Round picks vs Triangle picks. I have only used triangle picks so far, but I rounded one of my picks off and really liked it for strumming. I struggle with picking with it though. I ordered some cheap round picks off the site so we’ll see soon. I want to buy a Blue Chip when they come back in stock so I’m hoping I can decide between a CT 55 and an SR by the time they return.
What do yall prefer?
Round picks
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I like them both. I have more pointy ones than not when accounting for all flatpicked instruments. For mandolin, I use the rounded tips about 50% of the time with a TPR 40 living in one mando and a CT-55 in the other.
Bluechip does make a few picks with a mixture of round and pointy tips.
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I have two blue chips, a CT-55 and a TP-1R-50 (one corner is rounded), I got a few years ago. Both picks do well and are good, and I tried both of them out for a while after I got them. For me, my go to is the CT-55. It feels a little more comfortably in my hand, and the two picks create slightly different tones. I have seen several comments that say generally, you can get more speed with a smaller pick. Part of it is if you prefer a larger pick or a smaller pick. I just looked at the Blue Chip site, and they do have TAD-1R, including a TAD-1R-50 and a TAD-3R-50 (and 40 versions). I know some people prefer an exaggerated more rounded pick, that is the SR series.
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Thanks. That helps a lot.
I just wish they were in stock.
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Yeah, frustrating for Bluechip to be sold out for so long, but nothing we can do there. You can order directly from them and word is you’ll get them sooner.
But I also encourage you to try out other brands, which are spectacular. Start with the cheaper JT’s to see what shape you may be drawn to: https://store.banjobenclark.com/collections/picks/products/jts-pix-rounded-flat-picks?_pos=25&_fid=3ccd7bc05&_ss=c&variant=41310117920815
I’d rather wait and order from you. We visited the store in person in February on a cross country trip from SC and we were really impressed. We probably talked Darrell’s ears off. lol He was awesome. I try to get all my supplies from y’all. I did order a few round JT’s and Golden gates this week. I’m considering a Token. Jake sold me on a Tone Slab when I was at the store. I love it but it’s triangle I want to try a round design.
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Update: I tested out the rounded corner of my TP-1R-50 again against a non-rounded edge and against my CT-55. I am really liking the rounded corner of the TP-1R-50. It has a warmer tone and the stroke of the strings have a softer and gentler and more pleasant sound (less of a Jolting brighter harsher sound); especially for single notes on the A and E strings. I ordered some JT’s to test those out.
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If placing an order, I’d try some dunlop primetones as well. I really like them and they are a great value in my opinion. If I have an instrument setting out some place where the picks may walk away, that is what I commonly use.
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I have a few primetones. I like them but they are a little small for me. The ones I have are a lot smaller than my other picks.
Thanks Mike for the info. I will order a few of the dunlop primetones also and try them out.
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I got my JT’s and Golden Gates this week. The Golden Gate rounds aren’t my favorite they are too small. I do like the JTs though. I will be getting a blue Chip TAD 1R when they are available again. I may try the Tone Slab Rounds and the Token rounds.
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I received my picks today, the JTs and the Dunlop primetones from Banjo Ben Store. The rounded Dunlop primetones were out of stock. I tested the picks against my Bluechip TP-1R-50 (which is 1.25 mm). I am ok with the smaller picks, they sit well in my hand and I can handle them as well as my CT-55 (which is like a TAD).
- Bluechip TP-1R-50 (1.25 mm) rounded corner: A warm full sound.
- JT 1.2 mm white celcon and JT 1.2 mm black noryl: I like the white celcon better, it has a warmer sound. The white JT has a warm sound like the Bluechip TP 50 rounded corner (maybe even a little warmer) but is not as full a sound as the Bluechip. That probably is because of the higher quality material of the Bluechip.
- Dunlop primetone small triangle 1.3 mm without grip (black) and Dunlop primetone small triangle 1.3 mm with grip (clearish burgundy): I like the Dunlop black without grip better, it has a better sound to my ears. The black Dunlop primetone has a full sound like the Bluechip TP 50 but it is not as warm as the Bluechip rouned edge. But the black Dunlop primetone is about the same as a non-rounded edge of the Bluechip TP 50. The Dunlop primetone might wear out faster, but I don’t really know.
Since it was out of stock, I was not able to test the Dunlop primetone rounded, but I am assuming it would have a warm sound like the JT and a full sound like the Bluechip. When they are back in stock, I will order a couple.
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In my experience the BC is just about wear free. I saw where one person wore one with repeated banjo head contact, but my flat picks don’t seem to wear at all. The primetones are resilient, but not quite as robust.
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They really are very wear resistant. On the left is a BC I’ve heavily used for about 4 years, and on the right is a much newer one. There is certainly wear, but it hasn’t been enough to make a noticeable difference for me.
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I received a couple of the Dunlop primetone 1.3 mm rounded black picks (without grip). I tested all my picks out again on my mandolin. The Dunlop primetone rounded pick is slightly warmer than the Bluechip TP-1R 50 rounded corner, and has a full sound like the Bluechip. In addition to tone differences, I have a few additional observations. Though, while noticeable in isolation, the differences are relatively minor, and likely would not be detected in a jam or band setting, for most of us, in a mix with other instruments. My conclusion is to choose a pick that is the most like an extension of your hand (comfortable, can use it accurately and efficiently), and creates a sound/tone you like. I like all of the good picks I tested, Bluechip CT 55, Bluechip TP 50 1R, Dunlop small triangle 1.3 mm Black (without grip), and Dunlop rounded 1.3 mm Black (without grip). Here are my additional observations.
- Triangle beveled corner vs. rounded: Rounded has a little less articulation for single notes than the beveled triangle corners. The difference is more noticeable at faster speeds (but maybe not in a mix with other instruments, though I am not sure about that).
- To repeat a previous observation, the rounded pick and rounded corner of triangle pick are noticeably warmer sounding than the non-rounded corners, and have a less of a jolting sound on the strike, but are less articulate on single notes, especially at faster speeds.
- The Dunlop Primetone black picks (without grip) sound about the same to me as the Bluechip picks, the texture of the sound might be slightly different, but hard for me to tell.
- The Dunlop Primetone black picks (without grip) are thinner than the Bluechip picks and I can pick through the strings a little more fluidly.
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I just recently pulled out an F style mandolin I’ve had for years and started playing through the beginner lessons. I’ve never tried a round pick. Do you know if the round tip helps with hitting the finger board extension while picking ? I notice I’ve been hitting it a lot, especially when I pick hard.
@FIrebelly, I suspect that if the corner of your pick is barely or slightly hitting the fingerboard extension, a round pick may help with that, unless your hand compensates/adjusts inward so that the round pick would also hit the extension. My hand plays further to the right past the fingerboard extension.
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Thanks for the reply. I’ve watched closely a few of Ben’s lessons and some of the mandolins he plays, the extension is scalloped. When he does play one with a regular extension, he appears to pick closer to the bridge to avoid it. I guess I just need to focus on avoiding it. Thanks again.
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You can avoid it, or embrace it. If you listen to a lot of Skaggs stuff, you’ll hear him clicking on the extension. But yeah, I prefer it to be scooped.
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I am debating scooping mine. I never use the frets I would be removing, but I haven’t ever taken a router to an instrument that didn’t need repair (like for binding, which seems much less invasive).
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