On Mandolins, Its Playing Style, Mandolin Picks, Rhythm, and Practice

Schedule One's Practice

Playing a mandolin involves playing with multiple distinct styles, from tremolo to cross-picking. Players usually schedule the practice sessions and improve certain aspects of the playing style, from their grip of the mandolin picks to the way players practice their rhythm. One should keep track of their progress. Make time for the skills that are still confusing and improve on those the player have already practiced on. One could also challenge himself and learn other picking skills that can aid in the learning process.

Training Should Be Continuous

As with learning any other instrument, a player must practice constantly to improve on the skills. The concept of "binge practicing" is quite frowned upon, which essentially means practicing for hours in one day and not picking up on it for the rest of the week. Mastering an instrument takes time and effort. If one could at least make time, picking and scaling a mandolin, while developing a sense of rhythm, one could improve very quickly.

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How Guitar Picks Affect Picking Speed and Overall Skill of the Player

An article published in Ultimate-Guitar.com elaborated on picking speed. For most guitarists, the speed of picking a guitar is a good measure on how well one can play the instrument. In the article, the writer notes three issues with regard to picking speeds and how this really affects the level of one learning how to play a guitar.

Definition of Picking Speed

The article first defines that the picking speed is not just one technique that needs to be learned. Learning how to play fast and properly holding guitar picks come naturally as one progresses in his understanding of other playing styles. Perfecting every lesson will eventually help the person attain that desired picking skill. Speaking of desired speeds, the article also mentions how the speed of picking varies from one player to another. There is no standard when it comes to picking speed as each style can produce quality music as the player see themselves fit.

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What to Look for in Guitar Picks

Many people think little of their guitar picks, so much so that they don’t consider much more than the design when buying one. What these people don’t know however, is that your choice of pick has a significant bearing on how well you play and sound. Hence, what you might think is already your best might still be improved if you take these factors into consideration:

Size

Picks typically come in the standard 1.5 square inch size, but did you know that others can be as small as your fingertips while still others, as big as two inches? Since everyone has different sizes of hands and fingers, grip isn’t exactly the same from one person to another. Thus, you should try out various sizes of picks until you determine which one is the easiest for you to properly grip while playing.

Durability

If you’re playing often, make sure that your picks of choice are sturdy enough not to break in the middle of a performance and hardy enough not to force you to buy a replacement too often. Typically, the thinner the pick, the more prone it is to wear and tear.

Music and Style

Your choice should also depend on the genre of music that you’re often playing. Heavy rock guitarists often have the thickest picks, sometimes even 1.5 millimeters or greater. Moreover, if you’re using heavy gauge strings, you’d also probably want to invest in thick picks.

Function of Picks for Guitar Players

To most people, a guitar pick is simply a flat object that guitar players use to play their instrument. To professional players, however, this simple accessory can determine the type of sound their guitar can produce. The thickness of the pick, its material, the way it is gripped, and many other factors involving this small accessory can either produce the best music or break the performance altogether.

Beginner Guitar Tips: Choosing Guitar Picks

Although you can easily play a guitar with your mere fingers, the great guitarists understand that the sound of the guitar is much more powerful and clear with the use of a pick than without. At the same time, playing with a guitar pick is a basic skill every aspiring guitarist should master.

3 Factors to Consider When Buying Guitar Picks

An expensive, top-of-the-line electric guitar is expected to produce high-quality sound, but for a serious musician, there are other details and specifications that need to be met for them to hit the right notes, so to speak. Guitar picks are one of those “details”, and small as they may be, they play a huge role in a guitarist's life. If you are hunting for a good pick that will match your new guitar, keep these three important considerations in mind.

1. The right materials – First thing to consider is to choose a pick that is made with materials that work best with your fingers. People would commonly think picks are practically all the same, regardless if they are made of polyethylene, nylon, or acrylic, to name a few, but the material does make a difference. Find something that you feel comfortable with the most and do go for custom picks if you need to.

2. Thin or not – In relation to your comfort and playing style, find a pick that seamlessly adapts to the way you hit your strings. Do you like to strum and pluck your strings vigorously? Then a thin pick won't work for you, so opt for a thicker one.

3. Traditional V vs. Oddball Shapes – Yes, it may be cool rocking and rolling with an odd-looking pick, but note that oddball shapes virtually don't offer much, as opposed to conventional v-shaped options.

To Pick, or Not to Pick?

As a beginner guitar player, you have a voracious appetite to learn all things guitar. You watch videos on YouTube, study guitar tabs, and even join forums to connect with other like-minded individuals who share your passion for the six-string. All that just so you can get to know the secrets behind your guitar heroes and the songs they play.

During your hours of study though, you learn something very peculiar: Some guitar players play with a pick, while some don’t. This discovery spurs one burning question in you: Should you play with a pick or not?

It all boils down to preference and finding your own unique voice. Granted, using a pick is the simpler approach between the two choices, and is therefore a good starting point for a beginner. Using your fingers to pluck or strum demands more skill and is a technique that takes a long time to master.

Still, it is recommended that you experiment with both approaches and achieve a basic facility for each. Most pro-level guitarists can play either way, and will choose one over the other depending on the demands of a song.

In conclusion, there’s no right or wrong when it comes to choosing to play with or without a guitar pick. Again, it’s all about preference, and what feels and sounds good to you. So go ahead and try which one you like.