Guitar Picks - finding the one for you and getting to hold it correctly.
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- Опубліковано 20 січ 2023
- Yes, Ive found that some can have difficulty finding the right pick for them, and the right way to use them.
Here I make some suggestions.
See : www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2808406779...
Wegen www.wegenpicks.com/images/tf1...
Dunlop Primetone : www.jimdunlop.com/products/gu...
Wegen Picks : www.wegenpicks.com/images/tf1...
Blue Chip : shop.bluechippick.net/categor...
Simply brilliant. Just watched handful of pick vids trying to cut to the chase, and should have known to check with you first. Just did everything you suggested, and changes everything. For the first time, I'm able to comfortably pick over the sound hole, sit correctly, and hold a pick right. Most fundamental lesson of all time for me, and I was just wondering about triangle picks. Tea's on me!
That's nice to hear, and if you were interested, I do offer one to one mentoring meetings via zoom. mail me if interested. Thanks for watching.
Andy, enjoyed the video, great content as always. I just purchased my first Blue Chip pick a couple of years ago, it was difficult to pay the price for one pick, but glad I did. I went with the TPR 45 which has all three sides rounded as I am a heavy strummer and feel this gives me a warmer tone which is what I was looking for. I am still experimenting and I am getting ready to purchase a thicker Blue Chip pick with only one end rounded so I can vary tonal quality. Stay warm my friend, cheers!
Hi Mojo, Keeping warm is the prime challenge at present, here in southern England. Maybe I should do a video about thermal underwear! Thanks as always.
Thanks for the video! I usually play finger style on acoustic but I've been wanting to be better with picks for recording electric. My biggest challenge is holding the plectrum correctly. Great tips, very insightful! Love the videos. Cheers x
Happy to help!
Great video and advice. Where were you when I started learning at 61? I was so ignorant it surprises me I kept going. Your videos help. You have inspired me to buy my first slotted head, twelfth fret, dreadnaught. Awaiting it's delivery, a Yairi DYMR 70SB.
Hi Herschel, it's never too late ! I have clients older than you! Happy to help should you wish.
Another finger style player here! Thanks for the informative video. Always worthwhile.
My pleasure! Thanks for watching.
I have a blue chip thumb pick for my banjo and I find it's the best sounding, and playing,and comfortable pick. I don't have to constantly adjust it or chase it back on my thumb. I honestly had forgotten about them when I started playing guitar. Thanks for the pointers they help a lot.
Good choice! thanks for watching.
Thank you, I really enjoy your videos.
So glad ! Thanks for watching!
Apologies for so many comments but there’s plenty of points to talk about. There must be a thousand videos on how to strum but they all come from a point that presumes we know how to hold and use the pick. It’s just not a given that we can hold a pick and get the angle and the weight and the grip right imo? There’s levels to everything with the guitar and learning to pick and boom chuck with the light strum of the bottom four strings is something that gave me an appreciation for what George Jones did in his pomp. All those live performances seemed to be driven by his guitar
sounds like you have learned the secrets Andrew. If I can help via zoom, please let me know!
I play fingerstyle but also play in my worship band. I was determined to learn how to strum with my finger (index) and have been doing that for years. I actually got pretty good at it and playing quick strums during fingerstyle pieces (think Don Ross). But I've never been satisfied with that tone and it really chews up any nails (and I keep them short!). I did used to use a plectrum but it appears I was likely holding it wrong. I tried your method tonight and bought some Dunlop Primetone triangles and immediately love the tone. I will have to adjust to the feel of the pick and try to get your technique, but hey, I learned how to use a thumbpick over the last several years pretty well so nothing is impossible. Great video Silly Moustache, timely and informative!
Well done, but please let me know if you would like further help via online one to one zoom lessons.
Those are lovely, resonant sounding instruments.
Yes, they arwe. I'm very fortunate, thank you.
Hello mate, your jaw will doubtless hang slack with incredulity, when I swear to you that I have just put down my guitar and you popped up on my iPad!
That’s not the spooky bit,,, I have on the table before me, the pick I was just using and it’s the very one YOU gave me, God knows how many years ago now, when we met at Charlie’s geetar shop!
