Pick thickness?

[petelanger]

@Bayvu2
I’m about 2 years in to playing guitar, my 2 year TACiversary is July 3rd. Early on I favored thin picks, but after a while I realized that you have less control and they produce a bit of noise due to the bending of the pick. My favorite now is about a 1mm (0.96).

Players will change to thin or thick picks depending on the style of playing and the sound they are wanting to create. Generally for more accuracy you will need a stiffer pick. They are also more durable, but if you are only playing 10 minutes daily that probably won’t be a factor for you

[petelanger]

I just remembered that when I switched from the thinner picks (0.46mm and 0.71mm) to the medium (0.96mm and 1.2mm it took a bit of adjustment. I was uncomfortable with them for a few days, but then I started preferring the feel. They’re easier to hang on to and give you better control with a clearer and stronger tone.

[Bayvu2]

Thanks.

[Skyman911]

Most people as they become more skilled, tend to move on to thicker picks due to accuracy and control. I’m playing with a Blue Chip TAD 40, which is about 1mm. I’m sure you already know there are many different materials, shapes, thicknesses, etc. I’ve tried literally every type of pick, and have gravitated to the Blue Chip pick. Great tone, control, and it doesn’t spin in my fingers like other picks do, even the textured picks. The Blue Chip is smooth, however doesn’t spin and rotate like other smooth picks do. Experiment with different picks, and when playing, try to have the least amount of the tip of the pick exposed for greater control. I try to only have 1/8th to 1/4 of an inch of the tip exposed from my thumb. This alone has really helped with using a pick.

[Bayvu2]

Thanks

[my2cyl]

Hello Bayvu2, I started playing a year and 4 months ago. I started with a variety pack of different thickness of picks and have worked my way to 1.4mm triangle pick and love it. Took a bit to get used to it but the sound is rich, and have three areas to pick from.

[DiscostewLA]

I’ve gone through a bunch of picks and my go to for the past few years is a .88mm Dunlop Primetone with the raised font texture: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/510R088–dunlop-510r088-primetone-standard-grip-guitar-picks-88mm-12-pack

I like the tone and the tactile feel of the raised print. If I’m picking I’ll hold it normally and if I’m strumming I’ll usually hold it sideways and use the blunter end to strum for a more mellow tone. Rock on!

[Bayvu2]

Good to know. Thanks

[jorgemac]

Good point DSL, The blunter sides of the pick do offer a different tone. Like you I vary my Dunlop Primetone picks/1.5 to different pick sides and angles striking the strings. I’m slowly getting away from picks and using thumb picks and finger picking more and more As i started TAC by picking most of the exercises with a pick and switching to finger style after a few times through the daily lesson. Hit lesson 300 today, really enjoying the lessons and the community.

[Ben64]

With time a gradually moved to thicker picks. I now use 2 mm primetone, gator grip and big stubby (tone warmer to brighter respectively). The exception is a 0.5 mm pick for the 12-strings, it allows more each string to ring more distinctively.

[MattTX_24]

I love this topic as I’ve been diving deeper into pick experimentation over the last several months.

Everything that has been said in this post is spot on…

I’ve learned that I’ve been gradually moving into the thicker picks as I’ve improved.

The best suggestion I could give is to go purchase a couple variety packs from a couple different brands… the ones that give you a wide range of thicknesses, sizes, shapes, and try them all! These can be found in most any music store or online.

You’ll find that you may like certain picks for different types of playing. You’ll also find that you might end up liking one you weren’t initially fond of.

I am currently digging the 1.0 Taylor Thermex Ultra picks, but this is always changing. I’m also playing around with the smaller, “Jazz”-style picks. Although I’m not sure I’d use those for everything, they are fun to throw into the mix.

[Bayvu2]

Thanks. Since I started this Discussion and been listen to fellow TACers, I have pulled out some medium picks and have been committing to them.

[jumpinjeff]

My favorite pick is a 2.0mm made out of Snakewood that I have put a speed bevel on. The best pick for the money is the Dunlop Ultex 2.0mm. I do like thick picks. I find the thick pick offers more dynamic possiblities without the slapping plastic sound of the thinner pick on the strings. With a thin pick when I dig in it gets more string to pick sound but not much more volume for the additional effort. When I first started I favored a very thin pick because they felt more forgiving…over time the desire to control sound become greater than my need for a forgiving pick. With these Thicker picks I can get a wood tone to ring out without any string noise. It is a cool effect.