Jump to content
Please note: You can easily log in to MPN using your Facebook account!

My pick keeps falling out...


MadStrum

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 39
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Don't use a pick. :D

 

Seriously, it will get better in time.

 

As an aid, you might try use a hole punch and smack a hole in the pick where you normally hold it. That will let your thumb and finger actually touch and help hold the pick. Also try the Jim Dunlop nylon picks. They have some ridges that help the hold.

 

Our Joint

 

"When you come slam bang up against trouble, it never looks half as bad if you face up to it." The Duke...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, there's also that "Gorilla Snot" stuff...

 

Or, you could do what I did: adopt a "pickless"-style, ridin' bareback! Now I never drop a guitar pick...

Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do?

 

~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~

_ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by Caevan O'Shite:

[QB]Well, there's also that "Gorilla Snot" stuff...

 

good answer-i use to drop pix then i got me a "gob o' snot" and unfortunately i got some on my right hand fingers :( and couldnt get my fingers off the neck :) -it was horrible tryin to play-that stuff just dont come off!

so i stopped usin that stickee stuff and just slowlee learned to have a more firm hold on my pix.

s :cool:

AMPSSOUNDBETTERLOUDER
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pick dropping is usually caused by improper holding of your pick. I say usually because some times it happens just because it happens. You can try working on that. In the mean time, try "Brain, cat tongue picks" by "Snarling Dogs". They have little hooks like "Velcro" on them that grip your fingers. I bought a few of them years ago and haven't dropped a pick since.

http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/11/115600.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I remember going to see Cheep Trick in an old hockey arena in Kingston some 25 years ago. Great show just for being able to watch Rick Nielsen play (guitar fool) He'd play a few lines, toss pick into crowd, grab new pick from mic boom, not miss a note and repeat the process endlessly.

 

Of course each pick had his picture on it!

 

Solution: Two sided tape on mic boom and custom made picks! :D

I still think guitars are like shoes, but louder.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by Guitars are like shoes. But louder.:

I remember going to see Cheep Trick in an old hockey arena in Kingston some 25 years ago. Great show just for being able to watch Rick Nielsen play (guitar fool) He'd play a few lines, toss pick into crowd, grab new pick from mic boom, not miss a note and repeat the process endlessly.

 

Of course each pick had his picture on it!

 

Solution: Two sided tape on mic boom and custom made picks! :D

Wow, when I drop a pic it's like, ok start from the top.

bbach

 

Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by Guitars are like shoes. But louder.:

"I remember going to see Cheep Trick in an old hockey arena in Kingston some 25 years ago. Great show just for being able to watch Rick Nielsen play (guitar fool) He'd play a few lines, toss pick into crowd, grab new pick from mic boom, not miss a note and repeat the process endlessly.

 

Of course each pick had his picture on it!

 

Solution: Two sided tape on mic boom and custom made picks!" :D

I'm wandering off-topic here, but, I've just gotta say- I love Rick Neilen! He gets some great tones, not to mention his great rock 'n' roll sensibilities! One of my favorites; I wish we were neighbors!

Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do?

 

~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~

_ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by Guitars are like shoes. But louder.:

I remember going to see Cheep Trick in an old hockey arena in Kingston some 25 years ago. Great show just for being able to watch Rick Nielsen play (guitar fool) He'd play a few lines, toss pick into crowd, grab new pick from mic boom, not miss a note and repeat the process endlessly.

 

Of course each pick had his picture on it!

 

Solution: Two sided tape on mic boom and custom made picks! :D

Cheap Trick aside, this is good advice. As A String said, sometimes it happens just because it happens. Always have a backup ready where you can grab it immediately. Buddy Holly used to keep a pick stuck into his pickguard for just this reason.

May all your thoughts be random!

- Neil

www.McFaddenArts.com

www.MikesGarageRocks.com

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by nhcomp45@aol.com:

"i use my fingernails. They sound better and I can do things I never could do with a pick. The problem is I whittle them down pretty quick."

Oh, man, are we in the same boat there! I do everything I can to (naturally) strengthen my nails and keep 'em growing in. I hate tearing one! I'ts like playing with a weird-shaped, sucky pick all of a sudden...

Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do?

 

~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~

_ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On the Strat, I keep extra picks stuck in the pickguard. I think I picked it up from watching John Lodge of the Moody Blues. He had four or five stuck on his P-bass. ( Yes, he plays with and without picks). Speaking of Rick Nielsen, he has a killer guitar collection like EVH does: Strats, Teles,Pauls, you name it.
...touched down in the land of the Delta Blues.....in the middle of the pouring rain....
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by NMcGuitar:

Originally posted by Guitars are like shoes. But louder.:

[qb]Buddy Holly used to keep a pick stuck into his pickguard for just this reason.

Funny you and Tiger should mention that. I have always kept my picks there. You will see a small grey Jim Dunlop pick stuck into my guitar in the picture I'm using as my avatar. Works great, but the screws are getting a little loose after years of being pushed up by the picks.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by A String:

"...the (pickguard) screws are getting a little loose after years of being pushed up by the picks."

Veering temporarily off-topic here-

 

-take some wooden toothpicks or matchsticks and cut and split some little slivery pieces just long enough to sit in the screw-holes without sticking up past the top; sparingly, apply some wood-glue to them or the hole, with one or two splinters in there, and then simply replace the screw with a screwdriver, taking care not to over-tighten and strip it out. This works quite well and has been keeping many a pickguard- and strap-button-screw in place all over the world for years!

 

Now back to fickle, faithless picks!

Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do?

 

~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~

_ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by Caevan O'Shite:

Or, you could do what I did: adopt a "pickless"-style, ridin' bareback! Now I never drop a guitar pick...

