I think it is probably safe to say that when it comes to gifts, we guitar players are amongst the hardest of people for which to find a great gift.  Our wants and “needs” are always very specific, and unless you are also a player, all of the options can be very confusing and overwhelming.  When you couple that with the high cost of our guitar addiction, you will most likely feel the urge shift your gift search one of our other interests.  I know you really want to get your guitarist something special, so I am going to do my best to steer you in the right direction.  

Normally I would save my own product placement for the end of the article, but I wanted to organize this list from lowest cost to highest cost.  If you are already well versed in the Dragon’s Heart Guitar Picks products, skip to the next section.  If you are new to my picks, please take some time after reading this article to browse around our store page.  When it comes to great gifts for guitar players that won’t break the bank, you really cannot go wrong here.  Our picks are well known for being the best available, and we have custom personalization options.  Guitarists will always need more picks and we even have a Dragon’s Heart Holiday Gift Pack that ships out gift wrapped (by me) with a personalized To/From tag.  Also, you can use coupon code BESTGIFT10 to get 10% off anything in our store.  

Now on to the other fun stuff.

Plectrums are not the only low priced gift option out there.  On the short list of other good gift ideas in this price range are capos, tuners, and slides.  Even if your intended gift recipient already owns one of these, they are sure to appreciate a back-up.  Plus there are a ton of cool options available like the Quick-Clip Tuner/Capo Combo from Kyser.  This is one nifty little device that does the job of two; a sure fire dual hit.  I do not have a specific recommendation on slides, and if you do a quick web search for “guitar slides”, you will see why.  There are so many options, you are sure to find one that suits your guitarist.

These next two paragraphs cover roughly the same price range but one product definitely stands out, The Zither Guitar Stand.  Definitely on the pricey side as far as guitar stands go but it is the stand that every player wants.  Most stands are functional and get the job done.  This one does that and looks fantastic while doing it.  This is a guitar stand built to master luthier quality and it looks so good that your player will want to make sure it is on display for all the world to see. 

Even if the player you are thinking of this season does not fall into the “effect pedal junkie” category like myself, almost every electric guitar player out there enjoys playing around with a new effect pedal.  There are so many great options here that I could easily write an entire book, but the Zoom G3 Multi-effects Pedal is one that I would recommend for any guitarist.   I have spent countless hours playing through this awesome little device.  It has a ton of different effects, amp/cabinet simulations, and a drum machine built in.  The main selling point for me was that it works as a stand alone headphone amp.  This made it my go to unit for traveling or playing late at night.  It is very versatile, user friendly, and I am still finding new ways to make use of it.

Beyond the Zoom G3 there are many other options in the pedal department.  If you are looking to narrow your search, I recommend delay pedals and harmonizer/pitch-shifter pedals as a safe bet.  These effect types are hours of fun and every single one I have ever tried has either brought something new to the table or been of good solid value.

So this next section may seem a bit precarious and even scary because I am talking about buying an actual guitar.  Specifically though, I am talking about back up guitars or unique guitars.  For this arena, I recommend Rondo Music.  I have bought several guitars from this site over the years and always been satisfied.  Also, many of my students have purchased guitars from them.  They have a lot of variations similar to popular models at much more affordable prices, and they make great back up instruments (or even primary instruments).  I personally never go to a gig with out at least one back up guitar (usually two).  Plus they have some other unique options like fretless guitars and multi-scale guitars.  I personally own one of their fretless guitars and have enjoyed it thoroughly.  Other than Rondo, there are a ton of of unique guitars out there that make great gifts.  Guitarists love guitars, and often times we over-look the joy of the unique, because we are too focused on our perceived need for “the best”.

Hold on to your hat because now we are jumping into the range of the pricey.  The first of this section is a guaranteed winner.  This is the coolest guitar stool I have ever seen and it is simply called, The Guitar Stool.  I am not going to go into great detail on this one, just do yourself a favor and check it out.  If this one doesn’t quite fit bill there are many other guitar themed seating options out there that are sure fit both your player, and your budget.

