I cycle through a variety of picks all the time. They're like shoes. Sometimes the ones you've been wearing on the daily just stop being comfortable, and you switch to something else. It's good to have a giant bag or box of picks.
I went through a bunch of picks over the years. My favorite pick of all time is the V Picks Snake. 4.1mm so they take a bit of getting used to, super comfortable in the hand and glides through the strings.
I felt like my picking hand sucks ass, so I changed up my pick... After going through about 150 picks I've determined that my picking hand just sucks ass....
@@fortheloveofnoise That's what I did. I'm a lefty but I played right-handed for 20 years. I had a goal of being able to play Paul Gilbert's Curse of Castle Dragon but just couldn't quite nail the solo when Paul just won't stop speed picking. Even 8 hours per day wasn't getting me quite there. So I switched to left-handed. It was painful but in about 3 years I was better than I'd gotten right-handed in 20. Before, I didn't even think it mattered that much due to the presence of plenty of people including myself playing who were playing the wrong way and still becoming advanced. There are famous guitarists who did this. Nope. Turns out, when you see someone playing the wrong way and they can shred, they just would have been five times better the other way. Even though lefties playing the wrong way genuinely don't think they would pick better the other way and say things like "for some reason I think I'm right-handed in terms of picking". No, you practiced it. Of course it feels more comfortable than picking with the other hand while it has no experience. They often even argue they have an advantage due to using the dominant hand for fretting. This is only very slightly true for legato. For some reason, the brain doesn't really favor the fingers of one hand that much more than the other. That's why typing feels even across hands and how piano works. It's the arm itself that it's so picky about, so it definitely cares when it comes to swinging something back and forth with the wrist and/or elbow. So it's easy to fret with your non-dominant hand but you'll never be as precise as your potential in terms of picking with the wrong hand, no matter how much you practice. The ceiling is simply way higher for the dominant hand.
Depending on what i am playing, Depends on what pick i use. Thinner picks for rhythm stuff and stuff with lots of lead, single note palm muting, I use a thicker pick.
I had a really really old triangle as like my first guitar pick. Had it before I even had a guitar it was prism gold and shit. Wore that thing out man eventually all the edges just popped then it shattered into 3 pieces n I used those for a while until I lost it
@@jennyk9601 yeah that’s what i meant. I kept the pieces in a little weed baggie for like two years. Just up n started losing em piece by piece. Got some thick ass black ice Dunlop’s now
Kerry King talks about using a triangle for that same reason in an old gear rundown video. The way he put it is that you basically have six picks in one with the triangle. I can't get used to them but I can see the advantage of using one.
I was playing a normal Jazz, then went to the Kirk Hammett signature Jazz and it improved my playing. I then changed to a jazz .88mm and now I play better than I actually can.
that "Dan's guitar store" pick looks exactly like an Ernie ball prodigy, they have a 1.5mm the size of a jazz III with that same bevel and i can't get enough.
@@sergeladouceur4910 I got the Prodigy Mini 1.5mm's I like them but want to try the full size. I went from loving the Prodigy Mini to trying out my first Jazz III Nylon stiffo and I still have the tip of my first one weeks later!
I started off with green tortex, moved on to the jazz equivalent, then off to dunlop carbon fiber Maxx Grips; but now I stick with ChickenPicks in either the 2 or 2.5mm. They're SUPER durable, stiff, sharp, and feel head and shoulders above any other pick I've used.
Took the opposite journey. Played 1mm for years, discovered Gravity picks and went to 2mm and 3mm. Randomly tried a 0.88 triangle gator grip. That's it.
After using the same pick for many many years I recently switched from the standard blue Tortex (1mm) picks to the Dunlop "TIII" and I absolutely love them! It's basically a standard Tortex pick with the sharper "Jazz III" tip, and they have added even more precision and control to my playing.
James Hetfield White Fang 1.14 mm pick This pick has a very good feel, durable, and near perfect grip. Not short like a regular Jazz 3 is. If you can get these at a discount or otherwise, grab a pack, they are worth it.
I'm playing with the Jeff Loomis picks for more than a year now, and it's awesome. It has the best attack, the thickness is perfect, and the grip is rock stable. Thank you Jeff!
I use ChickenPick’s 2.6mm regular picks. Before trying them I always used Dunlop Tortex 1.14’s. I never thought I’d use a 2.6mm pick, but now there is no going back for me. I love them.
Great Vid. I had a similar experience : I had used .8 and .9's for 20 years and then one day on a whim I saw Dunlop Black Fang James Hetfield Guitar Pick 1.14mm and being a big Metallica fan I ordered just for giggles. Man was it a game changer when I got it! Now I have to have a 1.0+ to feel 'right'. The 1.14 does seem to be a sweet spot , have tried up to 2.0 as well .. which seemed too thick. But then again it was one of those Ultex picks which is a bit different shape and feel from the Black Fangs. If you can't get 'like for like' when going through thickness you really arent comparing just the thickness of the pick.
Dunlop Tortex 1mm charcoal black. The black has a bit "dusty" texture, I like it a lot as it's not slippery. Earlier I used Fender Heavy 1 mm but they wear off very quick on heavy gauge strings.
Recently became a fan of the James Hetfield White Fang picks. It's been my main pick for about a year now. I think it's 1.14mm and the edges seem sharp and fast. I like it.
