I have been playing a LOT lately with my index and thumb nails, I think it's because all of my new songs are decently high up on the fretboard and the notes just sound too muted normally, especially when I'm playing a few high notes + open strings, then I REALLY need to pick the high notes or you won't hear them. I would try those alaska picks, except that I with the top was a smooth surface, not with the gaps. Because I just the top side of my nail a lot for hard strums, and it those notches would catch on strings, and it looks like some of those picks would actually damage my strings. =(