Acoustic strumming plectrum faves?

camf · September 2017

I can't find anything I really like. I'm looking for something with a softer feel that's closer to finger/thumb tone. Any suggestions? Or do I need to just toughen up my thumb.

guitarfishbay · September 2017

Something made with nylon, but it'll still have more attack than a finger pad.

The Dava control picks have a nice tone and can be soft-ish if you hold them far enough back. But still fairly stiff for strumming and still brighter than a thumb pad.

I have some thick rubber type picks by Wedgie that will do the tone you want but they aren't very flexible for strumming.

For strumming I'd usually go for a .60 nylon as a good compromise, it's pretty flexible but you can still pick with it. Won't do the sound you want though. The thick nylon picks e.g. 1.5mm have a less bright tone but they're pretty stiff for strumming.

If you really want thumb tone you might just have to work on that

robinbowes · September 2017

I use the same picks for all my playing - Jim Dunlop Nylon 1.0mm. I don't like really thin ones, even for strumming.

Image: https://www.jimdunlop.com/images/jimdunlop/products/en_us/detail/22044100033.MAIN.jpg

guitarfishbay · September 2017

It depends on what sound you want though, not just what pick you like the feel of.

You'll never get that pop song strumming thin/bright acoustic tone with a heavy pick, for example. Even a .60 can be a bit heavy for some sounds, sometimes I go for a .50 Tortex to keep the low end under control and a bit of a brighter sound.

Likewise if you want a thicker sound a thin pick isn't the way to go. Just shooting out a .60 vs say a 1.5mm pick for a simple arpeggiated chord part can make the guitar sound like a totally different instrument.

Picks can make a really big difference to acoustic sounds.

stratman3142 · September 2017

robinbowes said:

I use the same picks for all my playing.... I don't like really thin ones, even for strumming.

Same here. For a long time I've used the small amber Jazz 3 Ultex picks for everything. I just hold the pick lightly for strumming.

I'm currently experimenting with new John Petrucci primetone (oxblood) pick which is the standard small Jazz 3 size and smaller than his previous one. It's a bit pricey and I'm still trying to make up my mind about whether it's worth the extra money.

camf · September 2017

So far, for me, a .80mm nylon Dunlop is proving the best balance between stiffness and flex. I suppose I was just wondering if anyone had found something that brought them closer to that softer thumb/finger feel but still allowed for ease of strumming and didn't fall apart after an hour or two.

guitarfishbay · September 2017

It might be worth looking at the Dava control nylon then. It should be a bit thicker sounding, but still able to be roughly as flexible due to the way it is cut in the centre to allow flex when holding it further up

Image: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/811GDDYboEL._SY450_.jpg

Edit - just realised there actually is a .80 dunlop nylon pick, I thought there was only a .88. I've never tried a .80

crunchman · September 2017

I tend to go for thicker picks. I don't like that clacky thin sound you get with thin ones. I'm not sure there is any pick that will get a sound like the fleshy part of the thumb. I know there used to be felt ones years ago. Not sure if they would work.

richardhomer · September 2017

Dunlop 0.88mm Nylons - I use them for everything - thin enough for strumming but thick enough for electric lead playing. They sound less 'scratchy' than most picks so work well with fingers when hybrid picking.

camf · September 2017

Thanks y'all. I'll need go try some new ones.

Danji · September 2017

I use these https://www.jimdunlop.com/product/515r-7-10137-07732-4.do?sortby=ourPicksAscend&page=2&refType=&from=fn

which are quite thick but I loosen my grip and they feel a bit more strummable. I've also use cardboard cut into circles for recording

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Acoustic strumming plectrum faves?

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