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Joe Pass
Signature Pick
Ernie Ball Heavy
Joe Pass primarily used heavy gauge picks and often played fingerstyle. When using a pick, he preferred thick celluloid picks that provided warmth and control for his complex chord-melody arrangements.
About Joe Pass
Joe Pass is widely considered one of the greatest jazz guitarists of all time. His "Virtuoso" solo album series demonstrated that a single guitarist could create complete, satisfying performances without accompaniment.
His technique combined walking bass lines, chord voicings, and melodic improvisation simultaneously—a feat that few guitarists have replicated. Pass could make his guitar sound like an entire band.
The heavy picks he used provided the control needed for his intricate fingerings and gave his tone the warmth characteristic of traditional jazz guitar. Many jazz players continue to emulate his approach to pick selection.