Thoughts on picks for flatpicking bluegrass guitar

An incredibly long video featuring me, rambling on about picks.
(00:00) Preferences
(03:45) Shapes of picks
(10:05) Pick thickness
(13:45) Some advantages of thin picks
(15:57) Some advantages of thick picks
(16:15) Sticky Picks R Importanter
(19:50) Bevels
(21:35) Playing examples
(33:30) Tricks with Teardrops
(37:35) Pick choice for crosspicking
(43:00) Super Thin Picks
(47:30) Conclusions
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Playlists:
Guitar Comparisons- • Guitar Comparisons
Evaluating Guitars- • Evaluating Guitars
Guitar Repair Technique- • Guitar Repair
1970's Martins- • 1970's Martins
Shop Tools and Layout- • Shop Tools and Layout
Questions and Answers- • Questions and Answers
Just Playing- • Just Playing
Instructional- • Instructional
Mandolins- • Mandolins

[@RedLittleBee]

Thank you Bryan. I am new to Flatpicking so every information is well appreciated. Especially your‘s ❤

[@billmoates4544]

I loved the video. Thanks for posting.

[@BradleyMcTaggart]

Wealth of knowledge. Thanks for sharing Bryan. My thumb overlaps my index finger quite a bit when I play, I’m going to work on bringing it back like you talk about here.

[@Ombibulous_Bluegrass]

This is great, thanks for sharing

[@Bryankimsey]

Thanks for watching!

[@mywrkout1]

Great Video on a subject almost never talked about on KZbin. Thank you!

[@Bryankimsey]

I'm surprised... I'd figure "picks" would be so over done that no one would want to see _another_ one. :)

[@redlinemando]

@@Bryankimsey People do a lot of them, but they're mostly "show & tell" & lacking quite a bit on the "tell". They rarely explain the mechanics in depth & clearly like you have in this video. Very Well Done!!!!!!! Great video & wishing you a very merry Christmas from KY!!!!!!!

[@dalesearcy5734]

Once that I found Primetone Picks, I never looked back. I use both the teardrop and triangle type. I also use both the smooth and the textured type. The smooth had a better sound but the textured picks are a lot easier to hold on to.

[@theopensoftgroup]

WOW. I am Mic'lovin the new mic Bryan. Great sound. Justice is now being served brother.

[@michaelmullen8373]

Thank you! You are such a great teacher!!!!

[@Bryankimsey]

Thank you!

[@redlinemando]

@Michael Mullen In my book, he's like the "Master Yoda" of guitar!!!!!!!

[@zen234]

Thanks so much! I just thought you get a pick and off you go... Wrong! You just opened my eyes and saved me a lot time struggling to get that bluegrass sound down. Shall get a load of picks in the morning especially those big heavy ones!

[@Bryankimsey]

Thanks for watching!

[@maxwellfan55]

Wow, this is the most fully comprehensive, important review of flat picks I've seen. And I still haven't reached the end yet! Important because picks are the sound makers between the player and the strings. Cannot over emphasise that importance, also reassuring guitar players that each chosen pick (shape, material, thickness) is very much down to personal preference. For decades I was ignorantly content using nasty thick(ish) Dunlop nylon pick till I began to experiment. First thing, I was amazed how picks had grown in choice and quality and the result? One of the reasons I got rid of too many good guitars - I was never really happy with the sound. Until that is, I discovered Dunlop Ultex (78's, 87's, 1mm), triangular shape. All I use now. And I buy lots, now able to discover the true, complimentary tone of each guitar.. Guitar players need this, so you've done a lot on their behalf. Thanks bud. Please do somethin on pins.

[@Bryankimsey]

Pins, huh? :) Good idea. Those are a lot harder and time consuming to A/B but we'll see! I've done it myself in the past but I guess it's time to video. I'm trying to get the channel to provide a little direct income and if it does, I'll make the time to do pins.

[@maxwellfan55]

@@Bryankimsey Nice one buddy, look forward to it. Best pins I used were snakewood, then someone told me, for optimum sound, should always match pin material to bridge material which kinda makes sense.

[@Bryankimsey]

Well, I think that by mixing material you could introduce different tones. I love snakewood pins.