I have a place in my wallet, (as I have in my heart), for such mementos and somewhat incredibly, it has not been lost.
There are no identifying labels, it is a largish purple triangle about 1mm thick with 5 holes in it and bevelled edges. A good workmanlike pick.
I own just one Blue Chip, a TD50, which is a teardrop. Another prized one I have is from English maker Wolfram, very BC-like, with nicely bevelled edges. Same fella makes great slides and also picks, milled from solid tungsten!! They’re HEAVY man! See his website.
Anyhoo… I think I’m holding it right,,, so there must be some other reason I’m shi…….
Hi Jon, great to hear from you! That pick is probably a dunlop Tortex 1.14 m/m that I bevelled and polished and added the Wegen style perforations. I know the guy who runs wolfram - we have a mutual acquaintance as I once worked in the Tungsten Carbide business. BTW that "person" who systematically harassed Brits on "that forum" has left. Just Sayin, Best Ol' Andy
Great informative and inspiring video, that def sent me on a search for your other Vids here on YT.
I've been hampered by a painful left shoulder and carpal in left wrist, always whilst playing on the couch and it really affected me when I've again played out recently, as my left hand fingers actually seized mid-set, almost a disaster.
Then I started to play anxiously almost waiting for the next painful spasms, so finding your Vid on sitting and holding the guitar correctly really helped me, thanks.
I then found your ..My Approach to Blues Playing...where yet again I was inspired by your great down-to-earth in the room sharing approach.
I am now definately considering having playing lessons from you on Zoom, if you still have time and space? and have just discovered your Teaching/Mentor Vid which clearly explains everything I need to know to sign up with you.
You've also ticked another big box for me Silly Moustache (love it), when I saw you playing slide on that little wooden Resonator in your Blues playing Vid as it was exactly the sound/Tone I've been after for years.
I am now seeking a similar Reso guitar to start slide tuition ect, with you? and maybe you could tell me what your wooden Reso is? and/or point me in the right direction to get a similar styled one.
I have dreams of fitting a distortion type of pick-up so as to effect the style of Marty O'Reilley's playing? your thoughts welcomed on any amplified Reso's.
Also just off to get some picks that you discussed in another Vid.😊
Thanks again for all your inspiration and provoking thoughts of new directions in my playing.
Ronnie Rollo.
Hi Ronnie, thanks for making contact. Regarding Resos, mine is a National Estralita. An M2 is very similar. I don't consider myself an expert on all things slide, but I'd be most happy to share what I know in a zoome meeting or two.
Thanks! Dave from the American mid west here, never had a lesson in pick particulars before.
Hi David, I hope that you found it interestin, and perhaps useful. Best, ol' Andy
G'day howdy, hope you're well. I'm just commenting to help the algorithm. I've joined an Irish music club. We play in the pub on Mondays. It's a great environment. I played fiddle and Mandolin last week. Will bring my octave mando tomorrow. All the best. Be well. Have a great week!
Sounds great!
Thanks, I’ve been using Weggin picks for years. If you sand the bevels with really fine sandpaper you can geta Weggin pick to be about a fast as a Blue Chip I use the triangle ones
Hi Darl, I am also a fan of Wegen (pronounced "Vaygan" I believe) although Michel does not share the material he uses. I only use the 346 style large triangles and recommend them to my clients. As you might have seen I have explored ways to improve cheap picks by bevelling and polishing.My final stage is jewellers rouge, not sandpaper. ua-cam.com/video/OM4rnxziq_c/v-deo.html
Another option is the sponge nail buffers that have a file, buff smooth and shine sides. Thanks for watching.
I hold my plectrum usually "wrong" so i can get the finger movement too if you know what i mean. Lately I´ve had some trouble with hybrid picking and doing it fast with this style of holding. I know how to hold it the right way buy I´m still trying to be able to hybrid pick really fast songs (like polyphia - playing god) with my own holding style. I´ve been playing for about 20 years but still am iterating... .I really like your videos sir. I think some people hold picks differently though, like for example Van Halen .
