GUITAR STUDIO

Dunlop Ultex

should i buy a heavier guitar pick?

ok so ive been playing a long while now and well im using mediums its a .73 Dunlop Ultex Sharp and well i dont know if im not putting enough force in my alternative picks but when im practicing blue scales or some dimebag scales my pick will catch and not go up and when i try to fast pick this happens is it that im not using enough force or my pick should be heavier

Hello there,

Mediums are a common pick in rock and Dunlop are good picks. I prefer heavier picks than most. I do a lot of trem picking playing surf (think Dick Dale) and use most Dunlop 1.14. I sometimes use the 0.96. The commonly suggested pick for alternate picking is a medium pick so you have some flex. I don't like the sound of the pick flipping back and forth. I also think I have more control using the 1.14.

From what you are saying, I don't think it is the pick, nor do I think you are not applying enough force. My guess is that you are digging in too much and hitting the string too flat (pick flat to the string). I prefer to use not much more than the tip and angle the pick so I am hitting more with the edge than the flat side. I can do trem picking much faster that way.

Someone said to use 3.0 picks and that 2.0 was common for rock. The only time I have seen a 2.0 pick used was by a bass player. I have never seen a 3.0 and did not know they even made those. Anyway, I don't suggest you go over a 1.2 pick with a regular guitar string. I have some Alice picks in 1.2 and those work fine. Almost identical to the Dunlop Delrin but in a 1.2 thickness.

While I am rambling about alternate picking, let me make a couple other suggestions in case you have not considered these. Anchor your hand somewhere near the bridge when alternate picking. I am usually on or near the bridge. That will vary from player to player, whatever is most comfortable. Relax your hand. Do not grip the pick too tight. Many players think I'm about to play a speed riff and tighten up their hand. That is the worst thing you can do. Tension is the enemy of speed in any atlethic endeavor and that applies equally to picking. Large sweeping pick movements are showy. But for fast alternate picking you are better off with a minimum of movement. the less you move the faster you can move. Why I anchor my hand is because I move my wrist, not my arm when speed picking. I can flick my wrist a lot faster than you can wave your arm.

Hopefully some of that will help you. I would switch up to some thing between a 0.96 and 1.20 pick. But, I don't think the pick is the problem. I think it is technique.

Later,

Hello again,

One other thing. I don't like the sound of metal picks. Someone suggested those. You can try them and decide for yourself. My preference is for the Delrin Standard picks in the 351 shape, 0.96 or 1.14 thickness. I like the feel of those picks. I like the way the sides (edges) are shaped to a rounded sharpness and the point is not too sharp. Also like the tone those give when playing. I have not played a sharp pick since I quit playing jazz. Those are popular with jazz players, but I never did really care for them even for jazz. I prefer a slightly rounded tip because I play more down the tip than most. I like the rounded shape of the sides (edges) because I don't strike the strings with the pick flat. I get less resistance from the angled pick than striking flat and thus better control for speed.

guitarpickkid dunlop ultex review

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