[@eddiemurphy5772]

Loved this video. I tend to gravitate towards a semi rounded triangle around 1.25mm. Would love to hear you talk about Lester Flatt using a thumb pick and one finger pick. He is the first person that stands out to me as far as rhythm guitar. Thank you!

[@Bryankimsey]

Lester!!! Lester didn't have the rhythm percussion. That didn't really come about until Jimmy Martin and then perfected by Tony Rice. BUT.... there are some things that a thumb pick can teach you about flatpicking. I'll put it on the list of ideas.

[@redlinemando]

Lester's version of rhythm is emulated from the "Carter scratch", made famous by Mother Maybelle Carter. If you want to hear a modern & really hard driving bluegrass version of that rhythm style. Look up Bob & Danny Paisley. In my opinion, those two guys are the cream of the crop for that style!!!!!!! Jackie Phelps was another really good guitar player who played that style of rhythm with a thumbpick. He is mostly known for his "hambone" skits with his brother on "Hee Haw". At one time, Jackie played for Bill Monroe & can be seen on several early 1950's TV appearances with Monroe.

[@kennethevans138]

I use a teardrop but I use the round corners. I like a heavy but not crazy extra heavy. Several brands are fine just as long as the edges stay smooth and don't get rough fast.

[@waynepatton689]

I found two big tortoise shell cuff bracelets that were my grandmothers. I turned them into about two dozen flat, tear drop shaped picks. Each one sounds slightly different.

[@Bryankimsey]

That's the way to get 'em!

[@ericecklund676]

Bryan, I love the mic's you're using with your new video camera. I believe that this is a nice improvement on what you had before. I have learned over the last 50 years, that I sound like me when I'm playing, I love my Blue Chip TP 48 picks, but I also use a Primetone .96mm tear drop shaped pick. On my Dread's I like to use D'Addario EJ-17 strings. On my 000's I use Martin Eric Clapton PB Lights (.012 to .054). Thanks for taking the time to make this video. I'll kick in some money to help with the new camera. Great video on picks!

[@Bryankimsey]

Thanks! I love those EC's!!! If you wanna help with the new equipment, the link is good for 6 more days: www.paypal.com/pools/c/8PxiSVWE1s

[@ericecklund676]

@@Bryankimsey Okay, I helped a little, Merry Christmas! May I re-post the donation link on UMGF? Or, did you already do that?

[@Bryankimsey]

Someone else already did and they pulled it because UMGF doesn't allow funds solicitation. But thanks!!!

[@ericecklund676]

@@Bryankimsey Okay, well then maybe we can backchannel it through a couple of the Clubs that like to use your services.

[@christianboddum8783]

Ultex convert here too, they have the "stickiness" that other Dunlops don't ;-) For acoustic I use Dunlop nylon 0,7-1.0 mm. a lot. Once i a while i use 0.6mm. for the silky sound. For a 12 string effect i glue two 0.6 together with some thin rubber material in between, it works great. I agree on the right economy of motion right to the point between the thumb and index finger, but I go all the way to the shoulder and focus from there. It comes from doing AiKiDo a lot, I can separate motion and tension, and starting from the shoulder makes a lot of sense. I liked Gator grip a long time, but Ultex are just better. FWIW

[@wilhelmrogue1]

Love that aikido reference….

[@Bryankimsey]

Agree. The martial arts reference is excellent.

[@lambsquarterhorses]

Like you, I used to use and love organic picks. I own several BC picks and organic picks. Even Dunlop primetones , Golden Gate , Wegen and vintages Celluloid but i keep coming back to my teardrop Dava with rubber over Celluloid i guess. Wish you'd try one of those. Thicker BC a Tortoise picks seem warmer.a more quiet than say a BC TD35 or TD40.

[@Bryankimsey]

I need to be able to use the rounded corner and the rubber on the Dava prevents that. I also don't like the pick to dictate how exactly I hold it. Sometimes I move the point perpendicular to my finger and sometimes it angles back into my wrist. So that's why they're not on my short list. I have a box of picks in the shop that's full of hundreds of different things.

[@Artorias001]

I really like dava picks the grip alone on them is great. I figured out putting a velcro dot in the middle of a pick let me really increase the grip but it would open up the option to use different picks.

