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Hard pick/soft pick?
I’m not sure if it’s me and my flat picking dynamics or if there’s an actual solution.
Aside from having difficulty with both the C and F chords, (F is worse), the fact that I’m picking fewer than 6 strings makes the F sound pretty wimpy, plus the clack-clack-clack of the pick on the 4 strings really sounds bad. I can play “lighter” if I concentrate on doing so and it sounds better, and if I angle the pick slightly so the leading edge is one of the sides it sounds a little better, but more awkward to hold consistently. I think I may be holding the pick too “far out” as well, so sometimes it clacks against the far edge of the sound hole! But if I hold it in more, my fingertips/nails interfere with the strings. Not sure what I’m doing wrong, or should be doing differently.
So I’m wondering is there any brand of pick that gives a “softer” response, yet won’t wear out from steel strings?
I’m into my 3rd year of TAC, and it’s taken me this long to get even a halfway functional F…
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20 Replies
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@BarbaraM
I have this issue too or should I say I had it and now not as much. I think it has less to do with your pick, as long as your other chords sound good to you. For me the mini F especially has required some awkward contortions of the hand and as a result we might not get a full ring of each note in the chord.Sometimes my F has a bit of a “harp-like” sound if I transition to it from say a G (“Let it Be) This happens less now than it used to but it still rears it’s ugly head now and then and forces me to be less sloppy with my fretting hand. It’s easier to transition to the F from a C or using a base walk for example. I suppose it’s possible that some of these issues could be influenced by the equipment such as the guitar or your pick. I’ll let some others chime in….
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Yes! The contortions! I can’t play anything at a reasonable speed because of that.
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I am also soon going to be in my third year in TAC and still have some struggles of this kind Barbara. We are what we are, Seniors [that] Just Wanna Have Fun!
– queue Cyndi Lauper
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LOL!
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Hi Barbara, The softest sounding pick, on the thin side, is the Jim Dunlop Nylon, .60. The sound of thin picks (to my ears) include a lot of sound from the slap of the pick on the string. Your discovery of playing softly is part of this equation. Thin picks give up tone as you demand volume or maybe not give up tone but you hear the sound of the pick contacting the string more and more as volume is increased. A thin pick delivers amazing tone but at low volume.
Are you holding your pick between thumb and index? There is a little trick in here that is slight of hand (takes forever to learn but when your get it,…magic) the place my index finger touches the pick has gotten smaller and smaller over time. As my precision increased the amount of contact between my index decreased. The point is….try playing as lightly as you possibly can…barely any sound…the hidden volume button is precision not force. Check it out and lemme know what you find. The best pick I found to get the hang of thicker picks was Dunlop Ultex 2.0. I love the thick Blue Chips picks but price of admission makes the risk reward ratio unfavorable. The risk is I loose and 80.00 pick vs. the reward: a cool sound and feel. Nothing like the sound of Santa Cruz strings and a Blue Chip Pick but I have bought whole guitars for less. : )-
Do you mean $8?
https://www.jimdunlop.com/ultex-sharp-pick-2-0mm/
jimdunlop.com
From picks to pedals and every accessory in between, Dunlop Manufacturing has been creating world-class gear for musicians for over 50 years. We consistently create the best selling picks and analog electronics, and carry a large line of accessories that … Continue reading
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Oh I see the Blue Chips cost more: https://shop.bluechippick.net/
shop.bluechippick.net
BlueChip Pick store, home of the world's best guitar, mandolin, dobro, and banjo picks
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bingo!!
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Not sure what you mean by using less of your index finger when holding between the index and thumb? I hold the pick with my index curled, and held mostly level, with the thumb’s last joint held across it, at the last joint of the index.
I checked out my collection of random picks and found one that was slightly thinner than the one I use most often, and it does sound better. I have no idea of the thickness; I’d have to dig out my late husband’s micrometer gauge (he was a toolmaker).
