Am I "picking" up bad habits or are my strings too abrasive?

Paul Seager · Post by **Paul Seager** » 21 Apr 2014 10:14 am

I'll be honest and say that I've been practicing way more than usual lately and I've noticed something that is incredibly irritating. My thumb picks are wearing down on the edges which causes the plucked tone to sound almost scraped.

Now I don't think that I'm playing any differently than before but its happening all the time and so I wondered if the strings I'm using are particularly abrasive? The strings I use right now are actually PSG strings, GHS Super Steels which when I buy their E9 / C6 sets gives me all the gauges I need - remember I live in Germany, limited availability of dedicated strings and some others that I've bought have been too short - hence the PSG sets. However I am pretty sure I had these before. My picks are simple Dunlop, size L. I actually had a few no names in a box but they've all gone the same way; looking is if the lower edge has been filed at an angle.

I've started to watch my right hand now to ensure that the blade of the pick is aligned to the string but ... I never had this issue before. Any ideas?

By all means say you're getting sloppy so sort yourself out but you know ... if there is an easy way out!

\ paul

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 21 Apr 2014 10:18 am

Try Zookies. They are angled picks.
http://www.jimdunlop.com/product/zookies-thumbpicks

Mitch Druckman · Post by **Mitch Druckman** » 21 Apr 2014 10:27 am

It looks like you prefer stainless steel strings. Stainless strings are much harder than nickel and will quickly cause grooves in nickel frets. I don't know if it makes much difference on a plastic thumb pick, but I would suggest trying some nickel wound strings.

James Trout · Post by **James Trout** » 21 Apr 2014 10:31 am

Just my two cents, but if the strings don't work I would just buy more thumbpicks - keep a few fresh ones for performances and just wear 'em out at home...I would rather be comfortable playing then trying to put my hand in some awkward position to accomodate a piece of plastic...

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 21 Apr 2014 1:57 pm

You must be picking WAY too hard. My thumbpicks last for years and years. I only had to replace the last one because my grandson broke it.

Nakos Marker · Post by **Nakos Marker** » 21 Apr 2014 6:29 pm

Paul Seager · Post by **Paul Seager** » 21 Apr 2014 10:58 pm

First, a cumulative thanks for the advice.

@ Mike: An engineering solution! But will check them out -they are available here

@ Mitch, I prefer nickel but as I said I take what I can find. Nicest strings I ever had were Scotty's SITs - nickel ground-wound I think they were. Bought them through a buddy states-side but not available here

@ James / Erv - well you've hit the nail on the head, I have a box of picks that I've been using for years and now they are suddenly wearing down, hence my question.

@ Nakos, $40 for a thumb-pick? I would have to test them on Erv's grandson first

\ paul