I used a rubber paperclip once when I didn't have a pick for a Jazz band I was in back when I was in high school and it sounded decent to me. My picks were at home. If you are a guitarist I suggest getting a tin that can fit in your pocket for picks and then fill it enough so stuff doesn't rattle around much and almost always have picks when you go out. 😹🤘
I play my electric guitars with a Tortex 1.0mm and my acoustics with either a Tortex .88mm or a Tortex 1.0mm. When I first really got into playing guitar I would use the .46 nylon because my strumming wasn't as controlled as it is now after playing for 17 years. I used the Tortex .60mm after I gained more control over my strumming. I am very happy with the Tortex 1.0mm at this time.
To be honest the 0.60 sounded best to me. Depending what you're playing, the thicker your string gauge, the lighter the pick you might want to use. Other wise the strings might be controlling you.
I love my .73 yellow tortex for general electric playing, .88 green tortex for when I need more attack on electric, and I LOVE the Fender medium tortoiseshell for acoustic.
Been using the green on acoustic stuff and at first I didn’t like it. But now I love it. Only if the strings are new though. Once they become dull, the thicker pick really makes a bigger “thwack”
I used to use the green Tortex for a while but now I’m using the fender heavy celluloid shell and I feel like it’s just a little better. It’s 0.90 so almost the same as the .88 Tortex but I feel like the sound and playability is just better. I also recently tried the yellow Tortex.73 and it’s great for rhythm stuff. All 3 great picks, for me at the moment the fender heavy wins.
I've been a finger-picker and thumb-strummer for so long that I no longer know how to use a pick well, and I don't even know what kind of pick I should be using. Since, as Mark Knopfler says, the best amplifier in the world is a plectrum, I want to start using picks again. With that, I went down to the local guitar store today and picked up pretty much one of each (if they were available in singles), leaving out the specialty picks like those big chunks of chunkiness that cost $5-$30 each. Now I just need to go through them all and make notes. Fun...
John Crafton I don’t use picks either, everytime I tried, it seems like it wants to fly away from my fingers. I’m comfortable with my own fingers to strum but then using pick seems like the sound is much louder and better..
I am a Brit living in The Netherlands. When I first came here I went to my local music shop (then in Hengelo) and asked to see their picks. I visited that shop almost every week for 12 years, and they always asked me if I wanted to see their "pics" today!
When I started playing again a few years ago, I tried a few different Tortex picks. Years ago I played the .73mm yellows, and that was what I started using, but I tried some of the thicker ones and finally settled on the 1.14. I like the feel and the tone, for my style of playing. I've always hated nylon picks because they get slippery pretty easily. In fact, to solve my pick slippage problems permanently, I began drilling holes in my picks a few years ago. I drill three 1/8" (3.2mm) holes in a triangle pattern, in the opposite direction of the pick shape. That is, two holes about 1/2" (13mm) from the tip and a third hole 1/8" (3.2mm) further away, centered between the other two holes, so the 3 holes make an equilateral triangle with the point facing away from the point of the pick. I can, of course, play just fine with picks without the holes, but the holes make it so much more comfortable for me.
@@joelrobertson7429 I've been using them so long with the holes, I don't know what it's like to play without them anymore. But my pick never gets spun around anymore!
File your tips! This is my recommendation to optimize tone and playability for guys playing technical difficult stuff. First you have to experiment, but if you know which tip angle is the best for your playing style, you can do this with every pick in 5-10 minutes. Also, tip form as a big influence on overtones / harmonics. So, if you compare pick material, you should use a similar tip form, otherwise the significance of your comparison is very restricted.
It’s nice to see this comparison, I use the Tortex too, the orange mostly on acoustic and the blu on electric, but I do prefer the blu for more control on both when it comes to soloing or arpeggios.
As a raw beginner, I used to use the .46 for strumming. I had a hard time with anything thicker on up-strums. I have since mostly graduated to the Tortex .60 It works well for me all around.
Great choice of street spirit to show the difference in picks. Your videos are great. Well made, informative and fun to watch. And your playing is incredible.
I went through a similar version of this when I was new to guitar almost 20yrs ago. The thinner picks made a sound against the strings I did like on acoustic guitar so I went down to my guitar shop and bought a couple individual picks and experimented. The first few years I played I would change my pick usually for thickness. I finally settled on a Dunlap 1.5mm (gator grip) pick which ended up being great as around this time I wanted to get into playing more lead electric guitar and now I have used 1.5mm for years. Great video, and this is why I love music you play around a little bit and find what works for you no “traditional” right or wrong answer...cheers mate!
I just bought new picks the other day, they're my favorite so far, from the past 6 years of guitar playing. I use the Petrucci Jazz III and Petrucci Flow picks.
last one is actually a GATOR GRIP and not TORTEX from Dunlop. Test was great altough but I would like to hear your differences on electric guitar too. Cheers.
