How you do you choose which picks to buy? I've been playing with bare fingers and love it but I'm going to start playing with others and I'm concerned I'll get drowned out. Besides, I see a few folks on YouTube using picks for thumb lead and thought I could try it.
8 Comments |
 | Pluckin Mutha says:
9/1/2013 4:59:45 PM
I use the same National steel picks I bought in 1967, along with a Grover "Tortoise Shell" thumb pick from the same era. I have 6 or 7 sets of the National picks from back then.
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 | abarten says:
9/1/2013 7:49:20 PM
Fortunately I have a store nearby that caters to fretted instruments. I just picked out the ones that fit best. It took several trips there to get it right since I kept picking out ones that were too small, fearing they would fall off. My finger picks are brass by Dunlop (.018 and .025 - didn't realize they were different till now), and a plastic thumb pick by Recording King. They're cheap, so once you figure out what size is best, get extras. They're easy to misplace.
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| Pluckin Mutha says:
9/2/2013 1:42:19 AM
I doubt you'll find picks which fit "off the rack / counter". You have to bend the tabs which go around your finger to fit. It's a matter of experimentation. The guy in the store should give you some advice and guidance there.
On metal picks use needle nosed pliers. On metal picks dip them in hot (not boiling but hot), water and bend them.
Picks should be fairly tight. Lick/suck your fingers before putting the picks on. that'll help hold them on.
Bend the tips of of metal picks to accomodate the way your finger strikes the strings. I have a slight hook on my index finger to help me accent that note, and an exaggerated bend to the middle finger to allow it to glide over the string without striking it too hard. I also have a slight twist in the end of the index finger pick so that it strikes the string parallel to the string. Everyone's attack is different.
In abarten's case I would use the lighter guage pick on the middle finger.
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| Pluckin Mutha says:
9/2/2013 1:48:16 AM
In the above, the mention of needle nosed pliers was for bending the striking part of the pick. You can usually use your fingers to bend the tabs, but needle nosed pliers may help if you have stiff tabs. All picks and all pickers are different.
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 | Jay Bird says:
9/2/2013 4:23:20 PM
Thanks folks. Any tips on playing thumb lead with picks?
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| abarten says:
9/8/2013 9:58:09 AM
I should have been more clear when I said I tried various sizes. The plastic thumb picks come in various sizes. After the third try I finally got it right. My hands are not particularly big, but I ended up with XL size thumb pic - the largest one they had. Go figure.
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| abarten says:
9/8/2013 10:01:29 AM
Thumb lead with picks? I use picks for all styles. However, getting used to picks takes awhile, but now I wouldn't be without them. I've only been at this for a year and a half, and the best advice I can give is to play, play, play.
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 | BlowingRockNC says:
1/19/2014 10:32:29 AM
I have always used picks. I use the same ones regardless of the type of banjo or the type of music. Oh, I use a flat pick on my 4-string plectrum, at least most of the time. I sometimes use finger picks, though, but mostly the flat pick.
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