Question Picking Question

[Gio_Force_One]

I have gone through all the pick choices over the years , third the jazz3 cause everyone was raving about them. I liked them for lead playing but nothing else. went through a whole bunch of different gauges and materials.
So after all that I settled on regular ernie ball medium picks , but I have been using the the rounded part with the point towards my palm, and I really do like the sound and the feel better for the most part. D

Does anyone else here play like this ?

I can still play all the same things the way I used to play them but to me it just sounds better, its sounds thicker in way. It took a bit to get used to , not sure if I will keep playing like this but for now Im really liking it.

 

[mikeller]

Never have - but I prefer a medium thickness pick as well. To my ears they let the the string ring clearer and I feel like I have plenty of control.

 

[mike46]

Having pick problems is a technique issue,once you can play really well you can use a credit card or even a pen! Keep practising until you can use nearly anything

 

[ksandvik]

I don't think there's a standard with picks, guitar players try things out until they find something they like -- no need to mimic and use the same pick as your favorite guitar player.

 

[Stratty316]

Gio, I don't think there is a right or wrong when it comes to picks and what is comfy. I've tried several picks and styles (yes, upside down like you are currently trying) and have always gravitated back to what feels right and ales me to play what I want or need to play. For the record I use the Yellow Dunlop Tortex picks because they are cheap and comfy... I prefer them once the tip has worn down, go figure.

 

[ksandvik]

To be fair, my accuracy changed long time ago when I switched from softer to harder and fatter picks. But it really depends per guitar player what they prefer. Dunlop Ultex Jazz III are the ones I use nowadays.

 

[Gio_Force_One]

Gio, I don't think there is a right or wrong when it comes to picks and what is comfy. I've tried several picks and styles (yes, upside down like you are currently trying) and have always gravitated back to what feels right and ales me to play what I want or need to play. For the record I use the Yellow Dunlop Tortex picks because they are cheap and comfy... I prefer them once the tip has worn down, go figure.

I also like the yellow Tortex and the orange ones I tried the heavier ones but it always felt clunky to me .
I still always come back to Ernie ball medium picks no matter what . I also like it when the point wears off.
Maybe that's why I like playing with the other side of the pick. I also picked up some Dandrea 347 shape picks same material as tortex . Those aren't too bad either I just have to adjust my playing with them a little .

 

[DrKev]

I've recently gone back to classic celluloid small teardrop, heavy gauge (0.9 mm). I used Clayton Ultem teardrops for many years but decided the time was right or a change. I really like the rounded smoother edge of the celluloid when new, even though it doesn't last as long.

 

[BrickGlass]

For a decade I used Jazz III's. For some reason they changed them a little bit after years and years. They made the embossing not stick out quite as far and all of a sudden I was have a problem keeping my grip on them. That embossing got a little more shallow and I was having issues. Ten years, gazillions of picks, and all of a sudden they change it a little tiny bit and I'm having the pick slipping around a little too much. I contacted Dunlop and they said we've got just the thing for you and they are brand new... ultex Jazz III's. I used those for several years and they certainly were pretty good, but I preferred them brand new when they have whatever talcum powder type stuff they ship them in on the pick. Didn't want to be buying a new pick every time I played (which is pretty much every day) so I began the great pick quest. I tried every pick I could get my hands on. Really liked the Dava Jazz Grip picks but they were just not quite perfect. In walks the JP Jazz III's and they are hands down the best pick I've ever used. I love that they are just a tad bit bigger than a normal Jazz III, as well as a tad bit thicker. My gauge for a perfect pick is one that I never think about for one second while I'm playing. I never want to think about it slipping or sliding. I never think about the JP picks.

I've never liked playing with the round side. I need a nice sharp point for some of the faster playing I do.

 

[Gio_Force_One]

I've recently gone back to classic celluloid small teardrop, heavy gauge (0.9 mm). I used Clayton Ultem teardrops for many years but decided the time was right or a change. I really like the rounded smoother edge of the celluloid when new, even though it doesn't last as long.

i tried the clayton ones too, but didnt really care for the sound of them. I really like the regular celluloid picks the best. I tried the small tear drops but they were a little too small for me.
The celluloid really doesnt last all that long , however the ernie ball bag of 144 picks was only like $25 so I have a few for a little while and if I keep using the rounded side I have two sides to use.