Got that "new" feeling when i played them. For me, they push your downpicking and precision when it comes to play stuff like " blackened ". This ultex material sound so different, more like it's a ivory guitar pick; and with extra attack :D
Depends on the strings as well. I use some ernie ball everlast .88 mm on a 09 gauge stringed strat and it feels pretty good, on 11+ gauge drop tuned then I need a thicker pick
I like the sound I get from a Tortex 0.6. From my experience, the thicker the pick, the less aggressive tone I have. Haven't tried any of the thick ones with very sharp edges though
Personal preference is the truth. I've tried so many different combos of strings and picks. For example, Jeff Hanneman used 9-42 strings and Dunlop .73mm picks. Even on a Fender scale guitar, those strings are floppy in my hands. I don't know how Jeff was able to play tightly with that setup (I'll never be as good as him, that's probably why). Dimebag used 9 gauge stings (for standard tuning) and Tortex .88mm picks. That pick is pretty stiff for those strings, in my opinion. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Pat O'Brien of Cannibal Corpse and Nevermore fame, uses the 1.5mm Tortex sharps (like Jeff Loomis). Even with 13-56 gauge strings tuned to A# standard, they are too floppy for me, and the pick "gets caught" on the strings. Again, Pat is lightyears ahead of me as a player, so that has a lot to do with it as well. Kevin Frasard, the Beast from Michigan, plays with a 2.0mm Gator Grip, and has for years. He has a ton of guitars in multiple tunings, and uses that pick for them all. His right hand is vicious as well. For me, playing thrash riffs on a 25.5" scale guitar with a Floyd Rose, Ernie Ball 10-52 strings tuned to D# standard paired with Dunlop Tortex .88mm standard picks just feels like home. Picks I've tried... .60mm Tortex, Flex .73mm Tortex, Sharps, Nylon Max Grip, Ernie Ball, Clayton Triangles, Ultex Triangles, Dunlop Flex, and Dunlop Medium celluloid Dunlop Flows (all sorts of thicknesses) .88mm Tortex, Sharps, Flex, Flex triangles 1.0mm Tortex Jazz 3's, Jazz 3 XL, even Ola's picks 1.14mm Hetfield Black and White fangs, nylons and Ernie Ball picks 1.5mm John Petrucci's, Ernie Ball Prodigy and standard picks 2.0mm Gator Grip Dragon's Heart 2.5mm picks Strings I've tried.... 9-42 Dunlop, Ernie Ball, D'Addario (D# tuning) 10-46 Ernie Ball, D'Addario (D# tuning) 10-52 Ernie Ball, D'Addario (D# tuning) 11-52 Ernie Ball (D# tuning) 12-52 D'Addario (Jazz Light gauge) (D# tuning) 13-56 D'Addario (A# tuning) Yeah, I've dumped a lot of money into guitar picks and stings. I've become pretty good at setting up a Floyd Rose though, as a result of the many changes. I keep going back to the Tortex .88mm. Playing "Angel of Death" for example, with the 1.5 Jeff Loomis pick, it feels like I'm fighting the strings. The pick "gets caught" by the low E, and I've got a near death grip on the pick to keep it in place, or it feels like it's gonna fly out of my hand when hitting the big power chords. Again, that's probably due to my poor technique and skill as a player, but I also look at the greats of the past (Van Halen, Hanneman, Dimebag) and they didn't use fancy picks; they used what they had at the time, played light strings, but their tones are eternal. It just goes to show that it comes down to feel and preference. There isn't a right or wrong to picks and string gauge.
Settled on 1.14mm Ultex sharps, and D'Addario NYXL 10-52 with a wound third. I'm a rhythm player at heart, and this combo gives guitars some BEASTLY rhythm tones for Stoner, Doom, Death, and Thrash stuff.
People totally underestimate how much a pick influences their sound, in tone and the way it makes you play. For electric, I like Tortex 1mm. For acoustic, I have some black "Harley-Davidson" Tortex .73mm I picked up at the HD dealer. I should have bought them out because they were under $4 for a pack and they sell for $12 on eBay nowadays because they don't make them anymore. Black is way better than the bright yellow they usually come in.
I just bought some coin picks on reverb a few weeks ago and they feel really great. If you like the thickness of a thin pick, but the weight and stiffness of a heavy pick, a coin pick is a great alternative. Or if you just like really heavy thick picks in general... they do come in many sizes.
@@Ottophil I bought a couple blue colored Dava picks almost 20 years ago and they're still the best I've played with. They're the only picks that I've never dropped while playing because of the grips in it and I fly around the strings faster and with more agility with those picks than anything else I've ever used. They're the perfect picks for me. I have many other kinds and brands but I always wind up going back to my Davas. Everyone's preference is different.
That was the first time I think I heard the difference in tone. As soon as you picked up the thin pick I went "damn that sounds good!" Cool experiment!
Sharp picks are better than regs imo. The attack for leads or riffs if you dig in is nicee. However, the eb prodigy picks seem to wear in like two days for me, and flows are obese imo, so maybe jazz IIIs for life…
The rob chapman gravity pick is pretty fucking rad, as is the Jeff Loomis Dunlop sharp. Personally, I use 1.5 tortex sharps, I wish they made it with gator grip tho
Yeah I like the gator grip a lot. Never used one until recently and since I got some I've been stuck on the 1.14mm for all my heavy playing. Takes a little getting used to but now I love it.
I've always used picks that are between 1 and 2 mm thickness. Recently started trying some different shapes though. Highly recommend Rombo picks if you want to try something different or unusual!
