Rasp-Sided Picks like Herdims and sharkfins are used on Dulcimers (Herdim). Sharkfins are used on guitars, both acoustic and electric:
These Picks have ripples in them, multiple curves, ridges on a side, and then other sides that are more straight or curved.
Herdims are a brand of pick. Dunlop makes some shark fins. There are Wolfbite picks also.
The purpose of these picks is to attain a raspy, multiple-strike tone as well as a fine-picking tone on the other tips(s). This will seem reminiscent of a 12-string or double-stringed instrument, yet differently “gritty”-sounding.
They vary only a little in their tone. They do vary, however, in style and feel. Rasp Sided Picks like Herdims and Sharkfins are niche products and I review them in the reviews section, more are coming.
instruments such as 12-string guitars and 8-string mandolins have a sound remotely similar to Rasp Sided Picks like Herdims and Sharkfins. They to emulate a tone similar to paired string .
Of course, that emulation is limited, nothing actually compares to actually paired strings, but the repeated pluck tone is well accomplished by these limited-use plectra.
Some are more suited for non-guitars, others only for flattop guitars. The manufacturers will recommend them accordingly in most cases.
Of the Rasp-Sided Picks like Herdims and Sharkfins, the Shark’s Tooth Picks also has a fine tip on an angle that is great for picking.
It feels very different picking with that tip. It lets you use three fingers but with surgical precision. The shapes each of these picks have to go beyond just the ridges on them, some are wide or multi-tipped, and some are like 351-shaped picks. Some are like propeller picks. Propeller picks are rare also, I’ll acquire some and review them in the future.
Delrin or Nylon picks:
Delrin is used in sharkfins. Nylon is used in Herdims. And of course, there are coins with ridges on them for an even different tone.
Often used for Rhythm and for Mandolins, their unique tone is pretty self Explanatory.
You can try Dunlops or Herdims or others.
The Sharkfin Dunlop is about 33 mm x 29 mm and the nice fine tip is actually pretty cool on them. They are also surprisingly easy to hold.
If you have discovered a very special pick, whether it is a propeller or a ridged pick, please tell us about them so we can try to acquire a sample to review:
Now back to the Intro Page.
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