Archive for category: Musicstore

First ever (guitar) picks

This blog is about the history of plectrums and it explains how D’Andrea guitar picks became the standard. With their 351 pick shape they changed the world in the early 1920’s.
Plectrums were typically made of materials like tortoiseshell, bone, or ivory.
These early picks were often shaped like a small, rounded triangle or teardrop and were used primarily for plucking the strings of various stringed instruments. The guitar wasn’t very popular back then by the way.

As synthetic materials became more widely available in the 1800’s, picks began to be produced from materials like celluloid, nylon, and various plastics. These materials offered greater durability and consistency compared to natural materials like tortoiseshell.

Celluloid material

In the year 1870, John Wesley Hyatt stumbled upon the formula for Nitrocellulose, which is the main ingredient for Celluloid.
This material is a combustible material and the first billiard balls would sometimes explode when striking each other.
Nitrocellulose is very similar to the civil war era explosive, guncotton.
After the failure with billiard balls, Hyatt tried unsuccessfully to use the material to make teeth.

Luigi D’Andrea: the inventor of modern guitar picks

A very important man in the history of picks was Mr. Luigi D’Andrea, Neapolitan from Italy.
In 1902, at the age of 17 he emigrated to the U.S. and became vacuum cleaner salesman.
In 1920, he became fascinated with some celluloid powder box that he saw.
He bought some, along with a mallet and ‘dies’, for stamping out decorations for the boxes.

It all started in New York City in 1922

Luigi D’Andrea, happened upon a sidewalk sale. He bought some sheets of tortoise shell colored cellulose nitrate plastic. He also bought mallet dies to make little heart shaped decorations. Used for the tops of powder puff boxes. He punched out a few hundred of the little 1-inch flat hearts on his kitchen table.

When his young son Anthony observed that the hearts resembled an uncle’s tortoise shell mandolin pick it gave Luigi an idea. A few days later, he sold a cigar box of the little hearts to the G. Schirmer & Son Company, a New York based music store, for the amazing sum of $10. D’Andrea guitar picks brand was born.

The Henry Ford of guitar picks

Numbering the picks

He started numbering the styles. Soon he had created 23 shapes in tortoise and 56 shapes in celluloid.
Among them is the famous #351 which eventually becomes the ‘standard’ “Fender” pick.
One of the oddest was the #84, a combination of 3 #353 picks in thin, medium, and heavy, beveled on one edge, and joined by a rivet. It could be flipped out like a pocket knife to the desired thickness.
He tried to please many of the players with modifications to pick styles. Most of today’s pick “inventions” were already included in the D’Andrea catalogs of the 1920s!

He had semi-automated equipment to punch, tumble and imprint as many as 59 different shaped picks in both celluloid and real tortoise shell. He produced flat picks, thumb and fingerpicks, pickguards as well as drum bags and cases for guitar, bass, saxophone and accordion.

Customized- and personalized picks

In the 1930’s, Luigi’s son Anthony joined the business and he began many innovations of his own. Not only the production, but the marketing of picks became his forte. The 50’s and 60’s saw the advent of mass-producing private label picks for guitar companies requiring sophisticated automated printing and packaging also for custom picks.
Everyone from the local music store to the Beatles wanted personalized picks.

1970’s: more accessories for guitarists

In the 70’s, Tony D’Andrea Jr., Luigi’s grandson, took over and expanded the business into more guitar accessories, straps and care products. Tony also gave the players the fourth and fifth sound by developing gauges between thin, medium and heavy. For that time these definitely were unique guitar picks.

Facts

In British English, guitar picks are referred to as plectra, reserving the term pick to identify the difference between this and finger picks.

Start of ChickenPicks guitar picks

Although there were several different models of guitar picks available, I could not find the right pick for myself. So, I went experimenting with different materials, thicknesses and shapes.
Finally, I found my pick of choice. Along the years, friends came over and asked me to make a pick for them. The product I made had impact and in 2010 my wife Jolanda and I started the company as a joke. Just to see if the product really was that good. Read more about our journey.

