Ol' Andy Rambles on about picks, shapes, materials, bevels and all that stuff.

[guitargabor]

Thanks Andy for sharing your expertise.
Although I play primarily finger style with bare fingers I have incorporated strumming too.
I did not realize until quite recently how pick quality can enhance ones technique.

Originally Posted by guitar george

What thickness, shape, type, material etc. do you recommend for a "thin strumming pick"?

I'm not Andy, and I'd never recommend a thin pick for anything. I'd suggest you start at no less than 0.045" (about 1.14mm) and work up from there. The rest is about technique...

Nearly anytime someone is struggling with thicker picks and I watch them play, they have far too much pick extending past their thumb/finger. This works (functionally, not in terms of tone) with a thin pick because it bends so much, but it is contact with the string for a very long time. A thicker pick works with much less, about 1/8" for the sake of discussion, of the pick exposed. This keeps the pick from hanging up and lets the string snap off the end of the pick. Precision and clear, deep tone will result with a little practice.

[guitar george]

Originally Posted by Goat Whiskey Picks

I'm predominantly a strummer and everything he says hold true for strumming too. I prefer a pick about 1.25-1.5mm thickness for strumming and let my fingers supply the flex. Bevels help tremendously with strumming too.

Originally Posted by Todd Yates

I'm not Andy, and I'd never recommend a thin pick for anything. I'd suggest you start at no less than 0.045" (about 1.14mm) and work up from there. The rest is about technique...

Nearly anytime someone is struggling with thicker picks and I watch them play, they have far too much pick extending past their thumb/finger. This works (functionally, not in terms of tone) with a thin pick because it bends so much, but it is contact with the string for a very long time. A thicker pick works with much less, about 1/8" for the sake of discussion, of the pick exposed. This keeps the pick from hanging up and lets the string snap off the end of the pick. Precision and clear, deep tone will result with a little practice.

Thank you Mick and Todd