Weird question

[Dut4907]

Hello, this may be a weird question but here goes....

I enjoy playing my guitar and when using my finger to strum, I love the warm tone that it produces. So my question is, is there a pick that replicates that warm fleshy tone?

[mtdmind]

you might try the Golden Gate pick with the rounded edges.

[skinnerb]

Leather does a good job.

[Earl49]

I would guess that a fairly thick pick with good bevels might do the trick, maybe something like a 346 shape with rounded corners, and combined with a very light touch or strum stroke. I sometimes strum with a finger or bare thumb when trying to play quietly late at night. But too much of that wears down my nails too quickly, and I need them for finger picking.

Perhaps Scott from Charmed Life Picks will chime in.

[DukeX]

Dunno, why not just stick with your thumb? I use flat picks but also often just play with my calloused thumb.

[Dut4907]

Originally Posted by DukeX

Dunno, why not just stick with your thumb? I use flat picks but also often just play with my calloused thumb.

It’s not loud enough.

[menhir]

Originally Posted by skinnerb

Leather does a good job.

Yup. Look up SkinTone pics.

Bear in mind that leather wears out sooner than plastic.

[MakingMusic]

another vote for leather picks. https://shopskintones.com/

[_zedagive]

I used to have a felt pick years ago that produced a very soft tone.

[Silly Moustache]

Originally Posted by Earl49

I would guess that a fairly thick pick with good bevels might do the trick, maybe something like a 346 shape with rounded corners, and combined with a very light touch or strum stroke. I sometimes strum with a finger or bare thumb when trying to play quietly late at night. But too much of that wears down my nails too quickly, and I need them for finger picking.

Perhaps Scott from Charmed Life Picks will chime in.

QAs Earl say, for the best - a Blue Chip TAD60, or cheaper, try D'adrea Pro-pick 1.5, or Fender extra heavy, although you might need to bevel and polish them yourself.

Not a 346 (triangle) or a 351 but try a Dunlop 207 - dull as hell, but Molly likes 'em

[Birdbrain]

I have a Medium Round Ruby Red from Nashville's V-Picks. Their website is wonky, so I can't directly confirm this... but as I recall, it's the one endorsed by Carlos Santana. He's quoted saying, "This sounds just like my thumb." It's a thick acrylic rounded triangle with a rounded edge, no bevel, on sale now at 10 for $35.

[FrankHudson]

I play electric bass with my thumb, but I can't play a long time before blistering. I have some rubber picks (sold for ukulele I believe) and they sound very thumb-like.

As much as love Wes Montgomery (who learned to play with his thumb for the reason you're looking for an alternative, he needed to practice quietly with a family at home) I've never experimented much with those picks on guitar. Obviously they "grab" the string in a way that any kind of regular guitar pick doesn't, but on the larger bass string this isn't as big an issue. On the thinner treble strings of a guitar I'd worry that they'd cut into the pick.

As already mentioned, rounded tip picks can sound more to the flesh and less to the sharp-end pick side of things. You can also do what some player do and try playing with the shoulder of a regular 351 pick rather than the tip.

[Earl49]

I play ukulele with a thick and stiff felt pick for added volume, but I have not tried it on steel string guitar - and should. I suspect it might sound pretty mellow but would wear very quickly. The one time I tried a rubber pick on ukulele, I quickly got tired of the eraser shavings all over the top. Unintended consequences.