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Tony’s Acoustic Challenge – The New Way to Learn Guitar Family Forums Small Wins Thicker guitar pick gives a stellar performance.

  • Thicker guitar pick gives a stellar performance.

    Posted by Cadgirl on May 27, 2021 at 5:30 am

    I just ordered a guitar slide, when I opened the box it had a complimentary guitar pick sized at 1.2mm. I normally use a .38mm size (yeah, it’s paper thin). When I first looked at this chuck of plastic I though, oh, no way. It’s just going to sound horrible. But, I strummed “My hero’s have always been cowboys” and WOW. What a different! True sound coming from all those strings. For such an inexpensive item, i’m surprised I never just bought a mixed bag of picks to try out. Oh, yeah, the performance was for the cats. I still haven’t gotten up my nerve to post a song.

    johnny67 replied 3 years, 8 months ago 6 Members · 11 Replies
  • 11 Replies
  • Loraine

    Member
    May 27, 2021 at 5:54 am

    What a cool win @Cadgirl ! I use a firmer pick (>1) to pick and a slightly (key word slightly I.e. .80 or so) thinner pick to strum. Definitely invest in a variety of pick thicknesses and sizes to see what works best for you. I’m sure the cats were very happy to be your audience, as we will when you decide to share. 🙂

  • Cadgirl

    Member
    May 27, 2021 at 5:57 am

    @Loraine , I have as my 90 day goal is to be able to fingerpick “dream a little dream of me”. As of right now, I plan on posting my accomplishment. I will have to use my IPhone to record, is that going to be good enough?

    • Loraine

      Member
      May 27, 2021 at 3:20 pm

      @cadgirl All I use is my phone when recording. They actually take very nice videos.

      • Cadgirl

        Member
        May 27, 2021 at 5:56 pm

        Ok then @Loraine, then the IPhone is going to be it. Your videos come out really nice. Sound and video. I’ll start practicing with recording myself. Thanks

  • Kim-Fitz

    Member
    May 27, 2021 at 10:19 am

    Wow! That’s seems like one thick pick. Very cool how that came to you. My thickest pick is a .73mm. I have one that feels thicker but it’s not marked. I’m always switching between the different sizes. I’ll have to try a thick one like you have. Would love to hear about your slide experience. I’ve been interested in learning to play slide, but I’m putting it off for now. I’m committing to learning some strumming songs right now. It takes me such a long time to learn a piece. All I play is finger style stuff like ragtime. I don’t have many songs in my repertoire.

    • Cadgirl

      Member
      May 27, 2021 at 11:19 am

      I’m going up to the guitar store near me and picking up a collection of different sizes of picks. From what I’ve been reading on the posts some are better for strumming some better for picking. As for the slide, I thought I saw a course on this site for learning slide. I thought…. what the heck, why not. Ragtime! I would love to learn ragtime stuff. Good job

      • GuitarGeni

        Member
        May 30, 2021 at 11:50 am

        Precisely correct, some thicknesses lend themselves to picking, others to strumming. I used to have a single preferred thickness but that has changed. I would NEVER use a heavy pick before, but now I realize that it has its applications and uses. Would I strum with it, probably not, but then again, depends on what guitar, what string gauge and what the song calls for. Definitely one of the least expensive explorations of tonal variety that you’ll ever encounter!

      • Cadgirl

        Member
        May 30, 2021 at 12:12 pm

        I just started to use a pick a few months back. I never liked them. Now? I realize they have their place. Thanks for the comment.

  • Jason_A

    Member
    May 28, 2021 at 6:26 am

    Please give the Dunlop Jazz III 1.5mm a try.

    Not sure if it’s the thickness or what it’s made from but the sounds it pulls out of your guitar are incredible.

    • Cadgirl

      Member
      May 30, 2021 at 12:13 pm

      I saw the 1.5mm s at Guitar Center and thought it would be too thick. Next time I’m there I’m going to pick up a bag. Thanks

  • johnny67

    Member
    June 1, 2021 at 10:49 am

    Nice win, I took some lessons several years ago, the teacher was a jazz guy and he introduced me to the thicker picks still to this day

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