 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| ||||
| Moderated by: Tony Provencher, Richard Hefner |
|
||||||||||||||
| AT LAST -- THE PERFECT STRUMMING PICK | Rate Topic |
| Author | Post |
|---|
| Posted: Mon May 4th, 2009 10:35 am |
|
1st Post |
|
Mouskie Approved
|
Finger-strumming a baritone is not easy, in contrast to the bari's three "rubber band" cousins. And I've heard a few other bari players complain of the same thing. For many years I struggled with the problem, until finally I resorted to using picks. And I hated every one of them. Because I strum across the last 3 or 4 upper frets (rather than over the upper bout), the picks like to "eat the meat" that lies beneath their pointed snouts, leaving shallow craters in the fretboard. And the racket they created made it sound like I was being accompanied by a snare drummer, with a fistful of steel brushes. I then started experimenting with different materials (endless list --not going there, so relax). A few worked quite well, but quickly wore themselves ragged. Never-ending battle... A couple weeks ago I opened a 2-lb can of coffee and set aside the plastic lid. As chance would have it, a plastic uke pick (the thinnest I could ever find-- I believe 38mm) was laying on the kitchen counter. For whatever reason, I idly picked it up and flexed it in my fingers. I then picked up the plastic coffee lid and did the same. My heart skipped a couple beats. I'd already been down the plastics road, with disappointing results. But somehow the coffee can lid felt different between my fingers. Or was it my imagination? Out with the scissors. I cut a section of plastic and then shaped it so that it resembled a Band-Aid -- about 2-1/2" long, an inch wide, and both ends rounded. I then took an emory board and smoothed the edges. And sat down with one of my baris. Well...you can anticipate the rest (or I wouldn't be scribbling this happy epistle). Not only has most of the contact noise disappeared, but the perfect flexibility of the plastic allows me to execute the synchopated rhythms that heretofore eluded me. What's more -- while this plastic bends ("arches" is a better word) a bit during play -- it retains its molecular memory and lays more or less flat again after use. And light as a feather. I've yet to lose my grip during play, and that puzzles me because it feels so slippery. And it's playable at either end. No nicks, no friction fuzz -- looks exactly like it did when I cut it out two weeks ago. I pinch it between thumb and forefinger about midway down its length, and that gives me a medium tone. I have a couple custom baris with extended fretboards (16 frets to the body), and my new Chase & Sanborn really tickles them bells in the upper reaches. No more $3-5 picks! No more cut-up credit cards! No more Frankenstein experiments! I'm assuming all such coffee lids, no matter the brand, conform to the same industry standard. Sure hope so...tho it appears a single lid will last a lifetime. Other than the fact that the pick looks like a miniature tongue depressor -- it's a winner!
|
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Posted: Mon May 4th, 2009 02:59 pm |
|
2nd Post |
|
Charlie Approved 
|
I have used that same pick and it worked as you said, I also have found one that I like even better and it is made from a old leather belt that I cut up and made picks from it, use real soft leather and you don't get the loud pick noise on the strings and fret board. Charlie
____________________ Yesterdays Tomorrow is Today http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/charlesculbertson |
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Posted: Mon May 4th, 2009 06:01 pm |
|
3rd Post |
|
Toby Approved
|
I to have used a coffee cover or a plastic milk bottle to make felt picks. Just cut out the size and shape you like and sandwich it between 2 pieces of felt. It works sooo much better then the high priced picks.
|
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Posted: Mon May 4th, 2009 07:27 pm |
|
4th Post |
|
TomHB Approved 
|
I've been using these: http://www.music123.com/Wedgie-Rubber-Guitar-Pick-110003-i1123414.Music123 $1.49 for a three pack. I like the thin medium one best.
|
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Posted: Wed May 6th, 2009 04:19 pm |
|
5th Post |
|
CDon Approved 
|
Mouskie wrote: I'm assuming all such coffee lids, no matter the brand, conform to the same industry standard. Ah! Maybe not... Do you prefer the translucent lid (aka Maxwell House) or the black lid (aka Folgers). They appear to be different plastics. I would just give one a try, but She Who Makes Dinner says I can't cut them up til the coffee is gone. Narrow minded view in my opinion...
____________________ A ukulele in every pot... |
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Posted: Thu May 7th, 2009 02:44 am |
|
6th Post |
|
Dave Alexander Approved 
|
CDon, I think you're bein pushed around. You gonna let Her talk to you like that? I wouldn't take it! Ooops, gotta go, I have to take out the garbage, wash the cat and rub some feet. On the subject of picks, I actually think its better that my strumming isn't louder. So I usually just thumb strum.
____________________ "My ukulele playing IS entertaining. Just not always to others." -- Dave Alexander |
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Posted: Tue May 19th, 2009 06:03 pm |
|
7th Post |
|
DaveVisi Approved 
|
TomHB wrote: I've been using these: I just learned about Wedgies and I'm trying them out on my Mountain Dulcimer. I thought I'd like the heavy hard one, but it turns out the thin soft one works even better. No "thunk" of the heavy pick, and no pick noise. I'm waiting for my Tenor Uke to arrive, and I might do some playing around on that too. I'll let you guys know what happens. BTW, the various sizes and weights of the Wedgies are sometimes hard to find. I bought a variety pack from Amazon and along with some nylon and delrin picks, it had one of each type of the rubber picks as well.
|
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Current time is 12:15 am | |
| ezFolk Forums > Ukulele > Baritone Uke > AT LAST -- THE PERFECT STRUMMING PICK | Top |
Copyright © 2007-2008 Data 1 Systems
Page processed in 0.4336 seconds (8% database + 92% PHP). 27 queries executed.