I use a Gravity razor 1.5 for all playing. I have tried many others but just keep coming back to Gravity. Made of an acrylic material and just sticks in place. Enjoyed your views on different thicknesses. Thanks
Started playing in the late 70’s fender med. The switched to Dunlop 73. Love the grip and they didn’t break and cut off like the fenders. Just the right balance of flex and dynamics. I also hold the pick all the way to the tip. Ive tried other picks over the years but always stick with the nylon 73 Dunlop. Surprised how many pros use this same pick too. It’s all about how you play and personal preference. Agreed that it matters more on an acoustic.
In the demo at the beginning I liked the tortex .6 a lot, it's a good trade-off between stiffness and play for chords. Also love that you chose nine cats by porcupine tree, very beautiful chords.
nice comparison video, must have been difficult to get the right balance. Apart from using my fingers, I only play with Jim Dunlop USA nylon 1mm picks, they produce a lovely tone regardless of picking or strumming, you can be gentle or more aggressive and it sounds nice.
I did this test a few years ago and came to a similar conclusion. 60 is great for strumming 1.0 is awesome single notes and arpeggio. I found the Dunlop Tortex 73mm in Jazz iii xl size was a happy medium. It's kind of a middle ground between the .60 and 1.0 guage and the smaller profile of the jazz iii makes it work with almost every style. And if you hybrid pick the jazz iii gets out of your way a lot easier. At this point in time Paul David's is my Guru. Thank you sir!
Ernie Ball Prodigy 2mm - best guitar picks I have ever used, at least for single lines and most other applications (not so good for funky or reggae/soca type strumming though).
Blue or green tortex for electric, red for acoustic. When I was liking heavier picks I had some really nice Peavy ones. They were elike Tortex (made of Delrin) but had a grip pattern molded into them in the shape of lots of little stars, really great when your fingers are sweaty. They were called Startex.
Yep. Over the last few days I have ordered a number of picks of various materials and thicknesses to see what I like at the moment. I rarely use a pick having favoured fingerstyle for a long time. But having recently started with an instructor he has suggested I pick one up to add that to my skillset. So far having fun and getting a lot more accurate with my picking. Currently using a 0.88 and 1.0 Dunlop Nylon pick as I like their tone. I find some of the other picks a bit flappy sounding and harsh. Probably due to my ear being tuned for fingerstyle. WIll be good to have a number available as I progress and try different ones out occasionally.
I've recently been using the Dava Grip Tip Guitar Pick / Plectrum - Gel. My issue has always been that plectrums slip and rotate between the thumb and index finger. The Dava plectrums don't slip much at all and come in different thicknesses and styles. You should try them.
Jazz III @ 1.35mm is my fave for acoustic (Teton Concert - Cedar Top), very warm and balanced on strumming and leads. Fender Heavy nylon @ .9 mm lends itself to nice full bodied cleans on the electric (Gretsch).
I'd love to see you do the same test with your tele or strat, and see if your preferences stay the same. I use a real thick pick with my electric, but your demonstration made me wonder if it's the 'right' choice. Thanks for all you do!
Depends on the guitar, the scale length, string gauge and tuning. And what I'm playing. The best all-rounder for me is a Brit Pick Silicone in 2mm, but I also variously use a 2mm Jazz III Ultex (very bright), a 1.5mm Tortex, 2mm Tortex, 1.9mm Delrin or a 3mm Stubby for a 26" scale detuned guitar on 11's.
my main pick is 0.6 tortex, sometimes i use sth. between 1 and 2 millimeters. Now: a harder and thicker pick can transfer more energy to the string, that's why these picks have certain advantages though firstly they "tend" to produce a more "muffled" sound. When you are strumming chords with a thicker pick it can sound quite bright, cause only the edges hit the strings...As you can see some people prefer picks that are quite heavy and it still sounds good while others prefer lighter picks, some might play a variety of different pleks for different purposes.
I like the Dunlop 427RXL Ultex® Jazz III XL, 1.38mm with the raised letters for grip and the size of a normal pick but sharper point of a jazz III point. They last a long time. I also have .88 Tortex for strumming.
It's a matter of choosing the right tool for the job, in other words, what sound are you looking for? My standard pick is the Jim Dunlop Nylon 1mm. Hard enough for single string work, flexible enough for chording and arpeggios. Carrying more than one type of pick at a live gigs would be too complicated.
Awesome i just found out why i was struggling with my playing. i needed to use a Thick pick i love them now instead of being afraid of them. Thank-you for Sharing.
Love your videos. I look forward to you making a video on the guidelines to choosing which pick-ups suits what purposes best on an electric guitar. I keep seeing conflicting information on this subject. Ultimately the ear decides but I’d love to hear your take on this. You really have a great unique presence on TH-cam !
My 1.00 & 1.20 picks works for me. The sound is warm and the playability is also great. I got so many picks lying around my house ranging in thickness, but after watching this video now I know what suits my playing styles & honestly, it did made my playing better & made the sounds of my strings so much better. thanks Paul for this very useful information.
I usually pick my picks based more on feel during playing than sound. I also go a bit on visual appleal, bright colours being easier to see if I drop 1.