Hi, well, I've shown the pick position that should be least problematic for most.bet we all have to establish our own style. thanks for watching.
I used the prime tone until I was introduced to the D’addarios Casein (2 mm) teardrop picks and I haven’t looked back. Beautiful smooth bevel, durable and last a long time. $25 for the pick is the only bummer.
Hi, the ideal tool for the job, doesn't mean that it will be the same for all. All that matters is that you find the ideal pick for you.
Lol you just described exactly what happened with my learning to pick. It was the guitar shop who advised the thin yellow pick and the difference in sound with my 1.0mm blue pick i night and day.
Well it may be pennies, but tere just might be more money in starting you out with the wrong pick, and of course it gets you back in the shop. I'm being too cynical, most seem to have to work up.
Very nice. I have always struggled with a pick of any type. It turns out that my problem is a dry skin condition on my right (picking) hand that makes holding the pick firmly extremely difficult. It always slips around so that a uniform tone and speed becomes extremely difficult. I have reverted to my old fingerstyle and although Bluegrass and other pick styles are not possible I am able to do quite a bit with my right hand fingers. All in all, the video is quite good and should help many folks with pick use.
I completely understand. I tried a pick as a young person and had limited success. I rarely play electric guitar and so I adjusted to fingerstyle and I am happy. Recently I have picked up the plectrum again and I find it awkward.
@@johnwashburn3793 I play both acoustic and electric (on occasion) fingerstyle. With adjustments on the amp, I can get a really good sound out of the electrics I have. I prefer acoustics, though...
@Joel Gevirtz Yes, and if you are happy, carry on. Many people play without a pick.
Could it be that you are doing something with your picjs that could be improved by some subtle adjustments? Happy to help if you wish.
Well Joel, "lectrics aren't "really" guitars are they? (TIC).
Dear Silly, I like your channel and your advice. I've recently been using Dunlop Prime Tones which are hand finished and 1/10 of the price of Blue Chip.
However I have two words for correct pick holding... Molly Tuttle 🙂 I'm not sure she does it correctly, but I ain't gonna tell her so.... Thanks for your content. I have an Eastman E40 00 on order. That's how I found you.
Hi Joe, Yes, I have a couple of the Prime tones, and so have A/B compared them with BC picks. The Prime tones are perfectly usable and they have copied the BC speed bevel well. However I feel them to be totally "inert" -I don't get any feedback from them into my fingers, like I do with my BC. Personal preference of course.
Molly Tuttle is a very fine musician, so no disrespect from me! She seems to hold her pick the a very similar way to my recommendation, and of course she does a lit more with her picks than I do, and swivels her wrist somewhat more, and closes her picking hand a little more than I do.
I would not make any adverse comments on her superb style. She uses little Dunlop 207s which I find unusable.
@@SillyMoustache Thanks for your reply and your content sharing your knowledge. After commenting I watched Molly again and agree she probably uses the same hold just has a very unique style. My comment was more to the my belief that if you're getting the results you want, it's probably not bad....
Outstanding again, Andy. You've managed to demonstrate proper technique perfectly in just six minutes. Not for the first time, I find myself posting just to say thank you for so generously sharing your knowledge and experience. I'd be interested to know your thoughts on guitar size and string tension. Many people say you can't strum or flat pick smaller, short scale guitars. I realise this is obviously an exaggeration. But I also see the logic that a larger, standard/long scale guitar will have more headroom and, at least in theory, should respond better to strumming and flat picking. Is there really no substitute for a dreadnought when it comes right down to it? Or can you suggest something in the mid-size for those of us who are physically smaller and mostly just want to play comfortably at home on the sofa or chair?
Hi Simon, thank you for the kind words, and I'm delighted to hear that my humble videos are helping folk, so feedback is always re-assuring for me. With regard to Suitability of guitars for playing styles, I think you've hit on a subject for a new video so although I believe I have touched on this before - see : ua-cam.com/video/59LrDKWjojM/v-deo.html it might be worth re-iterating more focussed to guitar designs for purpose. I'll look into it ! (You will be credited!) Of course any other for videos would be welcomed. Thanks!
