thumb picks

[daz12]

When buying thumb picks can you get them where the actual pick part is thinner and more flexible.i bought a plastic thumb pick and its the right size with the bit that goes round my thumb but the pick doesn't give at all.my local guitar shop only sells a few and there all too hard.it never says on ebay when you see them.

[Michael Messer]

Hi Daz,

You need to try out lots of thumbpicks to find the right one for you.

I would try some Fred Kelly picks. I use their heavy gauge large Delrin thumbpick. You should also try a selection of Dunlop thumbpicks.

I always advise people not go go for any weird or new fangled designs because in most cases with guitar tools, the traditional designs are the best.

Good luck,

Shine On
Michael

[blowingrocknc]

I'm certainly no expert on the right picks for anything, but I use Blue Chip thumb picks for banjo playing, and I've found they work just as well with playing the tenor guitar. I use Shellor finger picks, which can be purchased through the Blue Chip web site. All of them are pricey, possibly too pricey, but they really fit well, stay in place, pick great, and last forever. Good luck.

[gaucho]

I love the Fred Kelly speed picks. Comfortable, they stay on and have great tone. They also come in Different sizes and flex levels. I like the white ones. Thumb picks are very personal tho. I both lots of them before settling on these.
fredkellypicks.com/product/delrin-speed/

[daz12]

Cheers every one.im gonna look at the above now.

[slide496]

If there's a music online store a selection of picks, which is what Michael included in his recommendationsis a not a bad way to go.

As you play in time you may find that your touch changes, or you're no longer getting what you want and want to experiment, or the ones you thought would fit start hurting, then you have a store of them right there instead of having to pay for shipping. YMMV


Harriet

[daz12]

Ok cheers harriet

[Matt]

If you want a lighter picking part, just sand it down with some fine grit sandpaper! I clip my thumbpicks off with nail clippers and sand them down because i prefer a shorter length

[washboardchris]

Hi, try Ernie Ball thumb picks.They do a thin pick which they say is about the thickness of a medium flat pick.I find them too soft for me but if you are looking for something with more flex I think they will do the job. Hope this helps

[Dessery]

I second the idea of just ordering a whole load of mixed one's. I ordered loads off eagle music as they had a pretty decent range and spent the next couple of years experimenting before I finally settled on a style (for now anyway)

All the best
David

[Michael Messer]

I think it's the only way, you have to try different picks, in fact all guitar tools and guitars, to find what is right for you.

I started out using black Gibson thumbpicks, then I went on to clear plastic pointed Dobro thumbpicks, then white plastic National ones, then I think I went to Golden Gate iveroid, then white plastic Dunlop and then the Fred Kelly ones I use at present. There have been a few others along the way, but these are the picks I settled on for a while. All of these I have always favoured large heavy gauge as I cannot get on with light gauge thumb or fingerpicks. I can't find them this morning, but I used to use a set of 1950s picks that George Gruhn gave me in the mid 80s. They were beautiful thick white plastic with gold glitter covering!

When I get picks that I like, they literally last me a few years. I like them when they are worn in and it's only when they have gone too far that I wear a new one. I currently have three sets that I rotate, so I don't just have one set that I can use. I keep them safe so they can't get ruined or squashed in guitar cases or pockets.

Here's a few oldies that I found in a drawer this morning.....





Shine On
Michael

[daz12]

Thanks.all the above is very useful.i think ill order a good selection

[pascal]

Feb 4, 2015 10:32:51 GMT Michael Messer said:

Here's a few oldies that I found in a drawer this morning.....


Michael, I love the "clown vomit"  finger picks the best

[Deleted]

My preference would be to play without picks at all -- alas, that's not possible for me. I'm really happy with the Alaska Pik for my index finger - the one I use most is worn down so that the pick edge barely peeks out from under the nail, so it serves more as a support to my own nail than as a pick.

Now, I'd like to find a thumb pick that gives me the same kind of proximity. I wish my thumb would callous over and form a nice hard ridge beside the nail. But that's not going to happen. So what's the next best thing?

I've tried lots of different picks. This thread inspired me to dig out the Geipel "Silberstahl" thumb pick I'd found a few years back - this comes very close to what I'd like. But I do prefer the sound of plastic over metal. I have a Fred Kelly speed pick, but the plastic is too soft and the pick edge rides lower than I'd like (i.e., the pick edge is positioned at the base of my thumb, not closer to the nail where I'd like it).

I'm looking at the Saddle thumb pick, which seems like it would be ideal - anyone know of where to find these in Europe?

I'm also looking at the Sharktooth velco system -- seems like this could be adapted to what I'd like.

Anyone have any other ideas/thumb picks to try?

[Deleted]

Apr 15, 2015 7:47:03 GMT @mickeyz said:

My preference would be to play without picks at all - alas, that's not possible for me. I wish my thumb would callous over and form a nice hard ridge beside the nail. But that's not going to happen.

It will eventually, if you keep doing it.
I really dislike thumb / finger picks. I ditched them a few years ago and just played bare fingers etc - within a couple of weeks it was pain free. Nowadays, I flat-pick hybrid style pretty much on all but a couple of tunes - I'd never go back to thumb picks etc.
TT