Better picks?

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 16 Apr 2015 6:37 am

Did you ever try just a lighter touch?

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 16 Apr 2015 2:11 pm

I tend to pick aggressively, or so I've been told!

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 16 Apr 2015 2:31 pm

I wear out thumb picks, too. Once they get a little worn, they are useless to me as it affects the sound.

Picking lighter is not an option! I pick the way it needs to be picked.

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 16 Apr 2015 4:08 pm

I don't know anyone who picks "lighter" than me ... And I use flat wounds ... But I wear my Zookies out ... I buy them by the dozen ...

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 16 Apr 2015 4:43 pm

I'll be gosh darned (trying to keep it clean, lol) if I'd let a $1 fingerpick stop me from playing my way. I'm not that cheap!

Jeff Au Hoy · Post by **Jeff Au Hoy** » 16 Apr 2015 9:03 pm

Apologies, Rich Gardner. I'm still learning to have patience with misogynistic language.

George Rothenberger · Post by **George Rothenberger** » 23 Apr 2015 3:12 pm

I'm wiht Mason. I discoverd the brass ACRI and I love them. They are very comfortable and do not fling off.

Terry VunCannon · Post by **Terry VunCannon** » 23 Apr 2015 8:50 pm

I have been using the Perfect Touch Finger Picks for years. They fit above the fingernails...very comfy.
Flap or rounded pick area. One style for index, another for the middle fingers. Because they do flex a little different.

Stefan Robertson · Post by **Stefan Robertson** » 24 Apr 2015 12:01 am

Mike Neer wrote:I wear out thumb picks, too. Once they get a little worn, they are useless to me as it affects the sound.

Picking lighter is not an option! I pick the way it needs to be picked.

I must say I'm really starting to love the nickel Dunlop thumb pick. No more worn out thumb picks. It's so solid I'd recommend giving it a try. Also, adjust your thumb picking to be more gentle when using it and mellow out your tone for that Wes Montgomery sound.

It does take some getting used to though but once you persevere it seems worth it. I'm enjoying my .025 so much I ordered another set in case I lose this set or they become hard to get hold of one day.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 24 Apr 2015 8:00 am

Stefan Robertson wrote:
Mike Neer wrote:I wear out thumb picks, too. Once they get a little worn, they are useless to me as it affects the sound.

Picking lighter is not an option! I pick the way it needs to be picked.
I must say I'm really starting to love the nickel Dunlop thumb pick. No more worn out thumb picks. It's so solid I'd recommend giving it a try. Also, adjust your thumb picking to be more gentle when using it and mellow out your tone for that Wes Montgomery sound.

I don't care for the metal thumb picks. The plastic thumb picks are more comfortable for me, but metal finger picks are my preference. As far as touch and tone, a Wes sound is not what I'm going for.

Terry VunCannon · Post by **Terry VunCannon** » 29 Apr 2015 12:24 pm

Here is a better look at my Perfect Touch finger picks on.

John Limbach · Post by **John Limbach** » 29 Apr 2015 1:25 pm

Just got a set of Saddle finger picks and like them a lot. They're designed to not try to fly off the finger and do just that.

I'd pass on their thumbpick though, I'm still fussing with it but haven't found a fit that feels and plays naturally to me (yet).

Terry VunCannon · Post by **Terry VunCannon** » 29 Apr 2015 1:41 pm

Have you tried a Fred Kelly Speed Pick John? I like them, because I can still feel the string like when I play without picks, but it still gives me something to grab the strings.

John Limbach · Post by **John Limbach** » 29 Apr 2015 4:15 pm

Thanks, Terry. Looks interferon. Will give it a try.

George Rout · Post by **George Rout** » 4 May 2015 4:28 pm

Mind you, I'm a heavy handed player from the 40's, but I could never use finger pics of less than .025 gauge, they'd be bent and on the floor in two minutes.

Some folks must "tickle" the strings!!!!

Geo

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 5 May 2015 6:54 am

When there were only acoustic instruments you had to pick hard to get any volume. But now, all you have to do is turn up the amp. You don't need to beat the instrument to death.

George Rout · Post by **George Rout** » 5 May 2015 12:30 pm

Ok Erv, I may be old, but I'm not before electric instruments!!!!

Geo

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 5 May 2015 1:11 pm

George,
I'm SO old, I had a steam powered guitar!

Jeff Au Hoy · Post by **Jeff Au Hoy** » 5 May 2015 1:55 pm

I'm with you on that, George. Of course one can get more volume at the amp, but there's a certain attack that only heavier picks can produceâ€”at least as far as I know. I feel like heavy picks actually allow me to pick more efficiently (requiring less energy). I'm thinking along the lines of pick mass versus string mass.

George Rout · Post by **George Rout** » 5 May 2015 2:35 pm

That's correct Jeff, I pick, or have to pick with certain energy. If somebody says "it's too loud", I cannot lighten my picking. Of course, on an acoustic guitar that wouldn't be. On an electric instrument, the volume control has to be turned down, not me picking more lightly. It doesn't work that way.

Geo

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 6 May 2015 6:35 am

Jeff and George, in my case most of the mass comes from my fingers (which are a little on the beefy side and pretty strong). I don't pick hard, but I get a lot of meat behind the picks, which are either .013 or .015. I used to use the heaviest for playing acoustic music, but on electric I prefer the tone of the lighter picks for the way I play, which is more guitaristic.

The other thing I like is that it almost feels like I'm playing with bare fingers, which makes it easier for me to navigate guitars with 8 or more strings.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 6 May 2015 6:39 am

I prefer the lighter gauge picks also. I find them easier to shape to my fingers.

Russell Baker · Post by **Russell Baker** » 6 May 2015 7:07 am

Maybe it's because I am new to Lap Steel/Dobro
(acoustic-electric guitar player for 45 years)
But I can't tell you how often I have sat down
to play Steel or Dobro and put on my finger picks
and as I brought my hand to the strings realized
I didn't put on the thumb pick!

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 6 May 2015 7:11 am

Duh!

George Rout · Post by **George Rout** » 6 May 2015 9:53 am

Hi guys again. I tell all my students when they first come that many facets of this business is very personal. The guitar, picks and bar particularly, and the strings are very very personal. Not everybody likes the same, and some variations are the result of the different type of music being played.

Mike I don't understand how you can play with .013 finger picks. Mine would be on the floor after about playing the first two lines of a tune. To me, they're next to cardboard!!!

Russel, I can understand your problem, we're all creatures of habit. Maybe you can wear a pick around your neck like some guys do for wedding rings for work safety!!!!

Have a good day all.

George