I'm a huge fan of the Tortex 1.14, not only does it fit just right between my fingers but as long as i dont rub the tips off the point is very nice to place my thumb on to tuck it away for finger playing
For all-round acoustic guitar playing, I use D’Andrea (TG351), 0.71. They’re made with celluloid and I find them to have a very good combination of flexibility + firmness. They are made in USA and I buy them from Amazon.
I have found myself using Dragon Heart picks or Chicken picks, 2.5mm - 3.5mm. Yes, they are thick, but they are beveled, and that helps them glide across the strings quite effortlessly. I can't go back to flat picks after using these.
Lately I’ve been using Daddario Keith Urban picks (I know who has a signature pick and why would you use them?) almost exclusively.....They are amazing. It’s shaped as a traditional pick, however the 3 edges give you 3 different tones (clean; warm; The Edge (scratchy/scraping tone). If you haven’t used them try them out.
I prefer something light to moderately light for strumming/rhythm (.60mm - .80mm), and something moderately thick for lead/melody (.90mm - 1.00) I find that with those two ranges you can either choke up or down on the tip to get the desired effect. The only time when that might not be good is for heavier distortion. Playing too close to the tip of the pick with distortion can sometimes give an unintentional pinch harmonic squeal. Something that you don't want to have to work around. So, I''ll go with a pick in the 1.00mm - 1.20mm range. I find that if you go too thick the heavier attacks on the strings can pull them out of tune.
Been using 3 mm stubby's for a couple of years now. They are quick picking and I like the distortion you get when strumming hard, playing post-rock kind of music. Had to wipe off blood spray of my pickguard a couple of times after rehearsal though..
I like the "slap" of a thinner nylon pick, especially on acoustics. Plus they don't wear down as much, don't break, and don't break strings as much if you strum aggressively.
I think for beginners thinner picks are more forgiving of inaccurate strumming technique. Perhaps also, as you hinted, your preferred thickness will depend on how far you allow the pick to extend down from your grip... I like the way your non picking fingers use the fingerboard for orientation, that is something I missed earlier and am trying to emulate.
I've been playing around with an assortment of Thalia Santos Rosewood picks, I like the thicker ones, seem to impart a really nice tone but are harder to control until they "wear in", Admittedly they don't last long but are a good alternative in your kit bag.
I used to use a medium sized tortex for picking and a thin nylon for strumming. Then I went through a phase of trying different types of picks (different kinds of metal, wood, shell, bone and stone - no fabric yet unfortunately) and settled on a stone pick for picking and a soft wood or bone/shell one for strumming. I've just got myself a 2mm Gravity Picks Sunrise with multi-hole grip, and I don't think I'll ever use a non-Gravity pick ever again. It's completely rigid, so accuracy is 100%, it doesn't damage the strings or deform at all, even though the tip is much sharper than even a lot of thinner picks, the size is perfect for my hands and I physically cannot drop it while playing.
I like the sound of nylon or celluloid best. I've been using 2mm gators for years but they're a pain in the ass so I'm trying out nylons to find a replacement. It's either that or making do with 1.5mm celluloids.
I'd been using super cheap nylons (1.0mm) for about 9 years until last week. Simply because I bought 50 for $5, never needed to buy any more. Got a tortex sampler pack last week and fell in love with the greens (.88mm) and blues instantly. I do feel it's like 90% how you play and about 10% equipment but finding the pick that feels best in your fingers and sounds best to your ears really does help. Makes playing/practicing more enjoyable too :)
Tortex 2.0 has been my baby since I found it back in middle school,I use to always use thin picks but when i played that and heard the tone and tremelo picking
I have recently tried out some 1mm Clayton picks and the material works very well with the strings and has a fantastic grip. It is honestly the only pick I can hold with two fingers and play efficiently.
I realize I should probably test more picks again now. I decided on the Tortoise .60 years ago when I went from classical guitar to electric. Probably because it had a feeling similar to my nails. I attack the string with the pick at a slight angle so the stiffness really does not matter that much to me. Sound wise I'm afraid my hearing is too bad (too much rifle shooting and metal concerts over the years...) to make out any differences between picks except when the guitar is played 'clean' as in this video so for me, its all about how it feels in the hand.
I have small hands so i like Jazz 3 small pointy picks. Also it supports my preference on solo type songs. I f strum I use larger wider plectrum or fingers... My touch is gentle so the pick is quite thick 1-2 mm
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I mostly use the Dunlop Tortex 1.0mm, but when I want some nice highs when strumming I'll move to a thinner or even nylon pick. Bonus: some picks have a thicker grip area than the tip, so you can spin it and use thinner or thicker edges for changing the sound during a song. I also recently came across some Thalia 1.4mm rosewood picks that give an entirely different sound on acoustic guitars.
Picks are like an additional tone control for your guitar. Want a brighter sound? Switch to a slightly thinner pick. Want a darker, thicker sound. Pick up a heavier one. I like to keep a variety of picks around, as different picks react differently with different guitars, string gauges, and for different purposes. My starting point for all-around use such as jamming where you both play rhythm and lead on dreadnaughts with medium strings is the Dunlop Gator 1.14. If I'm just strumming and not taking leads, I might use something lighter.
