Until my stroke in 2007, I had played guitar, on and off, since I was 11, so close to 40 years. Over that period of time, I must’ve used at least a hundred picks, not to mention lending them out to people who never returned them, one person in particular… Anyway, whenever I would hear of a new type of pick, I would want to get a dozen of them just to see how well they played, how well they fit in my hand, how the guitar sounded when I used each one. Why a dozen? Because even if every pick is the same style and weight, some are more flexible than others, and some just feel more right than others. I can’t explain it, that’s just the way it is.
Since having to give up the guitar, they’re all sitting in a plastic school box (the modern day equivalent of a cigar box) in a drawer. I must have upward of 200 in there, not exactly collecting dust because they’re in a plastic school box which is sealed against the elements. Occasionally I’ll pull the box out and take a couple of them out, hoping against all hope that maybe I can grip the pick well enough to attempt playing the guitar again. You know when you wake up in the middle of the night and start thinking about all the things you screwed up? My thing is all the stuff I should have done after my stroke, and figuring out a way to play the guitar despite my disability. Woulda, coulda, shoulda, right?
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This is interesting that a different pick brings out a different sound. The shoulda, coulda, woulda only give you a stomach ache. We all go down that road but we have to snap out and realize there might be a reason..what, I don’t know, but maybe you would have become even more discouraged which is a not a healthy feeeling.
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Love this. I know lots of guitar players who have tons of picks at their house but you’re the first I’ve heard describe how they might play an instrument differently. Fascinating!
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I read an article in Guitar Player about it, and it was one of those “hmmm, hadn’t thought of that” moments.
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Cool picks! You may remember about the Pickstrap Picks my neighbor invented with the elastic loop to hold it on. I wrote about it in the A to Z I did in 2016. I have a few picks from the bands that we’ve seen but not nearly 100!
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A friend of mine sent me some hybrid flatpick-thumbpicks. I just have to find them…
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Woulda, coulda, shoulda, story of our lives … No time like the present as “they” say …
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Y’know, maybe I will…
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Talent, interest, and perseverance! You never know until you try.
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That’s true…
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you never know –
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True… I have a couple of picks sitting on my desk that I try holding on occasion. Maybe I’ll try more freaquently…
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I feel that way about never having pursued an interest in playing any instrument. There didn’t seem to be any underlying talent.
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It’s less about talent and more about interest. The interest helps you develop the talent.
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Maybe there’s a different musical instrument waiting for you. Theremin might be fun.
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I’m picking up the harmonica again. I played a lot in college.
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I hear ya. I never played the guitar but would love to get back on one of my bikes.
My wife has a guitar – it is an expensive one and I am afraid to even touch it – but I suspect the problem I’d have would just be gripping the pick in my hand. I suspect if I tried to strum against actual guitar strings, the pick would go flying.
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Maybe I’ll try playing with my bare fingers… hmmm…
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I’m sure you love your collection of picks but it must be a bit of a hard reminder about the guitar playing. Hubby must have over 100 matchbooks sitting dust free in a jar. He used to collect them when they were more readily available, despite the fact that he’s never smoked. I’m working hard on trying to get him to ditch them.
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Good luck with that…. if he’s anything like me, he’ll fight to the death for them.
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Woulda, coulda, shoulda, right? We can all day that …your box of picks are just like my photos, maybe a couple of minutes a day on the guitar might help….you never know 😊💜
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I won’t know unless I try, will I?
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Very true give it chance 💜
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