0:40 I use a dunlop max-grip 1.5 for my guitar cause i love the fact that it has a very “bass”-ish sound when attacking the string where as u use the normal plastic ones its more crunchy sounding FROM the pick. For crunch-wise though,i let the the tone/treble knob do its job for the pick i use so youll get less clank from the pick instead. I guess in a way its kinda like what Ola is using but not sharp💁🏻♂️
Dunlop 44p10. Ive been using them for 17 years. Ive tried many other picks over the years but these always feel like home to me. I think the best picks are the ones that make you unaware you are using one , just feels like an extension of your finger/thumb
i just picked up a pack of Petrucci polished tip picks....10-52 D Standard is my main tuning, some drop C as well... Absolutely love my results,,, i feel proper choice in picks are so overlooked but they are SO important.
just went through the exact same thing, was a green Tortex guy for 20 years then I discovered Jazz III and my picking really improved. Recently I picked up the purple tortex normal size for playing acoustics, then I realized the pick was getting stuck between strings because it wasnt as sharp aa the Jazz III so I sharpened it with a file and wow! yes thicker, wider and pointier pick lets me pick faster and with more accuracy with less effort
I'd recommend trying the tortex TIII then. They've been my go to pick for a couple years now. It's the size of a regular tortex but with a jazz iii tip on it
I’ve been using the Ernie ball prodigy mini 1.5mm for the past year and really like them! They’re small, super sharp attack and very articulate! But I couldn’t get them in my local store last week so grabbed a pack of red Dunlop jazz 3’s… I can’t believe I hadn’t tried these before!! Great picks!!
It's very uncanny that you upload this now! I have just ordered a pack of Bog Street picks from Amazon because I wanted to try new picks myself. I gotta say I really like those picks because the divot in the middle makes it grippy. Out of all the picks I think I liked the beast mini the most, it's a 1.5mm jazz size triangle pick with a very nice thumb grip in the middle.
My favourite pick is the Dunlop Jazz III, but the ULTEX XL version. Slightly bigger in size than regular Jazz III, this gives me better pick control. Good grip, thanks to the protruding lettering. Ultex is much more wear resistant and stiffer than Nylon or Tortex, so it's not only more durable, but also gives a brighter tone and more attack.
The ultex jazzIII’s are my fav. Tried the xls but once you get used to the small size of jazzIII it’s hard to go back. Also if you sweat a lil they get grippier ;)
I used the yellow tortex forever. Then found the thin mauveish colored one and fell in love. Yellow for heavy Rhythms and the thin ones for more lead solo stuff.
Gravity picks or Jazz III XL's for metal and jazz, more middlish/average thickness for blues and funk, and really thin and bright-sounding ones for strumming, especially on an acoustic.
The Zak Wilde one sounded like you can hear the actual sound of the pick of each note more than the heavier guages. The heavier guages being more just the sound of the notes played. Does that make sense? I use a 0.6mm pick and perhaps that's as much of the attack on my play as it is how I play. Interesting. Need to do more research on this myself in the ever lasting quest for "toan"
Ever tried out the Dunlop Primetones? I'm using the Jazz III XL 1.4 picks and I love them. It has grooves like the Maxgrips, but they feel smoother on the Primetone and I love that.
He just did from me. I've been looking for a pick like the one he showed anyway so I'm glad he made the video. I always go back and forth between Hetfield picks and Jazz 3's and this pick looks like a combo between the two.
I did the exact same thing like a week ago. I've used Standard Tortex Green .88mm for the past 20 years and just switched to a Jazz III XL, which is basically right between the standard guitar pick size and Jazz III size. It's amazing.
i'm digging the Dunlop Tortex Flow 1mm at the moment. It feels nice and smooth enough to do some leads as well as chords...hard to explain but i feel its a nice balanced pick so far in my pick explorations.
They say: "If you have the chance to try something new, go for it! Maybe you'll find something you'll like." This is a great example for that. I personally like my picks a little more "stiff". I love playing rhythm which feels better with a less floppy pick to me
Yeah I use 1.14 but I shorten it with point so I can get good pinch and control. I can’t use thin picks or long ones because I feel I fight to control it more.
@@GuernB2 no sir, that is from the years of layers of potato-chip grease from your fingers building up into a slimy-paste of bacterial nastiness.!!.......or.......if by slippery, u mean "rounded", i like that cuz then it rolls over the string easier, but also a "pickscream" is still attainable. alas to each their own, have a nice day
That old school John petrucci signature guitar pick is the only one I use! I’m not even a dream theatre fan, but I love the clarity and note definition you get with it
"John Petrucci's also having the same problem a lot of guitarists have been having"... Yeah, trying to figure out how much stuff we can put our name on to make money 😂
I use the Dunlop John Petrucci Signature Jazz IIIs. 1.5mm with the sharp edges. Made the switch recently after playing with normal picks for five years. Helped me a lot.
when i was recovering from full body paralysis and learning to play again, i couldnt hold a pic so i was using a 12mm delrin pick that i made. in the same style as hufschmids picks.
#1 Dunlop Jazz 3 xl 1.38mm ultex w/ raised lettering #2 2mm flow jumbo. they are roughly the same shape but different tip edges and thicknesses. If i'm more into a sweeping phase in my playing, the flow is king, but the jazz is better at pretty much everything else.
I switched from Carbon Nylon 0,75mm to ultex sharp 1.14. They also work good for accustik guitar. For mandolin I often use big 3mm thick triangle shape picks. Good allrounder for me is the Jazz III shape.
I use a whole bunch of different picks. Sometimes for double tracking I'll use a different pick for each track. Adds variation without altering the amp or plugin.
I actually enjoy the Hetfield White Fang pick and have been using it for a little over a year now. I got a set in my Christmas stocking and have burned through quite a bit of 'em.
You could try the ultex Flow picks. Same shape as the Hetfield Fangs but will last longer. Try the 1.0. Just as stiff as the tortex fangs but slightly thinner.