The tortex 1mm triangle is my most used for all around playing. I also use a .50mm tortex for certain songs that got complex strumming patterns that’ll switch up quickly.
I always used just the cheap plastic picks that wore down to nothing after about 3 songs when I was learning but after I ventured into the realm of tone I started using different types of wood and exotic materials like horn and bone and, recently, amber. It really gives the guitar a unique sound!! Lol I'm a bit of a nerd when it comes to picks. I love experimenting and seeing what beautiful tones I can coax out of my guitar.
You magnificent creature, how dare you play Street Spirit, you really got me. Great video, I'm a 1.0mm and above guy myself, love the Jazz III picks as well.
I'm playing no acoustic guitar but a Gibson Les Paul. Really don't like the sound and feel of Nylon picks. Tortex sounds better, but I like Ultex and Delrin even more. Somewhere around 1 to 1.5 mm seems to be the sweet spot for picking. For Solo 0.93 Dunlop Delrin is good, but best is Dunlop John Petrucci Jazz III, which is a small and sharp 1,5 mm Ultex. But both are not so good for strumming. My best allround pick is the Dava Jazz Grips Delrin, which flexes more or less, depending on how you hold it, it is also small and sharp and has a lot of grip.
Dirk Hennig I like the john Petrucci jazz III as well. The thickness, sharpness, and size all stood out to me. Especially since it is slightly bigger than a jazz III
Loving the new white Dunlop jazz iii, Tortex. 88 mm, perfect balance of warmth and clarity, and small enough for control. Maybe too small for energetic strumming.
The primary make up of Human nails (Keratin) just so happens to be the same primary material that make Tortoise shells. I guess it makes sense to use your nails.
For the stuff I play. I use 1.0mm tortex picks. They have good grip and good controllability and are good for pretty much anything you want to play. Definitely
the difference in flexibility between my .71mm stadium pick and .88mm tortex jazz III is insane. the .88mm is super stiff. still not quite as rigid as the carbon fiber jazz III 1.38mm
I usually use George Dennis .88 for my acoustic and .1.26 for my electric. I like the George Dennis picks best. I like how grippy they are and they sound good when they hit the strings.
I use my Fuelsavers card. Sounds awful
www.amazon.com/Pick-Punch-Original-PROCESS-PRIORITY/dp/B005FIFM14
I used to use quarters for picks, it's worse than using a card for a pick.
I used a rubber paperclip once when I didn't have a pick for a Jazz band I was in back when I was in high school and it sounded decent to me. My picks were at home. If you are a guitarist I suggest getting a tin that can fit in your pocket for picks and then fill it enough so stuff doesn't rattle around much and almost always have picks when you go out. 😹🤘
Once tried Jazz III pick and can't go back now. The only problem is that it grinds out pretty fast.
What are you, Dick Dale? Those things last for months before they lose their edge.
Try jazz III carbon fiber. They last, and they are what I have shifted to using when I really want to dig in on an electric.
Try Pickboy Jazz picks. They’re the shit tbh the only picks I use and they have a warm smooth response, they’re made of celluloid I love them so much
i got one of those as gift with a LPD pedal and man i love it. that pointy thing gives u such nice attack and snapp its like i have compressor on
Jazz III ftw... on the other hand, what kind of strings are you using ? these picks are almost immortals
I play my electric guitars with a Tortex 1.0mm and my acoustics with either a Tortex .88mm or a Tortex 1.0mm. When I first really got into playing guitar I would use the .46 nylon because my strumming wasn't as controlled as it is now after playing for 17 years. I used the Tortex .60mm after I gained more control over my strumming. I am very happy with the Tortex 1.0mm at this time.
I'm just getting back into it and your comment convinced me it's ok to start with the .46 since I'm mainly strumming.
STREET SPIRIT IN ARPEGGIOS YEAH!!!
To be honest the 0.60 sounded best to me. Depending what you're playing, the thicker your string gauge, the lighter the pick you might want to use. Other wise the strings might be controlling you.
I love my .73 yellow tortex for general electric playing, .88 green tortex for when I need more attack on electric, and I LOVE the Fender medium tortoiseshell for acoustic.
I’ve done the same for years. That’s crazy!
No green tortex? Definitely the most common amongst everyone I know.
On electric, yes. But on the acoustic, there are many nylon or thin tortex users.
I use the 1 mil blue tortex for everything
I'm a green 88er but the triangular one coz my thumbs is too fat for the teardrop.
Been using the green on acoustic stuff and at first I didn’t like it. But now I love it. Only if the strings are new though. Once they become dull, the thicker pick really makes a bigger “thwack”
I used to use the green Tortex for a while but now I’m using the fender heavy celluloid shell and I feel like it’s just a little better. It’s 0.90 so almost the same as the .88 Tortex but I feel like the sound and playability is just better. I also recently tried the yellow Tortex.73 and it’s great for rhythm stuff. All 3 great picks, for me at the moment the fender heavy wins.
It's amazing to see how far the studio has come!
Really nobody uses quills anymore? time for me to try one of these "picks" then
I've been a finger-picker and thumb-strummer for so long that I no longer know how to use a pick well, and I don't even know what kind of pick I should be using. Since, as Mark Knopfler says, the best amplifier in the world is a plectrum, I want to start using picks again.