Only two categories left and now we are finally into the range of the super special gifts.  First we are going to talk about amplifiers.  This category can be very specific to the player with respect to style and preference, but there are some options that all can appreciate.  The number one on my list is the Brown Amplification Haymaker.  This is a hand built, professional grade amplifier that brings much more the game than meets the eye.  One of my friends just got one of these and he simply will not shut up about it.  We occasionally play shows together so I have seen the Haymaker in action and it is awesome.  I will let you follow the link for more details. 

As I said before, amps can be specific.  That being said, there are still gift options out there that all players can appreciate.  Another good bet is simply a small old tube amp.  A “few” years ago my grandmother gave me a 5 watt National Valco tube amp from the 1940’s and it is one of my most prized possessions.  It sounds fantastic and I use it quite often.  There are a lot of these vintage tube amps out there and they are sure to be a cherished gift if you are willing to do a little hunting.

While I would like to say that Dragon’s Heart Guitar Picks are the best gift you could get for any guitar player out there, the truth of the matter is that the best gift is probably one of the dream guitars for which your special player is yearning.  Every player out there, myself included, always has at least one or two guitars for which we are simply pining.  While there is no way for me to tell you which guitar your special someone wants the most, I can advise you how to find out.  It is as easy as asking them about guitars in general.  Striking up a conversation on this subject will ultimately lead to a detailed explanation on why their ideal guitar is “the best standard” by which all instruments should be measured.  You should be prepared for a full blown lecture, but if the conversation stalls, just ask simple questions like “What makes one guitar better from another?” or “Why are they so expensive?”.  Even with out specific leading questions, odds are very good that the player you are talking to will give you all the information you need.  And then some.

If you still are unable to ascertain which guitar to get for that special guitar player in your life, and you are dead set getting them only the best, I do have a couple of recommendations.  On the acoustic side, Taylor Guitars are fantastic.  They have a lot of models to choose from, but you can easily narrow it down even with limited information.  On the electric side, my current favorite is the Music Man John Petrucci Majesty.  I was fortunate enough to have one these in my studio for a little over a week and I have wanted one to call my own ever since.  If anyone is looking for my special gift this year, look no further.  Any color works, I’m not picky;)

I honestly hope this article is helpful to those out there shopping, and at the risk of inundating myself with emails, I do welcome anyone to contact me for guidance/advice on this subject.  I can always be reached at corey@dragonsheartguitarpicks.com.  If you have stuck around to the end of this article, here is your reward.  Use coupon code 202016 for 20% off your purchase in our main online store.  That is our top discount for this season and it is good until the end of 2016.  I want to thank you for reading and, as always…

Play with fire…

In your heart!

Corey W.

That title should end with a question mark.  Mostly because I am the one writing this and, though I play bass a little, I am by no means an expert on the bass guitar.  What makes this even more awkward is the fact that on the rare occasion I play a real bass, I use my fingers.  That goes back to my early days of playing music and the instructor that taught me how to play the bass was quite passionate about not using picks.  That story is for another time.

So you might be wondering how I could even fathom writing an article that will essentially state that the Dragon's Heart is the best pick for the bass.  Well it basically boils down to this; the bass player for the band I am currently playing with uses the Dragon's Heart.  He actually was using them before we even met and I think that might have helped me get the gig with them.  Also, bass players from some other bands around the country have contacted me stating how much they love the Dragon's Heart for bass.

It is still a little difficult writing this article.  I feel some tightness in my chest due to the panic that follows the mere suggestion that a pick could be great for playing bass.  But based on the feedback that I received from so many bass players, I can't help but believe that there is definitely something to this.  Also, I have to admit that, against everything I was taught, the Dragon's Heart Guitar Pick does work very well on the bass guitar.  