Been playing Dunlop Big Stubby 3mms for 15 years now. Took a bit if getting used to in the beginning, but definitely improved my precision and picking speed.
My favourite guitar pick I've tried has to be the 2.0mm Ernie Ball Prodigy Mini they last forever and have really nice pick attack and feel great to play
Just bought a Hetfield "white fang" 1.14 mm and it is great for me. Good thikness, good grip control, good sharpening (first ever pick which i haven't sharpened ,lol)
Dragon’s Heart Guitar picks are my favorite. They have three different tips to them but feel like a normal guitar pick in your hand. The narrow pointed tip is awesome cuz it’s asymmetrical, meaning you up and down strokes have a more noticeable difference in how the sound. Check them out you won’t regret it
Jeff Loomis dunlops changed my world. I use them for electric and Jim Roots for acoustic. The trick is to hold it like a jazz three and let the top edge ride against your palm. It provides more control because it cant rotate or slide into your hand. So the tip barley exposed past your thumb. Like when you choke up on the tip for hitting harmonics.
Justin from Godflesh uses stainless steel plectrums I read in 96 so I started using those. Those carbon fiber Jazz 3 with the grip and tether one with the bevels have been my live go to because the steels can weld the wire wrap on your strings (which is actually pretty cool) and were hard to find, but really good for harmonics and attack.
GUITAR PICK INTERVENTION! Sorry No live stream today... you will know why on Sunday...
I cycle through a variety of picks all the time. They're like shoes. Sometimes the ones you've been wearing on the daily just stop being comfortable, and you switch to something else. It's good to have a giant bag or box of picks.
with the exception of the genuine vintage tortoise shell picks I use on my acoustic, I have used the 60mm orange Tortex for over 30 years.
I went through a bunch of picks over the years. My favorite pick of all time is the V Picks Snake. 4.1mm so they take a bit of getting used to, super comfortable in the hand and glides through the strings.
Spannend!
You can pick your friends or pick your nose, but don't pick your friends nose.
I felt like my picking hand sucks ass, so I changed up my pick... After going through about 150 picks I've determined that my picking hand just sucks ass....
That's probably the conclusion for most of us 😂 "it's not your gear, it's you buddy.. im sorry".
switch to left handed
@@fortheloveofnoise That's what I did. I'm a lefty but I played right-handed for 20 years. I had a goal of being able to play Paul Gilbert's Curse of Castle Dragon but just couldn't quite nail the solo when Paul just won't stop speed picking. Even 8 hours per day wasn't getting me quite there.
So I switched to left-handed. It was painful but in about 3 years I was better than I'd gotten right-handed in 20. Before, I didn't even think it mattered that much due to the presence of plenty of people including myself playing who were playing the wrong way and still becoming advanced. There are famous guitarists who did this.
Nope. Turns out, when you see someone playing the wrong way and they can shred, they just would have been five times better the other way. Even though lefties playing the wrong way genuinely don't think they would pick better the other way and say things like "for some reason I think I'm right-handed in terms of picking". No, you practiced it. Of course it feels more comfortable than picking with the other hand while it has no experience.
They often even argue they have an advantage due to using the dominant hand for fretting. This is only very slightly true for legato. For some reason, the brain doesn't really favor the fingers of one hand that much more than the other. That's why typing feels even across hands and how piano works. It's the arm itself that it's so picky about, so it definitely cares when it comes to swinging something back and forth with the wrist and/or elbow.
So it's easy to fret with your non-dominant hand but you'll never be as precise as your potential in terms of picking with the wrong hand, no matter how much you practice.
The ceiling is simply way higher for the dominant hand.
The feeling of "ooh, I like this new pick" every time I try a new pick
Not a single fart or burp in the entire video. Buddy, are you okay?
Can we make this the top comment?
Maybe he was out of gas
@@billystink4611 Apparently we did it. Thank you all!
@@2free2snakes Haha)) 👍
1:40
Depending on what i am playing, Depends on what pick i use. Thinner picks for rhythm stuff and stuff with lots of lead, single note palm muting, I use a thicker pick.
For sure! .60mm Jazz III for rhythm, and the 1.5mm Jazz III feels so good for lead, especially with the smoother attack.
@@ajohnhayes I use the exact same!!
Took the words right outa my mouth.
Tortex triangle for life baby, if you knock an edge you just turn it in your hand and boom, instant new pick!
I had a really really old triangle as like my first guitar pick. Had it before I even had a guitar it was prism gold and shit. Wore that thing out man eventually all the edges just popped then it shattered into 3 pieces n I used those for a while until I lost it
But if you loose it you loose three :D
I still have my first guitar pick from when I started playing . . .
@@jennyk9601 yeah that’s what i meant. I kept the pieces in a little weed baggie for like two years. Just up n started losing em piece by piece. Got some thick ass black ice Dunlop’s now
Kerry King talks about using a triangle for that same reason in an old gear rundown video. The way he put it is that you basically have six picks in one with the triangle. I can't get used to them but I can see the advantage of using one.
I liked Jazz 3's, but I have big-ass hands, discovered the Jazz 3 XL, now I am happy
same. i could never keep my fat fingers on a pick so small. love the XL
I was playing a normal Jazz, then went to the Kirk Hammett signature Jazz and it improved my playing. I then changed to a jazz .88mm and now I play better than I actually can.
I have to use alcohol to(think I can), play better than I actually can. Changing picks could be cheaper long term.
The Dunlop tortex one?? That is my go-to pick. Perfect balance of flex and stiffness.
Is the jazz88 m the green one?
@@satchrules101 The grey tortex one
@@calumcan The green ones are 88mm too. I like them.
