I've been using the Dunlop Nylon Standard .60 since I started playing the tenor banjo!
While playing at home I think they work perfectly all the time, but at sessions they ALWAYS tend to get too floppy after a while, thus I lose control over my picking..
It really sucks when my playing gets sub par, just because my pick gets a flexibility similar to that of a slice of bacon!
I guess there could be many reasons to why I only experience this at sessions; My hands get sweaty, thus warming up the pick and making the .60 nylons extremely flexible. I also tend to play louder in a session than at home, using a more 'aggressive' picking!
Anyone else who has experienced this and could give me some advice on perhaps the optimal pick angle, the best gripping technique etc.
I have tried the .73 nylons as well and at first I found them way too stiff, but after a while I actually got used to the lesser flex (by not gripping it as firm as the .60) and then had no problems with my flow and triplets!
However I found that I really needed to play loudly to actually get a good flow with the .73, as opposed to the .60 where I can play very quietly and still get a good flow!
Personally, I would prefer to use the same pick all the time, so should I stick with the .60 and perhaps develop a more aggressive pick angle or should I get used to the .73 and instead hold it with a less firmer grip? Which is the best solution in your opinion?
Thing is, I tried Tortex picks (which I use for guitar) on my banjo once and it gave the banjo a very dull and boring sound imo! On the other hand Tortex are made of delrin plastic, if I don't misremember!
I'm actually very satisfied with the tone of the nylons (bright and 'snappy') and I really like the gripping surface they have! What I don't like with them, however, is that the material changes flexibility, which can be very cumbersome!
Plus, I think the nylons wear down quite fast..
Some players I admire seem to be getting a good sound from Dava picks but they don't work so well for me.
Having said that, the grey nylon Dunlop .73 is possibly the most widely-used pick by Banjo and Mandolin pluckers I've met so it would be worth persevering with.
Dunlop also makes a "glow in the dark" nylon pick that's .67, that's a nice compromise between the two sizes you're using. Out of the box, it feels a little floppier that their standard nylon picks, but it holds up better in the heat of action. I usually end up using this in a session on guitar instead of the .60
"How's the tone of acetal picks on a banjo?" Mattias Holm
Actually these picks seem to be gaining ground in Ireland because of the tone, Tom Cussen sells them and actually sent me one to try the last time I bought strings off him. Needles to say I lost it but it turned up a few months ago and I've been using them since. The tone is rich, a little different to the picks I was using before but similar enough. Get hold of a couple and see how you get on.
Okay, sometimes tastes differ!
Yeah, I know both the .60 and .73 nylons are widely used!
However what I really would like to know is if it's better to stick with the .60 and maybe angle the pick to get a great attack even when the pick gets warm, or if it would be preferable to move up to a .73 and simply accustom my grip firmness!
It feels like it'd be easier to loosen the grip a bit, rather than playing with a pick that simply flexes TOO much, regardless of your grip!
@ jeff_willner
Yeah, I've been thinking about trying the .67!
I guess that would be the best option if I can't decide between a .60 and a .73!
I'm not quite sure if they're widely available here in Sweden, but I guess I can at least try to get a couple of them and see!
So you use the .60 normally, but as me you think it gets too floppy during session and when playing for several hours?
At least I'm not alone, hehe!
I'll bring a couple of other heavier picks next session and see how I like it! If I don't like it, there are always a few hundred other models to try!
If you like your .60, but you think it's going floppy over time, could you not just take a handful of them, and switch to a fresh one when you think the current one is going off? That would make more sense to me than playing with a gauge you're not comfortable with.
Personally, I think it's much more likely that it's your grip that is going floppy, not the plectrum.
i have that problem with 60 picks as well and im quite a good player (not to boast). i find i cant play reels with the 73 . if there were 67s available they would be perfect. mostly in sessions that it annoys me too.
Different playing situations require different approaches( ie home vs loud sesh) so just like life itself if you want to succeed you need to be flexible and use whatever is right for the situation.
Like Solidmahog, I find that the .50 Claytons feel stiffer than the .60 Dunlops - I started out using the Dunlops but found as my ability to play at speed increased that the Dunlop plec felt too floppy. I get a louder, brighter tone with the Claytons as well, though they do wear out very fast.
I would recommend two picks to you based on personal experience:
1. Try a .46 Dunlop Delrin (pink) for home or quiet session playing. They are light but stiff and don't go floppy like the Dunlop Nylon .60 (which I used to use myself until I got sense!). They are an excellent choice and give a clearer 'ping' than the nylons. http://tinyurl.com/6j7v94z
2. For a noisier session try Planet Waves Duralin Pick S/Light 0.46mm - Red http://tinyurl.com/6272f5p
Although it has the same dimension, it is firmer but also gives a quality 'ping' and doesn't go floppy.
I've started to use both in these last few months, depending on the circumstances, and can highly recommend each one.
"Like Solidmahog, I find that the .50 Claytons feel stiffer than the .60 Dunlops - I started out using the Dunlops but found as my ability to play at speed increased that the Dunlop plec felt too floppy. I get a louder, brighter tone with the Claytons as well, though they do wear out very fast." triplet upstairs
Great minds and all that. They do wear quickly mind, but not so I'll worry about it.
