My favorite pick these days seems to be a sticky grip pick I bought from Mike Clemmer. The par away from the point has foam on it that provides comfort as well as makes it a lot harder to drop a pick or have it suddenly fly out of your hand!
Forum Activity for @jan-potts
Well, I give up. Twice now I have typed a rather lengthy response only to have the system suddenly bring up an entirely different location. Both times, the reply window was empty when I made my way back to it. So, I don't have enough time left to try again right now. Welcome aboard, and don't let the little inconveniences discourage you. Truth be told, we have ALL been there. They don't last long. Practice..Deweythe Dewey Dulcimer System
I made some "T" shaped tops on my picks. I took blue painter tape and 2 pieces of thin cord (candle wick sized) and taped each piece of cord along the top edges of the pick. This gives it a wide top that is easy to grip. I didn't have a death grip but a too loose grip and it either rotated or slid inward or outward. I wasn't sure if I could use a hot glue gun and make ridges on both sides of the tops. I'll have to try the Gorilla Snot.Go with whatever works
Hi Leighann, I had a dulcimer student who had trouble holding onto the pick and the solution we came to was to buy her a "Shark Tooth Pick". sThe Shark tooth is a cloth sleeve that goes over your thumb and fastens with velcro. The sleeve holds the pick steady at the same time. You can check it out on live by going to "Shark Tooth Pick".
Cool, Leighann! I love this sort of "found" picks!
Leighann Batemon said:
I found a great pick solution! I use an elongated bread bag tie that I've rounded out the corners. The hole in the top makes it super easy to hold onto, and the elongation of it makes me feel more comfortable strumming. Thank you, everyone, for the nice (andingenious) posts-- I'm really grateful you took the time to respond. I learned a lot!
I just bought some of these wrist lanyards from ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=271111397520&ssPageName=ADME:L:OC:US:3160
My intention is to drill a little hole in one side of my pick, thread this through and loop it, and that way when it goes flying out of my hand (as it is prone to do) it won't go far. For $1.69 it's worth a shot.
Another way to keep a grip on a standard size pick is to use the colored rubbery plastic car key covers. You can get all sorts of fancy ones now a days like MS Piggy, or Oreo Cookies, but I've used the old fashion standard color code key caps/covers for years. The rubbery texture is sort of sticky without leaving a gummy film on the fingers.
The brighter the color also makes it easier to find the pick if you do drop it. Another advantage is the cover will add thickness to the top of the pick which makes it easier to hold without clutching.
Oops! In my earlier posting, I neglected to say that I cut my picks so they're more or less the shape of a big ol' kidney bean. With all due respect to my friend KenH, I don't think it's the least bit silly to search Google for how to make a milk jug pick! Some plastics work better than others and some pick shapes suit some folks while still other shapes suit other folks. 
Last spring was my first real in-depth exposure to the mountain dulcimer at an all-day event. I had my acoustic bass guitar and loved that most playing was in the key of D. By mid-day I was ready for a pick...not the way I play guitar. Settled on the end of some lunch plasticware. I was pleased with the result (although some players saw it and loaned a pick). I was pleased with my inventiveness. My teacher gave me a "Don't mention my name..." reaction.
Now for the funny thing: At the event the loan of a MD for a year was offered and I was sure I wasn't interested.
Leighann, I often play with a big homemade pick cut from the lid of a plastic food tub. If you wish to take a look at my playing using a big ol' homemade pick-- and it's pretty visible in my hand before I actually begin to play a tune-- in this video:
http://mountaindulcimer.ning.com/video/ridin-the-zigzag-wobble-railroad-on-lap-dulcimer-played-in-noter
If I had to play using a little pick, I'm not sure how I'd do it. So, hope this helps!
Welcome Leighann!
The choice of picks is nearly limitless, from feathers to plastic to iridium. However.
There are probably physical reasons why you're constantly dropping the pick.
Reason #1 is that as a newbie you've probably got a "white knuckle death grip" on it; and
Reason #2 is you have far too much pick sticking out of your fist.
You only need to have 1/4" or so of pick exposed. RELAX your wrist and let your hand rotate and move, changing the "angle of attack" from this: / to this: \ as you strum rather than trying to keep the pick rigidly upright like this: |
There is no known long term physiological damage associated with strumming with your nails. If there were, you'd hear about Picker's Thumb or Strummer's Syndrome or some such. Granted, if you like really buffed, highly polished and seasonally decorated nails it's not so good, but that's a different thing.
What "banjo players use" are (usually) metal fingerpicks; they're fine for certain sounds but not for everything. Different pick stiffnesses and materials -- leather, quill, felt, metal, plastics, thin, thick, etc. -- give you different sounds
"Look up on Google how to make a milk jug pick" Why bother looking something like that up??? That's kinda silly. In the time it takes you to type "how to make a milk jug pick" you can make three or four of them! Use a pair of scissors and cut a triangle about 1.5" on a side.Or bigger. Or smaller. Milk jug, credit card, yogurt tub, whatever. Round the corners. Strum. It's said that Jean Ritchie uses a quarter of a butter tub lid as a pick because her arthritis is bad (but she is 90 years young).
Word of advice -- don't let nerdy research get in the way of dulcimer playing time. Two separate activities.
There are various options for you on picks. I use my fingers nearly exclusively now, without thumb or finger picks. The steel strings wear the nails a little more than playing nylon strung guitars (I am a classical guitarist, too.) That means I have to care for my nails more: regular filing, eat the right things, gloves in these winter months.
When I use a pick, I use either pointless picks or a V-pick "Bing." Both are designed to avoid dropping them. That being said, milk jugs or butter carton tops, bleach bottles or cottage cheese cartons, or can make a pick from whatever you'd like in the sizes you think would be best for you!