I think far more important is how you managed to actually retain such a massive quantity of picks without them disappearing
Ola es el duende de las púas!
Ahora ya sabes adónde va tu púa cuando la descuidas...
that "Dan's guitar store" pick looks exactly like an Ernie ball prodigy, they have a 1.5mm the size of a jazz III with that same bevel and i can't get enough.
Same here, just find the tips wearout fast..
@@sergeladouceur4910 I got the Prodigy Mini 1.5mm's I like them but want to try the full size. I went from loving the Prodigy Mini to trying out my first Jazz III Nylon stiffo and I still have the tip of my first one weeks later!
I started off with green tortex, moved on to the jazz equivalent, then off to dunlop carbon fiber Maxx Grips; but now I stick with ChickenPicks in either the 2 or 2.5mm. They're SUPER durable, stiff, sharp, and feel head and shoulders above any other pick I've used.
Took the opposite journey. Played 1mm for years, discovered Gravity picks and went to 2mm and 3mm. Randomly tried a 0.88 triangle gator grip. That's it.
After using the same pick for many many years I recently switched from the standard blue Tortex (1mm) picks to the Dunlop "TIII" and I absolutely love them! It's basically a standard Tortex pick with the sharper "Jazz III" tip, and they have added even more precision and control to my playing.
James Hetfield White Fang 1.14 mm pick
This pick has a very good feel, durable, and near perfect grip. Not short like a regular Jazz 3 is. If you can get these at a discount or otherwise, grab a pack, they are worth it.
I'm playing with the Jeff Loomis picks for more than a year now, and it's awesome. It has the best attack, the thickness is perfect, and the grip is rock stable. Thank you Jeff!
Dunlop White Fang. Grippy texture, Delrin durability, Flow shape, perfection.
The white tortex jazz 3 has been my go to for years now and i love it.
Yes, they are very nice.
I use ChickenPick’s 2.6mm regular picks. Before trying them I always used Dunlop Tortex 1.14’s. I never thought I’d use a 2.6mm pick, but now there is no going back for me. I love them.
Great Vid. I had a similar experience : I had used .8 and .9's for 20 years and then one day on a whim I saw Dunlop Black Fang James Hetfield Guitar Pick 1.14mm and being a big Metallica fan I ordered just for giggles. Man was it a game changer when I got it! Now I have to have a 1.0+ to feel 'right'. The 1.14 does seem to be a sweet spot , have tried up to 2.0 as well .. which seemed too thick. But then again it was one of those Ultex picks which is a bit different shape and feel from the Black Fangs. If you can't get 'like for like' when going through thickness you really arent comparing just the thickness of the pick.
Dunlop Tortex 1mm charcoal black. The black has a bit "dusty" texture, I like it a lot as it's not slippery. Earlier I used Fender Heavy 1 mm but they wear off very quick on heavy gauge strings.
Recently became a fan of the James Hetfield White Fang picks. It's been my main pick for about a year now. I think it's 1.14mm and the edges seem sharp and fast. I like it.
I believe they are 1.35. I like those as well.
Got that "new" feeling when i played them. For me, they push your downpicking and precision when it comes to play stuff like " blackened ". This ultex material sound so different, more like it's a ivory guitar pick; and with extra attack :D
I would love to try a 1.14mm White fang. I used to have .88 and it was great .
They're 17 bucks for a pack of 6 on amazon, where do you guys get em from?
@@Beyond-Antares That's where I got them.
Ultex Jazz III XL. You can use it on any guitar and any style and they sound dynamic, regardless what thickness you use.
Depends on the strings as well. I use some ernie ball everlast .88 mm on a 09 gauge stringed strat and it feels pretty good, on 11+ gauge drop tuned then I need a thicker pick
I like the sound I get from a Tortex 0.6. From my experience, the thicker the pick, the less aggressive tone I have. Haven't tried any of the thick ones with very sharp edges though
Personal preference is the truth. I've tried so many different combos of strings and picks.
For example, Jeff Hanneman used 9-42 strings and Dunlop .73mm picks. Even on a Fender scale guitar, those strings are floppy in my hands. I don't know how Jeff was able to play tightly with that setup (I'll never be as good as him, that's probably why). Dimebag used 9 gauge stings (for standard tuning) and Tortex .88mm picks. That pick is pretty stiff for those strings, in my opinion. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Pat O'Brien of Cannibal Corpse and Nevermore fame, uses the 1.5mm Tortex sharps (like Jeff Loomis). Even with 13-56 gauge strings tuned to A# standard, they are too floppy for me, and the pick "gets caught" on the strings. Again, Pat is lightyears ahead of me as a player, so that has a lot to do with it as well. Kevin Frasard, the Beast from Michigan, plays with a 2.0mm Gator Grip, and has for years. He has a ton of guitars in multiple tunings, and uses that pick for them all. His right hand is vicious as well.
For me, playing thrash riffs on a 25.5" scale guitar with a Floyd Rose, Ernie Ball 10-52 strings tuned to D# standard paired with Dunlop Tortex .88mm standard picks just feels like home.
Picks I've tried...
.60mm Tortex, Flex
.73mm Tortex, Sharps, Nylon Max Grip, Ernie Ball, Clayton Triangles, Ultex Triangles, Dunlop Flex, and Dunlop Medium celluloid
Dunlop Flows (all sorts of thicknesses)
.88mm Tortex, Sharps, Flex, Flex triangles
1.0mm Tortex
Jazz 3's, Jazz 3 XL, even Ola's picks
1.14mm Hetfield Black and White fangs, nylons and Ernie Ball picks
1.5mm John Petrucci's, Ernie Ball Prodigy and standard picks
2.0mm Gator Grip
Dragon's Heart 2.5mm picks
Strings I've tried....
