Pick Thickness

guitarjack66 · February 2022

Is it a good rule of thumb to say 'Lighter Strings = Lighter Pick' and 'Heavier Strings = Heavier Pick?' As I have found this personally, but I can't say this is a definitive theory.

bertie · February 2022

cant really say cos Ive always used 12s on acoustics, ( except the reso which as 16s

) and seldom use a pick....... but if I do, its reasonably light, I dont much care for the "massive strum" sound.

Winny_Pooh · February 2022

Mine are both 1.4mm for acoustic and electric but the acoustic pick is physically bigger

octatonic · February 2022

guitarjack66 said:

Is it a good rule of thumb to say 'Lighter Strings = Lighter Pick' and 'Heavier Strings = Heavier Pick?' As I have found this personally, but I can't say this is a definitive theory.

Not for me.

I always use a 1.5mm pick because it means I have the right amount of control and I am used to it.

ditchboy · February 2022

Genuinely can’t understand how you’re able to use a pick that thick for strumming. I’ve tried and it sounds awful and I can’t control it. Maybe my shoddy technique. I’ve just invested in some snarling dog brains picks .6mm. They are great for strumming.

Lestratcaster · February 2022

I use a 0.73mm pick (Tortex yellow) on my acoustic with 12's. The right balance between percussive clicky strumming and control when picking.

Mellish · February 2022

I string with 12s and use the orange Tortex (0.60mm I think). It's all about what works for you. If it gives you a nice sound and feels comfortable to hold, you're done

jellyroll · February 2022

guitarjack66 said:

Is it a good rule of thumb to say 'Lighter Strings = Lighter Pick' and 'Heavier Strings = Heavier Pick?' As I have found this personally, but I can't say this is a definitive theory.

I'd say its more "Lighter Pick for Strumming...Heavier Pick for single note stuff." I use a mixture of 12s and 13s and don't find gauge affecting my pick preference.

octatonic · February 2022

ditchboy said:

Genuinely can’t understand how you’re able to use a pick that thick for strumming. I’ve tried and it sounds awful and I can’t control it. Maybe my shoddy technique. I’ve just invested in some snarling dog brains picks .6mm. They are great for strumming.

Practice.

1Strat2many · February 2022

2mm thickness for me for pretty much everything. Smaller size same thickness though for jazz picking. For general gigs Big Dunlop Jazz 111’s or Big Stubbys.

BigPaulie · February 2022

I use Ultex 1.14mm and Ultex Sharp 1.4mm (I wish they did the standard shape Ultex in 1.4mm) for everything: acoustic, electric, picking, strumming.

Cryptid · February 2022

For years it was strictly 1mm Dunlop Nylon for strumming duties.

I'm now trying out Fender Heavy with a much lighter right hand technique - less energy in. More control and better single note tone. True test is a gig tonight: hour and half of strumming to accompany a pop/soul choir. Hopefully I don't miss the lack of grip.

guitarjack66 · February 2022

I only use up to around .96 maximum but on average a .73. I have tried a 1mm but found that just too thick.I also do like the smaller Dunlop Jazz with a rounder shape on all three sides but find the actual diameter of the pick itself just too small. My focus is probably more on rhythm as a relative newbie,around 2 years learning,and individual picking and lead arent quite there just yet. This probably explains my preference for rounder shaped picks.

Soupman · February 2022

I've tried a few in the past, but have settled on the Herco gold .50 nylon ones. They have a good grippy feel.
I find the surface of Dunlop tortex ones wear too slippy for me. I use 12 - 53 strings.
Mostly though, I use a thumbpick. Tried lots of them and settled on Fred Kelly Speed picks in delrin. Only place stocking them in this country is Eagle Music in Huddersfield. Brilliant thumbpicks.

ditchboy · February 2022

I like the Herco. I also like the Dunlop nylon .67m in orange.

Mellish · February 2022

@Soupman ; another Fred Kelly Speedpick user here and I buy from Eagle Music - small world! I bought an Ome North Star from there two years ago

ToneControl · February 2022

3mm stubby for electric
something bigger and thinner for acoustic flatpicking

Lewy · February 2022

octatonic said:

ditchboy said:

Genuinely can’t understand how you’re able to use a pick that thick for strumming. I’ve tried and it sounds awful and I can’t control it. Maybe my shoddy technique. I’ve just invested in some snarling dog brains picks .6mm. They are great for strumming.

Practice.

Exactly this. Thin picks can sound nice if you want that unobtrusive pop strumming sound but then you've got nowhere to go dynamically or technically from there. If you find the sweet spot of relaxation and control in your picking hand so you can strum with a thick pick, you can then punch out bass notes and single note runs as well. For the average player I'd say it's not more than a few weeks investment in focused practice and you'll have it.

Soupman · February 2022

@Mellish I confess I had to look up the Ome North Star, though I know Eagle stock many banjos. That looks like a real crafted instrument - almost had me drooling but I know nothing about banjos.
Fred Kelly picks are brill though, returning to the original thread!

Mellish · February 2022

@Soupman ; the FK Speedpick has less material and I love it because of that. Different colour = more / less rigidity. It feels like you're wearing no thumbpick at all

ditchboy · February 2022

Lewy said:

octatonic said:

ditchboy said:

Genuinely can’t understand how you’re able to use a pick that thick for strumming. I’ve tried and it sounds awful and I can’t control it. Maybe my shoddy technique. I’ve just invested in some snarling dog brains picks .6mm. They are great for strumming.

Practice.

Exactly this. Thin picks can sound nice if you want that unobtrusive pop strumming sound but then you've got nowhere to go dynamically or technically from there. If you find the sweet spot of relaxation and control in your picking hand so you can strum with a thick pick, you can then punch out bass notes and single note runs as well. For the average player I'd say it's not more than a few weeks investment in focused practice and you'll have it.

Trust me I've tried, I've had lessons where I have asked the instructor just to look at strumming etc and I'm still shite at it. I've had to compromise by using picks around .6-.88m as a work around. Don't think I've ever found a nice pick which is both thick and grooved like the dunlop max grip ones either.

Lewy · February 2022

ditchboy said:

Lewy said:

octatonic said:

ditchboy said:

Genuinely can’t understand how you’re able to use a pick that thick for strumming. I’ve tried and it sounds awful and I can’t control it. Maybe my shoddy technique. I’ve just invested in some snarling dog brains picks .6mm. They are great for strumming.

Practice.

Exactly this. Thin picks can sound nice if you want that unobtrusive pop strumming sound but then you've got nowhere to go dynamically or technically from there. If you find the sweet spot of relaxation and control in your picking hand so you can strum with a thick pick, you can then punch out bass notes and single note runs as well. For the average player I'd say it's not more than a few weeks investment in focused practice and you'll have it.

Trust me I've tried, I've had lessons where I have asked the instructor just to look at strumming etc and I'm still shite at it. I've had to compromise by using picks around .6-.88m as a work around. Don't think I've ever found a nice pick which is both thick and grooved like the dunlop max grip ones either.

Wegen Bluegrass picks are thick an have grip holes which might suit.

I'm not entirely surprised that your guitar teacher couldn't move you on because acoustic flatpicking is a specialised thing and teh average general guitarist or guitar teacher doesn't understand it at all - they just think there are two things you an do on an acoustic - fingerpicking, and "strumming" a.k.a. flailing away like some sort of hippie chimpanzee.

Look at how Bryan Sutton does it here, especially how he's moving his picking hand, angle, relaxation etc. It doesn't matter if you love or hate bluegrass...this is how it's done:

Lewy · February 2022

And check out Chris Eldridge here....

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