Rob
The pick grip stuff that's proclaimed by many as the best is Gorilla Snot http://gorillasnotusa.com/gorilla-snot-guitar-pick-grip/
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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I was lucky enough to meet Dave Brown and Don Whicker through this site. We all live in Greensboro, NC and now get together to play once a week.
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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Last weekend when I was in Hindman KY, I met a few FOTMD and former FOTMD members. Mike Slone, Dan Cox, John Knopf, and Larry Hicks. I don't think I forgot anyone.
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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Cool, Jim! It's such a nice coincidence you met someone at Wartz 'n' All who lives close-by.
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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I was hopeful that she would attend, Lisa, being new and not knowing anyone here was a leap of faith for her. But she did come and had a great time.
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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I was just thinking about that when I was looking at the new Wartz n' All group photo yesterday! It's just so great that the internet can bring like-minded people together this way.
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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Just yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting a brand new member of FOTMD Jeanne White, at our Wartz 'n' All Spring Gathering. She just lives about 20 minutes over the hill from me in good ole PA. Chalk up another one.
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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I didn't realize it until Rob said something to me this morning. Jerry Rockwell is a member of FOTMD and I didn't remember that.
Sorry Jerry!
So he's another one that I've met from here.
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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At Wartz'an'All I met John Wood for the 1st time. [Close your ears, John!] I hope we'll be together again some time; he's a good player and a nice guy.
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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That should be John Wood. Must have had Jim on my mind. Didn't catch that in time to edit it. I have met around 65 members of FOTMD give or take one or two. Looking forward to meeting more at festivals this year.
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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And I had the pleasure of meeting Jim and his wife Bev as well as Jim Wood and Kevin Messenger at the same event.
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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Had the pleasure of meeting Ken Longfield and his wife Betty at the Wartz 'n' All Spring Fling in Clarksburg, WV. Yesterday. So 13 members so far.
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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Just remembered that I met Macy Jane (Wendy) and Jennifer Schaffer at Perkasie this past May.
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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And my bowed dulcimer friend Roseanne Denchy is also a FOTMD!
It really is something of a surprise to me how many music friends I've met over the past several years, especially because I've never attended any of the big dulcimer fests. (When I joined Everything Dulcimer in '05, I'd not yet met any of the dulcimer friends I have now.) I feel rich, indeed.
Thanks, Dana!
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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I forgive you...this time!
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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Oh my goodness, Dana, how did I do that? 
Seems like I've known you forever, my friend. 
I probably should've made a paper-and-pencil list 
and not responded to this thread
for about a month.
Am I losing my mind
or what
? 
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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Yes Robin you are forgetting someone MEEEEEE!!!!
Robin Thompson said:
Like Rob, I've not met a FOTMD member I didn't like!
PS-Oh, I must be forgetting someone!
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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Hey Robin. Thanks for jogging my memory. I think one of the very first people from FOTMD I met was Randall. Sorry, Randall, it's that sometimers kickin' in again.
Robin Thompson said:
Oh, Kim, I was so focused on mountain dulcimer events. . .
)
I also have met Don Pedi, Paul Tantillo, Maurice Solis, ReVonda Crow, Teri Sato, Marge Diamond and Randall McKinnon.
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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Now, let's see. . . a few other bowed dulcimer friends who are also FOTMD friends are Ken Bloom, Ruth Randle, Marsha Harris. . . Oh, I'm coming to realize that I'm not sure who-all I've met in person in the dulcimer world who is also on FOTMD and am realizing I've actually met quite a few FOTMD folks in-person. There's Heidi Mueller, Jerry Rockwell and Mary Lautzenheiser to mention a few more wonderful folks. I met some of the friends before there was an FOTMD and since I confuse easily
. . . Love my music friends!
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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Oh, Kim, I was so focused on mountain dulcimer events. . . ! What a pleasure it was to meet you in Pilot Mountain and to see you take to the bowed dulcimer so quickly. (I wasn't surprised to see you catch-on so quickly! )
I also have met Don Pedi, Paul Tantillo, Maurice Solis, ReVonda Crow, Teri Sato, Marge Diamond and Randall McKinnon. There are some FOTMD members I've listed that I met before there was an FOTMD; I knew of them from Everything Dulcimer and then we met in-person.
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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To start off I met Robin T. and Tom McDonald at the first Noter and Drone Camp out. Wayne A. and Gail at Perkasie. Rob, Kevin M., Patty from VA., Scott Allen at the Wartz 'n All gathering, and this past Noter and Drone Camp Out John Wood, and Pat Boardman. By the way she sold me the dulcimer and is pictured between me and John in our group photo. So ten friends I have met from FOTMD and still counting. Hope to meet more this year.
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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There are a lot of wonderful folks that I know that are on fomd -- but I met them all first somewhere else :)I did meet a total stranger on fb and we ended up loaning him our mountain cabin, then my husband and I stayed with him in his home for 2 weeks in Quimper , France and he stayed with us again thIs year for 2 weeks in Tallahassee, and now he is getting ready to retire to Martinique in a year or two -- and of course, we are invited for an extended stay :) I've also met some great folks on banjohangout, and have stayed with them in their homes and become good friends. :)We are so lucky to meet so many wonderful folks wherever we go and have had the double fortune to remain friends for many years :)Happy Holidays :)
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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My goodness, how could I have neglected to mention meeting Paul Tantillo, Maurice (Mo) Soulis, and Don Pedi at Don's wonderful Tao of Dulcimer Retreat back in May? What a pleasure it was to become acquainted with these fellows!