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Guitar Picks, Something Small Can Carry A Lot of Weight for Guitar Playing


Pam Torres
Registered User
Joined: 03/18/10
Posts: 1
Pam Torres
Registered User
Joined: 03/18/10
Posts: 1
03/18/2010 6:42 am
When you love playing the guitar, you want to buy just the right instrument and gear to get your creative juices flowing. Artists and musicians invest a lot of money just to have the perfect instrument and accessories that will let you play naturally. You search for that elusive feeling that you have when you just feel the music and you let yourself go to where your music takes you. You find yourself buying the right guitar and the right amplifier. What is easily overlooked when artists invest in their gear are guitar picks. Musicians probably lose dozens of them in a lifetime. They are easily taken for granted but choosing the right one can affect your guitar playing considerably.
For instance, the thickness of your guitar pick can make a difference for different musical styles. Thin picks are used best with acoustic guitars. They are made for strumming and may add some nice rhythm for those who prefer this kind of sound. Medium guitar picks are best for beginners and may suit a lot of different styles. Thick guitar plectrums are usually preferred by heavy metal guitarists and artists who like doing pinch harmonics. At the end of the day though, you simply want a guitar pick that feels comfortable and is durable. A plectrum that holds up while you are playing will work best. You do not want to use a guitar plectrum that easily slips of your fingers when you start getting sweaty fingers.
Guitar picks are made from different types of material. Makers of guitar plectrums have tried fashioning these nifty little tools from wood, plastic and steel. Others have designed them using unconventional materials and have started a whole slew of durable guitar picks with an excellent grip. Custom picks are very trendy nowadays and are commonly made from tortex, acetal polymer and ultem. Guitar plectrums are now personalized and come in a variety of colors and designs. One maker of custom picks called V-Picks started making clear guitar picks made from acrylic. Their transparent finish is such a huge turn from the usual colorful ones that they are like a breath of fresh air. Pushing the envelope even further, they introduced night glow guitar picks. You will have a stand-out performance in more ways than one with the custom picks they make.
Ultimately, you have to try out different guitar picks for your specific musical taste and style. When you try them out, you will also know which one makes you feel relaxed. Being relaxed is important when you play your instrument because it allows you to be at your most natural, making you play more beautifully.
# 1
Lilbiker
Strung Out
Joined: 03/03/10
Posts: 56
Lilbiker
Strung Out
Joined: 03/03/10
Posts: 56
03/18/2010 6:00 pm
Nice, I agree. When I play my acoustic I prefer a nice thin pick but when I pick up the electric my preference is for a medium pick. I like the dunlop or the cats tongue because they stay in my fingers better.

I am curious about one thing though, I have heard you and many instructors say that medium is best for the beginner. Why is this? When I first picked up the guitar 30 years ago and now just recently, really just learning, I find it easier to play with the thin pick. I found that I tended to strum and pick too hard with the medium making it less fluid and not as soft sounding.

Any opinion?

Jaime
# 2

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