Why shouldn't I use a guitar pick on my mando?

[jaycat]

Granted, I've only been playing mando for a week, but a guitar pick seems to work just fine. Any thoughts out there?

[Dan Margolis]

I took a lesson with Roland White. He used a guitar pick, if I remember correctly.

[JeffD]

Many players find that the mandolin works better with a thicker stiffer pick than they use with guitar. Others disagree.

If its working for you, thats great.

Except remembering which case you left the pick in.

[Malcolm G.]

There's no rules.

I started with heavy guitar picks, then found that it all sounded better when the pick rotated to the blunter corners - and so on.

If you look through the threads, you may see that along with MAS, most of us have PAS .

I believe the longest threads involve pick discussion.

[lenf12]

Also keep in mind that no matter what works for you today, it will certainly change over time (as do all things).

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[KristinEliza]

What JeffD said...

[Jill McAuley]

...and what Len said too - I found that as my technique improved, my preference in picks changed.

Cheers,
Jill

[Hubert Angaiak]

There is nothing wrong with using anything or try anything if a pick works for you. I find if I'm strumming then I'd use a medium one but for a lot of picking or doing the bluegrass chop then a hard pick works best for me. You get more drive, volume, fat tone using a hard pick. I guess it all depends on what kind of music you are playing and I'm sure the classical mandolin players will use a different one. Anyway my thoughts. Now would a pick made from quality materials sound better than your run of the mill plastic? Or is it in your fingers?

[Jim MacDaniel]

If you want to experiement with some thicker picks, check out Dix Bruce's listing in the classifieds for a thick pick sampler pack: 10 picks for $8.00 shipped.

(NFI)

[Mike Bunting]

What's a "mandolin" pick? A pick is a pick, some better suited to a player's requirements than others.. It serves no useful purpose to let superficial definitions limit us.

[Jim Broyles]

What's a "mandolin" pick? A pick is a pick, some better suited to a player's requirements than others.. It serves no useful purpose to let superficial definitions limit us.

+1.

[mandobsessed]

I try to use the same or fairly similar picks on guitar and mandolin, the picking techniques are fairly similar and there is no adjustment period if I am switching picks.

[Jim MacDaniel]

What's a "mandolin" pick? A pick is a pick, some better suited to a player's requirements than others.. It serves no useful purpose to let superficial definitions limit us.

I'm not sure if I am countering or supporting your point, but these are definitely "mandolin picks":

[jim_n_virginia]

You can use a guitar pick. I did for years but instead of a medium pick I switched to a heavy pick and then extra heavy. I found after a few years of playing that since the string length of the mandolin was so short compared to a guitar and double courses of string you just need (but not essential) the extra stiffness of a heavy pick for the higher string tension of a mandolin.

To me it is just easier to play and sounds better with a stiffer pick on a mandolin. But like someone said there are no rules imagine my surprise when I found out one of my favorite pickers and former teacher Herschel Sizemore uses a very small thin TS pick and no one can deny the great tone and sound he can pull out of a mandolin.

I have since switched to a Bluechip pick that is more of a triangle and pretty stiff and I love this pick it is just right for me. Now when I use a thinner pick I just feel I cannot dig in when I need to when I play.

But really it's all in what you get used to. I never thought I would change my pick but I did and you will too probably eventually.

I think almost as fun as playing the mandolin is trying out all the different picks, strings, accessories etc. that you can get now a days!

[mandroid]

It's about the music, the mandolin, strings and picks and such are just tools.

[jim_n_virginia]

You can use a guitar pick. I did for years but instead of a medium pick I switched to a heavy pick and then extra heavy. I found after a few years of playing that since the string length of the mandolin was so short compared to a guitar and double courses of string you just need (but not essential) the extra stiffness of a heavy pick for the higher string tension of a mandolin.

To me it is just easier to play and sounds better with a stiffer pick on a mandolin. But like someone said there are no rules imagine my surprise when I found out one of my favorite pickers and former teacher Herschel Sizemore uses a very small thin TS pick and no one can deny the great tone and sound he can pull out of a mandolin.

I have since switched to a Bluechip pick that is more of a triangle and pretty stiff and I love this pick it is just right for me. Now when I use a thinner pick I just feel I cannot dig in when I need to when I play.

But really it's all in what you get used to. I never thought I would change my pick but I did and you will too probably eventually.

I think almost as fun as playing the mandolin is trying out all the different picks, strings, accessories etc. that you can get now a days!

[roscoestring]

My son uses his drivers license (or a credit card).

It depends on what I'm playing as to what type pick I use. Mostly I use a guitar pick though. I play elec. mandos with a guitar pick and acoustic with a mando pick. I started with an extra light but have gone to a heavy.

[mandroid]

seems a guitar pick gets gripped more tightly and the pick is thinner whereas a mandolin pick is thicker and the grip allows it to move a little more .. , and triplets and tremolo are harder to accomplish with a thin pick, But you will start to work in that is upcoming weeks , right? jaycat..

[Mike Bunting]

So you all are saying that thick picks are mando picks and thin ones are guitar picks? That's funny, Clay Hess uses a nice heavy Blue Chip on his guitar.

[Rob Gerety]

I use a BC 50 for both.

[mandroid]

Chord strumming singers who accompany themselves have different needs,
than a flat picker playing fiddle tunes on their guitar, as a broad generalization ..

YMMV

[mandolirius]

So you all are saying that thick picks are mando picks and thin ones are guitar picks? That's funny, Clay Hess uses a nice heavy Blue Chip on his guitar.

Maybe there'd be less confusion if the correct terminology was used. They are actually called flatpicks. There's no such thing as a "guitar pick" or a "mandolin pick". There are only flatpicks. Lots and lots and lots of different kinds of flatpicks.

[Mike Bunting]

You mean plectra? I think that you are making my point. Thank you.

[mandolirius]

You mean plectra? I think that you are making my point. Thank you.

You're welcome, although I don't know if most will agree.

As for the word plectrum, I guess that's a synonym for flatpick. To me it seems like an old term that has given way to the modern word "flatpick".

[Mike Bunting]

I like the old ways, "No part of nothin'" and all that.