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PLECTRUMS
I have noticed that different plectrums not only feel different in my hand/fingers but also produce a different sound.
Currently I am using a more flexible plectrum as I find it is more forgiving to my blundering around the fret board.
Do any of the more experienced on here have any sound advice, or is it a case of ‘whatever makes you comfortable’?
Thank you.
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7 Replies
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Different thicknesses do sound different and many select their pick based upon the sound they want to achieve.
I tend to use a thinner pick for strumming and a thicker pick when picking individual strings.
Some are also more comfortable to hold, don’t spun as much, or don’t slip out if your fingers. Get an assortment pack and try lots of different sizes and styles to see what works best for you.
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@DrewBeckett It is a matter of what works for you. Typically a thinner pick is used for beginners, because they tend to death grip and strum to hard, but as your strumming becomes more fluid and you’re able to play a more quickly, you need a lighter grip and just brushing the strings. At this point, many go to the thicker, more rigid picks. It gives a more tonal sound and yiu don’t hear the slap of the pick, and you get more vibrato from the strings from a heavier one.
As for latpicking, I tend to agree with @Moose408 that the thicker, heavier ones are better. It’s easier to go faster, for accuracy, and to really get the sharp, vibrant sound from the individual strings.
When I first started playing, I bought so many varieties of makes and thicknesses. I still have most, untouched. I used the lighter
Picked for a bit, and I gradually moved up. I used <.50 for quite a while. I then hung out at around .50- .60, and at 4 years went up to around .80 – 1.00. I like a slight flex still in the pick.
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I’ve found that switching to a bit of a heavier/thicker gauge has helped me approach both strumming and picking with a gentler touch, but with it has come more precision and deliberate striking of the strings. In my case, that meant moving from the Fender medium picks I had always favored to the Dunlop Jazz III XL 1.14/purple option as my plectrum of choice.
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Yes, to echo what everyone seems to be saying, I started really floppy and the longer I play, the thicker and stiffer I like my picks. I go bigger and sometimes softer for strumming, stiffer and smaller for lead stuff. I also feel day-to-day changes. Some days, it’s harder to relax my picking arm and I need to go more flexible with the pick. Sometimes if I’m not getting a riff, switching picks will reset my muscle memory and I can break out of a mistake I keep repeating. Picks are cheap enough that it’s easy to experiment. Don’t neglect playing without one sometimes too! Sometimes I’ll use a stiffer pick to make myself relax if I’m too tight, and sometimes if my strumming feels timid I’ll go floppier to force myself to be more aggressive. It’s the cheapest, easiest thing you can change to vary tone and feel, so use that to your advantage. My current fave overall are the golden gate rainbow (clown vomit) rounded triangle picks. Pretty stiff but not too sharp, easy to hold, and a good in between size for both strums and individual strings. I always have one in the watch pocket of my pants
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I now find that I carry collection in that small pocket of my jeans and often fiddle with them in meetings or whilst concentrating; a stress ball replacement :o)
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I am a Dunlop Primetone fan and just switched from the 1.5 down to the 1.3. I’m doing more Hybris picking and finger picking with a Black mountain thumb pick. The Dunlop primetone 1.3 seems to give me better control and a little more flexibility. Like most of you who have been picking for awhile I do favor a thicker pick. Dunlops don’t seem to wear out, I’ve been using the same 1.5 for 4 years, just thought I’d give the 1.3 a try for awhile.Better tone, more pick control for softer tones yet sturdy enough to bang on the strings as needed. Keep chugglin.
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Thank you ☺
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