One of the first bass players that ever contacted me was Boris Sin of Darkness Within.  When Boris originally contacted me and we started talking I assumed he was a electric six string player. I was quite surprised when I realized that he was talking about how much he loved the Dragon's Heart for playing bass.  To this day Boris is still an enthusiastic advocate of the Dragon's Heart and we still converse on occasion.  Like I said, Boris is the bass player for Darkness Within.  They are a Nu Metal band out of North Carolina.  You can check them out on FaceBook here.  They really go all out with costumes and the show.  They really have a shock rock/horror style but don't be put off by that.  Boris is one of the nicest people I have ever met and I am really glad to have a real working musician like him on my side.  

Boris Sin behind his Ibanez Bass and Original Dragon's Heart Guitar Pick

So is the Dragon's Heart the best pick for bass?  I have to say that, based on what I have been told by bass players, it most certainly is.  I'm still partial to finger playing but I think, with therapy, I will be able to work through that issue.  The case has been made to me and I'm convinced that, if you are going to play bass with a pick, you can do no better than the Dragon's Heart.  

Until next time...

Play with fire...

In your heart.

Corey W. 

If you have arrived at this article, chances are good that you are beginning your journey into the world of guitar.  This can be a daunting task, I know.  Believe it or not, I was there once myself.  I spent many hours in one of the local music shops trying to pick out my first guitar which was very difficult at the time because I knew almost nothing about them.  Fortunately for me (sort of),  I was on a limited budget so my options were somewhat limited.  I eventually settled on a white Peavey Raptor that would later gain the nickname "Rhandi", but that story is for another time.  This guitar has served me well throughout my journey.  After many years and few upgrades, it is now my son's guitar.  When I first purchased this guitar, the cost after taxes happened to work out to almost all the money I had.  I literally only had a few coins left with which to purchase a pick, so I purchased one from the 25 cent pick bin.  Believe it or not, I still have this pick today.  I believe it began it's life as a Fender medium but I can't be 100% certain at this point. 

My first on the left compared with a new Fender medium.

So, what does it really mean to be a beginner?  Obviously, if you have acquired your first guitar with the last month, you qualify as a beginner.  How long will you meet that definition?  Over the years I have read a lot of articles making claims that it takes 8,000 to 10,000 hours to become a master of certain abilities.  I'm sure there is data to back this up somewhere, but I'm also certain that along with that data, there is someone right there to sell you a shortcut.  Beginner, Novice, Intermediate, Expert, Master... these terms are very subjective.  I probably logged around 800 to 1,000 hours on the guitar in my first year playing, and that was enough to be able to form my first original band.  I would not claim any degree of mastery at that point, but I feel safe saying that anyone should progress beyond beginner status after that many hours.

Rhandi as she exists today.  Some upgrades applied:)

It was in that second year of playing, and my first year with a band, that I really started upgrading my gear to a more professional level.  Though now I might question the tastes and decisions of the younger me, I was making progress in the quality of my amps, effects, and instruments.  This progress continued for many years, but through all that gear, I actually stuck by my medium gauge, celluloid picks.  It wasn't until around 2010 that it hit me that there must be a better pick.  By this time, the rest of the gear I was using was pretty much top of the line.  Even with top level gear, my skill was still reaching a plateau.  So I started looking into better picks.  Even though there were picks out there that got me a little bit further toward my goal of mastery, I couldn't find the answer I was looking for.  Long story short, I decided to make my own.

The beginning

So without boring you with the long story of how this came to be, let us get back to the main point of this article.  Why is the Dragon's Heart Guitar Pick the best guitar pick for beginners?  To best explain this, I must site the words of a great instructor of mine.

 "Excellence is about the pursuit of perfection.  Practice makes permanent.  Practice perfection without regard to speed.  Speed will come with time.  Slow is steady, steady is smooth, smooth is fast."  

