Pick, fingers or both? - also if pick, which do you use?

[Killed_by_Death]

 

exclusive pick player for a couple of years now, I only need one:

 

[ricksterphil]

Mostly fingers but occasionally a pick. I have a wooden one which I've nicely 'worn in' but was a gift so no idea where it came from or I use a thick felt job....much to the mirth of my band mates who refer to it as a 'kiddy' pick (barstewards)

Edited May 14, 2021 by ricksterphil

[Bunion]

Felt picks are originally used with ukulele I think 

[BreadBin]

Over 30 years of being fingers only and not being comfortable with a pick at all.

In the last 18 months or so I've worked on it and managed get to the point where pick playing feels quite natural. I use a few different types but find these the nicest.

[ricksterphil]

28 minutes ago, Bunion said:

Felt picks are originally used with ukulele I think 

Didn't know that, thanks

[PaulThePlug]

Bit of both... pick would be a Jim Dunlop Jazz III, from Gu!tar days... or a 1mm Tortex 'Midi'

Flats 'n Thumb Rest (I do like a thumb rest...) on the GSR200, so more fingers on that... not sure about a pick on flats?... ordered some cheapy wooden picks from the bay...

EDIT: Fixed the problem by getting another GSR200... £50 Cheapy... for Rounds n a pick!

Edited May 18, 2021 by PaulThePlug

[Stub Mandrel]

If God had meant us to use picks he would have given us thin, tough, flexible extensions on the ends of our fingers!

[PaulWarning]

after watching a Fat Mike video I've changed to a thinner pick, 1mm Dunlop down to a 60mm Nylon Dunlop, I've found it does make fast up and down playing easier if you can avoid the temptation to hit the strings too hard.

Not done a gig yet with a thinner pick but I'm definitely (make sure you spell that right, or you might be accused of being the 4th man 😂) going to try it

[Woodinblack]

1 minute ago, PaulWarning said:

after watching a Fat Mike video I've changed to a thinner pick, 1mm Dunlop down to a 60mm Nylon Dunlop

Wow, that must be tricky to get between the strings!

[PaulWarning]

49 minutes ago, Woodinblack said:

Wow, that must be tricky to get between the strings!

lol,   0.60mm

[BassAdder60]

Now leaning towards pick as my chosen method.. it just seems to get me the sound I prefer 

Using Jim Dunlop Triangle Toretex 1mm 

Edited October 4, 2021 by BassAdder27

[PaulThePlug]

As mentione above... these turned up today... Search 'bay 'Guitar Picks Plectrum Wooden - Plain / Hole / ThumbGroove'... 3 for £4.50... 3mm at grip / groove, 1mm a pluck point... feel nice in the hand...

Edited May 19, 2021 by PaulThePlug

[PaulThePlug]

Leather Picks... £1 each... took a while to arrive... nice on the accoustic... Midi Size.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07FYC6JQ2/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apan_glt_fabc_65JD78MJ59GMK5NQ899X

[Waddo Soqable]

Jim Dunlop nylon .73  end of story.

[Donnyboy]

Bit of both , but when using a pick I use these.

[shoulderpet]

Surprising to see some fairly heavy picks being used, I go with 0.73mm or thinner, 0.73 is the absolute heaviest I go with,  I find that with heavier picks I end up absolutely battering the strings and ending up with lots of buzz, how do you heavier pick players keep your attack light enough for it to work or do you just use a high action ?

[PaulWarning]

1 hour ago, shoulderpet said:

Surprising to see some fairly heavy picks being used, I go with 0.73mm or thinner, 0.73 is the absolute heaviest I go with,  I find that with heavier picks I end up absolutely battering the strings and ending up with lots of buzz, how do you heavier pick players keep your attack light enough for it to work or do you just use a high action ?

it's all in the fingers 😂

seriously I find it easier to do fast up and down picking with a slightly heavier pick, I use 0.94's 

Edited September 14, 2021 by PaulWarning

[Waddo Soqable]

Pick 95% of the time, exclusively the old Jim Dunlop grey nylon .73  ( tho I did have some JD .88s that I modded a bit with sandpaper !  )

The exception to the above being low dub stuff ( for which the thumb works best for me)

[Jack]

2 hours ago, shoulderpet said:

Surprising to see some fairly heavy picks being used, I go with 0.73mm or thinner, 0.73 is the absolute heaviest I go with,  I find that with heavier picks I end up absolutely battering the strings and ending up with lots of buzz, how do you heavier pick players keep your attack light enough for it to work or do you just use a high action ?

The clank is kinda the point!

[BassAdder60]

I use 1.14mm Ultex and trying the triangle version. 
 

No problem with string rattle if you pick sensibly and don’t pick too hard but firmly. Removing mids in the amp EQ is important too to get more thump 

[sky]

both but mainly with a pick and i really dont have much of a preference to any pick just as long as its medium or heavy then its ok

[Boodang]

Has always been fingers until a few years ago when I got into Bobby Vega's playing which inspired me to spend some time with the pick over lockdown and now it's beginning to feel more natural. One of my earliest musical influences was Chris Squire, so the pick technique I've worked on is based on his where I'm only using the very tip of the pick and letting the side of my thumb on down strokes contact the string which adds an harmonic edge to the notes.

Use fingers for when I want the lines to swing or for quick staccato lines, think Stratus, and the pick very much in the Squire vein (I'm not delusional enough think I can play like him!) or for lines that benefit from filling out with lots of ghost rhythm notes (ghost notes obviously play a big part of groove/funk finger playing I'm thinking more rhythm guitar style with the pick). 

[The_Rodster]

The black Dunlop nylon 1 mm picks for me.  I can keep hold of them and they don't snap 🙂

[PaulWarning]

15 minutes ago, The_Rodster said:

The black Dunlop nylon 1 mm picks for me.  I can keep hold of them and they don't snap 🙂

I used to use them but could never find the bloody things at a dark pub gig on top of my dark amp, so I switched to .94mm luminous ones

   https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271293877634?hash=item3f2a600d82:g:tsUAAOxy-sRSVCjC

 

 

[BassAdder60]

I found the Nylon picks too soft / warm sounding which is great if you like that sound

 

Liking tortex mostly now