Strings and Picks

Jerryc41

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 4, 2015
Messages
10,243
Reaction score
3,111
Location
Catskill Mountains, NY
The discussion about when to change strings got me thinking about strings in general. Searching for information on strings led me to information on picks.

I wasn't allowed to post the links I had, and now they've disappeared. If you're interested, Google will find them again.

Okay, I found them. Let's see if I can post them this time.

Strings -
https://consordini.com/best-ukulele-strings/
https://ukenut.com/ukulele-strings-comparison-guide/
http://www.ianchadwick.com/ukuleles/picks.htm
https://musiccritic.com/equipment/guitars/best-ukulele-strings/

And picks -
https://www.ukulelemusicinfo.com/ukulele-picks/
https://www.ukulelemusicinfo.com/ukulele-picks/
https://ukesong.com/best-ukulele-accessories/best-ukulele-picks/
https://nativeground.com/ukulelepicks/
https://liveukulele.com/gear/picks/
 
Last edited:
Nice resources! Have found I'm very interested in everything regarding ukes, even if my own playing is minimalist, including no pick :)
 
This video from Aaron Keim was very helpful to me.
 
I was in the music shop yesterday and a lady bought her brother a $15 pick for his birthday.

The coolest pick that you really need is not advertised on the internet, you will only find it by chance or by word of mouth.
You clearly don't hang out in the right parts of the internet ;) The Blue Chip pick is the coolest pick by far. Not available for a miserly $15 though ;) https://www.bluechippick.net/

(Not a sponsored advert. I've never used one. My picks always end up in the wash, or in last season's coat pocket, or in the cat's stash)
 
You clearly don't hang out in the right parts of the internet ;) The Blue Chip pick is the coolest pick by far. Not available for a miserly $15 though ;) https://www.bluechippick.net/

(Not a sponsored advert. I've never used one. My picks always end up in the wash, or in last season's coat pocket, or in the cat's stash)
The most expensive pick is below $100 :(

You can buy my uke for that.
 
Out of curiosity, I have tried various flatpicks in different materials and never cared much for them. It is like a Goldilocks thing- plastic is too hard, felt is too light. The rubber pick by Wedgie (I can't recall which hardness) was not bad, but seemed to leave a bit of residue. I see Kiwaya and some others make leather picks, which might be a worth a try.
 
I don't play with a pick, but I do have a felt and a leather pick. The leather is my preference as the sound of the pick against the string is harder and louder with the felt pick. I've also used a standard plastic guitar pick (this was all a couple of years ago when I first started), although I stopped using this so as not to damage my uke.

It does give more volume (which can be useful when playing in a group), but since my index finger toughened up, I haven't really used a pick at all.

I think I paid £1.00 for both the felt and the leather pick, so hardly a bank-breaking investment if you want to give either a try. A plastic pick will almost certainly scratch the top of your instrument though (so a pcik guard of some sort would be a good idea, unless you're going for the Willie Nelson/Trigger look).
 
I cut a piece out of an empty plastic bottle, the slightly flexible type, that seems to be the best that I've found, so far......though I don't often use a pick, mainly just my thumb.
 
I cut a piece out of an empty plastic bottle, the slightly flexible type, that seems to be the best that I've found, so far......though I don't often use a pick, mainly just my thumb.

An instructor at a uke event said that he uses a business card - cut and folded.
 
Top Bottom