Materials that include metal and coin picks are covered here:
There are probably a dozen metals in metal and coin picks if you include alloys among metal and coin picks:
Aluminum, for example, imparts a softer attack and warmer tone than some other metals. Steel, with a sharper point, will have a ringing attack and a brighter tone.
Copper and Silver are somewhere in between the former two types. They are softer materials and can be more expensive. In the future, I will bring reviews of these metals and others in the Review Blog here.
US Quarters are made with Cupro-Nickle (a combination of Copper and Nickle) overlay-ed upon Pure Copper. Pennies are Zinc with Copper cladding.
British coins of the metal and coin picks classification:
They are used by Great Artists such as Brian May who used Six-Pence Coins of Cupro-Nickle and Pure Silver. Here is what Professor May says about it on Music Radar. ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons uses a Mexican coin at times.
Metal and coin picks all have a more assertive tone:
They have a strong attack, a bright strike. They can be harder to grip as they don’t adhere better with moisture and are rarely textured except for coins.
And several music retailers and Amazon.
We will endeavor to review as many of them as financially and feasible (as in obtainable) as possible, over time.
Metal and Coin picks can be hard to handle:
The size of the metal pick will make a large difference for most players, so if you try a coin shape and it doesn’t work for you, try a 351 shape or something else (if you can find it). The materials can be hard to grip because of their size AND their feel.
Some coins are made into tips, you can also do that yourself with the right files or grinders and buffers. A quarter with a tip on it is almost like a Jazz III small pick.
I love Aluminum and Quarters, and sometimes stainless for faster picking.
I don’t love them as much for strumming and some say metals are harder on a string’s service life. If you hit the strings hard, they will certainly wear out your strings sooner. However, a less firm strike on the string is necessary, so there is rarely a need to do a beat down on the strings with them. Subtle is the name of the game here.
Some materials of metal and coin picks can cause the coating on metal strings, the nickel, to wear off, so try them at your own risk. Before you go on stage blind, try them in practice first.
Copper is assertive but doesn’t squeal and I will review some that I’ve gotten from Clayton in the future. Aluminum is soft and easier on strings. Titanium and steel are tougher and more stern sounding.
As I’ve said, some players will warn that metal picks will damage strings sooner, and that may be true and will depend on how assertive you are with striking the strings, but with a subtle touch, they sure can ring!
Give a couple a try!
Next, if you like, you can visit another section of this site on Nature-Made Picks…