Want to know more about ChickenPicks guitar picks?

Nowadays you can choose out of a dozen cool picks and they’re all different in playability and tone. But what are the coolest guitar picks? And what is the best guitar pick online?

That is totally up to your preferences and playing style. But guitar picks definitely make a difference to your guitar playing.

8 reasons to choose ChickenPicks guitar picks

1. – Pick noise is reduced to a minimum with guitar picks for great tone
2. – Pronounced solid loud-, clear- and bright tone with lots of bottom-end
3. – Thermoset is very hard and rigid (not bending at all), eliminating unwanted pick drag
4. – The edges won’t chip, so there’s absolutely no pick chirp sound.
5. – Playing fast and picked accurately never was that easy
6. – Very easy to hold due the thickness of the body
7. – You don’t have to grip too firmly, which does avoid hand fatigue
8. – These plectrums ensure you months and maybe years of utmost playing pleasure

For many people ChickenPicks guitar picks are the highest quality picks in terms of material and shape. The beveled edges ensure you easy- and precise picking with less effort as well as avoiding pick noise.

Check some of our other articles about guitar picks or check reviews on other channels.

If you have any further questions, please let us know; we’re always happy to talk to you.

What others say about ChickenPicks guitar picks

Musikhaus Thomann
Chicago Music Exchange
Musicstore Germany and UK
Guitarpickreviews.com

Why professionals play Bermuda III-P picks

Looking for great tone and precise picking? You will be surprised by the playability and tone of the Bermuda III-P guitar picks.

• The sound is much more solid and pick noise is reduced to a minimum
• Pronounced loud-, clear- and bright tone with lots of bottom-end
• Thermoset is very rigid (not bending at all) eliminating unwanted pick drag
• You never played fast and picked accurately that easy with guitar picks for great tone
• Very easy to hold due the thickness of the body
• You don’t have to grip too firmly, which does avoid hand fatigue
• The material is extremely hard and rigid, this ensures edges won’t get chipped.
• These plectrums ensure you months and maybe years of utmost playing pleasure

This all encouraged me in 1985 to design my plectrum of choice. And if you want to read more about why I developed these picks, you may read this article.

There is always a ChickenPicks guitar picks plectrum that will fit your needs.

Back to product page “Bermuda III-P”.

Guitar picks for the best tone and precise picking

The Bermuda III-P is a guitar plectrum in the 346-model guitar pick with extra pointy tips and it’s available in 2.1 & 2.7 mm.
It has 3 extremely pointed tips for precise picking and and beveled edges for more comfort, like all of our picks.
The pick feels perfectly balanced in your hand. This is a result of the beveled edges and thickness. Of course, in combination with the size of the pick.

Hand fatigue will be reduced to a minimum with these picks. You don’t have to grip too firmly, which lessens forearm tension.
Our plectrums don’t feel like standard heavy plectrums.
I.e. the beveled edges make the gripping surface quite smaller and this results in a more comfortable and ergonomic grip.

More mass for the best tone

This is the guitar plectrum for great tone and ultimate playing pleasure. The greater mass and the beveled edges ensure you instant playing pleasure.

The guitar pick shape of this Bermuda III-P is created with the highest standard of ergonomics to avoid any picking arm damage.

 

For triangular pick users in particular

The Bermuda III-P is perfect for people that use medium and heavy gauged picks, but mainly pointed triangle picks.
Playing with our thicker products will reduce hand fatigue. Why? You do not have to grip too firmly, which reduces tension in your picking arm.

Thinner plectrums may create annoying pick noise and unwanted overtones and a trebly thinner tone as well.
Guitar picks with greater mass create more mid- and bottom end tones and less picking noise. But the sound is still clear and bright.
The material we use, definitely is different to the ones made out of “standard” plastics like acrylic, Tortex, Delrin and other cheaper materials.

