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Picks for Tremolo Picking


Balor

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Dunlop Tortex (standard shape) are my go-to, the orange ones if I'm doing a lot of tremolo picking, the (slightly thicker) yellow ones if I'm playing thicker strings or want a beefier attack. I know people who like their picks a lot thicker and prefer the more pointy ones, though - it comes down to technique, developed through practice. Like the old saying goes, "we shape our tools, and they, in turn, shape us."

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6 hours ago, FatherAlabaster said:

Dunlop Tortex (standard shape) are my go-to, the orange ones if I'm doing a lot of tremolo picking, the (slightly thicker) yellow ones if I'm playing thicker strings or want a beefier attack. I know people who like their picks a lot thicker and prefer the more pointy ones, though - it comes down to technique, developed through practice. Like the old saying goes, "we shape our tools, and they, in turn, shape us."

Thanks.

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  • 4 weeks later...
  • 1 year later...
On 1/3/2019 at 5:52 PM, Hiwatt said:

I use the Dunlop XL Jazz III series picks.  They will help you play faster.

JAZZ III MASTER RACE.

I tend more towards the regular jazz IIIs than the XL ones though, especially for tremolo picking or sting jumping stuff.

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  • 1 year later...

They used to say to use as heavy a pick as possible so that there is no give in the pick and it just cuts through the string. I never found that to be true in my case. But I just read an interview with Paul Gilbert where he says he used to use heavy picks for the reason I just mentioned but started using lighter picks and find them easier. YMMV. 

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  • 9 months later...

As a long time guitar teacher I say, go buy super light picks all the way to the big thick dunlop Jazz picks. Grab a different one of each thickness, then try them out. Everyones hand is a little different in how they move and pick. I can do some things with the super light picks I cant do with super heavy picks and some things only with the tip of my nail on my index finger like pinch harmonics without a pick. light picks can make sweeps weird, and truly flying with 32nd notes sometimes needs the old fender medium picks, why do I use those? I personally grip the writing on one side when i'm sweating, nothing else feels right. So picks are super personal.

As a guide go with what feels best, only you know, kind of a discovery you have to make for yourself.

Great excuse to go into a music store and play with gear too

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