9-42 Dunlop, Ernie Ball, D'Addario (D# tuning)
10-46 Ernie Ball, D'Addario (D# tuning)
10-52 Ernie Ball, D'Addario (D# tuning)
11-52 Ernie Ball (D# tuning)
12-52 D'Addario (Jazz Light gauge) (D# tuning)
13-56 D'Addario (A# tuning)
Yeah, I've dumped a lot of money into guitar picks and stings. I've become pretty good at setting up a Floyd Rose though, as a result of the many changes. I keep going back to the Tortex .88mm. Playing "Angel of Death" for example, with the 1.5 Jeff Loomis pick, it feels like I'm fighting the strings. The pick "gets caught" by the low E, and I've got a near death grip on the pick to keep it in place, or it feels like it's gonna fly out of my hand when hitting the big power chords. Again, that's probably due to my poor technique and skill as a player, but I also look at the greats of the past (Van Halen, Hanneman, Dimebag) and they didn't use fancy picks; they used what they had at the time, played light strings, but their tones are eternal.
It just goes to show that it comes down to feel and preference. There isn't a right or wrong to picks and string gauge.
Ola sent Kevin a guitar,he knows of him lol
Settled on 1.14mm Ultex sharps, and D'Addario NYXL 10-52 with a wound third. I'm a rhythm player at heart, and this combo gives guitars some BEASTLY rhythm tones for Stoner, Doom, Death, and Thrash stuff.
When I switched to Dunlop Hetfield Black Fang I instatntly had this feeling that that's the pick I was looking for.
That's a great pick. I bought an Iron Cross guitar and it came with one as a bonus, unfortunately I lost it but thinking about buying more.
White Fangs 1.14 did it for me. More speed and more precision. I can’t use my old faves, .88 Tortex anymore.
Those Loomis pics are my go to! The attack is great and they greatly improved my sweep picking. I tend to pick more on the edge, which these allow.
I recently bought some of the new Misha Mansoor picks from Dunlop, really enjoying them. They have a nice texture too
People totally underestimate how much a pick influences their sound, in tone and the way it makes you play.
For electric, I like Tortex 1mm.
For acoustic, I have some black "Harley-Davidson" Tortex .73mm I picked up at the HD dealer. I should have bought them out because they were under $4 for a pack and they sell for $12 on eBay nowadays because they don't make them anymore. Black is way better than the bright yellow they usually come in.
Thanks, I used the yellow for a long time and will try the black ones. Trying the red Jazz II now, not as sharp a tip as the Jazz III's...
4:45 You should go with this one IMO, or one of the heavy ones. Best sounding and most speed.
EDIT: 13:00 these two also got a great flow and sound.
I just bought some coin picks on reverb a few weeks ago and they feel really great. If you like the thickness of a thin pick, but the weight and stiffness of a heavy pick, a coin pick is a great alternative. Or if you just like really heavy thick picks in general... they do come in many sizes.
I've been using the Andy James flow pick for a couple of years.
I currently use Dava guitar picks, they're pretty awesome.
They are great if you like shitty picks especially
Awesome, I have been with Dava around 15- 20 years and ended up with the three jazz picks red, yellow and the gel . Dava is awesome!
@@Ottophil I bought a couple blue colored Dava picks almost 20 years ago and they're still the best I've played with. They're the only picks that I've never dropped while playing because of the grips in it and I fly around the strings faster and with more agility with those picks than anything else I've ever used. They're the perfect picks for me. I have many other kinds and brands but I always wind up going back to my Davas. Everyone's preference is different.
That was the first time I think I heard the difference in tone. As soon as you picked up the thin pick I went "damn that sounds good!" Cool experiment!
I started trying the Jeff Loomis signature pick about a week ago.
and, do you like it?
I haven’t been able to play enough to say it’s the one. So far it’s cool. I’m still getting used to it. I had previously been using tortex.80 or so.
Sharp picks are better than regs imo. The attack for leads or riffs if you dig in is nicee. However, the eb prodigy picks seem to wear in like two days for me, and flows are obese imo, so maybe jazz IIIs for life…
That pick is so big And long, feels weird when your not used to it!
It is pretty amazing how much picks effect the way u play and the tone from them no joke !!
The rob chapman gravity pick is pretty fucking rad, as is the Jeff Loomis Dunlop sharp.
Personally, I use 1.5 tortex sharps, I wish they made it with gator grip tho
Yeah I like the gator grip a lot. Never used one until recently and since I got some I've been stuck on the 1.14mm for all my heavy playing. Takes a little getting used to but now I love it.
I think now they have the gator jazz iii in 2.0mm
@@agent_of_cthulhu The attack is fucking awesome, I just wish the tip didn’t wear away as aggressively as it does
@@Johnmannish I couldn’t get into using jazz picks; the pads on my fingertips are kinda huge, so I need a lot of surface area to fuck with
I use the 1.35 tortex. I scratch the gripping surface to add all the texture I need for grip.
I've always used picks that are between 1 and 2 mm thickness. Recently started trying some different shapes though. Highly recommend Rombo picks if you want to try something different or unusual!