Nearly all ChickenPicks users used thin guitar picks before they finally changed to the Bermuda III-P.
Of course, this also applies to the other great models we offer.

Thickness of the Bermuda III-P plectrum

You might think this plectrum is too thick. After trying these plectrums, you will be amazed by how easy it is to play your favorite riffs.
There are many different models to choose from. The Bermuda III-P comes in the plectrum sizes 2.1 and 2.7 mm.
You might find your pick of choice here below.

Triangle picks with less pointy tips also available

You may want to have your triangle picks with less sharp pointy tips; try our Bermuda III picks.
These picks are shaped like standard 346 shaped picks, but still with the ChickenPicks guitar picks quality.
You will find the Bermuda III picks here.

Extra large triangular (bass) picks

Extra large triangle picks usually are used for playing bass guitar, but they’re perfect for guitar as well.
We have one model with the name Bermuda III-XL, called “The bass pick”. But of course, this one is perfect to play guitar with as well.
Bass guitar strings are thicker and the distance between each string to the other is significant larger than as for guitar strings.
For that reason bass plectrums sometimes are larger and thicker, but any other pick will work well as a bass pick

Multiple pick packages for the best price

Check out our multiple pick packages at a reduced price, when you already found your favorite plectrum.
Besides the single pick packages mentioned below, there are many options to choose from.
Packs of guitar picks with 2 or 3 picks of the same kind. And for all kinds of Bermuda III-P models: check ’em out here.

Variety plectrum sets for all your needs

Not sure about which plectrum to choose?
Wether you are looking guitar picks or bass picks, we have a variety of packs of guitar picks.
These packs contain different models and pick sizes. With these you are able to test different models within 1 pack.

Back to product page “Bermuda III-P”.

Guitar pick sizing chart

For the sizing chart click here.

What others say about ChickenPicks guitar picks

Musikhaus Thomann
Chicago Music Exchange
Guitarpickreviews.com

Go to product pages:

• LIGHT 2.2 mm   (standard 351-model)
• REGULAR 2.6 mm   (standard 351-model)
• SHREDDER 2.4 mm   (jazz model rounded tip)
• SHREDDER 3.5 mm   (jazz model rounded tip)
• BADAZZ III 2.0 mm   (jazz model sharp tip)
• BADAZZ III 2.5 mm   (jazz model sharp tip)
• BADAZZ III 3.2 mm   (jazz model sharp tip)
• BERMUDA III 2.1 mm   (triangle shaped)
• BERMUDA III 2.7 mm   (triangle shaped)
• BERMUDA III-P 2.1 mm   (triangle shaped with pointy tips)
• BERMUDA III-P 2.7 mm   (triangle shaped with pointy tips)
• BERMUDA III-XL 2.1 mm   (larger triangular pick)

Why the Badazz III is a guitarist’s choice

Looking for guitar plectrum for great tone? You will be surprised by the playability and tone of the Badazz III guitar picks.

• The sound is much more solid and pick noise is reduced to a minimum
• Pronounced loud-, clear- and bright tone with lots of bottom-end
• Thermoset is very rigid (not bending at all) eliminating unwanted pick drag
• You never played fast and picked accurately that easy with guitar picks for great tone
• Very easy to hold due the thickness of the body
• You don’t have to grip too firmly, which does avoid hand fatigue
• The material is extremely hard and rigid, this ensures edges won’t get chipped.
• These plectrums ensure you months and maybe years of utmost playing pleasure

This all encouraged me in 1985 to design my plectrum of choice. And if you want to read more about why I developed these picks, you may read this article.

There is always a ChickenPicks guitar picks plectrum that will fit your needs.

Back to product page “Badazz III”.

Guitar picks for great tone

The Badazz III 2.0 is a guitar plectrum in the Jazz III guitar pick shape and the thickness is 2.0 mm.
It has a pointed tip and beveled edges for more comfort.
The picks feel perfectly balanced in your hand. This is a result of the beveled edges and thickness in combination with the size of the pick.
Our plectrums don’t feel like standard heavy plectrums. The beveled edges make the gripping surface smaller and this results in a more comfortable and ergonomic grip.

