Slippery Guitar Picks

**princeplanet** · 10-13-2009, 01:54 PM

I have dry smooth fingers, makes gripping the pick difficult at times and it really messes with my picking technique. As some of you realize, precisely where the pick is held dictates much of your technique, if it always slips inwards, it feels less secure and accuracy suffers. I feel (and play best) when the pick is held near the tips of both the thumb and finger. Are there types of picks that don't slip? How about a kind of adhesive that feels consistent from day to day? btw, Iike a 1mm turned away from the pointy end....

**mr. beaumont** · 10-13-2009, 02:06 PM

take something sharp, like a dart, and gouge some heavy "X" shapes into both sides. extra grip!

i learned that technique from the great jazz guitarist dimebag darrell.

**joe pass jr** · 10-13-2009, 02:14 PM

I saw a guy using some strange pic the other day. It has special thumb indentations with a kind of lattice pattern on both sides which make it mould to your fingertips real well. It is also shaped with about a 45 degree shave on both sides of the tip.

It cost him about $20 though

Sorry I cant remember what It was called.

I just use the Jim Dunlop X-H. I think its about 2mm thick. This particular one is made with a glossy transparent plastic and seems to grip rather well. My technique is a bit odd though so I have never really had a problem with it slipping.

Maybe you could try licking your fingers or something. A little moisture should help make it stick and stay in the one position.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 10-13-2009, 02:17 PM

A number of thicker picks have a dimple in them for better grip. I use Dunlop Big Stubbies:

but many picks have this attribute.

**rabbit** · 10-13-2009, 09:26 PM

On flatpicks I've used fingernail polish, applied in
discrete blobs, effectively. Need to let dry thoroughly
on one side before applying to the other.

I'm using a big stubbie now too. Want to try them in
nylon next, probably a mail-order purchase.

**P.J.** · 10-18-2009, 07:09 AM

Either gouging the picks to rough up the surface or buying already textured picks will probably work for you. Derlin picks have enough texture that I rarely drop them and I like their sound as well as acetyl picks. You can get both from Clayton.

=-) PJ

**mr. beaumont** · 10-22-2009, 09:13 PM

what, the pic of picks? you like it that much, huh, yu?

boy, i seem to remember you here before, different numbers after your name, same avatar and bullshit non-posts.

if you're gonna sell us shit, leave the jordans, we ain't interested. maybe "heinriksen jazzamp $400" would be a good signature...

only thing worse than a spammer is a dumb as rocks spammer. dumber than a sack of booteg chinese jordans.

**DrSatan** · 10-22-2009, 09:46 PM

I have the thickest Dunlop Big Stubby (that's what she said). I love it to death.

**Patriots2006** · 10-23-2009, 06:44 AM

I use Dunlop Jazz III but sometimes have the problem of slippage. Which Dunlop Big Stubby would best match the thickness of the Jazz IIIs? Are they the same size as the teardrops? I don't care for large picks.

**Tom Karol** · 10-23-2009, 11:09 AM

Dunlop has some new "grippier" Jazz III's on their website.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 10-23-2009, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by DrSatan

I have the thickest Dunlop Big Stubby (that's what she said). I love it to death.

I have a Way Huge Swollen Pickle. Not, really, but I have this ... Way Huge Swollen Pickle Fuzz

**petermelton** · 10-25-2009, 11:08 PM

Big stubbys are good till you get the littlest bit of moisture on your hands then that sucker is gone.

I use those or jazz III's and drill a hole in them.

**ejwhite09** · 07-27-2010, 03:55 PM

The best advice I got to fix this problem was from the late but still great danny gatton...cigarette ashes(which used to be in abundant supply in clubs and bars)rub a little on your finger tips and that pick is going no where. I imagine any thing of the same consistency would work.

**musicjohnny** · 07-27-2010, 04:05 PM

The new Jazz III's have finger grip on them, they are great picks!

**ejwhite09** · 07-27-2010, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by musicjohnny

The new Jazz III's have finger grip on them, they are great picks!

you mean the new ultlex one's? i use those, they are great but I usually file the edge a bit and still go with the ashes, when you get the sweat pumping they still slide around like woah.

**cutnstuf** · 07-27-2010, 05:00 PM

A simple solution is to make a hole in the pick with a paper punch. Or if you have access to a drill, you can simply drill a 1/4" hole through it. Or you can get some Gorilla Snot. Google it.

Cut

**rabbit** · 07-27-2010, 06:06 PM

"V-Picks" a new product, really do seem to get stickier as they warm up
from contact with your fingers. Pricey, difficult to find, but I like mine.
Still, my favorite is large fender "Thin"s for chords.

Have not gotten to the nylon Big Stubbies as I mentioned earlier.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 07-27-2010, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by rabbit

"V-Picks" a new product, really do seem to get stickier as they warm up
from contact with your fingers. Pricey, difficult to find, but I like mine.

BTW, despite their name, you can order V-picks from juststrings: V-Picks

**Modalguru** · 07-29-2010, 02:55 AM

I had the same problems and worked on it very hard. First thing I discovered was, that my whole picking technique was not so effective, not enough picking motion, etc. Then I got a very good teacher. He plays Dugain Picks, has really good attack and can play very fast, too. So I decided to get those picks too and changed my technique to a closed right hand with the thumb and the index finger in the troughs of the Dugain pick. After a couple of month I can now use whatever pick I want and it will not slip. My sound has improved alot, too.

Concerning the Big Stubbies mentioned by others here, I've tried them too, but I found them to sound too bright and remove a lot of mids.

Cheers, Chris

**oilywrag** · 07-29-2010, 09:05 AM

Princeplanet,try skateboard grip tape.Your pick will never move,a roll from amazon will cost about $4.00 just cut to shape and play away.

Cheers Tom

**princeplanet** · 07-29-2010, 12:27 PM

Originally Posted by oilywrag

Princeplanet,try skateboard grip tape.Your pick will never move,a roll from amazon will cost about $4.00 just cut to shape and play away.

Cheers Tom

Nice suggestion!

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 07-29-2010, 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by cutnstuf

A simple solution is to make a hole in the pick with a paper punch. Or if you have access to a drill, you can simply drill a 1/4" hole through it. Or you can get some Gorilla Snot. Google it.

That's on my short list of things I'm afraid to Google

**cutnstuf** · 07-29-2010, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

That's on my short list of things I'm afraid to Google

LOL!! Here ya go:
Buy Gorilla Snot Gorilla Snot | Stick Accessories | Musician's Friend

**derek** · 07-29-2010, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by oilywrag

Princeplanet,try skateboard grip tape.Your pick will never move,a roll from amazon will cost about $4.00 just cut to shape and play away.

Cheers Tom

Funny, I would have never thought of this, but my favorite picks feature a small disc of abrasive material very similar to skateboard grip tape. I refer to them as cat tongue picks, as they have the same sort of abrasiveness.

**Patrick Brown** · 09-12-2010, 08:41 AM

You can get Red Bear picks with 6 little holes in them for grip. On mine, I don't have the holes, but they are fairly tacky anyway. Closest thing to the real shell I had in the 70's. Can't recommend them highly enough.

Red Bear Trading Co. The Best Guitar Picks Made - Your Tone Starts Right Here