With that, I went down to the local guitar store today and picked up pretty much one of each (if they were available in singles), leaving out the specialty picks like those big chunks of chunkiness that cost $5-$30 each.
Now I just need to go through them all and make notes. Fun...
How did it go? Did you find a favorite pick? Or did you just go back to fingers n' thumb?
John Crafton I don’t use picks either, everytime I tried, it seems like it wants to fly away from my fingers. I’m comfortable with my own fingers to strum but then using pick seems like the sound is much louder and better..
Tortex 0.73 (yellow) for me on acoustic. It's a great all-round sound and feels great.
very true
I am a Brit living in The Netherlands. When I first came here I went to my local music shop (then in Hengelo) and asked to see their picks. I visited that shop almost every week for 12 years, and they always asked me if I wanted to see their "pics" today!
When I started playing again a few years ago, I tried a few different Tortex picks. Years ago I played the .73mm yellows, and that was what I started using, but I tried some of the thicker ones and finally settled on the 1.14. I like the feel and the tone, for my style of playing.
I've always hated nylon picks because they get slippery pretty easily. In fact, to solve my pick slippage problems permanently, I began drilling holes in my picks a few years ago. I drill three 1/8" (3.2mm) holes in a triangle pattern, in the opposite direction of the pick shape. That is, two holes about 1/2" (13mm) from the tip and a third hole 1/8" (3.2mm) further away, centered between the other two holes, so the 3 holes make an equilateral triangle with the point facing away from the point of the pick.
I can, of course, play just fine with picks without the holes, but the holes make it so much more comfortable for me.
I have been drilling 6 holes 1/16'', 3,2,1 pointing down yours seem to work better. Thanks for the tip no pun intended.
@@joelrobertson7429 I've been using them so long with the holes, I don't know what it's like to play without them anymore. But my pick never gets spun around anymore!
@@petedavis7970 Of all the folks sharing their tricks of the trade yours is most enjoyable.
File your tips! This is my recommendation to optimize tone and playability for guys playing technical difficult stuff. First you have to experiment, but if you know which tip angle is the best for your playing style, you can do this with every pick in 5-10 minutes. Also, tip form as a big influence on overtones / harmonics. So, if you compare pick material, you should use a similar tip form, otherwise the significance of your comparison is very restricted.
It’s nice to see this comparison, I use the Tortex too, the orange mostly on acoustic and the blu on electric, but I do prefer the blu for more control on both when it comes to soloing or arpeggios.
I wanted to thank you for your awesome lessons and very thoughtful and thorough video posts that you do
I appreciate them
Paul, this is such a great video and representation of how different guitar picks affect the tone and feel. Awesome stuff!
As a raw beginner, I used to use the .46 for strumming. I had a hard time with anything thicker on up-strums. I have since mostly graduated to the Tortex .60 It works well for me all around.
I'm a begginer, what pick should I get ? Can u recommended some?
I use 0.60 Nylon for strumming but 2.00 Tortex for solos and arpeggios. Nevertheless, in the video best one overall was 1.00 Tortex IMO.
I love my Ultex Jazz III XL. The Jazz shape gives great control and I prefer the sound of Ultex over the nylon version.
Great choice of street spirit to show the difference in picks. Your videos are great. Well made, informative and fun to watch. And your playing is incredible.
Another FANTASTICALLY made video!!!! You really have a talent my friend.
I myself have settled on Tortex Gator Grip 0.96's and I love em.
been using .60mm for 50 years
Haha. I'm guessing you mean .60, and you haven't spent fifty years bashing away at the strings with pick-shaped bits of copier paper.
Rhynhardt Krynauw actually he was right the first time.
.60mm nylon Dunlop...says it right on the pick.
I agree with Ray .60mm nylon Dunlap been using them for about 45 years.
i use dunlop .88 and 1.0.seems best for me.
He's edited his comment since I said that. It read .060 mm before.
I went through a similar version of this when I was new to guitar almost 20yrs ago. The thinner picks made a sound against the strings I did like on acoustic guitar so I went down to my guitar shop and bought a couple individual picks and experimented. The first few years I played I would change my pick usually for thickness. I finally settled on a Dunlap 1.5mm (gator grip) pick which ended up being great as around this time I wanted to get into playing more lead electric guitar and now I have used 1.5mm for years. Great video, and this is why I love music you play around a little bit and find what works for you no “traditional” right or wrong answer...cheers mate!
Really like the 1.14 mm, feels firm and very direct when held tightly but i can adjust my pressure to make it act more like a .60 if I need to.
I just bought new picks the other day, they're my favorite so far, from the past 6 years of guitar playing. I use the Petrucci Jazz III and Petrucci Flow picks.
last one is actually a GATOR GRIP and not TORTEX from Dunlop. Test was great altough but I would like to hear your differences on electric guitar too. Cheers.