Had to find out what the fuss is about! I find the big triangles too cumbersome, have been using a Dunlop 207 although they can be a tiny bit slippy. Got a Blue Chip TP50 (small triangle) - very nice! Feels the most like I’m not using a pick, if that makes sense? Not meaning “like strumming with my fingers”, more that the pick is part of me, not adding a load of extra hardware between me and the guitar. Very natural feeling. Also tried the Primetone equivalent - 1.4mm small triangle “grip” - also good, if a little clickier on the strings (despite having a speed bevel, where my TP50 only has a round bevel). Blue Chip is new favourite, Primetone a close second along with the Dunlop.
Tried a Wegen TF140 and Bluegrass 1.4. Couldn’t get on with them.
Choice of picks is a very personal thing. So many pros have gone to Blue Chips though.
Hardly ever used flatpicks but added electric guitars over the lockdown and still find them difficult for some strumming "galloping" upstrokes... I'm fine picking notes with them though... I'll try some of your suggested alternatives to standard picks... many thanks
Not sure what you mean by galloping upstrokes, you'll see that I minimise upstrokes. but maybe I could help with one to one zoom lessons?
@@SillyMoustache Thanks for the reply and offer... just snagging on upstrokes sometimes (medium 1mm)... I'll get there though... kind regards.
$75 for a pick? Incredible!
Huh? Who said anything about a $75 pick? (I didn't) I use Blue Chip TAD 40 (1 m/m) TAD 50(1.25 m/m and TAD 60 (1.5 m/m). Accordng to their website these are still selling for $35 each. the TAD 80 ( 2 m/m) are $50 and the TAD100 (2.5 m/m) are $75, but I don't use picks that thick.
These picks are made of a composite (said to be) "Vespal" a Dupont material designed for high wear, low friction, industrial applications, which is what Bluechip Engineering use it for, but one of the Giones family must play guitar or some such and discovered that it is extremely good for use as a guitar pick. It is the material that is expensive - not the excellent design and finish.
I am not sponsored by Blue Chip (nor anyone else), so I say what I mean. These picks are simply the best on the market, and will last most players professional or not -a lifetime.
No, you won't lose them, because they are "precious" to you and so you will devise ways of keeping them safe - for life!
My son introduced me to the triangle shape with a bit more meat on them (1.4 vs 1.0 that I had been using). Lately, I got a Toneslab that I like. Similar in price to a Bluechip but seems a bit nicer tone.
Hi Again Tex, Now you've sent me down another rabbit hole .. Toneslabs! Oh my, $45 a go. Quite a bit for an unknown piece of thermoplastic. Can't remember how I got my first BC pick but now I have one for every guitar and two for my mando, plus two spares. Your opinion on the toneslab?
@Silly Moustache not as dark/deep but more balanced to my ear between treble and bass on my Martin Custom Shop D-28 12-fret short scale. (Solid peghead, not slotted). Do you like pointed or rounded/ smooth points on your triangle picks? I forgot what your email is to send you pictures. I'm working on a rig for one of your "lessons." I need to be able to see as well as hear. I did Zoom meetings, but cannot see what's going on. Maybe on one of those I can get some of these things figured out.
@@texhaines9957 chipickers2016@gmail.com
-thank you, Mr. Silly
You are most welcome! Thanks for watching!
I have always had a difficult time with a plectrum. I have played finger-style for about 40 years now but I have tried a pick on occasion recently.
Hi John, might be worth getting couple of large triangles and trying again using my "holding" style?
@Silly Moustache Yes, I shall. I remember trying some large triangles in the '70s, made by Fender as I recall. Maybe I'll become a star...
I'm an intermediate classical guitar player. In our world we use a footstool or (sometimes) a guitar support which angles the guitar's neck at about a 45 degree angle. This creates a nice, stable holding position with the left thigh cradling the guitar at its waist. When I use the common guitar position that people use with a steel strung guitar I find that the guitar does not reach as stable a position and that its neck is much closer to the horizontal. Other plucked instruments, like the mandolin, are typically played with their necks more vertical, like the classical guitar. Personally, I find holding the guitar in the classical guitar method helps my fretting. Do you think this position is something that steel string guitar players should adopt?
