All About Fingerpicks

If you play fingerstyle guitar, or bluegrass banjo, some of this information may be familiar to you.  However, if you are getting started in this style of play, then some of this information may be valuable.

Metal fingerpicks, plastic thumb pick.

This seems to be the most common combination, since metal thumb-picks make a grating sound on the lower strings, and plastic fingerpicks (on the first and second fingers) do not provide a particularly sharp attack.   The best kind of metal fingerpicks, for the money, are either Dunlop or National.   Most are nickel steel, though you can find brass or bronze  fingerpicks, and both come in various gauges (thickness).  Elderly instruments sells cobalt-plated fingerpicks, which, apparently, have less "drag" on the strings.  I have used them and they do sound very bright, brighter than brass fingerpicks.  On eBay you may see "vintage" or "pre-war"  National fingerpicks going for a lot of money.   They sound no better than new picks, but may have some ego/status because they are old.  My suggestion: get new picks and save your money.

The Best Thumb Picks

For 30 years I used a plain, clear plastic, Dunlop thumb pick.  No more.  I have discovered Fred Kelly thumb picks, and they are good.   They are good because they produce a very clear sound, and are a bit shorter than most thumb picks.   As well, they come in a variety of thicknesses, from quite thin (Yellow) to medium (orange) , heavy (white) and extra-heavy (also white).  These are in Delrin.   They polycarbonate picks often break, so steer clear.   However, the Delrin are very fine and come in two styles:  The Slick Pick and the Speed Pick.   The Slick Pick has a flat blade, the Speed Pick has a smaller, match-stick, blade.  If you do a search on Fred Kelly picks, you will find them.  They are just great.   I have tried many thumb-picks over the years, and I like these best.  They are inexpensive and work well.   The Speed Pick has a sharper attack, due to the smaller surface area.  So if you want a very sharp sound, a Yellow Speed pick will brighten up the instrument greatly.  However, if you have an overly-bright instrument, then try the Speed pick in a heavier gauge.

Combining Brass and Nickel

The first finger usually hits the middle strings, and the 2nd finger hits the top strings.   I use a brass fingerpick on the 2nd finger, and a cobalt-plated nickely for the 1st finger.   I do this because a cobalt-plated nickel pick on the top (E and B) strings can be overly-bright.  With brass, the brightness is slightly diminished.   However, the cobalt plated nickel works well on the "wound strings" such as D and G, and "slips" well.  And, because the wound strings are not as bright as unwound strings, the cobalt/nickel is a good pick to use. 

Banjo

Most banjo players like a good, sharp attack.  Therefore, the above metal picks, along with a Fred Kelly Speed Pick, will give you a very clean sound.  I have played bluegrass banjo for a long time, and the Speed Pick is just great for fast picking.   The blade on the Speed Pick is slightly long, so I often take an emory board to it, and taper it down a bit.  

Well, that's it.  Good luck picking.  Maybe we'll get together on a porch somewhere and play some songs.