Pick recommendation's

Hello,

I have a metal pick that I received from someone, I have an acoustic guitar. An issue I have if I'm not delicate picking between strings which I'm still working to improve is a metal on metal sound between the pick and strings. I would prefer a more soft (forgiving) sound without the metal pick rubbing against the metal strings.

I was looking at brands, material type one brand I saw that has a large variety is D'Addario their strings are also on my guitar.

Wondering if anyone can give some opinions on brand and material type to have more of a smooth/quiet sound on the strings if I rub the pick  - accidentally between strings. I'm also open to buying a few to try and pick what I prefer.

Thanks for your help.

Bob

Hey, Bob.

Yes, most petal picks are going to produce a sharp metallic sound.  Your best bet is to try some standard picks that are typically made of some form of plastic (celluloid, delrin) or nylon.  The thinner the pick the less of a sharp attack & those are better for strumming in general.  The thicker picks are less likely to bend and so are good for picking individual notes.  So, some of your choice should be informed by what you intend to do, what kind of music, what kind of techniques.  Most students stick with a standard .75mm to 1mm plastic pick for a good balance of playability.

I encourage you to visit a local music store & ask to try a few.  Some places sell a variety pack so you can inexpensively get an assortment to experiment with.  And they are typically so inexpensive that it's worth buying a dozen to see what suits your playing best.

Hope that helps.

Hi Christopher,

Thank you for the information, your suggestions. They help a lot.

Bob

You're welcome!

I like Jim Dunlop plectrums. They have a textured surface that gives plenty of grip and they're consistent, you can buy packs in the thickness you like rather than mixed sizes and the company has been around since 1965 so it's pretty likely they aren't going to dissappear overnight. I find the consistency is better than buying different picks from different companies in different thicknesses and materials. Nylon isn't necessarily everyone's choice of material, it's a little softer than many of the other avaliable options and they don't come in lots of bright colours but I like that when I lose my favourite pick.. it doesn't matter because I have a dozen more that are absolutely identical.

Yeah I’m the same. Once I found a Dunlop thickness I liked I just stopped experimenting altogether. That “grab one and it feels exactly right every time” thing is hard to give up.    Geometry Dash

I used to have a random mix of picks and would always be digging around trying to find that one that felt best. Now it literally doesn’t matter which one I pick up.

The good thing is, picks are about the cheapest accessory you can get a hold of. As others have said, buy a few and experiment.

I like Dunlops a lot, but my favorite secret weapon is the McPherson pick that is kind of triangular in shape, with a hole in the center for grip. It offers 3 different pick surfaces to use on your strings, and is easy to hold on to. I get the yellow ones. 
-Lisa

Hey Bob! 

Depending on the type of music I'm playing, I'll swap picks. For my Electric Guitar, I have been playing with a 1.5mm Ernie Ball Shield pick. On my acoustic, I like thinner picks, anywhere from 0.6 to 0.88 mm, depending on whether I am strumming or picking a bit and strumming. Heavy strumming, I really like the thinnest pick I can find. This Amazon.com: Jim Dunlop Acoustic Pick Variety Pack - 12 Pack : Musical Instruments has a different assortment with different types of grips. I recommend finding the size of pick you like and then finding the grip type you love, man. This variety pack has a decent mix of both. I found I don't like picks with too much grip because I'll pinch them so hard that it makes my hand tired after about 30 minutes of playing. There's also Snarling Dog Picks; they have a smooth balance of grip for fast strumming, and they are really light. 

Picks 100% effect your tone. Find the pick that makes your guitar sound how you love. 

Be Safe!!!