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Thread: Pick - Round or Pointy End?

  1. #1
    Registered User Sherry Cadenhead's Avatar
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    Default Pick - Round or Pointy End?

    This has probably been posted many times, but I'm wondering which corner of the pick everyone uses to pluck the strings.

    On another note, I've always used a 1.3 pick. Pete Martin says to use at least a 1.5 for double stops. I bought some 2.0s and absolutely love them!

  2. #2

    Default Re: Pick - Round or Pointy End?

    more pick questions, I love it. Zach where are you.

  3. #3
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    Default Re: Pick - Round or Pointy End?

    Depends !

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    Default Re: Pick - Round or Pointy End?

    Pointy end. Try a variety and see what you like.
    Soliver arm rested and Tone-Garded Northfield Model M with D’Addario NB 11.5-41, picked with a Wegen Bluegrass 1.4

  5. #5
    Worlds ok-ist mando playr Zach Wilson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pick - Round or Pointy End?

    I mostly use the pointed end now (primetime triangle or wegen tf120). But when I was first learning I found rounded picks easier to use. My tastes have changed. I still like rounded picks for softer, tremolo picking.

  6. #6
    This Kid Needs Practice Bill Clements's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pick - Round or Pointy End?

    Lots of information here.
    "Music is the only noise for which one is obliged to pay." ~ Alexander Dumas

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    Registered User Frankdolin's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pick - Round or Pointy End?

    Round...

  8. #8
    Registered User DavidKOS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pick - Round or Pointy End?

    Always a pointed pick, never a round one for me.

    They can be as thin as .73-75mm, too but have to be very stiff.

    But - remember I don't play archtop mandolins and I like a bright tone.



    and most often just a plain old pick-shaped

  9. #9
    Registered User Sherry Cadenhead's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pick - Round or Pointy End?

    Bill, there's nothing there when I tap your link. Can you please try posting it again?

  10. #10
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    Default Re: Pick - Round or Pointy End?

    I use the round end of most any pick, I am using Wegen's now the M100. It is nicely rounded and the thinnest pick they sell. Tremolo can be done well with any pick of any thickness, point or round. I do find the round easier, but it is the turning of the pick that matters, not the thickness. Thickness for me is a matter of how bright your mandolin sounds and how much you want to tame it. 1mm for me is the thickest or the G string will begin to sound dull. Mandolins like the Silver Angel that are known for a deep sound should not need a thick pick, other mandolins with a bright G and a brighter sound can be warmed with a thicker pick. That is what has worked for me, and I only have one mandolin that I may use a thicker pick on, but it is not necessary.

    I will use the pointy end occasionally in a large jam to have slightly more volume as it is brighter and brightness is volume to a point. Pun intended.
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  11. #11
    Mediocre but OK with that Paul Busman's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pick - Round or Pointy End?

    I've said it here before-I use a triangle Primetone 1.5. I use a 4 surface fingernail emery board to slightly round off one of the points, matching the bevel. This gives me one pick with two distinctly different sounds. It's quick and easy. I suppose I could round the third point to a greater degree, but so far the single rounded point works for me.
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  12. #12
    Registered User T.D.Nydn's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pick - Round or Pointy End?

    Pointed and stiff,a B.C. jazz LG 35 does it...

  13. #13

    Default Re: Pick - Round or Pointy End?

    Round end, with bevel.

    I found that I was not driving through the strings with a pointed end, more plucking at the strings, often barely engaging the second string. The volume was there when I would use the pointed end, but upon closer inspection, I saw the problem. More like I was flicking my wrist down and out. Once I have this under control, I should be able to use either pointed or rounded.
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    Default Re: Pick - Round or Pointy End?

    I use the Prime Tone that comes with a rounded edge, 1.5 thickness and I love them, not for everyone`s taste though as you may already know...Really depends on how the mandolin was made....

  15. #15
    Worlds ok-ist mando playr Zach Wilson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pick - Round or Pointy End?

    Quote Originally Posted by Willie Poole View Post
    Really depends on how the mandolin was made....
    That's a good point. Not all my picks work well with all mandolins (and strings too). The best bet is to experiment with a bunch of different string/pick combos.

  16. #16
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    Default Re: Pick - Round or Pointy End?

    On all but one of my mandolins, my current preferred pick is a Primetone large triangle 1.4. The exception is a Martin AK, which is of light construction and on which I have light gauge strings. It sounds twangy with a pointy pick. My current favorite for that mandolin is a dark gray MOTS teardrop, 1.1mm thick, smooth surface, that I got free with a bridge from Cumberland Acoustics. I use one of the round shoulders, not the point. It seems to get the most volume with the least jangly twangy sound.
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  17. #17
    Registered User Jill McAuley's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pick - Round or Pointy End?

    Blue Chip TPR (three point rounded) for me. I find rounded picks facilitate better speed, tone and volume for my playing - pointy picks sound thin whenever I've tried them.
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  18. #18
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    Default Re: Pick - Round or Pointy End?

    I don't see how anyone can play mandolin well with the pointy end of a regular guitar pick, but a lot of people can. Butch B. was about as good as it gets and he used the pointy end of a regular pick. I use Fender heavy picks mostly, and always the rounded end. And I don't play nearly as well as Butch B.
    ...

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  20. #19
    Registered User foldedpath's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pick - Round or Pointy End?

    I used to play on the rounded shoulder, but then switched to the point when I found I could play Irish treble ornaments more consistently that way (and I'm still not great at it). This is with a Blue Chip TAD40-1R, roughly 1.0mm thick.

    To compensate for the thinner sound of the point compared to the shoulder, I put a little more angle on the pick (thumb pointed slightly more towards the floor) when I'm hitting notes on the A and E strings. It slightly thickens the tone, and I've done that for so long it's automatic.

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  22. #20
    Registered User DavidKOS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pick - Round or Pointy End?

    Quote Originally Posted by Caleb View Post
    I don't see how anyone can play mandolin well with the pointy end of a regular guitar pick, but a lot of people can. .
    It works both ways. I don't see how you can play mandolin with a round "poker chip" pick, having grown up with Italian style mandolin players and the original pointed picks. Yet many guys from Grisman on do just that - play well with round picks.

    The difference is whether you want the sound of the pick "gliding" over the strings or of the pick "plucking" the string.

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  24. #21
    Registered User DavidKOS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pick - Round or Pointy End?

    Quote Originally Posted by foldedpath View Post
    I used to play on the rounded shoulder, but then switched to the [B]point when I found I could play Irish treble ornaments more consistently that way
    This I understand quite well. Some of those ornaments go by pretty quickly at session tempo.

  25. #22
    Registered User mtucker's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pick - Round or Pointy End?

    1.5 - both subjectively based on sitch.

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  27. #23
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pick - Round or Pointy End?

    What does Sherryc choose?, I have used both at various times on various instruments.

    what kind of music style do you play Most?
    writing about music
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  28. #24
    Old Guy Mike Scott's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pick - Round or Pointy End?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jill McAuley View Post
    Blue Chip TPR (three point rounded) for me. I find rounded picks facilitate better speed, tone and volume for my playing - pointy picks sound thin whenever I've tried them.
    +1. Also the BC material slides noiselessly over the strings.
    Thanks

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  29. #25
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    Default Re: Pick - Round or Pointy End?

    Both!
    Blue Chip TAD50 1R. One rounded corner which I use when chopping or for Tremolo or songs with a lot of double stops. Pointy ends for linear single note stuff. Can even change on the fly with a little practice.

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