Swampuh - Posted - 02/15/2012:  09:54:33

Hey all!  I'm getting about 30 to 45 min of practice every evening now and I am discovering that my picks are to small.  I'm really not sure the brand..Ernie Ball..I thing, nickel on the fingers and plastic on the thumb.  The thumb pick is really causing some discomfort, it is pinching the devil out of my thumb and my nail bed is getting torn up.  It is a "Large" pick, The local music store by me does not have anything larger.  The finger picks aren't to bad, I have to twist them to the side though in order for me to contact the string properly.  That is probably a technique thing though.  I have very large fairly callused hands and my fingers closely resemble that of a small mountain gorilla.  Any suggestions on a pick to use? 

............It getting to where I have to take the thumb pick off every 5 min or so...thanks!

Swampuh

kmwaters - Posted - 02/15/2012:  10:03:44

I hate those things too. I took the plunge for a Blue Chip thumb pic. You may find a used one in the classifieds but if not, they are still worth it. Will last forever.

mwzurawell - Posted - 02/15/2012:  10:04:17

Earl Scruggs used boiling water to heat his thumb picks up to the point where he could bend them and they'd maintain the new shape. No thumb/finger picks will ever perfectly fit your fingers, so don't be afraid to bend them into the desired shape.

Texasbanjo - Posted - 02/15/2012:  10:37:38

Thumb and fingerpicks are not very expensive.  You might try ordering several different ones to see which one is best for you.

peewee - Posted - 02/15/2012:  10:58:06

Hot water and plastic thumb picks works great.  The water only needs to be hot like coffee not boiling.  Drop the pick in and then slide it on your thumb and let it cool down..

Do your cuticles a favor and go get a manicure. The girls will cut back all the old, dead cuticle and all the snags of skin above the cuticle and you instantly have gotten rid of your source of irritation.  Once that is done, get out your long nose pliers and bend them to the shape and fit you want. 

If you dont like the metal picks being extra tight, then keep them a bit loose and dip your finger tips into "Gorilla Snot" which will make your fingers very sticky and help hold the metal picks nice and secure.

Spitfire-Smith - Posted - 02/15/2012:  13:54:14

Yeah, I've tried the hot/boiling water trick and it works wonders. You may have to repeat the process a few times if the first couple of shapings don't quite feel right, but once you get it, they fit so comfortable. But remember, it is hot water, so be careful not to burn yourself!

caloscalzo - Posted - 02/15/2012:  14:13:41

For heaven's sake though, keep using the picks!

Hoh-Jo - Posted - 02/15/2012:  14:38:26

I actually trimmed a bit off of my thumb pick and filed it smooth so that it was even with the edge of my nail bed.  It helped loosen it up.  You may want to try that.  Picks are very inexpensive so mess around with them a bit.  

Tim13 - Posted - 02/15/2012:  17:06:40

My suggestion to you would be to get a Pro Pik thumb pick in the large size.  Usually $3 - $4 online.  Unless you literally have thumbs as thick as a bratwurst, it will fit.

As for the finger picks, it takes about 15 minutes, and two pairs of needle nose pliers.  Sit down with the picks and pliers, and start shaping the bands.  Once you're happy with the bands, then start on the blades.  Theres a lot of trial and error, this way, but it's the only way.  You'll be amazed at how good you'll get them to feel, and you will also be amazed how much better your picking sounds once you've customized the picks to your current string attack.  As you grow as a picker, you will continually refine your attack, and continually adjust your picks over the next few years to suit your technique.

Tim

roboto65 - Posted - 02/16/2012:  05:47:56

I have to turn my picks also but got my thumb pick pretty good right off and like has been said spend a few bending them and then paint them to make sure you put them on the right fingers used my daughters finger nail polish.

knownrider - Posted - 02/17/2012:  08:58:45

I have similar problems.  I bought a bunch of white, large-size National thumb picks and bent them as needed with small needle nose pliers.  Took a few tries to get a few I liked...  I also found Dunlop makes metal thumb picks that can be shaped very easy.

For my fingers, I bought a few pairs of Acri picks (elderly.com/accessories/items/...EEL-L.htm).  I read about them on this forum, and bought them from Elderly Instruments.  The sides that wrap around are larger, and don't pinch the cuticle/nail area.  They also fit really snug.

I figured it was better to spend a few dollars to find good picks that fit me than to play less.

Prof - Posted - 02/17/2012:  09:58:30

quote:

---

Originally posted by peewee

Hot water and plastic thumb picks works great.  The water only needs to be hot like coffee not boiling.  Drop the pick in and then slide it on your thumb and let it cool down..

Do your cuticles a favor and go get a manicure. The girls will cut back all the old, dead cuticle and all the snags of skin above the cuticle and you instantly have gotten rid of your source of irritation.  Once that is done, get out your long nose pliers and bend them to the shape and fit you want. 

If you dont like the metal picks being extra tight, then keep them a bit loose and dip your finger tips into "Gorilla Snot" which will make your fingers very sticky and help hold the metal picks nice and secure.

---

Use the pliers to bend the picks, not your cuticles .  Yep -- pliers usually do the trick.  I put a bit of a flare on my finger pick straps so they follow the natural contour of my finger better.  And, there's nothing wrong with twisting the picks on your fingers to get them to strike the strings head-on.