Robben Ford Discussion

[Liquids]

For a long time, since I saw an EJ instructional video as a young teenager, I've been using some kind of thick pick. Likewise, When I started attempting to play jazz and since, I've used the biggest picks I can find with a good tone, which have varied over time--I've got quite a collection of picks that I no longer use, by now. I've used the 2.0mm Dunlop 'gator grip' for my electric pickstyle playing for a long while (preceded by 1.14mm tortex, etc), but I do use some ultra-thin nylon picks I got years back for occasional acoustic strumming, knowing that for rhythm playing thick picks are a tonal compromise.

About two years ago I switched to learning how to play with my fingers, and now do so exclusively for my own music. I get up/down single note lines mostly by alternating (so to speak) thumb and middle finger, and it works great for me....

Anyhow, there are times when I'm playing where a pick still makes some kind of sense--those rock gigs, etc. I notice Robben still uses a pick a lot (though he uses his fingers too). Picking and what you use, force, attack angle, etc is definitely a part of ones tone and playing...

I saw a video on his website recently, which is from a while back, where he mentioned "I play the biggest picks I can find." Likewise, I recently got "The Art of Rhythm" DVD, and the sound he gets on that DVD is clearly from a thin pick. It even came up in the DVD Q-A segment and he mentioned picks, saying something like, "I find the thinner the pick, the better the tone." That's a big shift!

Anyhow, that got me interested in re-experimenting. I agree for rhythm, but for a big fat single note tone and my previously heavy-handed picking, I always went for a big pick, tonally.

I broke open my pick collection, and while experimenting realized 1) I use my fingers most of the time for leads anyway 2) So long as I choke up on a pick like I'm supposed to, any leads with a thin pick sound fine 3) as always, for anything rhythmic, a lighter pick sounds better to my ears

This of course led me to think I should try getting used to thinner picks more regularly. I'm already partial to tortex and something around .50mm and .60mm thickness, but I'm curious exactly what picks Robben uses, if he had a big change from heavy to light picks at some point, and what others guys here use.

[spatzi]

I use a thin pick. 0.38
That's the thinnest I can find. I'd probably go thinner if I could. I never understood how anyone can use a thick pick and play decent rhythm. There is no way to get a percussive strum with mutes going while using a thick pick. Too much friction. I also use my fingers for leads and comping. I tend to pluck triads instead of strumming. You get a much better 'bass pop' sound when you use your fingers. It's a combination of the pick and the middle finger for leads. I also have fake nails on two fingers because I like to get them very close to the strings while strumming, holding the pick very short. This used to wear my nails down a lot, but now with the thick covering on the index and middle finger of the right hand, I can really get percussive strums going. I also use the extended edge of the fake nail to pull the strings for leads. Constant single notes with the pick is a waste of energy and movement.

Jeff Beck hasn't used a pick for 30 years. You get a lot more personality in your playing by cutting back the use of the pick and using your finger.s