I don't think there is any right answer here - and it depends on all sort s of things in addition to personal preferences.
From my own experience: I started using thin picks and moved increasingly to harder ones - playing with a warm thin pick started to feel like trying to hit the strings with a piece of lettuce!
Then there was the looseness/tightness of grip issue - having had the experince of a pick trying to spiral out of your hand and up your sleeve while you were playing - and trying to unspiral it while continuing to play....
The.60 (purple) feels a little stiffer, and I find the grip more to my liking.
I also use the .73 (red) when I want more volume, but I think it decreases fluidity somewhat.
I really like the Brain picks also: I consider the .88 (black) to be a pretty good, snappy general purpose banjo pick, but I prefer the 1.00 (grey) as it allows me more power, control & speed for the faster reels.
However, probably my most favorite pick is the Cool Picks "Coolcell" medium gauge (.75) in the pearloid finish. It's smooth & quick, allows me the best overall control, and produces a clean tone. It's my first choice for banjo, guitar, and mandolin, with the 1.00 grey Brain pick close behind. http://www.elderly.com/accessories/items/PKCC-M.htm
Tenor banjo pick question - .60 vs .73
Tenor banjo pick question - .60 vs .73
Hi!
I've been using the Dunlop Nylon Standard .60 since I started playing the tenor banjo!
While playing at home I think they work perfectly all the time, but at sessions they ALWAYS tend to get too floppy after a while, thus I lose control over my picking..
It really sucks when my playing gets sub par, just because my pick gets a flexibility similar to that of a slice of bacon!
I guess there could be many reasons to why I only experience this at sessions; My hands get sweaty, thus warming up the pick and making the .60 nylons extremely flexible. I also tend to play louder in a session than at home, using a more 'aggressive' picking!
Anyone else who has experienced this and could give me some advice on perhaps the optimal pick angle, the best gripping technique etc.
I have tried the .73 nylons as well and at first I found them way too stiff, but after a while I actually got used to the lesser flex (by not gripping it as firm as the .60) and then had no problems with my flow and triplets!
However I found that I really needed to play loudly to actually get a good flow with the .73, as opposed to the .60 where I can play very quietly and still get a good flow!
Personally, I would prefer to use the same pick all the time, so should I stick with the .60 and perhaps develop a more aggressive pick angle or should I get used to the .73 and instead hold it with a less firmer grip? Which is the best solution in your opinion?
Grateful for your help!
/Mattias
# Posted on June 10th 2011 by Mattias Holm
Re: Tenor banjo pick question - .60 vs .73
Mattias, I've recently started using these, clayton acetal:
http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/products/305-clayton_acetal_standard_guitar_picks_12_pack
In .50. Thiner but feel more rigid than the .60 dunlop.
# Posted on June 10th 2011 by Solidmahog
Re: Tenor banjo pick question - .60 vs .73
How's the tone of acetal picks on a banjo?
Thing is, I tried Tortex picks (which I use for guitar) on my banjo once and it gave the banjo a very dull and boring sound imo! On the other hand Tortex are made of delrin plastic, if I don't misremember!
I'm actually very satisfied with the tone of the nylons (bright and 'snappy') and I really like the gripping surface they have! What I don't like with them, however, is that the material changes flexibility, which can be very cumbersome!
Plus, I think the nylons wear down quite fast..
# Posted on June 10th 2011 by Mattias Holm
Re: Tenor banjo pick question - .60 vs .73
I use the Dunlop Tortex picks.
Some players I admire seem to be getting a good sound from Dava picks but they don't work so well for me.
Having said that, the grey nylon Dunlop .73 is possibly the most widely-used pick by Banjo and Mandolin pluckers I've met so it would be worth persevering with.
# Posted on June 10th 2011 by Bren
Re: Tenor banjo pick question - .60 vs .73
Dunlop also makes a "glow in the dark" nylon pick that's .67, that's a nice compromise between the two sizes you're using. Out of the box, it feels a little floppier that their standard nylon picks, but it holds up better in the heat of action. I usually end up using this in a session on guitar instead of the .60
http://elderly.com/accessories/items/PK446-67.htm
# Posted on June 10th 2011 by jeff_willner
Re: Tenor banjo pick question - .60 vs .73
"How's the tone of acetal picks on a banjo?" Mattias Holm
Actually these picks seem to be gaining ground in Ireland because of the tone, Tom Cussen sells them and actually sent me one to try the last time I bought strings off him. Needles to say I lost it but it turned up a few months ago and I've been using them since. The tone is rich, a little different to the picks I was using before but similar enough. Get hold of a couple and see how you get on.
# Posted on June 10th 2011 by Solidmahog
Re: Tenor banjo pick question - .60 vs .73
@ Bren
Okay, sometimes tastes differ!
Yeah, I know both the .60 and .73 nylons are widely used!
However what I really would like to know is if it's better to stick with the .60 and maybe angle the pick to get a great attack even when the pick gets warm, or if it would be preferable to move up to a .73 and simply accustom my grip firmness!