More mass for the best tone

The material and thickness create more mass, resulting in a pick with bright- and clear tone.
The tone with these picks has lots of mid- and bottom end as well.

This is the guitar plectrum for great tone and ultimate playing pleasure. The greater mass and the beveled edges ensure you instant playing pleasure. The guitar pick shape of this Badazz III is created with the highest standard of ergonomics to avoid any picking arm damage.

For Jazz III users as well as for small pick lovers in general

The Badazz III guitar pick is perfect for people that use standard medium and heavy gauged small picks. In particular plectrums like the famous Jazz II and III picks as well as all kinds of teardrop shaped plectrums.
Playing with our thicker picks will reduce hand fatigue.
The reason for this: you do not have to grip too firmly, which reduces tension in your forearm.

Thinner plectrums may create annoying pick noise and unwanted overtones and a thinner tone as well.
Guitar picks with greater mass create more mid- and bottom end tones and less pick noise.
The material we use, definitely is different to picks made out of “standard” plastics like acrylic, Tortex, Delrin and other cheaper materials.

In the end, nearly all ChickenPicks users used thin guitar picks before they finally changed to the Badazz III or one of the other great picks available here.

Thickness of the Badazz III guitar plectrum

You might think this plectrum is too thick.
After trying these plectrums, you will be amazed by how easy it is to play your favorite riffs.
There are many different models to choose from. The Badazz III comes in the plectrum sizes 2.0, 2.5 and 3.2 mm.
You might find your pick of choice here below.

Multiple pick packages for the best price

Check out our multiple pick packages at a reduced price, when you already found your favorite plectrum.
Besides the single pick packages mentioned below, there are many options to choose from.
Packs of guitar picks with 2 or 3 picks of the same kind. And for all kinds of Badazz III models: check ’em out here.

Variety plectrum sets for all your needs

Not sure about which plectrum to choose?
Wether you are looking guitar picks or bass picks, we have a variety of packs of guitar picks.
These packs contain different models and pick sizes. With these you are able to test different models within 1 pack.

Useable as bass plectrums

Bass picks actually aren’t different to guitar picks. In some cases they’re a bit larger and sometimes thicker.
The ChickenPicks Badazz III is perfect for guitar. Believe it or not, it is a popular bass pick as well.

Back to product page “Badazz III”.

Guitar pick sizing chart

For the sizing chart click here.

What others say about ChickenPicks guitar picks

Musikhaus Thomann
Chicago Music Exchange
Guitarpickreviews.com

Go to product pages:

• LIGHT 2.2 mm   (standard 351-model)
• REGULAR 2.6 mm   (standard 351-model)
• SHREDDER 2.4 mm   (jazz model rounded tip)
• SHREDDER 3.5 mm   (jazz model rounded tip)
• BADAZZ III 2.0 mm   (jazz model sharp tip)
• BADAZZ III 2.5 mm   (jazz model sharp tip)
• BADAZZ III 3.2 mm   (jazz model sharp tip)
• BERMUDA III 2.1 mm   (triangle shaped)
• BERMUDA III 2.7 mm   (triangle shaped)
• BERMUDA III-P 2.1 mm   (triangle shaped with pointy tips)
• BERMUDA III-P 2.7 mm   (triangle shaped with pointy tips)
• BERMUDA III-XL 2.1 mm   (larger triangular pick)

Why people use the Regular 2.6 guitar pick

Looking for guitar plectrum for great tone? You will be surprised by the playability and tone of the Regular 2.6 guitar picks.