Also what Jeff Beck did. Not only does he not drop picks now, he doesn't get pissed because he dropped a pick and huck a vintage Strat halfway across the room...

 

Don't strum so madly?...

 

I'm not able to hold a flatpick well (nerve damage) so I use Herco flat/thumbpicks. They work really well, without drills, toothpicks, glue, snot, etc.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by Caevan O'Shite:

Originally posted by A String:

"...the (pickguard) screws are getting a little loose after years of being pushed up by the picks."

Veering temporarily off-topic here-

 

-take some wooden toothpicks or matchsticks and cut and split some little slivery pieces just long enough to sit in the screw-holes without sticking up past the top; sparingly, apply some wood-glue to them or the hole, with one or two splinters in there, and then simply replace the screw with a screwdriver, taking care not to over-tighten and strip it out. This works quite well and has been keeping many a pickguard- and strap-button-screw in place all over the world for years!

 

Now back to fickle, faithless picks!

This is great advice and actually the method I used the first time I had this problem. Also comes in handy for many other loose screws! ;)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by Caevan O'Shite:

I'm wandering off-topic here, but, I've just gotta say- I love Rick Neilen! He gets some great tones, not to mention his great rock 'n' roll sensibilities! One of my favorites; I wish we were neighbors!
Neighbors with Rick??? With that long, weird "beard thing" I last saw him with I wouldn't expect him to take good care of his lawn :D
Link to comment
Share on other sites

IMHO, you can get the most awesome harmonics by simply using your fingernail.

 

Don't grow it too long. Just enough where you are not constantly striking your skin.

 

You may become sore at first, but you'll get use to it.

 

Peace :thu:

"Treat your wife with honor, respect, and understanding as you live together so that you can pray effectively as husband and wife." 1 Peter 3:7

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by Caevan O'Shite:

Originally posted by Guitars are like shoes. But louder.:

"I remember going to see Cheep Trick in an old hockey arena in Kingston some 25 years ago. Great show just for being able to watch Rick Nielsen play (guitar fool) He'd play a few lines, toss pick into crowd, grab new pick from mic boom, not miss a note and repeat the process endlessly.

 

Of course each pick had his picture on it!

 

Solution: Two sided tape on mic boom and custom made picks!" :D

I'm wandering off-topic here, but, I've just gotta say- I love Rick Neilen! He gets some great tones, not to mention his great rock 'n' roll sensibilities! One of my favorites; I wish we were neighbors!
"Surrender" is my ALL TIME FAV. riff!!! :thu:

"Treat your wife with honor, respect, and understanding as you live together so that you can pray effectively as husband and wife." 1 Peter 3:7

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by Caevan O'Shite:

Originally posted by Guitars are like shoes. But louder.:

"I remember going to see Cheep Trick in an old hockey arena in Kingston some 25 years ago. Great show just for being able to watch Rick Nielsen play (guitar fool) He'd play a few lines, toss pick into crowd, grab new pick from mic boom, not miss a note and repeat the process endlessly.

 

Of course each pick had his picture on it!

 

Solution: Two sided tape on mic boom and custom made picks!" :D

I'm wandering off-topic here, but, I've just gotta say- I love Rick Neilen! He gets some great tones, not to mention his great rock 'n' roll sensibilities! One of my favorites; I wish we were neighbors!
"Surrender" is my ALL TIME FAV. riff!!! :thu:

"Treat your wife with honor, respect, and understanding as you live together so that you can pray effectively as husband and wife." 1 Peter 3:7

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...
i got this thing that dispenses picks. it sticks on to your guitar. i think it holds like 8 picks in it or something. it rocks. if you drop a pick you just grab one real quick. it is like a pez dispenser kind of but without the dummy head---oh yeah and it dispenses picks!!
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I bought a few pics at the guitar show in London a couple of months back that are supposed to be all in one pics. They are triangular in shape and have a slightly different guage on each tip (I bought about 5, each guage has a small range of guages on the pic). Have barely used them but have found one quite nice for playing the acoustic recently.

 

Anyway, they way they are moulded has an indentation into the centre, so if you use one particular edge to pick with, they're rather hard to drop. Will see if I can find a pic on the web or try to take one....

Fa Fa FA Fa fa fa fa fa FA fa FA FA
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I found some picks around here that have the non-skid surface painted on them. The are labeled "Cool" picks,and I do not know who makes them, but they do NOT slip at all.

One thing you might consider is using a thinner pick, if you are currently using a very heavy one. The medium weight ones bend a little more than the heayy ones do, and that puts less strain on your picking thumb and forefinger, which make sit easier to hold onto the pick as it goes across the strings. IF you do this fro a while, you picking hand muscles will eventually buff up to the point wher you can hold a heavier pick.

Did anyone see the Jeff Beck in the Martin Scosese Blues series? He did some amazing stuff without a pick. HAd me wonderng if I should quit using them myself. Way cool tone that way.

Always remember that you are unique. Just like everyone else.

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by Caevan O'Shite:

Originally posted by Guitars are like shoes. But louder.:

"I remember going to see Cheep Trick in an old hockey arena in Kingston some 25 years ago. Great show just for being able to watch Rick Nielsen play (guitar fool) He'd play a few lines, toss pick into crowd, grab new pick from mic boom, not miss a note and repeat the process endlessly.

 

Of course each pick had his picture on it!

 

Solution: Two sided tape on mic boom and custom made picks!" :D

I'm wandering off-topic here, but, I've just gotta say- I love Rick Neilen! He gets some great tones, not to mention his great rock 'n' roll sensibilities! One of my favorites; I wish we were neighbors!
you just want to get in his basement and maul those guitars!!!!!
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...