Forum - Banjo Ben Clark

Recommend a Pick for a Beginner

#1

If you had to recommend one pick for a beginner, what would it be?

1 Like
#2

Hello Earl. What instrument would it be for? And what type of music would you be playing?

1 Like
#3

Sorry about that. I guess it would be helpful to know the instrument. An acoustic guitar. Would mainly be for country, bluegrass, and folk.

2 Likes
#4

I would try the Primetone, myself.

There are other Primetone variations and check out the JT’s picks as well: https://store.banjobenclark.com/collections/picks

3 Likes
#5

Thanks for the recommendation. I will definitely place an order tomorrow after church. Think I’ll also see if I can purchase a few other items in order to justify the shipping expense…lol

Thanks again for the quick response. By the way, I’m enjoying the site a lot.

2 Likes
#6

I would recommend starting with a pick in the size of a 1mm. I myself use a Bluechip 40, and I love it so much! I actually own 3 of them for back up :sweat_smile:. That’s how much I like them hahah! But I always recommend for people to start off with a 1mm size , at least . I like the Wegen Bluegrass picks in the 1mm size as well. As well as the Dunlop Ultex. All which you can find here on the General Store.

1 Like
#7

I have tried a bunch of picks. I am currently using a Primetone triangle 1.4 and I like!

2 Likes
#8

Thanks for your recommendation. I’m going to take a look at the General Store today after church and place some pick orders based on these recommendations.

Thanks again.

1 Like
#9

Thanks for the comeback.

1 Like
#10

This may sound crazy, but if you need to spend an extra $10 to get to free shipping status, you won’t regret buying a bar of soap from the general store. Ben’s sister makes them and they had a few flavors at camp. I’m not kidding, there were guys standing around sniffing those things like we were football players getting juiced up on smelling salts.

5 Likes
#11

I’ll second the soap recommendation. I almost bought a bar until Rance shared his idea of using it to get above the free shipping amount. Brilliance comes in all forms, even big, red bearded, lumberjack-preachers. :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

2 Likes
#12

Nicest thing anyone has said to me all day!

3 Likes
#13

I am a beginner at guitar and find the JT’s triangular red coloured pick easy to use. As my skills improve I will invest in a similarly shaped Bluechip.

2 Likes
#14

Which sister?

1 Like
#15

Well, after all the recommendations, which were greatly appreciated and considered, I ordered several different kinds. Even a BlueChip TP40. Just wanted to see what a $35 pick feels like…hahaha

Thanks again everybody.

3 Likes
#16

I suspected the blue chips were all hype until I actually used one at camp. They’re legit.

1 Like
#17

Hey Gunnar, her name is Dinah

2 Likes
#18

Ok I’ve heard of her

1 Like
#19

I’d like to ask the same question, but for mandolin. I’m a beginner/intermediate player, and I’ve been using Dunlop Tortex Jazz III (1.14mm) which is a smaller pick with quite a point on it. I’m open to suggestions!

4 Likes
#20

@NateD I started out mandolin with random guitar picks my son punched out of those fake credit cards they send you in the mail… then I got a Wegen 1.4mm triangular ($16.50 @general store) & a clear yellowish Dunlop Ultex 1.14mm flat pick (70 cents @general store). At first I had trouble using the Wegen & preferred the Dunlop especially for tremolos. As I improved, I liked the Wegen better. The bigger triangle shape made it easier to hold the pick the right way. Fast forward to now (2.5 years in to mandolin) and I don’t use the clear yellow Dunlop, & occasionally use the Wegen. My main favorite pick now is the Dunlop Primetone Triangular ultex flat pick 1.4 mm (with textured grip) ($2.99 @general store) it seems I get my best sound & accuracy with this latest pick (been using it since roughly Christmas 2019). Its something you’ve just gotta experiment with…:grin: I someday plan to try a blue chip and see how I like that…

3 Likes