• The sound is much more solid and pick noise is reduced to a minimum
• Pronounced loud-, clear- and bright tone with lots of bottom-end
• Thermoset is very rigid (not bending at all) eliminating unwanted pick drag
• You never played fast and picked accurately that easy with guitar picks for great tone
• Very easy to hold due the thickness of the body
• You don’t have to grip too firmly, which does avoid hand fatigue
• The material is extremely hard and rigid, this ensures edges won’t get chipped.
• These plectrums ensure you months and maybe years of utmost playing pleasure

This all encouraged me in 1985 to design my plectrum of choice. And if you want to read more about why I developed these picks, you may read this article.

There is always a ChickenPicks guitar picks plectrum that fits your needs.

Back to product page “Regular 2.6“.

Guitar picks for great tone

The Regular 2.6 is a guitar plectrum in the 351-model guitar pick shape and the thickness is 2.6mm.
It has a rounded tip and beveled edges for more comfort.
The picks feel perfectly balanced in your hand. This is a result of the beveled edges and thickness in combination with the size of the pick.
Our plectrums don’t feel like standard heavy plectrums. The beveled edges make the gripping surface smaller and this results in a more comfortable and ergonomic grip.

More mass for the best tone

The material and thickness create more mass, resulting in a pick with bright- and clear tone.
The tone with these picks has lots of mid- and bottom end as well.

This is the guitar plectrum for great tone and ultimate playing pleasure. The greater mass and the beveled edges ensure you instant playing pleasure.

For .73 and .88 medium pick users

The Regular 2.6 guitar pick is perfect for people that use standard medium and heavy gauged picks.
Playing with our thicker picks will reduce hand fatigue. The reason for this: you do not have to grip too firmly, which reduces muscle tension in your forearm.

Thinner plectrums may create annoying- and unwanted overtones and thinner tone as well.
Guitar picks with greater mass create more mid- and bottom end tones.

In the end, nearly all of our customers used thinner guitar picks in the past.

Thickness of the Regular 2.6 guitar plectrum

You might think this plectrum is thick. Actually it is one of the thinnest we have to offer.
After trying these plectrums, you will be amazed by how easy it is to play your favorite riffs.
There are many different models to choose from. You might find your pick of choice here below.

Multiple pick packages for the best price

Check out our multiple pick packages, when you already found your favorite plectrum.
Besides the single pick packages mentioned below, you may also find 2- and 3- plectrums in a pack at a discounted price.

Variety plectrum sets for all your needs

Not sure about which plectrum to choose?
Wether you are looking guitar picks or bass picks, we have a variety of packs of guitar picks.
These contain different models and pick sizes. Regarding this you are able to test different models within 1 pack.

Bass picks actually aren’t different to guitar picks. In some cases they’re a bit larger and sometimes thicker.
The ChickenPicks Regular 2.6 is perfect for guitar. And it is a popular bass pick for many people as well.

Back to product page “Regular 2.6“.

Guitar pick sizing chart

For the sizing chart click here.

What others say about ChickenPicks guitar picks

Musikhaus Thomann
Chicago Music Exchange
Guitarpickreviews.com

Go to product pages:

• LIGHT 2.2 mm   (standard 351-model)
• REGULAR 2.6 mm   (standard 351-model)
• SHREDDER 2.4 mm   (jazz model rounded tip)
• SHREDDER 3.5 mm   (jazz model rounded tip)
• BADAZZ III 2.0 mm   (jazz model sharp tip)
• BADAZZ III 2.5 mm   (jazz model sharp tip)
• BADAZZ III 3.2 mm   (jazz model sharp tip)
• BERMUDA III 2.1 mm   (triangle shaped)
• BERMUDA III 2.7 mm   (triangle shaped)
• BERMUDA III-P 2.1 mm   (triangle shaped with pointy tips)
• BERMUDA III-P 2.7 mm   (triangle shaped with pointy tips)
• BERMUDA III-XL 2.1 mm   (larger triangular pick)

Avoiding Pick noise

We have all experienced some kind of noise when picking the strings of your guitar. These scratchy sounds, called pick noise or string picking noise, is what some love, some hate.

