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Posted by: tommyboy Nov 11 2008, 12:48 AM

What gauge picks are you using. I'm not the fastest nor am I the slowest picker in the world. As long as I can remember I've used Dunlop Nylon .88mm picks (med heavy). I can tremolo pick plenty fast but my most of my speed playing has always come from a strong legato technique. I'm working on many different exercises to better sync my two hands. However, sometimes I feel like my pick is dragging too much string on a fast ascending or descending run.

So I guess I would like to know what gauge and type of picks you fast players are using to see if I can come up with something that might help,

Thanks a ton,

tommyboy

Posted by: Muris Varajic Nov 11 2008, 12:53 AM

I prefer thicker picks,mostly 2.0mm but that is just me,
doesn't need to work for you.

Posted by: superize Nov 11 2008, 12:53 AM

I use 0.10 mm strings and 1 mm thick pick.... i cant pick fast yet but i am working on it

Posted by: Gerardo Siere Nov 11 2008, 01:09 AM

There is this theory that you should use thicker pics for speed couse the give you more presition when you have a more stiff edge, like if you were using a pen. (Guthrie Govan)

Posted by: Oxac Nov 11 2008, 02:56 PM

Paul gilbert plays with 0,60 mm and he's pretty fast. When you pick, how deep do you dig in with your pick?

Posted by: kjutte Nov 11 2008, 03:00 PM

Me too

Posted by: berko Nov 11 2008, 03:11 PM

0.09- 0.46 hybrid gauge strings and 0.96 mm dunlop picks (sometimes i switch to 1.14 mm of the same type)

However, I guess the angle of the pick and the depth you are diving into with it matters more.

Posted by: SensE Nov 11 2008, 03:34 PM

I'm using Dunlop Jazz III.

Posted by: Capt.Z Nov 11 2008, 03:45 PM

I use whatever muris uses...

COUSE I JUST GOT MY MURIS PICK IN THE MAIL YESTERDAY!!!!!

but I'm not that fast either

Posted by: Canis Nov 11 2008, 03:52 PM

I use 3mm's
The stiffer the better, in my opinon ^^ (no pun intended)

But I've been trying to play with some thinner ones.. But I don't like plastic/nylon picks anymore.. It just doesen't feel right after I started using V-Picks

Posted by: Jose Mena Nov 11 2008, 04:08 PM

Don't know how thick the pick is, as it does not say, but dunlop Jazz III is what I use

Posted by: Ramiro Delforte Nov 11 2008, 04:24 PM

I use Jim Dunlop Tortex 1.35mm

Posted by: Frank Nov 11 2008, 05:44 PM

I’m using a Dunlop 1.14 mm. Thanks to my friend from the guitar center. He got mad at me when he saw me buying the tiniest picks and he hand me over this one’s, and he said that from now on you using this, because this will feet your style .Now I can use thicker than this .If you want speed picking you have to use at list a 1mm.You don’t want the pick to bent at all.

Posted by: Gerardo Siere Nov 11 2008, 05:56 PM

I try to not digg to much to avoid to get a lot of resistance of the string, Paul Gilbert diggs as little as possible, but also have in mind that diferent degris of digging and angle will result in diferenr sounds.
May be the main problem is on one single string is to get a very very very fast atack, this motion is ifor playing slow and fast. In the "atack" you first mute the string, and make preasure on it (planting), amke sure that the presure is against the top and not into the direction of the floor or roof (the reason is bacause the way the top of the guitar vibrate) and for the release you go up and down. For the release you have to aim at a specific point whre the pick should stop, like the karate guyes breaking bricks. For getting nice pressure and mass (that equals to force) you must'n neglect your whole arm weight, use it to your advantage, and also remember that you have to have some resting point for your arm and if posible for wrist, this will be depending on your body, the guitar and the way you hold the guitar. The resultant of your position to play the guitar with the pick is that you should be able to reach all the strings without changing the angle of the pick and with ease for playing.
The indicator of your current speed is how fast you can play on a single note, try this at several places of the freetboard, and several places of the soundboard (for the pick) as the string tension changes.
Then try this notes back and wards

----------------------------
----------------------------
----------------------------
-------3--5--7--5--3------
----------------------------
----------------------------

----------------------------
----------------------------
--------------2-------------
-------3--5------5--3------
----------------------------
----------------------------

----------------------------
----------------------------
----------0--2--0-----------
-------3------------3------
----------------------------
----------------------------

