Hey Friend,

The pick (plectrum) you use also affects your sound. That isn’t something I considered at all when I started out. I’ll bet you didn’t really think about it, either.

When I began playing guitar, I used thin picks because I thought strumming required a flexible pick that would bend when it hit the strings.

And, I didn't know any better... (Okay, that's more likely).

This produced a softer sound - I compare it to a something like a brush being swiped down the strings. It’s light sounding, but doesn’t do much to help project the sound waves.

Another drawback to using a thin pick, especially for Rock music, is less control. The more flexible a pick is allows it to bend and slip when playing. When you do anything more than strumming, you want a more rigid pick to give you additional force against the string.

As the pick width gets thicker, it allows you better management of the dynamics (the character of the produced sound). You can strike the strings with harder force and get a louder result, whether you’re strumming or strategically picking note by note.

I’ve been playing with medium picks for years now, and they have served me well. Since my musical interests are all over the place, medium picks give me the range I need. 

If I want a lighter sound, I simply adjust the way my hand approaches the strings. Ya know, use a lighter touch.

Jazz and metal players gravitate to heavy picks. These allow them the greatest control over the dynamics of the notes they’re playing. A harder pick will let you have surgical accuracy when playing, but they’re more demanding to use.

The heavier the pick, the more you’ll have to develop your touch.

When playing guitar, you have to realize your hands are more important than the equipment in your hands. Your ability to develop finesse in your picking hand quickly is something I’d like you to think about. 

By finesse, I mean how hard or soft you approach the strings, whether it’s with your fingers or a pick. You want to learn to vary how you connect with the strings, how much force you use so that you control the quality of the sound you produce.

More on this tomorrow...

Peace~

Dave