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Picks vs Fingerstyle
Hola! I really like playing picking but learning to play with a pick is probably important too. How do I know what kind of pick to get? I have never used one. and bought a few but they were awkward. Any suggestions?
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7 Replies
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The most popular pic in the world is the Dunlap tortex .70 teardrop shape. If you’re not used to picks you might want to use something slightly lighter like a .60
Your two main choices for material will be nylon or tortex. Avoid all the weird specialty stuff for now
You will find that light picks are easier to strum but very difficult to pick out individual strings. Heavy gauge picks will be just the opposite- harder to strum but better for soloing
Pick material and gauge will change the tone of your guitar possibly even more than the type of wood or type of strings your using. It’s worth buying a couple variety packs.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by That_Guy.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by
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Tony has had an Acoustic Tuesday session on picks. You can check the archives. I too prefer to finger pick but over time have also come to love flatpicking a fiddle tune just to relax. It is good it doesn’t have to be either or but both and.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by albert_d. Reason: Spelling
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This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by
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I really struggled playing with a pick and either strummed with fingers or finger picked. My breakthrough came with the following habit. Anytime I went to guitar center I would grab a couple of their free branded picks they keep at the cash register. Pretty soon I had them in my pockets, in the car, around the house. I would not play with them – I would just hold them as if I was playing. Even driving the car. After about a month I could hold a pick as if it was an extension of my hand vs feeling foreign. I can now play with a pick with a lot more confidence. Give it a try!
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Hey – for what it’s worth I’ve tried a bunch of picks over the years and I’ve landed on two that I go back and forth between. I like the Dunlop Primetone in .88mm. I like the raised grip and these have a great tone for acoustic. LINK -> https://www.amazon.com/24510073003-Primetone-Standard-Sculpted-Plectra/dp/B00JB4WFBS/ref=pd_bxgy_vft_none_sccl_1/132-0819370-7719522?pd_rd_w=PoBuV&content-id=amzn1.sym.26a5c67f-1a30-486b-bb90-b523ad38d5a0&pf_rd_p=26a5c67f-1a30-486b-bb90-b523ad38d5a0&pf_rd_r=C3F5D9Q1V9G7XNXSN8RW&pd_rd_wg=ZQojZ&pd_rd_r=4d5f3b3b-d236-4251-b00f-3b0ac45b61e5&pd_rd_i=B00JB4WFDG&th=1
I also really like these Dunlop Tortex in .88 (green) which are frequently recommended (and I also see musicians using them a lot). I like the tone of these also – and I like that as I get sweaty these tend to get stickier. I like the tone of the Primetone’s more, but if I was going to play in front of people I think I’d go with the Tortex for grip? LINK – https://www.amazon.com/Dunlop-Tortex-Standard-88mm-Guitar/dp/B0002GX7XY/ref=asc_df_B0002GX7XY/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312150857943&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14672179251082389886&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9030961&hvtargid=pla-382118979486&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=65054436154&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=312150857943&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14672179251082389886&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9030961&hvtargid=pla-382118979486
Good luck – let us know what picks you discover and like!
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@Seven Many have felt the same pain as you in getting comfortable with a pick. Picks are a personal preference. I have bowls full of all shapes and sizes of picks and various thicknesses, but there are only a few I actually like to play with.
I’m the opposite of you, in that I’ve relied almost solely on flatpicking and strumming, and I’m so awkward fingerpicking. I love @TMutter suggestion of always having picks with you and holding them in your hands as often as possible. This resins your brain and fingers.
I agree with the other suggestions of going to a lighter pick for strumming, and a harder gauge for flatpicking. I think my favorite pick is a .60. It took me a long time to find one I like. My favorite are actually quite expensive compared to the big names. They’re made at a small shop, and I like the grip and the overall feel of the picks, but it took me over 2 years of trying a number of different picks to find them.
Simply put, just put your best foot forward and you’ll eventually be rather comfortable with them.
Article on every type of pick https://guitarpickreviews.com/guitar-picks-guide/amp/
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Thnks everyone! Appreciate it.
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Hey Seven,
A lot of good info here in the chat. Stay with a thin or medium thickness and common material. I think TMutter had a great idea about carrying the pick with you and holding until it feels good in you hand (fingers). I had the opposite experience and learned long ago to only flat pick and learning fingerstyle was a challenge. a word to the wise here, get some inexpensive average picks, carry them with you and hold them correctly and watch Tony’s instruction on holding, picking and esp. alternate picking. It will seem awkward but it will pay off after awhile to learn it right..
You got this…
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