Thanks everyone. This is affirming. I think getting back to carrying a pick everywhere and just managing the mental side of things can help. I can’t say I’ll commit to the thin pick, but I’ll give it another go. Many thanks.
Outstanding advice my friend.
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Yeah, I don’t claim to be good, but after eight years of playing now, I rarely have a problem with it, and have noticed that I routinely make little adjustments to the pick position with my other fingers without even thinking about it.
I bought a couple of them a month ago and they’re quite good, definitely not slippy, but they’re not do-it-all picks, at least for my playing style. I don’t like how chugging feels with them and they’re not suitable for pick scrapes as I found out while recording my latest AVOYP. But for lead playing, strumming and playing without palm mute they’re great.
Pick slipping is something I’ve struggled with a lot over the years. I started out doing only fingerstyle and when I first started with a pick the slippiness of them drove me crazy. For some it is a feature to slip the pick around, and I acknowledge that.
I have used the dunlop maxgrip but more recently the lead series from bog street: https://bogstreet.com/
I love these picks.
Also check out Justin’s course on thumb and finger technique.
That technique opened up a whole bunch of pick less goodness for me
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I have found that if I rotate my wrist a bit as I strum, it helps with pick slipping. Maybe because then it’s the wrist rotating rather than the pick? maybe I am flinging my hand around in an ‘impropper’ way, but it has really helped my playing with the pick. I have even started using a thicker pick lately without too much trouble
I use a product called Gorilla Snot. I put a VERY small amount on my picks and wipe to remove any excess. I find it particularly good in the New England winters when my skin gets dry and I don’t want to put anything on them for playing.
I’d never heard of this, thanks for sharing! I’ll be checking it out for sure. It’s not yet winter, and already my skin is feeling dry.
Sticky picks and clears your sinuses as well. Perfect for winter practice !
I want one of those also because I love tools.
I always carry a pick or in my pocket. Every pair of shorts and pants has a pick. In my caddy dish I keep picks. Thats why I am always playing with them in my had like you described. Getting used to manipulating them with my fingers.
Plus if I am if the gods of rock ever bestow me the honor of being called onto stage to stand in for a famous guitar player I will be ready with my pick to jam. Its happened with Dave Grohl picked the kid with the sign and he played played Monkey wrench.
Same here, I’ve always got a pick handy.
Thanks for the tip about the picks. These look interesting. Is there a type meant more for rhythm/strumming? I’ve tried just about everything it seems and I keep going back to the Dunlop standard nylon, but I might check these out for giggles.
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I went for the “lead” model because I wanted the thicker (1.5mm) option. I only use the thickest (1.5mm) side.
When I started playing well over 10 years ago, I used a much thinner pick (.68) but moved to a thicker pick in more recent times. I like thicker a lot better once I got used to it.
I learned about Gorilla Snot years & years ago when my son was a drumline drummer in High School… he used it on his drumsticks & borrowed my picks to play his electric guitar. Then, when I got my pick back, it was sticky & very “grippy”!
I’d forgotten all about this… gotta go get a small bottle & try it again!!!
Tod