Pick Gauges for Metal?

[ryancrl]

Hey guys!

I was just playing some Metallica lately.

And i switched to a really soft plastic 0.5 pick for a change from my usual 0.73.

When i changed back to my 0.73 the sound was a little muddy.

Is it my playing thats slack? Or is it all about finding the right gauge?

I'm wondering what gauge is the best for heavy metal? Rhythm!

James Hetfield always has like 10 picks with him when he's performing so.

I'm wondering what gauge is the most suitable! Thanks GAIZ.

 

[astaroth]

i think whichever u are most comfortable with? i use a dunlop 3mm big stubby to play all my songs

 

[Liberator]

i use jim dunlop RIFFS
0.96mm
not so hard and not so soft
hahaha

 

[subversion]

there's no 'right' pick for a certain music genre, it's what works for the player.

the pick material does affect tone but more audible if one plays the acoustic guitar. i have lots of picks on standby when i play, i switch picks constantly as the different types make me play differently

 

[Phil]

I beg to differ. The difference in tone with varying picks is pretty drastic on electrics as well as on acoustics.

For metal, which incorporates a lot of fast alternate picking and heavy agressive downstrokes, the norm would be to go for thicker picks.

 

[subversion]

if you pump in lots of drive (& doing active electronics as well), the pick dynamics would get drowned out but metal picks do make their presence heard, regardless.

 

[isaksson]

personally,i use either 1.5 or 2.0 jim dunlop picks,or 3.0 Big Stubby's,

gives me more control while playing.

 

[Phil]

Sub,

Okay agreed on that point. Insane amounts of gain plus active pickups practically cancels out all playing nuances.

I was referring more to sensible medium to moderately high-gain settings.

 

[metal_hand]

For me, Jazz III's are one of the best picks around once you get used to them....Id suggest buying a whole bunch and try them out, eliminating what you dont like...It might seem like a waste of money, but its a small price to pay to get the best idea or feel for whichever pick you'll really like...]

Good luck mate!

 

[zamir666]

i agree with metal_hand. Jazz III picks rule. after using those picks i hated using other picks. but that's just me. depends on what you feel comfortable with

 

[Aki S. Ian]

i use lucky13s 1.00mm since its just nice..
and occasionally i use jazz3 if im tired and need go faster.

picks affects the tone. but just slightly...

i hate stubby picks..
in my opinion they are too small and good only for sweepings

 

[subversion]

I was referring more to sensible medium to moderately high-gain settings.

even so, the audience isn't going: hey, i can hear his bone pick/ no you nitwit, it's his acrylic pick/ you bozos! can't you hear it's actually nylon!!

not trying to split hairs here but others aren't going to detect the difference anytime BUT the player himself/ herself can absolutely feel/ discern the diff- no contest on this.

 

[subversion]

i hate stubby picks..
in my opinion they are too small and good only for sweepings

chances are, you tried these (smaller ones)

are you aware there are 2 other sizes?

 

[Newbie]

Hi,

Don't quote me but; I've been using all kinds of picks but usually I fall back to these:

Fender 2mm (Any; I just like the size/feel/thickness)

Jazz3

Dunlop 0.63 (the Riff series or something)



When a song has more 'lead-lines' and less chords or require me to have a lot of strumming action, I go for the thicker one. When the lead/solo lines come in, feels better. Less effort picked but loud and big tone. You can try doing a solo and record it, using a 0.5mm pick VS a 3mm pick. Use the same force; play in clean.

And usually, Dunlop 0.63 for funk or more upbeat stuffs. But this is just me, use what is comfortable for you; gotta invest abit in experimenting but it is definitely worth it in the long run.

Cheers.

Rgds,
Newbie

 

[subversion]

if you are not one to change picks during play but require a change in pick feel, this one might just do you good: The Guitar Addict!: Dava: Grip Tip pick

 

[destalin]

the biggest difference in tone i've heard so far are between tortexes and stubbys, with stubbys [and metal picks] giving me alot of scraping and squeaking [though i've heard that with stubbys i'm 'not supposed' to have the squeaking noise if i play with proper technique, though i havent found out how yet ...]

between tortex and 'normal' picks, tortex does give somewhat 'cleaner' playing, but. much depends.

personally i'm sticking to tortex jazz IIIs, black ones with silver wording. sharp tip and smaller size give me better control and faster playing; most comfortable so far: switching back to 'normal' picks slows me down quite a bit. thickness wise i'm most comfortable with 1.14, though i find 0.88 and 1.0 not bad either, still experimenting to see what it's like. most guitar shops have them, davis consistently has it though i dont know where else constantly stocks em. tampines yamaha has them too.

imo picks are one of the most undervalued tools - shape, thickness, material can really affect tone and playing, though tonewise arguably less if one's effects chain negates it. still, definitely worth the time and money to invest in - doesnt cost that much in the end. might wanna get a v-pick one day too, heh

 

[Phil]

There's always the home-grown Awe-In-One picks.

 

[Hydrofly]

i think whichever u are most comfortable with? i use a dunlop 3mm big stubby to play all my songs

You sure that's a pick? Or a pebble?

 

[Godspeed64]

i use lucky13s 1.00mm since its just nice..
and occasionally i use jazz3 if im tired and need go faster.

picks affects the tone. but just slightly...

i hate stubby picks..
in my opinion they are too small and good only for sweepings

I use stubby picks, but I don't sweep.. Well now I do a lil, but I've been using them for darn long.. T
he smaller size helps me trigger them harmonics, I wouldn't mind their bigger sized ones either..

And picks do affect the tone..
First, pluck with your fingers.. Then pluck with your Jazz III.. Then pluck with a V-pick.. All different sounds..

 

[EugeneSmasher]

I use some really normal looking picks. Blunt-tip. I find them very versatile, since I can use them from pop all the way to metal, on both acoustic and electric guitar. But I stick to medium thickness though. The thinnest I go is 0.7mm, the thickest is 0.9mm.

I find blunt-tips, especially those nicely weathered, allow me to alt-pick very smoothly and easily. Just the right picks for me.

In my opinion, the tone a pick makes, the difference in dynamics, etc are very minor, most non-guitarists wouldn't be able (or wouldn't bother to) tell the difference, but a guitarist does know what properties of certain picks he/she sticks to for comfort, grip, feel, etc.