But what causes this high frequency scratching noise and how to get rid of it?
In this blog we’ll tell you the ins and outs of this so-called pick noise.

11 ways to get rid of pick noise

1: Pick farther from the bridge

2: Change to new on a regularly base when using cheap and soft picks

3: Switch to mid- or neck pickup instead of using the bridge pickup

4: Improve your picking techniques: (pick slanting, economy picking)

5: Try different picks

6: Try different strings

7: Adjust tone setting on your guitar first, followed by amp settings

8: Use a compressor

9: Practice synchronization between picking- and fretting hand.

10: Don’t grip too firmly

11: Try picks with sharp tips vs. round tips; try to find out what works best for you.

2 different reasons, 2 different sounds of scratchy noises

First of all, it is important to know what exactly you are hearing when you experience picking noise.

Regarding this, know that there may be:

• Sound of the string bouncing against the pick, before actually picking the string.
• The string gliding off of the plectrum, while the plectrum surface is damaged or a bit jagged increases pick chirp.

String bouncing against the pick

The reason for a string to sound is the fact that it vibrates in a variety of frequencies or Hertz (Hz) per second.

The frequency rate determines the pitch of a sound wave. In fact, the A (5^th pos. on the high E-string) usually has a rate of 440 Hz. One octave higher (high E-string 17^th fret) the

frequency increases up to ca. 880 Hz and so on and on. So, in this case you will never be fast enough hitting the string without the string slapping back against the pick a few times. The only thing you can do is lessen the sound it creates.

Bouncing against the string and pick material

While the string may vibrate up to 1 – 2 kHz (and even more), the string may bounce a few times against the guitar pick, before finally “picking” the string. As a result of this, the guitar pickup will also amplify the sound of the string slapping back against the plectrum. Especially when picking fast while keeping the plectrum very close to the strings. No matter if the plectrum is made out of a softer or harder material.

(un-) wanted under- & over tones

Besides the vibrations of a certain tone, the string has also different vibrations which gives the tone “color”. As a result of this, there are under- and overtones as well. For now, it is unimportant if these are pleasant or not. Read about this at: Change the picking position up and down the neck.

Jagged pick surface causing pick noise

Here we’ll talk about the other scratching noise you may experience.

Especially guitar picks made out of softer materials like celluloid, acrylic, nylon or tortex, may be damaged by the extremely harder material of the metal strings. Especially when the picks have been abusively played, like shredding metal riffs etc.

Although you might not see immediately, but the surface may have been jagged on a microscopic level.
This jagged surface will produce a pronounced scratching sound and in this case the guitar pickups will amplify this as well.

Buy new picks more often when using cheap picks

Using already used picks will produce more noises, since they get a jagged edge. Referring to this using cheaper guitar picks may become more expensive than using a higher quality guitar pick, which might be made out of a harder or dense material.

In most cases higher quality guitar picks often are made of a harder material. Harder materials result in less wear and a glossier surface.

The closer to the bridge the louder the picking noise

We already spoke about the high frequencies, which amplify the plectrum noise the most.

Closer to the bridge and using the bridge pickup, the picking noise has a strong presence in the overall guitar tone. And the more distortion or (natural) overdrive has been used, the pick noise will be heard more clearly. The reason for this is that high gain tones have more high frequencies. These have more presence than mid- and bass tones in the overall sound.

Is pick noise always unwanted?

No, but that is totally up to anybody’s preference.
In many cases it gives kind of personality to your tone, but it must not sound like overkill.

Just a small amount of picking noise may sound very nice. That said, when there is absolutely no picking sound, the guitar sounds too flat in most situations.
In my opinion a nice percussive pick attack sounds very nice when strumming and playing solos. For instance, Yngwie Malmsteen plays with a lot of pick attack and in my opinion that does not sound bad at all.

Pick noise can add texture and character to a guitar’s sound, contributing to the overall tone and feel of a performance. Some guitarists embrace pick noise as part of their playing style, others may want to minimize it.

