Picks: A Love/Hate Relationship

[garyblanchard]

I have always hated the sound of picks on an instrument when I am playing. (It doesn't seem to bother me when others play.) I play guitar and banjo without picks. (Thank God for clawhammer!) I prefer, when chording on the mandolin, to use my fingers as I don't like the harshness of the pick. Yet, when I play a melody line, I really need the pick. Any suggestions? (Beside psychiatric help?)

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[John Ely]

Picks that aren't as clicky? I like the black Dunlops and horn picks, and they don't seem to click as much. Also, the white Claytons aren't quite as hard as some.

[garyblanchard]

I don't think the problem is "clicky." I was given a "Dawg" pick and I love it for melody. The sound of a pick on chords is just to harsh or hard (the best way I can describe it).

[John Flynn]

gary:

This is just MHO, but I see the mando as primarily an ensemble instrument, as opposed to a solo instrument. OK, there are big exceptions, so lets not "light the flames" LOL! But the mando played solo can have a harsh sound to many people's ears. I am sure most of us on this board have learned to love it. However, with a group, its sound really comes into its own. I think of it like a strong spice in cooking. It might be harsh tasted straight, but when it is added to a recipie it makes all the difference.

My first OT mando instructor, who is a great multi-instrumentalist who had played in a lot of OT, BG and klezmer bands, taught me this. He said that to couteract the harshness on rhythm, play open chord versions that are as low (close to the nut) as possible and sound mostly only the wound strings, perhaps only hitting the treble strings occasionally for emphasis. For lead, have the option to play the tune in a lower octave. If the higher is sounding harsh, play the lower version.

I agree that heavy, rounded Dawg/Golden Gate-type picks seem to take away harshness, as do some type of strings. Just know that you will lose volume with those options that may serve you well playing with a group.

[Walter Newton]

I believe Niles Hokkanen plays with pick + RH fingers (middle & ring?), maybe that could be a useful technique for you? He probably has some instructional material on the subject you could check out.

Also some rock guitarists will just stick the pick in their mouth or somewhere until they need it...

[Zed]

Maybe you could learn to "palm" the pick while you're chording and flip it back out for lead. Some guitar player does this all the time... can't think who at the moment.

[garyblanchard]

What, you guys think I'm coordinated or something?

These sound like some good ideas. I'll have to try some out. Thanks.

[Dioptase]

I got one of the free dunlop ultex picks in the mail recently, guage 73. I had been using an ivory golden gate style and a traditional golden gate pick. The ultex seems to give me the desired resistance (though I'm eager to try the ultex 1.0) but most notably draws out a fuller range of tone with markedly less pick click than even the plastic GG.
You can't beat free. Do a websearch on the ultex giveaway, and they'll mail you one.
Micah

[Ted Eschliman]

Another vote for the Dunlop Ultex, not only for sound, but control. More "meat," less "click."
I've settled for the 1.14 gauge, although I know some players use 1.00.
These are available in packs of six, generally street-priced less than $3.00 a bag.
Anyone interested but can't find them locally can PM me and I'd could hook you up.

[beachbum]

I checked out the free giveaway but it had ended. Ted sent me a 1.0 with my TI strings and I love it. Thought I had lost it the other day and almost panicked. I can't find them locally. I recently purchased some Dawg picks too. I like them for the tremolo but I just can't seem to get any volume.

[sbarnes]

i have major problems w/picks....i play pretty clean and fast using only my index fingernail (the way i hold my fingers actually looks like i'm holding a pick but its only my fingernail)....i like the playing ability this affords me but the tone and volume suffers greatly..
i've tried several different picks - mostly guitar picks all the way from thin to medium and now heavy....my speed and accuracy goes down drastically....recently got some dawg picks...seem to have more accuracy (than w/regular picks but not more than fingernail) but volume suffers....
definately a love/hate relationship but also a
looking for mr good pick relationship....

[mandocrucian]

If you do play with the fingers, you will be more aware of any pick noise than somebody who only plays with a pick. #And when you are playing solo or in a very sparse setting, the difference will be much more apparent than if playing with a full band (acoustically). #One of the big advantages of use the pick and fingers is that difference in tone and volume, not to mention being able to play simultaneous (pinch) doublestops, doublestops which skip strings, and/or fluid banjo rolls, etc..

In a full band, being heard (period) is one of the things you've got to deal with. Pick click is miniscule in these overall sonic conditions. #So, it really doesn't make much difference. #However, if the mando and fiddle are playing unison lines, there is a tendency for the fiddle to swallow up the mandolin, and although the mando notes are still there, it's the pick noise that you tend to hear as distinctly "mandolin".

Once sound reinforcement and amplification comes into the picture, the necessity for using the pick for volume start to disappear; turn the knob up to "11" on the board or the amp, and presto, you're louder than everybody else whose knobs only go to "10"!

Niles Hokkanen

(If guys like Jerry Donahue or RT had to play with only the pick, they might end up sounding like Yngvie.)

[elenbrandt]

I suspect Niles has been watching "Spinal Tap" #too much...
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[aimee]

Here's a third vote for the Dunlop Ultex. They sent out .73's in that free offer but I liked the 1.0 and the 1.14 that were on the pick tour as well, maybe even better.

[vkioulaphides]

[QUOTE]"I have always hated the sound of picks on an instrument when I am playing. (It doesn't seem to bother me when others play.)"

Gary, this only from personal experience (from an adjacent field)— make of it what you can/want:

I am a classical bass-player by profession. My playing, under my own ear, has an enormous quotient of friction-noises, as the super-soft, super-sticky, Swedish-maple-sap rosin I use rubs against the strings.

After 25 years in this business —and considering that nobody HAS to re-engage me if they don't like my playing (I am an ad hoc freelancer)— I must be doing something right. I am, that is, absolutely convinced that this same sound, the only one I know how to make, sounds vastly more pleasing to those who are standing at a fair distance from me, in the audience or the conductor's podium, while I myself am on stage or in the opera pit.

I once lent my bass and bow to a fine, jazz bassist, who was —while fluent at bowing— unaccustomed to the habits of a full-time "bower". He put my bow on the strings, tried in vain to draw it and, when he succeeded (after some strain), he looked at me in utter despair, mumbling: "How the %)#^^@)#&^^&$& do you play like this, with all this *E)^^&$)*#$$^ noise under your ear?"

I rest my case.