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Posted by: Kizaze44 Feb 4 2009, 04:15 PM

Hey there,

I'm curious to know your opinions on which types of picks are best for speed. Pointy? Thick? rounded?

I'm currently using the medium rounded V-picks and I've hit a wall with speed. I'm suspicious that the rounded picks are part of the problem. I'm frustrated - please help!

-Kizaze

Posted by: ErikEklund Feb 4 2009, 04:21 PM

I use these Ibanez picks and I think they are great for speedpicking http://www.americanmusical.com/ProductImages/Large/p32292.jpg

But I think speed is all about practice

Posted by: Canis Feb 4 2009, 04:35 PM

I use the white thinnest ones of those, from time to time! They're awesome!
But I have to agree in the practice part as well. It's all in the wrists

Posted by: 29a Feb 4 2009, 04:44 PM

I guess the pointy ones because their the most precise and have the least resistance.
And they should be relatively thick/rigid.
The Dunlop Jazz 3 is very popular.

- Jonas

Posted by: Wabba Feb 4 2009, 05:01 PM

I think it's not the equipment that makes you play fast, it's the training.

So, I use just regular-rounded picks (about 0.81mm thick), cause a thin (or sharp tipped) pick will make the noise more "choky" (which might sound cool, too). You could check that are you picking from your wrist, fingers or elbow (I recommend wrist), as that helped for me.

EDIT:But I think that it's just a matter of taste.

Posted by: Ramiro Delforte Feb 4 2009, 05:55 PM

This is the one I think is the best and I don't use any other

Posted by: Matt23 Feb 4 2009, 05:56 PM

Well picks don't really make much difference, but thin and pointy is generally best for speed.

Posted by: Resurrection Feb 4 2009, 06:01 PM

In my opinion pointed picks are better for fast picking. They should also be thick or made from a material that doesn't bend easily.

By the way, the small pointed V-pick works well for me.

Posted by: Marcus Siepen Feb 4 2009, 07:12 PM

I also think that the type of pick is not really deciding about your speed, trainig is the key. The pick will influence your sound though, rounder and thinner picks will for sure take away some of your attack, whick thick pointy picks will even add on your attack.

Posted by: Toni Suominen Feb 4 2009, 09:47 PM

Try out the Jazz III's and see what you think of them

Posted by: seagull Feb 4 2009, 10:13 PM

Kris mentioned that he uses Jazz III, and so do I... I prefer them, they're small so they are easy to slide around ind your hand if you have to tap etc., but also you get a firm grip.

Posted by: ErikEklund Feb 4 2009, 10:27 PM

I think the best pick is the pick you have practiced the most with

Posted by: Kizaze44 Feb 4 2009, 10:38 PM

OK - I'm going to try the jazz III's for my electric. As for V-picks, I only notice a difference in tone when I use it on my acoustic - it's actually a big tone difference. Anyone hear a tone difference on ELECTRIC (V-picks vs. normal picks)?

Posted by: Canis Feb 4 2009, 11:10 PM

I hear some. Not like "WHOA! Epiphany!" but I hear a certain difference with my Ernie Ball 11 gouge strings. I guess type of strings may have a saying.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Feb 4 2009, 11:17 PM

I also use Jazz III, but currently I've got some dunlop purple .96's to try and they are great. Picks are chosen mainly because of the sound, you can achieve speed with almost any kind of pick.

Posted by: Canis Feb 4 2009, 11:23 PM

They're kinda V shaped, yes.. And made of a acrylic material with much less friction then common plastic picks.

http://www.v-picks.com/

Posted by: Wilska Feb 4 2009, 11:27 PM

I recently switched to dunlop jazz III xl's and it's basicly the perfect pick for me. My speedpicking sounds a lot better now because of the insane attack. Took a while to get used with that very sharp tip but it was worth it.

Posted by: bsamn Feb 5 2009, 02:42 PM

Hey, i used to too, its funny you know, ur the first to have said so that u used this pick.



Very true.
I do not think, that any part of playing guitar has to do the equipment. Yes there are prefrences some like big necks, some cant play on big necks it annoys them etc etc. If you have stuck a wall, all i can say is that go on the metronome (if u havent that is), and if you do, increasing even by 1 bpm is better than nothing.
Another thing, if you are playing by yourself you will never know if you have increased. I mean try to assess with people who have heard you before and ask.

I remember when i used to practice sweeping, i got stuck at 90bpm for sometime. So i stopped using the metronome (th sound was really annoying) and started practcing on my own. What had happened then was my speed had gradually increased to 120 bpm, but since i could not asses it i thought i was still playing at 90bpm.
I hope I did not confuse you .

Anyway keep practicing

Posted by: Kizaze44 Feb 5 2009, 03:49 PM

Thanks for the tips guys. Time to hit the metronome for some drills!

Posted by: Sergio Dorado Feb 5 2009, 04:08 PM

Hello. I use Pickboy carbon nylon picks, and three kinds of mm: 0,60 0,75 and 0,88. The two last give strong attacks, I study with them for improve accuracy. 0,60 is the mm that allows me the higher velocity.
I think is very good to have different measures, because it determines the sound, and it´s not the same to take covers, for example, of groups like Acdc or Accept - which the role of rythms is may be the most important-, that others like Dream Theater or Racer X, which the level of speed and shredding demands high precission.

Posted by: David Wallimann Feb 5 2009, 04:54 PM

I guess it's all a matter of personal taste.
But I recommend trying the V-Pick small pointed for speed and accuracy.
I've been using them exclusively for the last 6 months and can't go back to anything else.

Posted by: mhskeide Feb 5 2009, 05:01 PM

My favorite above any
Only time I doesn`t use it is for bass, way too small

Posted by: jdriver Feb 6 2009, 11:02 PM

I hear a huge difference between medium rounded V-Pick and standard Tortex .60 and .88. The V-Pick is way more rich and mellow, but then I like that kind of sound.

The Diamond V-Pick sounds even better to my ear, but $10 each. OUCH!

Posted by: Marcus Siepen Feb 7 2009, 11:20 AM

I agree, it is definitely a matter of personal taste. I also like a V-pick, the screamer, it feels very nice, but I don't like the material it is made of, it wears out and it takes away some of my attack... I used it for some time, actually I am still using it when I record leads and solos, but for my rhythm guitars nothing even comes close to my stone pick Actually in the moment I am thinking about getting a stone pick custom made in the shape of a screamer, might be the ultimate pick for me