So, thinner is softer sounding? What is the number I should look for, and what does it signify? I’m not terribly concerned with having perfect tone, just to have it not sound like a chain saw on a metal fence post! 😀
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Perfect position holding the pick. It is like I hold too. Imagine, instead of squeezing the pick to hold it, try and touch the pick with as little skin as possible touching the pick. Imagine only one square mm of skin on both your index and thumb touching the pick. It is more but the mental exercise is that. It forces you to jettison absolutely all of your tension…you cant touch it that lightly and make sound if you have tension. I think @Skyman911 makes an excellent point about too much digging in with the tip. The stiffer pick does not allow for that. It flips out of your fingers. The thin pick bend forgivingly but give you that sound. The sound of the thin pick is not softer but rather it is more forgiving causing what you described as the chain saw on metal post sound. (love that BTW : ) ) I know exactly what you mean too. To get rid of that effect, less tip contact. To produce that sweet sound with a thin pick you ultimately give way to some of the volume the guitar is capable of producing or use amplification were volume can be controlled with electronics. Speaking of the chainsaw…there is a cool effect where you intentionally use that thin pick to get the snaredrum sound, kinda?
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Now I am quite curious how you folks hold your picks, minimizing the contact with the index: are you grasping with the thumb and the side of the index? Definitely not introducing other fingers into the mix.
I probably need to invest into some more serious picks, mine are all completely flat rounded triangles. I wasn’t having any troubles but I do notice if I play for a few minutes without stopping I find myself re-gripping it, it does start to get away and I have to make a conscious effort to hold onto it. I’m not a performer and my playing consists of mostly doing the challenges and other exercises, usually I come to a stop within a minute or 2.
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@BarbaraM, just my opinion here. I don’t think the sound you are mentioning is a result of a hard or soft pick. It is too much pick material touching the strings. Try to only have 1/8 to 1/4 inch of the tip of the pick exposed when playing. The pick isn’t meant to “slap” the strings per se, and if too much of the pick is exposed, this is what will happen. It does take some getting used to, and you will probably touch the strings with your thumb or fingers in the beginning. Also, I don’t use any other pick other than a Blue Chip pick. For me, there was no turning back, and other picks just don’t measure up.
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For what it is worth, I like the Dunlop Ultex Triangle, .60mm. It may be bcause of its large size for my stubby fingers. 1 1/4″ wide and long. Fairly soft but does not slap like thinner picks. Experiment with less expensive versions before you have to dig deeper into your wallet!
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I use a heavy 1.5 pick and have 2 fingers on the back and thumb on the front but , only, between 1/8th to 3/16th of and inch of the pick tip visible and striking the stings and play so much that i have good control of the tip, Also have a couple of Blue tips but don’t use them much.
A lot of times when doing down strokes my middle finger tip actual touches the string before the pick tip does. this doesn’t seem to affect my tone, unless I want it to, and and I take this anomaly and develop different sounds with it. I try to use this as a different way to strike the strings and achieve a different tone. I have actually used that nail tip to get that different tone, on down strokes. If you play enough you can try to do something with the different way you play as you don’t have to please anyone but yourself. That finger nail can help partially mute a string to get a different tone.
Also I noodle a lot, sometimes forever or so it seems. When you are retired and don’t have to account for your time any longer you learn to stretch out in different directions. This means that I am discovering different tone/sounds, mutes, etc. All of this creeps into your playing, over time, when pickings tunes.
Maybe someday I’ll actually know what the heck i am doing on a guitar.
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Having tried the Dunlop pick, I’m a believer now: what a difference a pick can make! I’m not sure if it addresses @BarbaraM ‘s issue, but I just love the Dunlop Max-Grip. It stays silent when you hit the strings, no clackity-clack, absolutely wonderful and then the grip really helps too.
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I just ordered a sampler set of Dunlops! 6 different thicknesses. Can’t wait to try them!
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Great choice! I might have to try that at some point. I bought a bag of 6 max-grip jazz III’s that I really like. But what if there’s something that suits me better?
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Very novice player here, so take that into account. Just last night I recorded myself strumming with 2 different picks trying to determine which sounds better. I initially switched to the softest pick I could find because I was having SO much trouble with the upstrum – like I could not do it at all. Now that my strum is a bit better, I tried the pick I was originally using (which had been my Dad’s & came with the guitar I got when he passed). My conclusion is the softer is easier to strum with but the firmer makes a much better sound.
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Hello @AmyK thanks for jumping into the dialogue. I was there where you are a couple of years ago, going through my collection of picks and trying to find one that would work for me. I also favored the thin ones in the beginning. This will change for you as you develop your strumming and picking. It’s a multi year journey, enjoy the ride!
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Wow that would be special to use your father’s last pick. Sweet.
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