what is the most common pick used by acoustic guitar players?

[Daveyo]

I can't seem to get away from Fender mediums
I've tried other but it just seems the attack and sound
And volume seem compromised when using the softer
Plastic Dunlop totex type.
What do you use and tell me why
Thanks,Dave

[Wade Hampton]

I'm not sure there IS a most common pick being used by most guitarists these days. I favor celluloid medium-heavy D'Andrea picks, and also like the TD-35 picks made by Blue Chip. But I don't care much for any of the more modern synthetic plastic pick materials like Tortex or Ultem, and never could get a good tone out of nylon picks.

But lots of people do: Doc Watson used to use a Dunlop nylon .60 mm pick. Those picks sound pretty awful when I use them, but Doc got a great sound with his.

So it's really all in the hands of the players, and they use whatever works for them.


whm

[BoneDigger]

I agree with Wade and I don't think there is a most common type. Bluegrass versus Jazz versus rock versus country, and the type of guitar all make a difference.

I tend to gravitate toward the .88 or 1.0 Primetone picks these days, though I will use an Ultex or Wegan on ocassion.

[rwmct]

I would be surprised if any model was more common than the Fender medium.

[Paddy1951]

I have been experimenting with picks for about a year. Before that, I used medium large triangles from Fender, Dunlop, Clayton etc.

I now use picks based on string brands and types, the specific guitar, the kind of tune.

I have kind of come full circle. I am playing quite a bit with Fender celluloid heavy large triangles.

I have uped the gauge of the picks I use. The range is now .88-1.14. I find no need to go heavier.

Others appear to do well with heavy exotic picks. I just can't do picks that exceed a couple of bucks per. I lose picks frequently. I can't afford to lose a $35.00 pick.

Like so many aspects of playing guitar, pick choice is pretty personal.

[McCawber]

I agree with Wade and others - probably no single common pick that we could identify. I experimented with a LOT of different picks and different materials until finding Red Bear and then Blue Chips. Finally settled on a TAD 50 or 60. They provide the sound I like. I didn't like the nylon types of picks at all - but I sure can't argue with Doc's sound, though . . .

[Goodallboy]

I'm in agreement that there's no consensus on the type of pick to use. I will also agree with the OP that Tortex picks diminish volume and softens attack way too much for me. I feel the same way about my BC picks, they're too soft if my guitar isn't amplified.

I don't use Fender Medium picks as I prefer a thicker pick. V-Picks are great as well as Pickboy MetaCarbonate. Perhaps harder to find, the Pickboy picks are some of the best I've ever used.

[Hoyt]

I like a Fender Medium too. If necessary, I could live with that one if forced too. But I have a bunch of different picks I like depending on my mood.

Had a Blue Chip. I liked it OK, and buying it stopped my obsession. I lost it, but didn’t feel compelled to buy another. I did recently buy a Charmed Life Orange flamed pick. I like it a lot, and might well replace it if lost, but there are still 6 other picks on my go-to pile, and another 20 close buy.

Can’t see having one or two exclusive picks. Picks are an acoustic musicians eq and effects. Finger nails and pads are like picks, in that respect.

[jim1960]

Originally Posted by Daveyo

what is the most common pick used by acoustic guitar players?

The one you find first when you're looking for a pick and you can't find one even though you own hundreds of them.

[Charmed Life Picks]

Without a doubt, the Fender Medium. Nothing else is even close.

scott memmer

[musicman1951]

I think it depends on a few things:

The guitar.
The strings.
The technique.
But most of all I think it depends on the sound in your head.

Arnold Jacobs taught wind players that there were two horns: the one in their hands and the one in their heads. The players job was to make the one in the hands sound like the one in their head.

I think we do that with guitars. We have a sound in our head and keep trying picks until we find one that matches that sound on the guitar in the room.

For me it's usually a BC TAD 40, but for you it might be a Fender medium.

[Steel and wood]

I use the very thin Dunlop picks (strumming combination flatpicking) but I hold them more towards their tips on a slight angle. (I like my fingers closer to the strings).

Lately though I've also been using small jazz picks for the above same reasons. (Tried all sorts of larger heavier picks but they're not for me).

[John K]

Have used Wegen picks for the last couple of years. They work great for me.

[boneuphtoner]

Originally Posted by Daveyo

I can't seem to get away from Fender mediums
I've tried other but it just seems the attack and sound
And volume seem compromised when using the softer
Plastic Dunlop totex type.
What do you use and tell me why
Thanks,Dave

+1 for me with the Fender mediums - now I'm mostly a classical fingerstyle player and don't used picks very often- and I've experimented very little with picks, except for the other Fenders and the most readily available Dunlops - the Fender mediums hit the sweet spot for me.

[rstaight]

I started out using Fender Mediums years ago. Tried several different brands, thickness, and shapes. Keep coming back to those Fender picks.