Flicking plectrums at the audience!

mikeypfc23

Hi, I wondered if anyone else has suffered this nightmare? My problems stem from being left handed but stubbornly persisting with playing right handed. Basically when my hands start to sweat or I'm really going for it with the rhythm playing. I have a tendency to flick plectrums all over the place. I've tried most things from not using one at all to using a thumb pick and even gluing my fingers to the pick with various products supposed to stop this happening, but I still don't have the definitive answer. Any bright ideas out there or recommendation for super grippy plectrums etc?

Winny_Pooh

Try thin cork pads?

Grunfeld

Thicker plectra?
I use Big Stubby 3mm
And basically down strokes for nearly everything and a tendency to get hot and sweaty but the 3mms are good.  Don't lose them too often.

stratman3142

I'm left handed and play right-handed.

I remember I had a problem in the early days that the pick would rotate, but I got used to spinning it around and moving it back. One thing that helped was holding a pick even when I wasn't playing guitar so it became second nature holding and moving a pick without thinking about it. As a left hander that's an option because you can write with your left whilst still holding the pick with the right.

You can also get used to varying the tension of the grip. You might be gripping the pick too tightly.

I'm OK with most types of pick but currently use Jazz 3 Ultex picks, which happen to have an excellent grip.

Jalapeno

Gorilla Snot (seriously look it up - works a treat).

webrthomson

Jazz 3 Ultex - this

thomasross20

I was at a gig once using a tiny Jazz III (my preference these days). Black. It was dark. I lost it. 
Had to stop for a couple mins to find it as it was my only plectrum!! Jesus, I learned something that day

stratman3142

thomasross20 said:

I was at a gig once using a tiny Jazz III (my preference these days). Black. It was dark. I lost it. 
Had to stop for a couple mins to find it as it was my only plectrum!! Jesus, I learned something that day

I used a black Jazz III for years. That was influenced by the fact that I asked Alan Murphy what pick he used at an SFX gig and he gave me a black Jazz III.

Now I prefer the Jazz III Ultex (amber coloured pick). It's got a kind of sticky feel to it and at first I sensed a slight drag on the strings, but now I've got used to it.

viz

Jalapeno said:

Gorilla Snot (seriously look it up - works a treat).

I've got some spare if anyone wants some, just pay postage. 

thomasross20

I'll check that Utex version out!

daveyh

I scratch a criss cross pattern into the pick with a knife or even a soldering iron

TheMarlin

V picks.  They are acrylic. They take a bit of getting used to, but now I'm a massive fan. 

Miss they warm to body temperature, they bond with your skin, so become more grippy and sticky.  

Been playing them for years.  Rarely drop one. I just keep giving them away, as I want others to try them.

Converted quite a few to v picks now.  Expensive hobby though, I play Snake, Screamers, and colossus (depending on the guitar), and they are not cheap. 

Well worth it though. 

Marlin

mikeypfc23

Thanks to all of you who suggested the Ultex Jazz 3. Bought one to try it and wadda you know no spinning, and with just a touch of pick honey, I can now strum as hard as I like without flinging it around the room. I,be just ordered a load more now. Downside Is the missus complaining about the extra volume I can now get. Anyone want to trade her for a Gretsch 6120?...lol

mikeypfc23

Huh! Typical, ordered a big bag of jazz 3 Ultex to play until my fingers bleed and now I've been stuck in hospital since Thursday so can't even try them out! Getting a serious case of GWS (guitar withdrawal syndrome) now. Hope the wife is taking good care of my babies whilst I'm in here!

Gassage

My fans welcome a thrown pick here and there.

mikeypfc23

Gassage said:

My fans welcome a thrown pick here and there.

They might, but it throws my strumming into complete disarray when I have to start strumming without one halfway through the song!

digitalscream

Use expensive picks. Your brain will get the idea pretty sharpish.

Alnico

I've got jazz III XL Primetone with a built in grip. It's got burnished edges and it just doesn't move between my fingers. The tone and volume is amazing.

I also bought the slightly larger standard size in the same pick and the 3mm Jet Black Primetone Large Pointed which has it's own grip moulded into it; That one is insane for heavy rhythm parts.

I was awful for dropping picks and in a month using these i haven't dropped them once. I've also developed a technique of using three fingers for rhythm parts and switching to two fingers for lead and because these are so positive to hold, it's dead easy (Cheers Paul Gilbert !).

Primetone work out at around £2 each but are SO worth it.

If you want to try one PM me and i'll send you a get well soon pick to try.

Get well soon man.
It's going to be me in Hospital on September 8th and i'm not looking forward to it one bit.

Alnico

http://i.imgur.com/inLAgO0.jpg

mikeypfc23

Alnico said:

Get well soon man.
It's going to be me in Hospital on September 8th and i'm not looking forward to it one bit.

Thanks for that, came out of the blue for me so no time to prepare for it! Hopefully might get out tomorrow, missing my guitars now. Hope all goes ok for you and thaks for your kind offer. I'll PM you when I get out.

Alnico

No worries man.

All the best.