PSA: you should try an actual mandolin pick!
Attention guitar converts and mandolin newbies:
If you currently believe, like I did until recently, that a pick is a pick, and that your pick collection from your guitar days is fine, and that you just need to learn technique, I'm here to tell you that you need to go down to your local music store, and ask them for a mandolin pick. It could cost you less than a buck (although I bought ten, so it cost me six bucks).
It turns out that the thickness and bevel shape are actually super important! It will improve your tone, your tremolo, and your ability to pick up and down with ease. It will not improve your scales or coordination, but hey, you can't ask for everything, you lazy bum.
Basically, I'm saying that I tried a real mandolin pick for the first time, and that I feel quite stupid that I never thought of trying it before. My cheap starter mandolin actually sounds a lot better and plays more easily.
Experienced players can (and should) point and laugh at me for posting something that should seem obvious, but I feel like this is something that newbies or multi-instrumentalists like myself don't even think about. Hopefully this turns on the lightbulb for someone else!
Howard Morris Oval-hole A-style Mandolin
Ohana BK-70R Bar. Uke, cust. nylon string set in GDAE
Kala U-Bass
Krappy Guitars Custom Radiused Fretted Electric Upright Bass
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