0:40 I use a dunlop max-grip 1.5 for my guitar cause i love the fact that it has a very “bass”-ish sound when attacking the string where as u use the normal plastic ones its more crunchy sounding FROM the pick. For crunch-wise though,i let the the tone/treble knob do its job for the pick i use so youll get less clank from the pick instead. I guess in a way its kinda like what Ola is using but not sharp💁🏻♂️
Dunlop 44p10. Ive been using them for 17 years. Ive tried many other picks over the years but these always feel like home to me. I think the best picks are the ones that make you unaware you are using one , just feels like an extension of your finger/thumb
5:21 Every time he plays that small chord I always think of Chris Cornell's Sunshower
i just picked up a pack of Petrucci polished tip picks....10-52 D Standard is my main tuning, some drop C as well... Absolutely love my results,,, i feel proper choice in picks are so overlooked but they are SO important.
just went through the exact same thing, was a green Tortex guy for 20 years then I discovered Jazz III and my picking really improved. Recently I picked up the purple tortex normal size for playing acoustics, then I realized the pick was getting stuck between strings because it wasnt as sharp aa the Jazz III so I sharpened it with a file and wow! yes thicker, wider and pointier pick lets me pick faster and with more accuracy with less effort
I'd recommend trying the tortex TIII then. They've been my go to pick for a couple years now. It's the size of a regular tortex but with a jazz iii tip on it
@@AveryGuitar Thanks! will try to order some from online, my local music shop doesnt have a lot of good picks
@@sugameltpastriescoffee7186 I know right. I can't find those anywhere in real life. Don't really get why, to my preferences they are the perfect pick
I’m still trying to figure out what pick is best for me. I think Im just going to stop trying, and just stay with the pink Dunlop delrin .96mm
I use the Ultex Jazz 3 XL Series from Jim Dunlop …the best of two worlds!
Just the best.
I’ve been using the Ernie ball prodigy mini 1.5mm for the past year and really like them! They’re small, super sharp attack and very articulate! But I couldn’t get them in my local store last week so grabbed a pack of red Dunlop jazz 3’s… I can’t believe I hadn’t tried these before!! Great picks!!
I get less scratch noise with Ultex compared to Tortex, that was convincing enough for me.
Love ultex!
I use Tortex .60 orange w/Ernie Ball Hybrid cobalt slinky 9-46. Trying out a Graphtech .68 black right now.
It's very uncanny that you upload this now! I have just ordered a pack of Bog Street picks from Amazon because I wanted to try new picks myself. I gotta say I really like those picks because the divot in the middle makes it grippy. Out of all the picks I think I liked the beast mini the most, it's a 1.5mm jazz size triangle pick with a very nice thumb grip in the middle.
I used Dunlop totex picks for like 25 years and love them but about a year ago I tried the DAVA picks and I'm really liking them! Great grip!
My favourite pick is the Dunlop Jazz III, but the ULTEX XL version. Slightly bigger in size than regular Jazz III, this gives me better pick control. Good grip, thanks to the protruding lettering. Ultex is much more wear resistant and stiffer than Nylon or Tortex, so it's not only more durable, but also gives a brighter tone and more attack.
The ultex jazzIII’s are my fav. Tried the xls but once you get used to the small size of jazzIII it’s hard to go back. Also if you sweat a lil they get grippier ;)
you must not only be a glue eater but a pick eater as well if you're worried about tortex durability
The kirk hammett pick with the v cut in it is so good and the way its shaped makes it so much easier to hit pinch harmonics
I like both the Jazz iii John Petrucci and the Jazz iii XL ULTEX 🤟
I used the yellow tortex forever. Then found the thin mauveish colored one and fell in love. Yellow for heavy Rhythms and the thin ones for more lead solo stuff.
Dunlop - John Petrucci & Ernie Ball - Prodigy are the best picks. 🤟
This. For me its JP PrimetoneJazz and Prodigy Mini 1.5
I can also recommend the Jazz 3 Carbon Fiber.
Yes, i like the Jazz 3 xD
Personally hate the JP picks
@@Shaynewhite all 4?
@@Shaynewhite
Personally… don’t care.
I totally understand that they might be too awesome for some people.
If lose an edge buy a sand paper for 50 cents and renew your pick or even enhance it by adding a bevel or make it sharp if you prefer
Same thing happened to me 2001, when I saw Children of Bodom live and got Laiho's jazz III pick.
Gravity picks or Jazz III XL's for metal and jazz, more middlish/average thickness for blues and funk, and really thin and bright-sounding ones for strumming, especially on an acoustic.
The Zak Wilde one sounded like you can hear the actual sound of the pick of each note more than the heavier guages. The heavier guages being more just the sound of the notes played. Does that make sense? I use a 0.6mm pick and perhaps that's as much of the attack on my play as it is how I play. Interesting. Need to do more research on this myself in the ever lasting quest for "toan"
Ultex Jazz III XL for me. I like the Primetone version too, but as you said, it wears out way too fast.
The real question this brings up for me is why didn't I get a pick when I bought my Solar guitar?
That's a great point, when you buy a guitar anywhere that should be standard practice. It's like a new car with any keys.
Great video, thanks so much for taking the time to look at our picks! Really like the comparison!
DAVA picks are my favorite but they round out too fast. Im trying to like jazz3.
Ever tried out the Dunlop Primetones? I'm using the Jazz III XL 1.4 picks and I love them. It has grooves like the Maxgrips, but they feel smoother on the Primetone and I love that.
Just bought those picks from Dan's guitar store! Incredible picks dude
What is the name of those picks?
@@joseph79264 Dan's guitar store picks! Look them up on instagram or FB. Located im the UK. Incredible product!
Used jazz 3 type picks for about a year or so now. And love them. Currently using the Ultex jazz iii 2.0. And feel right at home with it
tortex 1.35 sharp. Tortex 1.14 pitch black. Those 2 are my go to picks. Have you tried or heard of DragonHeart Picks?
i started using that older John Petrucci pick a few months back and it's a real life changer. great picks!
Dan is about to get a bunch of orders for his guitar picks and not gunna know why lol.