When it comes to any physical discipline, I doubt wiser words were ever spoken.  The core of the Dragon's Heart concept is founded in consistency.  Thin picks are often given to, and used by, beginners because they are very forgiving to sloppy play and error.  Thin picks, however, violate the main function of the guitar pick. The purpose of the pick is to displace the strings causing vibration.  Thin picks do this, but the thin picks are usually displaced more than the strings.  This results in more motion in your fingers, hand, and arm.  Thin picks generally wear quickly as well, which means that the pick's physical dimensions are constantly changing as you play.  Both of these properties hinder consistency.  

The final sketch

The Dragon's Heart Guitar Pick was designed to mimic the desirable, three dimensional characteristics of a thin pick without the excess recoil and motion of the same.  This is of even greater benefit when you progress to sweeping and alternate picking.  The materials for the Dragon's Heart were chosen because they resist erosion.  This provides more consistent play over an extended period of time.  The result is a pick that guides you towards consistency on an almost instinctive level.  For beginners, I recommend either the Pure Dragon's Heart or a 6 pack of my Faux Dragon's Heart Picks.  If you are like me and good at keeping track of things, the Pure is your best bet.  If you are looking to get more picks for your money, pick up a Faux 6 pack.

From the first run.

The Dragons' Heart Guitar Pick is the result of my many years of experience.  I fully believe that it is, with out doubt, the best pick available.  Obviously, it was not available when I was a beginner.  For me to say that it is "the best pick for beginners", is a very subjective and loaded statement.  Don't take my word for it.  There is a now an over-whelming amount of articles and reviews about these picks on youtube and other gear sites.  Further, all the local guitar instructors I know personally are avid users of my picks and they always suggest that their students practice with them.  

One of the latest.

I am going to close this with the same thing I pretty much always say.  There is no wrong way to play.  If you like your sound, then you are doing it right.  No one can tell you what gear is best for you, only you can decide that and don't let anyone tell you that something you like is bad.  Keep those things in mind, but never stop pursuing new gear and new techniques.  And, as always...

Play with fire...

In your heart:)

Corey W.

Who doesn't like free gear?  I think it is safe to say that we all like free gear and we come across giveaways every now and again.  The most common things I've received for free over the years are are pretty basic; stickers, t-shirts, pens, key chains, lanyards, and beverage containers.   Occasionally, I will come across something of this nature that I like and hold on to for a little while.  Most of the time, these things end up in the recycle bin.

Look at all this cool stuff our customers can throw away after we leave.

Most companies in the music industry are known to do this as well.  Some will even have picks mass produced with their logos and contact info just to hand out.  Unfortunately, they are usually not high quality and, let's face it, you'll probably dispose of it or it will end up in that pile-o-picks that every guitarist has.  So... how can you get good picks for free?

One word.  #GuitarPickWednesday

In case you haven't heard, the bird is not the word. 

I know what you are thinking and yes, technically that is more than one word.  If you follow us on Facebook and Twitter, you've heard about our #GuitarPickWednesday giveaway.  Every week we giveaway an Original, Pure, or Hardened pick to one lucky fan.  For free.  That's right, free.  Just enter the contest and you're set!  You don't even need a Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or Instagram account to enter.  We set up options for everyone to be able to enter. There are even daily entry options to help increase your chances.  The entry process takes no more than a minute.

I get dozens of requests from guitarists asking if they can try a pick out before they buy.  Trust me, if I had some sort of pick check out/rental system, I'd let every one "try" them out.  I would love to be able to give at least one Dragon's Heart Guitar Pick to everyone who wanted one but the simple fact is that these are expensive to produce.  #GuitarPickWednesday is definitely your best bet on grabbing a Dragon's Heart for free.

But still, one pick a week isn't enough is it?  I agree.  We have incredible fans and I'm always looking for ways to give back.  The amount of feedback, reviews, pictures, and videos we've received over the past 6+ months is insane!  So insane that we've decided to sponsor a select few reviewers.  All of them love the picks and want to share them with their subscribers.  We've supplied them with their personal allowance of picks and more for them to giveaway!  If you're signed up for our newsletter, you already know who they are.  Don't worry though!  We officially announce them on Facebook periodically so make sure you've 'liked' us.

