Picks - Chapter 351 : do you use the point or the shoulder against the string ? And…how come I went back to using them at all ?!

[Mike Eskimo]

If you use picks at all, do use the pointy end or rounded shoulder to strike the string ?

Also relatedly, as one of my pick choices, I buy these oversized Tortex picks (in various thicknesses ) and shape them as such - Yellow one is the shape from the factory. I have big hands so they’re easier for me to hold.

Also - why the hell did I go back to being such a pick slut after years of being primarily a bare finger style player on electric ? Totally because now I have a decent acoustic and various picks completely transform the sound coming out of it.

Lastly - a customer I’ve worked for for years is Ringo’s long time sound man and he gave me these which are Steve Lukather picks from the last All Starr Band tour. Luke has been in that band for awhile now.
The “tiny jazz pick” shows up in a lot of very accomplished players hands for some reason…

 

[Happy Enchilada]

I made my "journey of discovery" @ picks a year or so ago.
Found that the big triangular ones are best for my arthritic old fingers.
Discovered that different styles and different guitars like different picks.
Also found that the little grippy things they sell to stick on picks help a lot.
My favorite all-around pick: Tusq 1.00s. YMMV
Note that they have 2 sharp corners and one rounded. Very nice!

Since picks are the least expensive and most often used piece of gear, I often wonder why more players don't cast about and try different ones. They certainly make a difference in your sound ...

 

[RifleSlinger]

I generally only use a pick when I need to. For a long time I have been using orange tortex picks at the shoulder. The shoulder softens the attack and has an easy release. That is my funk/soul go-to if I need a pick at all.

Recently I've been working on a song that needed some shred in the solo (fast picked runs and swept arpeggios). For this I like a stiff pick with a nice point. The John Petrucci picks are really well thought out, but other choices, from agate to Dunlop jazztone (these picks are cool) pointies, or even 1.5 Claytons in the standard shape have worked.

I find that switching picks during practice seems to add depth and robustness to my technique.

 

[elihu]

I too use different picks for different purposes. Usually I play with the shoulder but sometimes, like during an acoustic bluegrass jam you need the point. And my preference is fingers but the alternating bass thing with the thumb will split mine open along the nail after a while. Yeah, I’ve got to learn how to use de thumb pick.

 

[drmordo]

I use standard yellow tortex and I use the point. I can use the shoulder, but see no point in it.

I hate tiny picks, I don't care who uses them.

 

[brookdalebill]

I’m a point man!
I like and use Dunlop Ultex Jazz III XL’s.
They are the perfect size, thickness, and texture, for me.
The only hassle for me is seeing them when I do drop em’.
They disappear on me.
Must be gettin’ older, and blinder!

 

[Dan German]

The point. I’ve been using orange Tortex for strumming since forever, Jazz II for single-note playing, and Stubby 1.0 mm for mandolin. Right now I’m struggling, because I can’t grip the Tortex picks anymore. My hand has not fully recovered from injury (and probably never will), so my grip is reduced. I can play, but they slowly rotate in my fingers. I need to find an alternative.

 

[schmee]

Based on observed pick wear, I use a bit of the point and very much 1/3-1/2 of one side.

 

[Toto'sDad]

When I went to see Tommy Emmanuel, I bought one of his picks. I'm pretty sure Tommy peddles phony picks though I don't sound at all like Tommy when I use that pick. I tried it everywhichaway still the same.

 

[unixfish]

Point.

I tried a bunch of picks and thicknesses last year. I found I like a pick around 1 mm thick, give or take a bit. The Blue Chip TD-45 became my favorite. I spent about $100 coming to that conclusion - not a lot of money for a year of "fun" trying different things out.

My daughter got me TD-45 with my name engraved for Christmas. It is pretty cool!

 

[unixfish]

When I went to see Tommy Emmanuel, I bought one of his picks. I'm pretty sure Tommy peddles phony picks though I don't sound at all like Tommy when I use that pick. I tried it everywhichaway still the same.

Return it for a refund with a nasty note. I'm sure you got a bum pick or maybe a knock-off got through the supply chain.

 

[StevesBoogie]

Also - why the hell did I go back to being such a pick slut ...

HAHAHA!!!! OK that was hysterical.

I did not vote, but ... you bring up a great point. What's funny is, I feel like I am the kind of player that should prefer to always use the shoulder .... and when I do, I enjoy it for about 3 minutes ... and then, I cannot even tell you what's going on in my brain, I consistently go back to using the pointed end, but no logical reason I guess.

For some good ole' dirty blues* I love the aggressive pick attack of these: Jim Dunlop John Petrucci Flow 2.0mm

Everything else (Angus, Gary Moore, Slash)* I enjoy these: John Petrucci Jazz III

According to TrueFire, one of my favorite blues players, Matt Schofield, is a pure shoulder pick player.

I don't know, maybe I will spend some quality time this weekend on seeing why I don't stay with the shoulder. But I do know this, I feel 100% that I don't need to test any other picks, I am super stoked about both of the above picks.