It feels like it'd be easier to loosen the grip a bit, rather than playing with a pick that simply flexes TOO much, regardless of your grip!
@ jeff_willner
Yeah, I've been thinking about trying the .67!
I guess that would be the best option if I can't decide between a .60 and a .73!
I'm not quite sure if they're widely available here in Sweden, but I guess I can at least try to get a couple of them and see!
So you use the .60 normally, but as me you think it gets too floppy during session and when playing for several hours?
At least I'm not alone, hehe!
I'll bring a couple of other heavier picks next session and see how I like it! If I don't like it, there are always a few hundred other models to try!
# Posted on June 10th 2011 by Mattias Holm
Re: Tenor banjo pick question - .60 vs .73
If you like your .60, but you think it's going floppy over time, could you not just take a handful of them, and switch to a fresh one when you think the current one is going off? That would make more sense to me than playing with a gauge you're not comfortable with.
Personally, I think it's much more likely that it's your grip that is going floppy, not the plectrum.
# Posted on June 10th 2011 by skreech
Re: Tenor banjo pick question - .60 vs .73
i have that problem with 60 picks as well and im quite a good player (not to boast). i find i cant play reels with the 73 . if there were 67s available they would be perfect. mostly in sessions that it annoys me too.
# Posted on June 10th 2011 by banjitar
Re: Tenor banjo pick question - .60 vs .73
Different playing situations require different approaches( ie home vs loud sesh) so just like life itself if you want to succeed you need to be flexible and use whatever is right for the situation.
# Posted on June 10th 2011 by Newty
Re: Tenor banjo pick question - .60 vs .73
Like Solidmahog, I find that the .50 Claytons feel stiffer than the .60 Dunlops - I started out using the Dunlops but found as my ability to play at speed increased that the Dunlop plec felt too floppy. I get a louder, brighter tone with the Claytons as well, though they do wear out very fast.
# Posted on June 10th 2011 by triplet upstairs
Re: Tenor banjo pick question - .60 vs .73
I would recommend two picks to you based on personal experience:
1. Try a .46 Dunlop Delrin (pink) for home or quiet session playing. They are light but stiff and don't go floppy like the Dunlop Nylon .60 (which I used to use myself until I got sense!). They are an excellent choice and give a clearer 'ping' than the nylons. http://tinyurl.com/6j7v94z
2. For a noisier session try Planet Waves Duralin Pick S/Light 0.46mm - Red
http://tinyurl.com/6272f5p
Although it has the same dimension, it is firmer but also gives a quality 'ping' and doesn't go floppy.
I've started to use both in these last few months, depending on the circumstances, and can highly recommend each one.
# Posted on June 10th 2011 by Gerry_McCartney
Re: Tenor banjo pick question - .60 vs .73
Hi Mattias
I use the same plectrum as yourself and have suffered the same problem so I take a few and switch them around as required.
All the best
Joe
# Posted on June 11th 2011 by dulahan
Re: Tenor banjo pick question - .60 vs .73
"Like Solidmahog, I find that the .50 Claytons feel stiffer than the .60 Dunlops - I started out using the Dunlops but found as my ability to play at speed increased that the Dunlop plec felt too floppy. I get a louder, brighter tone with the Claytons as well, though they do wear out very fast." triplet upstairs
Great minds and all that. They do wear quickly mind, but not so I'll worry about it.
# Posted on June 11th 2011 by Solidmahog
Pick thickness etc
I don't think there is any right answer here - and it depends on all sort s of things in addition to personal preferences.
From my own experience: I started using thin picks and moved increasingly to harder ones - playing with a warm thin pick started to feel like trying to hit the strings with a piece of lettuce!
Then there was the looseness/tightness of grip issue - having had the experince of a pick trying to spiral out of your hand and up your sleeve while you were playing - and trying to unspiral it while continuing to play....
# Posted on June 12th 2011 by Eachann mac Bodach
Re: Tenor banjo pick question - .60 vs .73
I've recently started using the Brain picks
http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/products/4352-snarling_dogs_brain_guitar_12_pack_picks_and_tin_box
The.60 (purple) feels a little stiffer, and I find the grip more to my liking.
I also use the .73 (red) when I want more volume, but I think it decreases fluidity somewhat.
# Posted on June 14th 2011 by oldstrings
Re: Tenor banjo pick question - .60 vs .73
I really like the Brain picks also: I consider the .88 (black) to be a pretty good, snappy general purpose banjo pick, but I prefer the 1.00 (grey) as it allows me more power, control & speed for the faster reels.
However, probably my most favorite pick is the Cool Picks "Coolcell" medium gauge (.75) in the pearloid finish. It's smooth & quick, allows me the best overall control, and produces a clean tone. It's my first choice for banjo, guitar, and mandolin, with the 1.00 grey Brain pick close behind.
http://www.elderly.com/accessories/items/PKCC-M.htm
# Posted on June 15th 2011 by fjorie01
Re: Tenor banjo pick question - .60 vs .73
Try a thimble.
Dave H
# Posted on June 18th 2011 by Dave Hanson