He just did from me. I've been looking for a pick like the one he showed anyway so I'm glad he made the video. I always go back and forth between Hetfield picks and Jazz 3's and this pick looks like a combo between the two.
That literally happened lol
@@dansguitarstore4595 haha nice
I did the exact same thing like a week ago. I've used Standard Tortex Green .88mm for the past 20 years and just switched to a Jazz III XL, which is basically right between the standard guitar pick size and Jazz III size. It's amazing.
I totally feel like my playing is dogshit. More often than I care to admit. Wish I could blame the pick.
Just keep practicing man you'll get there. No need to put yourself down like that
Same
i'm digging the Dunlop Tortex Flow 1mm at the moment. It feels nice and smooth enough to do some leads as well as chords...hard to explain but i feel its a nice balanced pick so far in my pick explorations.
They say: "If you have the chance to try something new, go for it! Maybe you'll find something you'll like."
This is a great example for that.
I personally like my picks a little more "stiff". I love playing rhythm which feels better with a less floppy pick to me
Yeah I use 1.14 but I shorten it with point so I can get good pinch and control. I can’t use thin picks or long ones because I feel I fight to control it more.
make tutorials > that would be great!
My fav pick is Dunlop Jazz III nylon 1,38 mm
"Dunlop USA 2.0 mm Gator Guitar picks" = 30 years in, this is the best one i ever touched
The Gators are so slippery when they get old tho
@@GuernB2 no sir, that is from the years of layers of potato-chip grease from your fingers building up into a slimy-paste of bacterial nastiness.!!.......or.......if by slippery, u mean "rounded", i like that cuz then it rolls over the string easier, but also a "pickscream" is still attainable. alas to each their own, have a nice day
That old school John petrucci signature guitar pick is the only one I use! I’m not even a dream theatre fan, but I love the clarity and note definition you get with it
"John Petrucci's also having the same problem a lot of guitarists have been having"...
Yeah, trying to figure out how much stuff we can put our name on to make money 😂
That's pretty damn good, right there
I use the Dunlop John Petrucci Signature Jazz IIIs. 1.5mm with the sharp edges. Made the switch recently after playing with normal picks for five years. Helped me a lot.
The only thing that matters for me: sharp tip
Check out Swiss picks.
when i was recovering from full body paralysis and learning to play again, i couldnt hold a pic so i was using a 12mm delrin pick that i made. in the same style as hufschmids picks.
I really like the Jazz III Kirk Hammett signature pick. But also the normal Jazz III
Ive been using Red bear Big Jazzer heavy gage for a long time now. Love them!
#1 Dunlop Jazz 3 xl 1.38mm ultex w/ raised lettering
#2 2mm flow jumbo.
they are roughly the same shape but different tip edges and thicknesses. If i'm more into a sweeping phase in my playing, the flow is king, but the jazz is better at pretty much everything else.
I switched from Carbon Nylon 0,75mm to ultex sharp 1.14. They also work good for accustik guitar. For mandolin I often use big 3mm thick triangle shape picks. Good allrounder for me is the Jazz III shape.
I use a whole bunch of different picks. Sometimes for double tracking I'll use a different pick for each track. Adds variation without altering the amp or plugin.
I am always changing my pick size and always losing my mind haha so glad I'm not alone.
I actually enjoy the Hetfield White Fang pick and have been using it for a little over a year now. I got a set in my Christmas stocking and have burned through quite a bit of 'em.
You could try the ultex Flow picks. Same shape as the Hetfield Fangs but will last longer. Try the 1.0. Just as stiff as the tortex fangs but slightly thinner.
@@czito Actually that is exactly the same as the Hetfield White Fang! They are both made of Ultex.
Been playing Dunlop Big Stubby 3mms for 15 years now. Took a bit if getting used to in the beginning, but definitely improved my precision and picking speed.
I use Jazz 3 the red one. I like it alot. I have try Jazz 3 black, -grip and that yeollow one Jazz 3 and I always go back to take the red Jazz 3.
My favourite guitar pick I've tried has to be the 2.0mm Ernie Ball Prodigy Mini they last forever and have really nice pick attack and feel great to play
Just bought a Hetfield "white fang" 1.14 mm and it is great for me. Good thikness, good grip control, good sharpening (first ever pick which i haven't sharpened ,lol)
Dragon’s Heart Guitar picks are my favorite. They have three different tips to them but feel like a normal guitar pick in your hand. The narrow pointed tip is awesome cuz it’s asymmetrical, meaning you up and down strokes have a more noticeable difference in how the sound. Check them out you won’t regret it
I've been using 3.0 mm dunlop stubbys for 20 years and they have never done me wrong.
I did this exact experiment earlier this week and landed on the 1.0mm Dunlop TIII and the 1.0mm Sharp
Jeff Loomis dunlops changed my world. I use them for electric and Jim Roots for acoustic. The trick is to hold it like a jazz three and let the top edge ride against your palm. It provides more control because it cant rotate or slide into your hand. So the tip barley exposed past your thumb. Like when you choke up on the tip for hitting harmonics.
I started using the Jeff Loomis picks last wedk after having used the Dunlop prodigy for several months, and I really like them!
Justin from Godflesh uses stainless steel plectrums I read in 96 so I started using those. Those carbon fiber Jazz 3 with the grip and tether one with the bevels have been my live go to because the steels can weld the wire wrap on your strings (which is actually pretty cool) and were hard to find, but really good for harmonics and attack.
Same thing happened to me recently. Used dunlop jazz 3's for years then i tried out the Ernie Ball Prodigy 1.5mm's. Feels so wierd going back