I use a Gravity razor 1.5 for all playing. I have tried many others but just keep coming back to Gravity. Made of an acrylic material and just sticks in place. Enjoyed your views on different thicknesses. Thanks
dunlop nylon 1.00 is great for all kinds playing styles
Yes, great pick. It's one of my regulars, both for electric and acoustic.
i think you should own one thicker and one thinner pick. in my case ist the dunlop ultex.73 and 1.14
Two words:
TREMOLO PICKING ;)
I use 1.0 Nylon picks. I tried a lot of different picks but always stayed with them.
Started playing in the late 70’s fender med. The switched to Dunlop 73. Love the grip and they didn’t break and cut off like the fenders. Just the right balance of flex and dynamics. I also hold the pick all the way to the tip. Ive tried other picks over the years but always stick with the nylon 73 Dunlop. Surprised how many pros use this same pick too. It’s all about how you play and personal preference. Agreed that it matters more on an acoustic.
In the demo at the beginning I liked the tortex .6 a lot, it's a good trade-off between stiffness and play for chords. Also love that you chose nine cats by porcupine tree, very beautiful chords.
nice comparison video, must have been difficult to get the right balance. Apart from using my fingers, I only play with Jim Dunlop USA nylon 1mm picks, they produce a lovely tone regardless of picking or strumming, you can be gentle or more aggressive and it sounds nice.
I did this test a few years ago and came to a similar conclusion. 60 is great for strumming 1.0 is awesome single notes and arpeggio. I found the Dunlop Tortex 73mm in Jazz iii xl size was a happy medium. It's kind of a middle ground between the .60 and 1.0 guage and the smaller profile of the jazz iii makes it work with almost every style. And if you hybrid pick the jazz iii gets out of your way a lot easier. At this point in time Paul David's is my Guru. Thank you sir!
Ernie Ball Prodigy 2mm - best guitar picks I have ever used, at least for single lines and most other applications (not so good for funky or reggae/soca type strumming though).
Blue or green tortex for electric, red for acoustic. When I was liking heavier picks I had some really nice Peavy ones. They were elike Tortex (made of Delrin) but had a grip pattern molded into them in the shape of lots of little stars, really great when your fingers are sweaty. They were called Startex.
Yep. Over the last few days I have ordered a number of picks of various materials and thicknesses to see what I like at the moment. I rarely use a pick having favoured fingerstyle for a long time. But having recently started with an instructor he has suggested I pick one up to add that to my skillset. So far having fun and getting a lot more accurate with my picking. Currently using a 0.88 and 1.0 Dunlop Nylon pick as I like their tone. I find some of the other picks a bit flappy sounding and harsh. Probably due to my ear being tuned for fingerstyle. WIll be good to have a number available as I progress and try different ones out occasionally.
I've recently been using the Dava Grip Tip Guitar Pick / Plectrum - Gel. My issue has always been that plectrums slip and rotate between the thumb and index finger. The Dava plectrums don't slip much at all and come in different thicknesses and styles. You should try them.
Jazz III @ 1.35mm is my fave for acoustic (Teton Concert - Cedar Top), very warm and balanced on strumming and leads. Fender Heavy nylon @ .9 mm lends itself to nice full bodied cleans on the electric (Gretsch).
It also sounds better because it's on a wonderful instrument played with the proper technique. Nice job!
HOLY SHIT YOU'RE PLAYING FADE OUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH
I'd love to see you do the same test with your tele or strat, and see if your preferences stay the same. I use a real thick pick with my electric, but your demonstration made me wonder if it's the 'right' choice. Thanks for all you do!
Jazz III XL Ultex. Great material. Last forever. Size is good if you keep longer nails which the tiny standard Jazz iiis can get tangled up with.
Depends on the guitar, the scale length, string gauge and tuning. And what I'm playing. The best all-rounder for me is a Brit Pick Silicone in 2mm, but I also variously use a 2mm Jazz III Ultex (very bright), a 1.5mm Tortex, 2mm Tortex, 1.9mm Delrin or a 3mm Stubby for a 26" scale detuned guitar on 11's.
my main pick is 0.6 tortex, sometimes i use sth. between 1 and 2 millimeters. Now: a harder and thicker pick can transfer more energy to the string, that's why these picks have certain advantages though firstly they "tend" to produce a more "muffled" sound. When you are strumming chords with a thicker pick it can sound quite bright, cause only the edges hit the strings...As you can see some people prefer picks that are quite heavy and it still sounds good while others prefer lighter picks, some might play a variety of different pleks for different purposes.
Great comparison. I like the torex .73mm (yellow) for strumming and solos.
I agree 100 % on the. 60 Tortex for strumming. I'm gonna have to give my Tortex 1.0 another shot for picking.
I like the Dunlop 427RXL Ultex® Jazz III XL, 1.38mm with the raised letters for grip and the size of a normal pick but sharper point of a jazz III point. They last a long time. I also have .88 Tortex for strumming.
It's a matter of choosing the right tool for the job, in other words, what sound are you looking for? My standard pick is the Jim Dunlop Nylon 1mm. Hard enough for single string work, flexible enough for chording and arpeggios. Carrying more than one type of pick at a live gigs would be too complicated.
