How many of us put the pick in our mouths?

[foldedpath]

Not as a temporary holding place, no. It's always in my hand or in the "designated safe place for a BC pick" in the case when I'm playing out, or on a table at home.

However... here's the gross part, for those who are averse to normal bodily fluids... I *do* sometimes lick my Blue Chip pick so it sticks to my fingers better when the weather is cold and my fingers are dry. The Blue Chip surface already has good "stiction" in my fingers because it's so smooth, but it gets even better when I lick it.

Deal with it.

[Ignatius]

No! Yuck! Stick it between the strings "north" of the nut. Or put it in my pocket (jeans with "watch pockets" are great for pick-stashing).

Once I realized the value of that little pocket, I just had to start calling it my "pick pocket" from that point on. Really.

[brent1308]

Tortex green is my favorite for flavor and mouth feel but I enjoy the texture and click against the teeth of the bluechip. However, the bc has bit too much of that high-tech processed taste and I generally like organic and something with a cleaner finish.

[trabb]

Is this going to be a "Taste Comparison Test"?

Of course not. Any decent mandolin player knows that Blue Chips taste at least 30 times better than any other pick.

[Ellen T]

I've never put a pick IN my mouth, but I have briefly gripped it between my lips for a few seconds. Due to a dry mouth problem, I usually have lip balm or Aquaphor on my lips, so I have a chronically slippery gripper and a few seconds is all I can manage before it starts migrating.

I knew a man years ago who always had a nickel in his ear. I never got up enough nerve to ask why, if it was an accoustical reason or just personal preference, or if he put it in every day or if it was stuck. Although I have pictured a pick in the ear, I have never personally been in the least tempted.

It would be very tempting to have a discreet pronged pick-holder on the earpiece of a pair of glasses.

[Nashville]

Yes, but I didn't inhale...

[Ivan Kelsall]

I've often held my pick between my lips,but not ''inside my mouth'' as such. I agree with Allen regarding the risk of inhaling a pick if you're subject to a sudden bout of coughing. It's something i do,but wish i didn't & when i realise that i am doing it,i put it on my PC desk - i do most of my practicing to music on or via my PC,
Ivan

[Ray(T)]

In 40+ years of guitar & mandolin playing, I've never had the urge to place a pick or any other implement (screwdriver, spanner, knife etc) in or anywhere near my mouth.

[Bertram Henze]

I use a toothpick sometimes - does that count?

[UsuallyPickin]

Guilty ...... When there is no place to set it ... and sometimes when there is ... R/

[AlanN]

Now, if Blue Chip made a Chocolate Chip, I'd be down wif dat.

[darrylicshon]

No never liked do that, not sure why

[jhammond]

Oh yeh, +1 for pick in your mouth; well in lips anyway. I don't go all the way in the mouth. Liking the responses so far. Somebody should come out with flavored picks... I've had my BlueChip TPR and CT for a few weeks now and they play great but could taste a little better.

[Tobin]

Somebody should come out with flavored picks...

That may very well be the next evolutionary step for the mandolin pick. "Plays like butter and tastes like bacon": it can't miss!

[jhammond]

They would definitely have to use a Discalimer: "Flavored picks are NOT Food. Do NOT eat or swallow". People will sue over anything.

[Bertram Henze]

They would come in "extra heavy" only.

[Steve Ostrander]

I do it, but I shouldn't. besides the choking hazard, it makes the pick slippery, and I have enough trouble holding on to the little buggers.

[Austin Bob]

I use a toothpick sometimes - does that count?

Wait... you play with a toothpick?

[darrylicshon]

They would definitely have to use a Discalimer: "Flavored picks are NOT Food. Do NOT eat or swallow". People will sue over anything.

why not make them edible also

[Trip]

I will lightly bite down using just my teeth when I need both hands for something...
The Dawg picks seem to taste the best.....

[Ellen T]

I guess anyone with one of those attractive gaps between the front teeth would have a good temporary parking space for a pick.

[Jackgaryk]

Guilty...don't do it on purpose. It just happens sometimes.

[Londy]

Yeah, I feel cool when i do it!

[FatBear]

My instructor told me to put it between my thumb and forefinger.

[journeybear]

Sometimes I do, when I'm doing my Jimi Hendrix imitation.



OK, semi-seriously now, I have been known to do this now and then, in order to use brush strokes with my fingernails for tremolo chords - my band uses this for dramatic effect in slow passages on a few Russian, Greek, and Gypsy jazz songs. The bass player and guitarist chided me about this so doggedly (they can be so petty, sometimes), saying it looked stupid, I changed to tucking it between my ring finger and palm instead. I still am able to get the same effect with my thumb and first two fingers, and have quick access to the pick when it's time to switch back to it.

My, my, my - this sounds like an excerpt from an in-depth interview about my various techniques in Mandolin Player magazine.