Hi, with Classical guitar there are more formalised "rules." With steel strung there are no rules and as they have developed (along with styles and instrument sizes,) there are no "rules".
I know some who play in the classical position, but the vast majority play in what is called "western" style.
To hold a steel string securely (and when seated) only requires the upper right leg to be parallel with the floor, and the inside of the right elbow (cubital fossa, or chelidon) to rest on the edge of the lower bout. Ideally the back of the guitar should not touch the tummy.
That leaves both hands to play with no pressure.
See : ua-cam.com/video/VUS-XfTx7Fs/v-deo.html
This is interesting and I agree with you about the importance of holding the right kind of pick, properly. Funnily, if one looks at film of Jimi Hendrix, he's holding it with three finger tips, thumb, trigger and index, very wrongly indeed! Is there a lesson here? Apperently he never had guitar lesson in his life, couldn't read music, knew no theory... but, boy, he could play guitar like ringing a bell! Perhaps he was a musical genius who was 'allowed' by the Muses to break all the rules?
Hi, yes, I recently stumbled on a vid of Jimi using his "unique" style, which I don't think it would work so well on an acoustic. I agree , jimi was a phenomenon. Whilst I knew Mitch, and met Noel, I never saw Jimi live as we when he was gigging in/around London, my nand was always giging on the same nights, but as I was a drummer then, I probably wouldn't have noted his playing style, just his genious.
@@SillyMoustache I also agree wholeheartedly with your suggestion/recommendation that people should play parlour style guitars at home; they were, after all, designed for precisely that purpose in the 19th century when they were thought of a genteel instruments for ladies to play in... parlours!
I have four different parlour/parlor guitars. They all sound different. Two Fenders, one Yamaha and one Framus. It's funny that they seem to need time to 'warm up' when I start playing them. In the beginning they sound a little 'sharp', or maybe it's just my ears getting accustomed to the timbre?
I tempted by that Eastman you have. The big problem is smuggling it into the house without my wife noticing another guitar appearing, as if by magic in my room.
@@michaelk5507 Sell two least satisfying guitars that you have, and buy an Eastman - you really won't regret it! How could Mrs K object to that?
I'd try for a lesson if I could figure how to get me, the guitar, and sound on a screen large enough for me to see. My computer has the largest screen but no camera, microphone or speaker. And no room for a guitar between me and the screen. Any ideas?
Hi Tex, I've just checked out US Ebay for USA mics ($20-$50) and USB Cameras (similar or less cost).
If you don;t have sufficient USB slots, you can buy an extension for a couple of dollars.
Do you use a laptop or a desk top? Lap top is by far the easiest and I sit about 4 feet away from the cameras to show the image above.
I'd love to meet up via Zoom. It's a wonderful facility, once you sort out some silly aspects. You wouldn't need to sign up to Zoom as I am.
If you'd like to discuss it email me, I'm sure we could sort it out. Best, Andy
I struggle with up strums. I get caught up in the strings. Any help for you guys on here would be great.
Down strum glides. I use a BC TP50
Yup. Cut 'em out altogether, for a while, they often make your rhythm sound too messy anyway.
Focus on the "boom", and the lesser, gentler "chick", and sooner or later an even gentler up stroke will occur. Try it.
@@SillyMoustache thank you sir
Some can’t play a guitar with just fingers… it gives you an extra finger.
Uh, OK. ??
I can believe that about people unable to play with a pick. I’m getting there but the one thing that suffers compared to when I brush with the thumb is my timing isn’t as good with the pick? It’s as if my brain can’t handle the inanimate object in the timing of things🤔
Maybe I can help ? Zoom lesson (s) ?
Hi! What do you think about a Nylon pick? Thank you!
Hi I used to use Martin Naturaltone Nylon opicks for many years until I discovered Blue Chips and Wegens. Still got loads of those Martin picks which were discontinued in the late '90s.
not for the life of me could i hold the pick like that index and second finger thumb for me ,each to there own.
I guess so, but that will require a lot of intricate hand control with a very bent wrist. that could being nerve problems in the future, so beware. Best, Ol' Andy