How to get rid of pick noise in general

Upon checking guitar forums on the internet, many people explain what the reason is for that scratchy noise. And they all know how to solve the problem.
The problem is that actually there’s not one reason that causes the noise and so there is not one way to solve the “problem”.
To reduce the scratchy noise made by a guitar pick, you can try several techniques.

Work on your picking technique:

To avoid the scratching noise using a flat pick, there are some different techniques that may help. Pick slanting in different ways may help playing faster, but it might not always be the way to solve the problem of picking noise. I.e., using pick slanting wit softer material picks, cause more jagged edges to these picks. ChickenPicks guitar picks are made of the hardest plastic material available. This makes them very adaptive to pick slanting.

Use your mid- and/or neck pickup instead of the bridge pickup:

This instantly will lessen the chirp or pick noise, because the bridge pickup will amplify the higher frequencies more than the other pickups.

When playing solos in the higher regions of the fretboard many of the professional guitar players switch to the neck pickup to avoid high frequency scratchy tones.

Switching to the neck pickup, the high notes will sound rounder instead of very aggressive and unpleasantly loud.

Not only the tones in the high positions will sound more pleasant. Also the scratchy picking noise may be tamed a bit.

You might also think of reducing the volume on your guitar. But again, these techniques will affect your tone immensely. You may wonder if this is desirable for the tone you’re looking for.

Pick slanting: Trailing edge picking vs Leading edge picking

Angling the downward or upward and the force applied, gives a smaller point of contact with the strings. With this technique only the edge contacts the strings, instead of the large flat surface.

This might be a well working way to pick strings faster with less effort. This means that you are picking with an angled pick position.

• Trailing edge picking means that the side of the pick closer to the bridge hits the strings first.
• Leading edge (also reverse slant) picking is the opposite; you hit the strings first with the side of the pick that is closer to the neck of the guitar.

Using both Leading- or Trailing edge picking might create more picking noise on wound strings. So, use less “edge” picking on lower strings. 

Change the picking position up and down the neck

To stop the scratching noise, try to pick your strings farther from the bridge. Playing this way may get you little fewer high frequencies in picking attack.

In other words, when you pick your strings closer to the “neck pickup”, there might be no picking noise anyway.

Harmonics: nodes and Antinodes

You will notice different sounding picking noises every few millimeters you pick up and down the strings near the bridge. This is caused as strings vibrate as a sinusoidal wave. They’re moving in almost infinite patterns, called harmonics.

The resulted sound depends on the placement of the pickups along the vibration pattern of the string (scale).

The points where the strings do not move are nodes. The peaks and valleys are “antinodes”.

Each successive partial harmonic is a progressive mathematical set of the fundamental note.
The second harmonic, for example, is nothing more than the fundamental divided into two parts that correspond to the first octave. This has a node in the center of the string (the harmonic that we normally use to tune the octaves).
That said, the string has many nodes (and antinodes) near the bridge and much of the noise created may be just harmonics.

It is important to understand that the sound of that string is not only made by the fundamental. Also all the subsequent partial harmonics that vibrate at the same time determine part of the tone.
^{(image courtesy: www.frudua.com/how-guitar-string-vibrate.htm)}

Economy picking vs alternate picking

Some people think that the key to prevent from picking noises could be reached by changing the picking style. In other words, economy picking might cause less noise in relation to just using alternate picking. Economy picking could be subscribed as less alternated picking over different strings.

Imagine a certain riff played as follows: DOWN-UP, DOWN-DOWN-UP, DOWN-DOWN-UP, DOWN-UP etc. etc…

But these kinds of techniques may be very difficult to become the standard of your playing, especially when you already play in your own style for many years not using this technique.

Try different picks:

Different shapes, a variety of thicknesses and different materials may differ the way you play. And as a result, your sound may be changing as well. This may attribute to less picking noise as the materials and shapes of guitar picks all affect your tone. You might think that a guitar may not be important to the overall tone of your guitar, but the opposite is true.

