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Topic: Metal v. Plastic picks |
Curt Trisko
From:
St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
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Posted 10 Jun 2015 12:20 pm |
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I use a plastic thumb pick with a small, flexible striking surface. My finger picks are thin and metal with a very curved striking surface that extends well past my finger tips.
For my picking patterns, I'm going out of my way more and more to use my thumb to get the 'finesse' notes out the guitar, even on the high strings. I just like the sound texture more.
My question is why is there a difference? Sure, the plastic pick is more flexible, but shouldn't the curved surface of the finger picks have the same effect of the strings... to create a little give?
I'm thinking that's it's due to me being able to strike the strings at a shallower angle with my thumb than my fingers. Does this sound right? |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 10 Jun 2015 1:08 pm
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Whatever you wear on your thumb, it will sound different from your fingers, as it's significantly further away from both the pickup and the bridge.
So when harmonising on two adjacent strings there's quite a difference in sound between using thumb and second (which emphasises the upper voice) and first and second (which sounds much more equal).
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Georg Sørtun
From:
Mandal, Agder, Norway
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Posted 10 Jun 2015 3:09 pm
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| Ian Rae wrote: |
| Whatever you wear on your thumb, it will sound different from your fingers, as it's significantly further away from both the pickup and the bridge. |
Probably correct ... many seem to play with the thumb-pick in "its own" position. I do too when I want that particular sound.
My picking hand is normally angled quite a bit, so the thumb-pick and the first and second finger pick are pretty close to being the same distance from the bridge - hitting exactly the same spot on a string without me moving my hand relative to the bridge. Consequently, when I use a short, narrow-point metal thumb-pick that approximates the shape of my finger-picks, the same sounds are produced regardless of whether the thumb or a finger pick hits the strings.
If I want softer/warmer sounds from my thumb-pick, I put on one like these...
...that I have shortened and narrowed the blade slightly on.
With the same "picks in-line" hand angle the delrin thumb-pick does produce softer sounds compared to the metal thumb-pick. With the thumb-pick in "its own" position the delrin thumb-pick does of course produce even softer sounds compared to the finger-picks.
So, regardless of shape and position, a plastic/delrin thumb-pick will produce softer/warmer sounds than metal finger-picks. |
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Henry Matthews
From:
Texarkana, Ark USA
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Posted 11 Jun 2015 7:42 am
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These are very good thumb picks and they last forever and only about $4 each I think. Since the plastic or whatever it is is so hard, it gets close to a metallic sound.They are also very comfortable. I think Elderly Instruments has them.
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Henry Matthews
D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 11 Jun 2015 7:44 am
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Some of the different sound is due to the fact that the thumb is striking the strings farther from the changer! If you play near the center of the string, the differences are far less evident...to me, anyway.  |
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