[@jamesdepalma6341]

Also, that is a beautiful Martin, sounds great! I see it has a gloss finish on the headstock which left me wondering which D28 it is. I thought it made it into another video but I can't remember which one now.

[@Bryankimsey]

That's the D-28 1941 Authentic. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eIClpYKBrriSq5I

[@billdedrick1914]

That D28A 41 sounds incredible Bryan.. What strings and guage do you have on it here? Martin MA550? D'Addario EJ17?

[@Bryankimsey]

Elixir Nanoweb PB, my custom gauge.... .056, .042, .032, .024, .017, .013 In one of the videos I comment on how "slinky" it feels for that reason.

[@brandonpiper3763]

What were the pick thicknesses of TR, CW and CS, do you know Bryan? I’ve often wondered. Enjoyed the Video Bryan!!

[@Bryankimsey]

TR liked about 1.0 mm to 1.2 mm. CS used Dunlop Delrin in 1.5 mm. I don't know about CW. Less choice for him, ya know?

[@jamesdepalma6341]

Bryan, are those primetones the smooth or the grip you are playing in the video? Almost looks like the smooth when you held the packs up to the camera. I'm reading alot of folks saying that they think the grips sound different than the smooth, any thoughts on this?

[@Bryankimsey]

Smooth. I don't like artificial grip as I re-grip the pick a lot when playing. I want naturally sticky grip. As I tried to explain, holes and ridges only work if you GRIP the pick. These: www.jimdunlop.com/primetone-standard-smooth-pick-96mm/

[@jamesdepalma6341]

@@Bryankimsey that makes sense, I bought the smooth last evening after watching this video. Can't wait to try them out

[@jamesdepalma6341]

@@Bryankimsey I never liked the the dunlop nylon grip picks so I thought the smooth would be the way to go

[@Bryankimsey]

Whoa... does that make me an... an... Influencer? :) :) :) Hope they work for you!

[@TT-wz6xy]

Great comparison Brian I think I liked the tone of both the bluechip & the primetone best , how strange as I have both and I never use them , I always feel like they sound muffled in my hands , I prefer my cheap Dunlop tortex … crazy eh … I like the snap I can get from them , but really liked them in your hands

[@jamesdoctor8079]

Hey, I have that mic! Is that an Og Rode Nt1? Cool vid

[@Bryankimsey]

It is! I tested several: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJ7To4qvn66qm6M

[@donchristianmusic9353]

That rode mic sounds great. How far from the guitar is it.

[@Bryankimsey]

About 16". And the input level is on 4/10.

[@donchristianmusic9353]

@@Bryankimsey thanks. I love your channel. I started scalloping braces on some of my 1000 dollar guitars a while ago. Then did a search for anyone else doing it. Found you. I've learned so much from you.

[@jefftrask8651]

Id really like to have 1971 D18 worked on. I saw on the website you are not accepting any work. I know youre probably tired of this question but is that true?

[@Bryankimsey]

The term "accepting work" is kind of misleading. I'm working but I'm only able to do about 1 guitar/month because my real job schedule is so hectic and unpredictable. Adding that shop in Los Alamos has helped a LOT. Plus, my current shop is about 1/2 the size of my old one. Finally, the line for work is out the door and around the corner, so while I'm "doing work", "accepting new work" is kind of a different story. I'm so sick of unpacking/packing guitars that I'm giving preference to drop-offs and stuff. Your best bet is to e-mail me. [e-mail]

[@JohnnyRebKy]

I cant stand using a pick that feels like a toe nail 😂. Anytning thicker than a Martin medium pick i just cant do. Seems like makes guitar muddy sounding and less ring.

[@Bryankimsey]

Bevel the tip. The sharper the tip, the sharper the sound. I demonstrated that with the heavy Red Bear there. I don't like flex in a pick.

[@gimpyjwilliams]

wow you sound just like joe walsh lol

[@Bryankimsey]

Maybe Joe sounds like me.

[@billdedrick1914]

@@Bryankimsey Maybe you sound like Joe as he was talking before you were born as he is more than a decade older than you.

[@Bryankimsey]

Well, life's been good to me so far. :) I don't how it is that so many people have heard Joe TALK. I can't recall ever hearing him talk.