Awesome i just found out why i was struggling with my playing. i needed to use a Thick pick i love them now instead of being afraid of them. Thank-you for Sharing.
Love your videos. I look forward to you making a video on the guidelines to choosing which pick-ups suits what purposes best on an electric guitar. I keep seeing conflicting information on this subject. Ultimately the ear decides but I’d love to hear your take on this.
You really have a great unique presence on TH-cam !
My 1.00 & 1.20 picks works for me. The sound is warm and the playability is also great. I got so many picks lying around my house ranging in thickness, but after watching this video now I know what suits my playing styles & honestly, it did made my playing better & made the sounds of my strings so much better. thanks Paul for this very useful information.
I usually pick my picks based more on feel during playing than sound. I also go a bit on visual appleal, bright colours being easier to see if I drop 1.
I'm a huge fan of the Tortex 1.14, not only does it fit just right between my fingers but as long as i dont rub the tips off the point is very nice to place my thumb on to tuck it away for finger playing
For all-round acoustic guitar playing, I use D’Andrea (TG351), 0.71. They’re made with celluloid and I find them to have a very good combination of flexibility + firmness. They are made in USA and I buy them from Amazon.
I have found myself using Dragon Heart picks or Chicken picks, 2.5mm - 3.5mm. Yes, they are thick, but they are beveled, and that helps them glide across the strings quite effortlessly. I can't go back to flat picks after using these.
Lately I’ve been using Daddario Keith Urban picks (I know who has a signature pick and why would you use them?) almost exclusively.....They are amazing. It’s shaped as a traditional pick, however the 3 edges give you 3 different tones (clean; warm; The Edge (scratchy/scraping tone). If you haven’t used them try them out.
I prefer something light to moderately light for strumming/rhythm (.60mm - .80mm), and something moderately thick for lead/melody (.90mm - 1.00) I find that with those two ranges you can either choke up or down on the tip to get the desired effect. The only time when that might not be good is for heavier distortion. Playing too close to the tip of the pick with distortion can sometimes give an unintentional pinch harmonic squeal. Something that you don't want to have to work around. So, I''ll go with a pick in the 1.00mm - 1.20mm range. I find that if you go too thick the heavier attacks on the strings can pull them out of tune.
Been using 3 mm stubby's for a couple of years now. They are quick picking and I like the distortion you get when strumming hard, playing post-rock kind of music. Had to wipe off blood spray of my pickguard a couple of times after rehearsal though..
I like the "slap" of a thinner nylon pick, especially on acoustics. Plus they don't wear down as much, don't break, and don't break strings as much if you strum aggressively.
I think for beginners thinner picks are more forgiving of inaccurate strumming technique. Perhaps also, as you hinted, your preferred thickness will depend on how far you allow the pick to extend down from your grip... I like the way your non picking fingers use the fingerboard for orientation, that is something I missed earlier and am trying to emulate.
I really like the heavy gel picks from Dunlap. Really good all around pic. I picked up some John 5 signature pics, and I really like them, as well.
Its depend on your preferences..some people like like thick pick and some people like thin one..
Wow another well articuled video. like a painter that chooses the right brush to achieve the desired technique.
I like the DAVA control great flexibility for strumming and picking at the same time. Both for acoustic and electric.
I've been playing around with an assortment of Thalia Santos Rosewood picks,
I like the thicker ones, seem to impart a really nice tone but are harder to control until they "wear in",
Admittedly they don't last long but are a good alternative in your kit bag.
..the pick i use came with the guitar, measures about 48x44mm and has thickness somewhere in range of .73 and 1.0mm.
I used to use a medium sized tortex for picking and a thin nylon for strumming. Then I went through a phase of trying different types of picks (different kinds of metal, wood, shell, bone and stone - no fabric yet unfortunately) and settled on a stone pick for picking and a soft wood or bone/shell one for strumming. I've just got myself a 2mm Gravity Picks Sunrise with multi-hole grip, and I don't think I'll ever use a non-Gravity pick ever again. It's completely rigid, so accuracy is 100%, it doesn't damage the strings or deform at all, even though the tip is much sharper than even a lot of thinner picks, the size is perfect for my hands and I physically cannot drop it while playing.
I like the sound of nylon or celluloid best. I've been using 2mm gators for years but they're a pain in the ass so I'm trying out nylons to find a replacement. It's either that or making do with 1.5mm celluloids.
I'd been using super cheap nylons (1.0mm) for about 9 years until last week. Simply because I bought 50 for $5, never needed to buy any more. Got a tortex sampler pack last week and fell in love with the greens (.88mm) and blues instantly. I do feel it's like 90% how you play and about 10% equipment but finding the pick that feels best in your fingers and sounds best to your ears really does help. Makes playing/practicing more enjoyable too :)
I use Tortex .60mm - it's the pick Mr. John Frusciante is using!!!
using a 3.0 jazz Dunlop here which solved all my problems regarding the pick slowly swivelling between my fingers when strumming.
Tortex 2.0 has been my baby since I found it back in middle school,I use to always use thin picks but when i played that and heard the tone and tremelo picking
I have recently tried out some 1mm Clayton picks and the material works very well with the strings and has a fantastic grip. It is honestly the only pick I can hold with two fingers and play efficiently.