The same notes with different positions you should try all this and get the same sound on them, play then over the fingerboard chromaticly, and also using diferent strings (1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 5-6)
Cordination is a must for playing fast, dont lift your fingers anymore than necesary,
Every fi ger moves by his own once they are in place from their big knuckle, and being slightly curve, press just before the freet and be aware which part of the tip of every finger is pressing, the whole finger may obstruct your vision and you may be not pressing just before the string.
For the pick the main and precition movement comes from the wrist, you may need to make some correction with yur fingers but they are bussy enough by getting a good grip. I notice once that I have a disadvantage way of gripping that blocked certain desired angles so I chaged it.
In general big muscles is for geting the little ones in an adventageous place and the little one to do the precition work while adding the weight of the big ones.
For both arms check what are you doing form your very chest/shoulder, dont let any part of the chain do anything you dont want them to do.
Thats all the factors that may affect the speed and the sound that comes to my mind right now.

Posted by: Kuba Szafran Nov 11 2008, 06:15 PM

I use Dunlop JS heavy pick or D'Andrea 1,0mm.

Posted by: Zephyr Nov 11 2008, 06:26 PM

I use Dava Grip Tips almost all the time now. They're multi-gauge (meaning the gauge changes depending on how far you choke up on the pick), so they can feel pretty thin or rock solid. But I just use them because I like the feel of them, not to mention the "handle" part (for lack of a better word, as I suck at my own language ) is rubber and has little indentations for a good grip. That means less flying picks, much safer for the audience.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Nov 11 2008, 10:52 PM

I use Jazz XL III for soloing, and Nylon 0,9 for rhythm, since with the Jazz one the strumming comes out too sharp.

Posted by: tommyboy Nov 12 2008, 02:35 AM

Very just enough I hold my pick with very little sticking out. Pick harmonics are very easy for me and I can do them at will. It's mainly my up stroke. Don't get me wrong, I'm not struggling I'm just trying to see what other fast players are doing to see if maybe a slight change would get me to that next level of shred!

tommyboy

Thanks guys for all the great feedback. I feel much better knowing your all using thick picks. When I was young and playing nightly I used a bit heavier picks then what I use now but I wasn't trying to shred back then. I used to use the Tortex picks but when my hands start to sweat they get a little slick in my hands. That why I've use the Dunlop nylons for years.

Don't know if any of you have ever tried or seen a copper pick but they were my favorite. Stiff but great string to hand feedback. Only thing was buy the end of a show your strings were shot. I broke a lot of high E strings using them. Haven't seen them in years though.

Thanks again guys,

tommyboy

Posted by: tommyboy Nov 12 2008, 03:55 AM

Surely you don't switch midway through a song. Are you talking about when you decide to go Van Halen and Impress all the lady's!

I ran across a instructor on this site that picks and anchors his right hand exactly like I do. His name is Piotr Kacsor and the lesson is Arpeggio Etude - Around the Chord. He like myself uses his fingers as well as his wrist. Do you think this might be my cause for feeling a string drag sometimes when attempting a fast ascending run?

tommyboy

Posted by: Marcus Siepen Nov 12 2008, 12:20 PM

I am using a 2mm stone pick, I never really liked thin and flexible picks, they take away a lot of your attack and also make your sound more thin, and this stone that my pick is made of offers exactly the sound that I love.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Nov 12 2008, 12:38 PM

Sometimes I do, but during gigs I use the thinner one. Jazz is better for control and articulations so I use it for practice at home more.

Posted by: tommyboy Nov 12 2008, 02:18 PM

Marcus,

If you don't mind me asking where do get such a pick?

tommyboy

Posted by: Noangels Nov 12 2008, 09:00 PM

I use Dunlop tortex 1.14 picks now.

I used to use big stubby 3mm picks but they wear out too quick with fast playing on the low fat strings!The thicker a pick the easier(and louder)your leads become but I find there is a compromise in ones rythm playing with less thick picks playing better-and seeing as most of the time i'm not playing leads it makes sense to go with a tiny amount of flex in the pick

The tortex picks also never slip out of my grasp,and unlike the thicker big stubbys dont leave a pick impression on my thumb and 1st finger after a few hours playing!With the big stubbys my pick grip was a lot harder,with the thinner tortex picks I hardly apply any pressure,in fact it doesnt even feel like I'm holding a pick

Over 1mm works fine,under that and you can get a lot of flex

Posted by: Rooks Nov 12 2008, 09:04 PM

I use the MURIS pick! It's really comfy..

+ my jam friend agrees with me there's something supernatural to it..