The bottom line...  Free stuff?  Good!  Free Dragon's Heart Guitar Picks?  VERY good!!! Make sure you're following us on all our social media platforms or you're subscribed to our newsletter for updates. 

The more we grow, the more we can giveaway.  Sharing is always good and if I have have anything to say about it, share we shall.  Since I am the inventor, owner, and resident expert on all things guitar pick; what I say goes.  Period.

Until next time... Play with fire, in your heart!

Corey W.

ONLY ROCKERS CAN SUCCESSFULLY PULL OFF THE "DUCK fACE".... JUST SAYIN'

Rock 'n' roll! Loud guitars, flailing hair, cheap booze & stories you'll never tell your future children about.  As guitar players, most of us started at the same place.  Standing in the mirror, holding a tennis racket while giving the "metal horns" & imagining the crowd basking in our glory.  Great work if you can get it but even the coolest rocker needed to learn the basics before they attained limo status.

If you don't know who this is you better axe somebody.  Pun intended.

In this case we're talking about your choice of guitar pick.  Pick choice helps your ability to recreate that sound in your head.  If you look into different genres of music, you will notice that pick choice often varies per genre.  Since we're talking specifically about Rock music in this article, we'll focus on pick choice for electric guitars.

I LOVE ROCK 'N' ROLL.... but what is it?

Rock of course has more variation than most other genres.  Do you want to sound more like The Eagles or ZZ Top?  Are you a strummer like many Punk rockers or a picker more akin to Jimmy Page?  Trying to get the best of both worlds is a trial & error process with most picks, but the design of the Dragon's Heart Guitar Pick gives you three distinctly different, optimized edges allowing you to perform a wide variety of techniques and transition between those techniques easily.  If I had to choose one Dragon's Heart model as the best for rock I would have to go with the Hardened.  I am very much a rock player and the Hardened Dragon's Heart is the one that I use.

Any really heavy rock type music will benefit from a stiff, heavy gauge pick.  Your attack is helped or hampered by pick choice.  Attack is basically a combination of your own picking technique and your pick choice.  It's a reflection of who you are as a player & also a useful tool to get across whatever mood you're trying to create. A stiffer pick helps with accuracy but will also really push that signal through your pickups to provide the heaviness you're after.  A nice "sweep" technique is hard to do with a flimsy pick while a heavier gauge provides that reinforcement needed for clarity and speed.  This is where the Dragon's Heart Guitar pick comes in to play.  The stiffness and thickness contribute to its accuracy and the beveled edge provides smooth, swift glide over the strings. Your pick "attack" 

 

 Not the kind of attack we were talking about.

Is the Hardened Dragon's Heart the best guitar pick for rock?  Only you can decide what is best for you and your style.  I will, however, finish this article by pointing out that I play many varied styles of rock and the Hardened Dragon's Heart is the only pick I use.  The Dragon's Heart has also been embraced by many other players across all genres of music.  

Also... the Dragon's Heart Guitar Pick does go to 11.

                                                                                                       "Goes to 11" amp mod. 

What other rock guitarists think...

“Using it like a standard pick is pretty easy, even for players used to standard medium weight picks. The beveled edge offers plenty of attack and the heart “half” is great for rhythm styles, while the “horn” side offers up hyper accurate attack for both shred masters and jazz boppers.”

“A really surprising pick, has the perfect size and thickness.
Its three areas of attack are great, but I liked the rounded area to play chords, slides across the strings in a very nice and precise.
I like to play a bit of everything, Blues, Jazz, Rock, Heavy... and easily adapts to any situation.
In short a pick”multitasking”, very versatile and enjoyable to use.
Great job, guys of Dragon’s Heart...”