Irish tenor banjo picks: thickness, grip and triplets
Start by comparing two nylon picks, such as 0.46 and 0.60 mm, on the same short phrase. Keep the shape, tempo and exposed tip similar. Choose the one that gives you an even sound with a relaxed grip.
By TradTabPublished Updated
- Compare
- Two or three picks on one phrase
- Listen for
- An even attack across the strings
- Watch for
- Gripping harder as you speed up
- Keep the test fair
- Same tune, tempo and instrument
What thickness pick should you try?
As one documented example, Mike Mulready’s Irish Style Tenor Banjo reports using a 0.46 mm nylon pick and describes seeing players use 0.60 mm nylon. His account gives useful examples; each player still needs to check the feel on their own instrument.
For a first comparison, try two or three light-to-medium picks of the same shape and material. Treat the printed thickness as a way to identify each pick while you compare comfort and sound. The aim is to find a comfortable stroke on your own instrument.
What to change when a pick feels awkward
Change one thing between attempts so you can hear and feel the difference. The suggestions below are a way to compare picks and technique.
Dunlop’s product pages identify its 0.46 mm nylon pick and 0.60 mm version. These provide two labelled examples in one range. Thickness alone cannot predict the feel of a different material or shape.
| What you notice | Try next | Listen or feel for |
|---|---|---|
| The tip catches a string | Slow down and expose less tip | An even downstroke and upstroke |
| The pick bends more than you want | Compare the next thicker pick in the same range | A clear attack without gripping harder |
| The pick slips in your hand | Compare a textured surface or another shape | A relaxed grip through the phrase |
| A triplet becomes uneven | Play it slowly with the following note | Steady timing before increasing speed |
Compare picks in five minutes
Play one string. Alternate down and up slowly on the open A. Notice whether the tip catches, bends more than you want or slips in your grip.
Add a string crossing. Play the same short phrase with each pick at the same speed. Keep the amount of exposed tip similar.
Listen to the recording. Record a few bars if you can. Compare clarity and evenness as well as volume.
Check your hand. If you squeeze harder as you speed up, reduce the tempo and examine your grip before deciding the pick is at fault.
Does mandolin need a different pick?
A mandolin normally has paired strings, so the pick meets a course of two strings rather than a tenor banjo’s single string. Test the pick on the actual instrument. There is no single required thickness for all mandolin players.
If you play both instruments, compare the same phrase on each. You may prefer separate picks, or find one that suits both. The useful test is a clear sound and a comfortable stroke.
What if triplets still feel difficult?
Learn the undecorated phrase at a steady speed first. Add the ornament slowly and include the note after it. The converter’s triplet example lets you hear the timing and copy a bar into your own practice tune. An uneven triplet can involve timing or tension as well as equipment.
The picking-pattern guide gives counted exercises for building a steady stroke. A teacher can help check the motion if changing picks does not resolve the problem.
A note on earlier advice
The September review removed universal thickness rules and an unverified player attribution. This update adds manufacturer specifications and a comparison table. The linked player account gives a personal example. The practical exercises are TradTab’s suggestions.
Questions
Yes. A flat pick can be used on both. Compare its feel on your banjo rather than relying on the instrument named on the packet.
No. Material, shape, grip and picking motion also matter. Compare picks at a comfortable speed and check whether your hand stays relaxed.
Try a small selection so you can compare. Mike Mulready reports 0.46 mm nylon as his own choice and describes 0.60 mm nylon among other players; those are examples, not a universal requirement.
Keep reading
Read the guidePicking patterns for reels, jigs and hornpipes
Start with a short group of notes and keep the pulse steady. These direction diagrams give you a starting pattern for reels and jigs, then show how to carry it into a tune.
Read the guideFive easy Irish tunes for tenor banjo, in learning order
Begin with a repeated phrase, then add jig rhythm, string crossings and longer runs. Each tune below links to one specific setting, with a skill to practise and a phrase to watch.
Read the guideMandolin vs tenor banjo tuning: the octave difference
A mandolin is tuned G3 D4 A4 E5. An Irish tenor banjo is tuned G2 D3 A3 E4, one octave lower. Both use GDAE in fifths, so the same string and fret numbers give the same tune in different octaves.