Thickness and material of the pick determine which tones of your strings will ring the most. In this case high- midrange- or lower bottom-end tones.

Usually, the best guitar tones have a nice combination of all these tones together. In other words, a nice distribution of the total tonal spectrum will ring out when hitting the strings.

You will find the right pick for you at ChickenPicks guitar picks. These picks won’t disappoint you in terms of pick noise.

.             

Pick abrasion to avoid pick noise or chirp

Some higher quality picks provide an A-symmetrical wear pattern added during production. This gives you already flattened pick edges in one way.

This might help you lessen picking noise while playing lower strings. The edges are not as sharp as usual.

On the other hand, you might have a problem with these picks when you are playing in slanted positions.

ChickenPicks guitar picks always have abrased sides all over. So, slanting the pick in any way won’t be a problem and you won’t have these annoying pick noises. At ChickenPicks guitar picks, we these symmetrical kind of wear patters “beveled edges”.

Explore pick alternatives to lessen picking noises

Most guitar players use flat picks, but you might consider other ways of playing guitar. Think about fingerstyle playing or thumb picks to avoid picking noise.

Consider using different strings:

Using other strings, or thicker strings may help a bit, but in most cases it’s not the strings that cause the problem. So go and check some other variables as well.

Adjust tone setting on your guitar:

Especially when using the bridge pick a lot of brightness may cause increased unwanted overtones. Drop some midrange in the EQ and you will lessen the pick attack. After dropping down the tone knob on your guitar, you might consider turning up the highs on your amp. Most of the pick scratching and snapping sounds are high frequency, so it lessens them quite a bit by not letting them into signal chain in the first place. This works better than compensate for them afterwards.

As a result, your tone alters with it. So, if this won’t solve the problem, please check other suggestions that may help avoiding scratching pick sounds.

Use a compressor:

Electric guitars in particular create a very dynamic sound, especially when playing loud with clean tones. A compressor will flatten the peaks and valleys in the tone spectrum. So, it might help using a compressor to push extreme picking noises to the back as well.

But as for many of the answers, this might not solve your problem. This is because a compressor may change the tone of your guitar into something you do not want.

Scratching noise due to the plectrum surface:

Make sure your pick is in good condition, because picks will always wear.
As a result, wear creates a rough texture. Rougher surfaces increase pick noise or so-called chirp.
Some playing styles cause picks to wear very fast, others not as much, of course.
And referring to this, when using extended techniques like pick slides or scrapes, your picks can become very damaged almost immediately.

Practice synchronization between both hands:

A lot of inconsistency and extraneous noise often attributed to “picking hand technique” actually is an issue of synchronization between both the left- and right hand.

If your fretting-hand finger is not making it to the note early enough, you will get a “clack” from the right hand if it leaves the note too soon. In this situation you’ll might get extraneous noise as well.

Practicing you legato slowly and make it feel effortless, may solve this problem.

More ways to avoid guitar pick noise:

You might try to hold your guitar picks with less tension. To make this happen easily, you need a thicker plectrum with more mass. Otherwise, with a thin pick holding it loose, the pick may slip out of your hands. And you’re missing midrange and bottom-end tone this way as well.

To avoid the chirping sound or pick noise, it may help to use thicker picks as mentioned. Thinking of that, it’s important to have a more beveled edge for letting the plectrum easily slide through the strings. Also try if you reach a good result with sharper tip picks like the BADAZZ III, or rounder tip pick like the SHREDDER or the REGULAR And LIGHT.

What others say about ChickenPicks guitar picks

Musikhaus Thomann
Chicago Music Exchange
Guitarpickreviews.com

Related articles

Would you prefer a tube amp?

What is tone suck?

How to mic your guitar amp

What means headroom in a guitar amp?

Would you prefer an open or closed back cabinet?

What is fretboard radius and is it important?

Is guitar scale length important?