Stylus pick?

[dudeiferous]

Anyone heard of these?

http://www.styluspick.com/

[barney.]

yeah tried one years ago ..it kept getting stuck in the strings..it supposed to teach you to use the tip of the plec...its just like a training aid...

[Nas]

My best friend used one of those when he was getting his technique together, really odd feel..

Not sure if they work, I think he binned it after a while...

I think that all you need(when getting stuff like alternate picking together) is the metronome, guitar, normal pick, Paul Gilbert's intense rock 1 and an hour or so a day..

[barney.]

Originally Posted by Nas

My best friend used one of those when he was getting his technique together, really odd feel..

Not sure if they work, I think he binned it after a while...

I think that all you need(when getting stuff like alternate picking together) is the metronome, guitar, normal pick, Paul Gilbert's intense rock 1 and an hour or so a day..

yeah thats right.....i think the 3mm stubby picks are great to pick with..they seem smoother...like rounded edges..

[JaseMorris]

Yup. They are not day to day picks, they are a practice tool. The idea of them is to choke the string if you pick with more than a couple of mm, forcing you to use very economical picking motions. They are purely for alternate picking (my use of the words "economical picking" are not to be confused with "economy picking", which is another thing entirely - indeed, the stylus pick will not help you at all with economy or sweep picking.

I'll definitely be sticking with the Jazz IIIs.

EDIT - take a look at the pick in the link - you see that diamond shape at the point? Basically, if you pick with more than where the angle changes and the diamond shape meets the sides of the regular pick, it pushes the string back up the pick, choking it against the pick.

[tensity1]

For $10 for the kit, it seems worth a shot. Seen em before, but never used 'em or know anyone who has. Doubt it'd hurt, and depending on where your picking technique is at and where you want to take it, these picks might be a great tool. If you try them, let us know how it works for you.

Just a few things on picking: Relaxation is important, as everyone says, but I've found that holding the pick just a smidge tighter (and with a bit more thumb surface) than my usual method has allowed me to be more economical in movement and to contact the string with more surety. It's almost as if I were going to do finger-movement circular picking, but not--the stroke does come from a minute wrist rotation. I think I'm just bringing my thumb and forefinger back into focus, to integrate it with the rest of the hand in the stroke. Also, try this as an exercise: Have the pick already contacting the string, going for a downstroke, but when you pick, keep contact with the string. It's as if you're sliding from the top of the string (as you look down on it), to the side, then end up at the bottom. Make sure you never lose contact with the string, as if rubbing it. Of course, you don't want a "rubbing" sound, but this should give you a feel for economy of motion (really, this is the smallest picking movement, if you think about it). Then it's a matter of using the smallest amount of tip for the job, at the best angle. Of course, start slow, get it right, build speed; but for speed, every once in a while, "burst" it--pretend like you've been possessed by a bumblebee and just go for a jump in speed you don't think you can do. You may be pleasantly surprised, and the feel of hitting that speed the one time may be enough to get you past any speed plateau you may be stuck at. Oh, and use the forearm to reposition your hand for whichever string you're picking--don't reach too much with your hand/fingers to pick a new string. And try Jazz IIIs! Okay, I'll shut up now.

[tensity1]

My verbose ass forgot one tip: an exercise out of Beginning Jazz Guitar, by Jody Fisher, is to for two minutes per string (however many strings you can stand to do in one sitting) to just tremolo pick; but only at a speed where every stroke, up or down, sounds the same as the others. This has been a great exercise in control and hearing for me.

[dudeiferous]

Originally Posted by Nas

My best friend used one of those when he was getting his technique together, really odd feel..

Not sure if they work, I think he binned it after a while...

I think that all you need(when getting stuff like alternate picking together) is the metronome, guitar, normal pick, Paul Gilbert's intense rock 1 and an hour or so a day..

Yeah, thats all I have been doing; almost to the letter. I use a thickish pick (1mm IIRC). Those Gilbert exercises really help.
Just interested in peoples thoughts.

[Nik Harrison]

I'm ashamed to admit I've never seen or even heard of those things before! Will be buying some though. I've always taken an interest in any practice aid, or system which serves to improve playing. That's todays job: Source a handful of those things!

[sam_m]

I had one a while ago - completely forgot about it!

I liked the idea, but the rounded 'nib' makes it very tricky indeed - perhaps needlessly so, given that most people play with a flat (not rounded) pick.

I'm sure they'd be useful to add some variety into picking practice, but I wouldn't base your practising solely around that.