Medium vs Heavy Picks

[Tnfiddler]

I’m in the 1.2-1.4 camp. I don’t mind 1.0 picks but anything thinner produces what I call pick slap and I can’t stand the sound of it.

[Brucebubs]

My thin picks sound like this



I make thick picks sound like this

[rstaight]

Over the years I have used thin, thick and medium. Shapes were triangle, teardrop, thumb and finger picks.

Today I use Dunlop .83mm Tortex, Black Mountain thumb picks. The Black Mountain picks are 1.0mm nylon.

Sometimes I just use my fingers and fingernails. Just depends on the mood I'm in.

[nweekes]

Originally Posted by Charmed Life Picks

When you say Medium do you mean like a standard Fender medium pick? It's the most popular pick in the world, and the thickness is .72 mm on that model.



sm

1.5 - Pro Plec
JP ebony feels a tad thicker

[CASD57]

Originally Posted by dgeorge

The strangest thing has happened over the past couple years. I always used medium picks, .71 but I have migrated to heavier picks, .96 to 1.0 and now I can't stand the sound of the medium picks. I am 66 years old and I wonder if my hearing has changed? Has anyone else noticed this? Still using the same guitars and playing a lot of the same songs.

My all time fave is the Dunlop Ultex lg triangle 1.14 but I used .73 for years. I've got a lg. Triangle PrimeTone 1.5 which is okay but I prefer 1.14 now the .73 is too clacky
So I guess I'm in your camp [emoji1783]

[JBCROTTY]

My experience has gone the other direction. I started learning again on thick picks - 1.5mm. Never thought twice about it. But like everyone else, I tried a bunch of different picks, and after a little while I started going thinner.

My favorite picks are the Clayton large triangles. I also like the Ultex large triangles. My preferred thickness is .63 or .88 in the Claytons or .73 in the Ultex. However, I spent time using the .38 and .50 Claytons because they are more forgiving. Now I find when I move back up to thicker gauges I am having a hard time adjusting to a smooth attack and consistent strum (I play rhythm mostly).

I know it would probably just require sticking with the thicker gauges for a while until things smooth out, but I find I will change picks for specific songs and use thinner gauges when the strumming work is faster or more involved.

You know.....I really didn't have these kinds of problems before I found this place.....

[Silvereagles]

I only started playing 9 1/2 years ago and used med picks. Over the last couple years i’ve move to a thicker pick based on my flatpicking i do now. I currently use Dunlop 1.5mm max grip and love the feel......

[Photojeep]

Long before I joined AGF, I used the Dunlop .38 nylon for years and years. I graduated up to the .60 nylon about 3-4 years ago and then tried the .73 nylon about 2 years ago. I'm currently using some custom picks my wife ordered for me for a couple Christmases ago : https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...1&d=1607182057
I think they're about .60-.71 but don't know for sure. They have very nice tone and have my screen name on them!

Best,
PJ

[EZYPIKINS]

When I use a pick. (thinking...................)
It's been so long since I used a pick, It's hard to remember.
I think it was November 2019. probably a Sunday.
Even then, only use about 20-30% of the time.
Have gone to fingerstyle exclusively.
Even me strumming is done with fingers and thumb.
Much easier to play bass line / melody stuff.
That's Just Me

[Charmed Life Picks]

Originally Posted by Silvereagles

I only started playing 9 1/2 years ago and used med picks. Over the last couple years i’ve move to a thicker pick based on my flatpicking i do now. I currently use Dunlop 1.5mm max grip and love the feel......

Silver, is that Dunlop 1.5 a triangle or teardrop?

Sorry. Incorrigible pick nerd.

Scott Memmer

[jaymarsch]

My sweet spot with pick thickness seems to be anything in the .90 to 1.2 range. My latest favorite is a casein 1.10 with rounded corners. If I was a better player I imagine the range could widen.
Best,
Jayne

[Charmed Life Picks]

I played Ultexes for many years. IMHO, the Dunlop Ultex and Primetone lines are the best values in the industry -- great performance for very little cash.