I realize I should probably test more picks again now. I decided on the Tortoise .60 years ago when I went from classical guitar to electric. Probably because it had a feeling similar to my nails. I attack the string with the pick at a slight angle so the stiffness really does not matter that much to me. Sound wise I'm afraid my hearing is too bad (too much rifle shooting and metal concerts over the years...) to make out any differences between picks except when the guitar is played 'clean' as in this video so for me, its all about how it feels in the hand.
the orange dunlop 0.6 has a 'wedge' version which is my go-to pick now. the perfect middle ground :)
I like to use the .6 Tortex because i usually strum all the strings and mute the one i'm not using to give my sound a percussive feel to it
I have small hands so i like Jazz 3 small pointy picks. Also it supports my preference on solo type songs. I f strum I use larger wider plectrum or fingers... My touch is gentle so the pick is quite thick 1-2 mm
I mostly use the Dunlop Tortex 1.0mm, but when I want some nice highs when strumming I'll move to a thinner or even nylon pick. Bonus: some picks have a thicker grip area than the tip, so you can spin it and use thinner or thicker edges for changing the sound during a song. I also recently came across some Thalia 1.4mm rosewood picks that give an entirely different sound on acoustic guitars.
Picks are like an additional tone control for your guitar. Want a brighter sound? Switch to a slightly thinner pick. Want a darker, thicker sound. Pick up a heavier one. I like to keep a variety of picks around, as different picks react differently with different guitars, string gauges, and for different purposes. My starting point for all-around use such as jamming where you both play rhythm and lead on dreadnaughts with medium strings is the Dunlop Gator 1.14. If I'm just strumming and not taking leads, I might use something lighter.
The tortex 1mm triangle is my most used for all around playing. I also use a .50mm tortex for certain songs that got complex strumming patterns that’ll switch up quickly.
I always used just the cheap plastic picks that wore down to nothing after about 3 songs when I was learning but after I ventured into the realm of tone I started using different types of wood and exotic materials like horn and bone and, recently, amber. It really gives the guitar a unique sound!! Lol I'm a bit of a nerd when it comes to picks. I love experimenting and seeing what beautiful tones I can coax out of my guitar.
Love that you played Nine Cats by Porcupine Tree as the strumming comparison example
You magnificent creature, how dare you play Street Spirit, you really got me. Great video, I'm a 1.0mm and above guy myself, love the Jazz III picks as well.
I just use old toenail clippings
HOL' UP
brings a while new meaning to jam session
No they work well I get into my big toe about 3x a week it don’t grow well anymore.
From who? I personally use my old grandpa's toe nails.
I'm playing no acoustic guitar but a Gibson Les Paul. Really don't like the sound and feel of Nylon picks. Tortex sounds better, but I like Ultex and Delrin even more. Somewhere around 1 to 1.5 mm seems to be the sweet spot for picking. For Solo 0.93 Dunlop Delrin is good, but best is Dunlop John Petrucci Jazz III, which is a small and sharp 1,5 mm Ultex. But both are not so good for strumming. My best allround pick is the Dava Jazz Grips Delrin, which flexes more or less, depending on how you hold it, it is also small and sharp and has a lot of grip.
Dirk Hennig I like the john Petrucci jazz III as well. The thickness, sharpness, and size all stood out to me. Especially since it is slightly bigger than a jazz III
2mm Nylon Jazz Size Pick for Picking and .60mm Nylon for Strumming. Works for me!
Loving the new white Dunlop jazz iii, Tortex. 88 mm, perfect balance of warmth and clarity, and small enough for control. Maybe too small for energetic strumming.
For me: Tortex .88mm for electric and Tortex .73mm for acoustic.
My all-rounder is the .60mm (orange) tortex. It's good at everything!
I am an old school guy and I use nails.
Now I understand what "hammer on" means.
The primary make up of Human nails (Keratin) just so happens to be the same primary material that make Tortoise shells. I guess it makes sense to use your nails.
Can't believe that's the first time I heard anyone mention, what should have been an all too obvious fact. Thanks
This was actually a reasonable presentation of a topic that I thought would be impossible to discuss with a straight face...
My pick choice depends on how I'd like to sound on the strings gauge I'm playing.
For the stuff I play. I use 1.0mm tortex picks. They have good grip and good controllability and are good for pretty much anything you want to play. Definitely
the difference in flexibility between my .71mm stadium pick and .88mm tortex jazz III is insane. the .88mm is super stiff. still not quite as rigid as the carbon fiber jazz III 1.38mm
On dunlop nylons I usually have to do the carpet trick to remove the flashing before they're playable but I use .88s
Also matters what gauge strings you are using with each.
That's true. I string some of my acoustics with 12s and some with 13s. The ones with 13s usually want a heavier pick.
I usually use George Dennis .88 for my acoustic and .1.26 for my electric. I like the George Dennis picks best. I like how grippy they are and they sound good when they hit the strings.
I always use a 0.73 nylon, it feels just right in my finger grip for the music I play.