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From: Justificator@aol.com
Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 11:34:36 -0500

Hello Mickey,

I'm looking for a
couple of picks you'd recommend and the Cross-picking Technique book.

Thanks for your considerable help.

Donee Wyke

Greetings Donee,

For Picks: I'd recommend the matte finish as opposed to the gloss finish...these have a better feel and do not slip easily while playing. The Dunlop "Tortex" picks are my favorite. I would try both the smaller triangle sizes and the larger triangle sizes to determine what feels best over time. I personally use the .73 larger triangle Tortex which offers me just the right feel and thickness. Be aware, if you get a flatpick that's too thin, the tone will have a thin sound with lots of clicking transient tones to it as opposed to a thicker flatpick that will give you a fatter tone with less transient tones. The thick flapick will also assist you playing facility due to less give...

The Crosspicking Mandolin Technique book is a comprehensive methodology book that focuses on exercises that will assist you in developing technique in a stair-step fashion. I believe it works well for the stark beginner to the advanced mandolinist looking for new angles...it covers many facets of playing mandolin and especially assists in learning chordal harmony with arpeggiated rhythms...which is a framework that delineates all styles of music.

Hope all of the above assists in some way...Mickey