|
  |
|
|
Guitar Picks - Thick or Thin?
If you are new to guitar playing, you've likely never given any thought about the thickness of your plectrum. Hu? What? No, it's not a body part, just the proper term for your guitar pick! But there is a big difference, especially to an experienced player. If you are new, I suggest buying a variety. After a while you will discover what works best for you and you will likely stick with that size pick for most of your playing. I've always been fascinated with the different sounds I got from different picks. Besides the different thicknesses, there are many shapes. Not all picks are made of the same material either. Years ago my band was off on a Saturday evening and I seized the opportunity to check out some of the other local bands. I remember being asked to play a few songs with a local band my friend was in and as I went to strum the guitar I was surprised at the feel of the pick! It was a nylon pick and it bent like a piece of paper compared to my heavy Fender pick! Nylon is not for me, but many people use them. Another distinction I made was the difference between brands. A Gibson heavy and a Fender heavy (thick) are not the same. One night I forgot my picks. The one I had in my case was about shot, rounded and chiseled. I was presently using exclusively Fender heavy picks. (I used to buy them by the gross - that's 144 picks!) The other guitar player used Gibson thick picks so he gave me one of his. Wow! It didn't seem to give at all and by the end of the gig my forefinger was hurting bad. That little extra thickness took a huge toll on my finger, especially being I was mostly rhythm and I played a lot of fast chunka'- chunka' full chords for 3 hours. I still have a hard time with anything thicker than a Fender heavy. I prefer using a thinner pick, either thin or medium, when playing acoustic guitar. I love the sound and feel of the thin pick with acoustic guitars. The sound seems to be fuller, not as sharp. I really do not like playing acoustic guitar with a thick pick. I'd take a nylon over a thick on an acoustic any day! Finally you have the shapes and sizes. I've tried many and I prefer what I call the "old fashioned regular" pick! You know, the kind that just looks like a triangle. I've played with giant triangle picks, well, giant to me, and I couldn't get used to them or find any value in them. I've tried the tiny little almost oval picks that I can only describe as a small flint arrow head! I couldn't get used to those either. Through out my musical career I've been cast into some very precarious positions while filling in for bands I've never rehearsed with, guest appearances and borrowed, rented or just plain unfamiliar equipment. Who would ever guess that a little .50 cent guitar pick would rank on the top of that list! As your playing becomes more evolved and you begin to perform regularly , your guitar pick will become very personal to you. You will become very used to a certain type pick. You may even find yourself carrying one in your wallet just in case someone unexpectedly asks you to play! I do. There is no answer to which guitar pick you should use. Play enough and you will eventually and quite naturally gravitate towards the guitar pick (or plectrum!) that is right for you. |
No reactions yet.
Please login or sign up to rate this intel.
Please login or sign up to add a comment.
The copyright for this content entitled "Guitar Picks - Thick or Thin?" has been specified by the contributor as:
All Rights Reserved
This content may not be copied, distributed or adapted by anyone under any circumstances.
|
 |
May, 2012
2008
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2009
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2010
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2011
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2012
January, February, March, April, May
|
|
Not a member yet?
Qondio is a powerful network for making it online. If you have a website to
promote, we can help.
Sign up and get in on the action.
|
|
Welcome to Qondio! Discover the awesome power this network can deliver by going to our About page. Or you could skip straight to the Sign Up form.
|
|
