The sound of my picks on my strings

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Posted by ccress on Thursday, September 19, 2013

This is driving me nuts!! hahhah.I can't hardly pick or even listen to a song I pick after recording it.The sound of my picks hitting the strings is almost as bad as a fingernail on a chalk board! I don't know if its because my picks are old and slick..or maybe my strings? I use med.gauge..use to use light gauge.I never noticed it too much in the past..but here lately I have.Any advice?? This song Careless Love I recorded last week and can really hear it in that song.And another one John Henry.And a few others I recorded last week but haven't posted cause of the sounds of the picks hitting the strings.Yuk!!! I have tried picking harder...picking softer..nothing seems to help.Maybe I need to change my picks?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaIiexx7zFI

8 comments on “The sound of my picks on my strings”

Wills Creek Says:
Friday, September 20, 2013 @5:00:29 AM

Hello Cathy, I listened to the vid and It doesn't seem that noticeable to me on the vid. You may try a little further away from the mic and I noticed that you played the tune mostly in the Y position which may make a bit more pick noise. Try maybe playing a little closer to the bridge and see what happens. Nice to see ya ! I'can't post anyvids untill I get a better mic thats coming soon I hope.

Richard McVicker Says:
Saturday, September 21, 2013 @7:26:11 AM

Cathy
I hear the click. I invented the new SADDLE thumb pick and one of the features is that it is molded of a soft Nylon plastic and though it is soft at the thumb contact it is firm at the pick point and the soft surface of the Nylon reduces the clicking made by conventional hard plastic and metal picks.
Take a look at it.
saddlethumbpicks.com

Richard McVicker Says:
Saturday, September 21, 2013 @7:57:31 AM

Frank is right. Notice that when you strike a string it will move more near the neck than it is near the bridge. Therefore if you re-strike the string while the string is vibrating , near the neck, the string will slap the pick before you can pluck the string and it makes a clicking noise. Striking a string while it is vibrating at the bridge will click less. Note; you are playing verry near the neck where the vibration of the string is the greatest

ccress Says:
Saturday, September 21, 2013 @2:26:38 PM

I do have a habit of playing closer to the neck.I guess its from claw hammering.Hahha..I need to be more aware when I pick vs claw hammer.Thanks for the comments.And those thumb picks look interesting.I'll check them out.Thanks again

alfiedog Says:
Saturday, September 21, 2013 @4:42:41 PM

Hi Cathy,
I had exactly the same problem (it's the pick's resonating on the string's) I had the problem when i tried to go Ralph Stanley style. I thinned the grover bridge fitted to me Banjo by about 50% and it whistled (big vib's) I put a new bridge on and it was fine, or you could try heavier string's

ccress Says:
Saturday, September 21, 2013 @9:03:24 PM

I have a heavy set on there now.Well med. gauge.They actually are strings I usually put on my openback banjo,but wanted to change my strings out so I put those on the resonator.I have some other bridges around here.I may try that.I think I just need to have some work done on the old thing.Thanks alfiedog