Thumb picks

[golfnut]

I pick along the Albert Lee/Brent Mason style, or try to. Many times I've tried to switch to using a thumb pick. I just can't seem to get used to the thumb pick. It feels like its sticking way out and I have a hard time controlling it. Is there a special type of thumb pick I can buy that feels more like a regular guitar pick at the end that strikes the strings? Or am I better off sticking with a regular guitar pick?

[voodoostation]

The nylon or plastic thumbpicks can be filed or ground to your preference or heated and bent to an angle that better suits your attack. Hey, they're cheap, worth a shot. You can always file them thinner if they're too stiff as well. Never hurts to fiddle around.

[Cheesehead]

I use Dunlops, which seem similar to my Fender teardrops. I thought it felt awkward at first too, but it didn't seem to take long to get used to it. Practice!

[Valvey]

Brent Mason I believe uses Herco Flex 52 Blue Nylon thumbpicks (Elderly.com) and it doesn't look like he does much modification to them, if any. He can flatpick with it pretty fast.

The pick won't snag if you maintain a constant diagonal angle to the strings and stay pretty loose in the wrist and hand. I practice flatpicking bluegrass tunes with it, like Blackberry Blossom, and have gotten maybe 80 per cent efficient with it.

[bad porcupine]

Originally Posted by voodoostation

The nylon or plastic thumbpicks can be filed or ground to your preference or heated and bent to an angle that better suits your attack. Hey, they're cheap, worth a shot. You can always file them thinner if they're too stiff as well. Never hurts to fiddle around.

One note on heating the picks (Fender thumbpicks anyway): Don't hold it too close to an open flame, or it will BURST into flames itself. Don't ask me how I know this