And another thing while this double espresso coffee is making its rounds in my brain: I'm not even a John Petrucci fan, HAHA! I guess I just love his picks. Don't get me wrong, Dream Theater is mind-blowing, but I would not call myself a true fan by any means. Although my favorite tune from them is the one Doug Pinnick of Kings X sings on, Lines In The Sand, that one is a masterpiece, probably cuz I love Kings X.

OK Steve, time to put a cork in it! Carry on!

* I can assure you that these are completely embarrassing and struggled attempts at sounding like the masters

 

[unixfish]

HAHAHA!!!! OK that was hysterical.

I did not vote, but ... you bring up a great point.

Pun intended?

 

[Mike Eskimo]

I made my "journey of discovery" @ picks a year or so ago.
Found that the big triangular ones are best for my arthritic old fingers.
Discovered that different styles and different guitars like different picks.
Also found that the little grippy things they sell to stick on picks help a lot.
My favorite all-around pick: Tusq 1.00s. YMMV
Note that they have 2 sharp corners and one rounded. Very nice!
View attachment 1067277
Since picks are the least expensive and most often used piece of gear, I often wonder why more players don't cast about and try different ones. They certainly make a difference in your sound ...

I remember the first time I realize that mandolin players really carry around quite a few pics was when I saw some player - that might have been Chris Thile - trying out a vintage mandolin and he probably had 10 or 15 pics out in front of him.

Point.

I tried a bunch of picks and thicknesses last year. I found I like a pick around 1 mm thick, give or take a bit. The Blue Chip TD-45 became my favorite. I spent about $100 coming to that conclusion - not a lot of money for a year of "fun" trying different things out.

My daughter got me TD-45 with my name engraved for Christmas. It is pretty cool!

So many really good flat top players use those blue chip picks. When I go over to my buddy Jack’s house who has quite a few different ones of those I always run through them all. I cannot order them though I would buy them if they were all right in front of me at a store.

HAHAHA!!!! OK that was hysterical.

I did not vote, but ... you bring up a great point. What's funny is, I feel like I am the kind of player that should prefer to always use the shoulder .... and when I do, I enjoy it for about 3 minutes ... and then, I cannot even tell you what's going on in my brain, I consistently go back to using the pointed end, but no logical reason I guess.

For some good ole' dirty blues* I love the aggressive pick attack of these: Jim Dunlop John Petrucci Flow 2.0mm

Everything else (Angus, Gary Moore, Slash)* I enjoy these: John Petrucci Jazz III

According to TrueFire, one of my favorite blues players, Matt Schofield, is a pure shoulder pick player.

I don't know, maybe I will spend some quality time this weekend on seeing why I don't stay with the shoulder. But I do know this, I feel 100% that I don't need to test any other picks, I am super stoked about both of the above picks.

And another thing while this double espresso coffee is making its rounds in my brain: I'm not even a John Petrucci fan, HAHA! I guess I just love his picks. Don't get me wrong, Dream Theater is mind-blowing, but I would not call myself a true fan by any means. Although my favorite tune from them is the one Doug Pinnick of Kings X sings on, Lines In The Sand, that one is a masterpiece, probably cuz I love Kings X.

OK Steve, time to put a cork in it! Carry on!

* I can assure you that these are completely embarrassing and struggled attempts at sounding like the masters

In my “Spotify wrapped” list where they show you the songs you listen to most during the year, Kings X’s big hit “its love“ was in my top 10! I know why because it was on my bike ride playlist and I was riding every day.
And instead of skipping through it, I always wanted to hear that snarly nasal solid-state amp tone he has. That is really quite one-of-a-kind.

 

[Ricky D.]

Point man here for many years, always Fender medium.

 

[Hodgo88]

Point, but rarely perfectly parallel to the string. I like that scritch scratch sound you get from tilting the pick.

Oh, and always Herco nylons.

 

[Tricone]

Finger tips and thumb. I have never found a guitar pick that can match the warm, rounded tone of fingers and thumb.

 

[Chiogtr4x]

I am boring, using the standard shape Fender Mediums on acoustics and Dunlop Tortex yellow .73's on electrics. And just use the point.
Occasional pick scrapes the length of the low strings, but that's mostly done as a joke.

I do use a Herco thumbpick/flatpick a lot too (so you can do fingerpicking and flat picking, back and forth), and ( just on acoustic) I will get some 'chimey-harmonic' thing going by strumming the upper edge of these picks, across the strings, by changing attack angle. It makes a percussive sound with some harmonics - for Country or Bluegrass breaks

 

[Crow3000]

After many years of searching for the perfect pick, one thing I’ve learned is you have to first observe how you pick. If you are someone who holds the pick fairly perpendicular to the string then using the point will sound pretty bright so using the shoulder sounds better. If you are someone who picks with more of an angle in your wrist (your thumb points more towards the ground) then using the shoulder hardly produces much sound so using the point sounds better.

I actually like and still use those small jazz picks like Lukather uses but my do everything pick is the good old heavy 351 celluloid. I mostly use the point.

 

[sudogeek]

I use the point with the pick more or less parallel to the string unless tremolo picking where I turn it 45° or more perpendicular and use the edge - cleaner release and I can go faster.