana” and then hope to never lose it!!
Picks matter alot to me.
I’ve tried a ton, including boutique guitar picks.
I’d say on a logical and technical side, a pick that is pointy, that doesn’t bend, that glides (bevel/material) on the strings and has a solid grip is your best bet.
Pointy tip for : Less pick distance to travel before crossing the string (so they are faster) and more articulation. They are more precise.
Pick that doesn’t bend for : You do the movement, everything is controlled by you and you only. You don’t rely on the pick to bend for you. You are responsible for your mistakes, but also your prodigious playing. A pick that bends is inconsistent.
A pick that glides for : Allows your arm/wrist/fingers to relax and allows you to not get stuck in the strings. The ”gliding” depends mostly on the material. A bevel is also ideal, it’s like an highway to the tip of your pick for the string. You also have to be careful about picks that have too much of a bevel and a rounded tip, you kind of start to lose the feel of the string and it feels like you’re just picking in butter.
Solid grip for : So you don’t drop the pick and it doesn’t move in your hand. I’d like to add that a pick with too much grip isn’t better. Being able to move your pick voluntarily in your hand is also an advantage, it allows for multiple techniques and facilitates playing. This is very personal, some people think regular Jazz IIIs have phenomenal grips, but I can’t hold on to them at all.
Somehow, and this is very personal, I find that Medium/Heavy picks (1mm or so) allow for more dynamic notes, more ”feel”.
My favorite picks are :
-Gator Grip 1.5MM
-Dragon Heart Picks
-Steve Vai picks/Tortex Wedge 0.88
-Most Jazz III XLs
These are in no particular order, I change all the time. I wish I could find the ultimate pick for myself one day, the one I’d use all the time and on all the guitars.
I find picks are a very important part of playing and most people underestimate their importance in tone and playing ease.
EDIT : John Petrucci cares alot about his picks too, just like me. He designs his pick with the same criterias I mentioned above, same with Guthrie Govan. JPs new flow picks look interesting. Like I said, those points I mentioned are purely logical, they make sense. But it might not be comfortable for everyone.
I have seen on the forums that Syn Gates uses 0.73m tortex now… I have no idea how he plays the Scream solo with it, how does he make the pick keep up with his hands?
I’ve tried a ton, including boutique guitar picks.
I’d say on a logical and technical side, a pick that is pointy, that doesn’t bend, that glides (bevel/material) on the strings and has a solid grip is your best bet.
Pointy tip for : Less pick distance to travel before crossing the string (so they are faster) and more articulation. They are more precise.
Pick that doesn’t bend for : You do the movement, everything is controlled by you and you only. You don’t rely on the pick to bend for you. You are responsible for your mistakes, but also your prodigious playing. A pick that bends is inconsistent.
A pick that glides for : Allows your arm/wrist/fingers to relax and allows you to not get stuck in the strings. The ”gliding” depends mostly on the material. A bevel is also ideal, it’s like an highway to the tip of your pick for the string. You also have to be careful about picks that have too much of a bevel and a rounded tip, you kind of start to lose the feel of the string and it feels like you’re just picking in butter.
Solid grip for : So you don’t drop the pick and it doesn’t move in your hand. I’d like to add that a pick with too much grip isn’t better. Being able to move your pick voluntarily in your hand is also an advantage, it allows for multiple techniques and facilitates playing. This is very personal, some people think regular Jazz IIIs have phenomenal grips, but I can’t hold on to them at all.
Somehow, and this is very personal, I find that Medium/Heavy picks (1mm or so) allow for more dynamic notes, more ”feel”.
My favorite picks are :
-Gator Grip 1.5MM
-Dragon Heart Picks
-Steve Vai picks/Tortex Wedge 0.88
-Most Jazz III XLs
These are in no particular order, I change all the time. I wish I could find the ultimate pick for myself one day, the one I’d use all the time and on all the guitars.
I find picks are a very important part of playing and most people underestimate their importance in tone and playing ease.
EDIT : John Petrucci cares alot about his picks too, just like me. He designs his pick with the same criterias I mentioned above, same with Guthrie Govan. JPs new flow picks look interesting. Like I said, those points I mentioned are purely logical, they make sense. But it might not be comfortable for everyone.
I have seen on the forums that Syn Gates uses 0.73m tortex now… I have no idea how he plays the Scream solo with it, how does he make the pick keep up with his hands?
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