 

[Gio_Force_One]

For a decade I used Jazz III's. For some reason they changed them a little bit after years and years. They made the embossing not stick out quite as far and all of a sudden I was have a problem keeping my grip on them. That embossing got a little more shallow and I was having issues. Ten years, gazillions of picks, and all of a sudden they change it a little tiny bit and I'm having the pick slipping around a little too much. I contacted Dunlop and they said we've got just the thing for you and they are brand new... ultex Jazz III's. I used those for several years and they certainly were pretty good, but I preferred them brand new when they have whatever talcum powder type stuff they ship them in on the pick. Didn't want to be buying a new pick every time I played (which is pretty much every day) so I began the great pick quest. I tried every pick I could get my hands on. Really liked the Dava Jazz Grip picks but they were just not quite perfect. In walks the JP Jazz III's and they are hands down the best pick I've ever used. I love that they are just a tad bit bigger than a normal Jazz III, as well as a tad bit thicker. My gauge for a perfect pick is one that I never think about for one second while I'm playing. I never want to think about it slipping or sliding. I never think about the JP picks.

I've never liked playing with the round side. I need a nice sharp point for some of the faster playing I do.

I tried the jazz iii eric johnson ones for a while then people were raving about the ultex ones so I picked some of those up. I like them for a little while but can never keep using them always go back to regular mediums.
I also bought a bag of the pertrucci picks , those were just too thick for me I like the size but i would have liked more flex to them. I really don't like the attack of a thick pick on the strings , I know alot of people do and swear by it but I just can't get used to it.

 

[nick_in_STL]

In experimenting with gemstone guitar picks, what I found was that despite massive thickness (2.0mm) because of the glassy nature/texture of the pick I could still fly over the strings because the resistance to the pick was as near zero as I think I'm going to find. I've more or less embraced that approach on more of a budget (gemstone picks are around $25 EACH) with the Ultex 1.0mm picks. The result isn't quite the same, but far better than the tortex or nylon or celluloid picks I used in the past. Definitely more high end on the pick attack though.

 

[gurtejsingh]

I have been using the JP signature Jazz III picks for some time now, and feel quite comfortable with them. See, I used to use the other Jazz III's (I think EJ signature) but my thumb is a little bigger and I had problems with the smaller Jazz III, so the JP's worked out very well for me. I have noticed a better attack and consistent improvement in gripping (since my hands tend to sweat a bit), and overall my playing and accuracy has certainly improved. I personally feel that there is definitely a good thought process behind the way his picks have been made. Check them out if you like

That's just my experience though. As everyone has mentioned already here, go for what is comfortable to you, and what works best for you. Not everyone has the same hands and technique. It's important that you master your own with something which you feel most comfortable playing with.

Cheers.

 

[agt]

For rhythm playing - chords and arpeggios - I mostly use the upside-down way of holding the pick. I like the tone better and I have more control. For fast single note stuff, I flip it around and use the pointy end. I can play either rhythm or lead with either way of holding the pick, but the ways I mentioned are my preference.

I play mostly electric guitar and I have mostly used the Dunlop Ultex Jazz IIIs which I love. I also really like the Dunlop John Petrucci picks. These picks tend to give a smoother, darker tone, which is usually a good thing for me.

When I want a brighter tone, I use a regular sized medium Ernie Ball or Fender celluloid pick.

For acoustic guitar, the medium pick all the way.

 

[Dead-Eye]

I'm happy using the Ultex Jazz III. At some point i have to replace them as the finish smoothens out and makes them harder to grip, but I get decent use out of one. I really can't stand bigger ones for electric playing anymore, I feel the smaller size gives me much more control. For acoustic and bass I recently picked up some Ultex Sharp 1.14 and they're working well for me too.

 

[Gio_Force_One]

I tried using the point of the pick but now I just go back to the rounded side without thinking and the tone with the point doesn't sound as full to me now. There doesn't seem like there isn't anything I can't play with the rounded side of the pick . I guess I'll be using this side of the pick for awhile.

 

[Stratty316]

Play what feels and sounds good to you.

 

[Bryan]

The Eric Johnson Jazz III has been a breakthrough for me and my playing.

It just works perfectly for me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ErnieJohn]

Jazz III for many years now, every so often I use the JP version but keep going back to the III's

 

[Gio_Force_One]

Okay I was cleaning and found some jp jazz iii picks that I got awhile ago and didnt care for them So i gave them a try again and have been using them for the past 3 weeks. I kinda like them right now it took a bit to not attack the strings to hard with them but they feel comfortable right now. I also like the tone a little better then the nylon jazz iii. this could all change but for right now I'm digging them