Oudoneit - 2-4-2007 at 02:00 PM
I started oud with a very soft mizrap (risha, quill, whatever), but now feel it is too soft, but some are very hard and very difficult to play with.
Necati Celik told me I would prefer harder plectrums as I became a better player. Is this generally true?
Rob
mavrothis - 2-4-2007 at 05:56 PM
Hi,
My first exposure to a very hard mizrap was from Dr. Munir N. Beken - his are not only extremely stiff, but also very thick.
This gives you a lot more volume, and I think other benefits as well. But you have to get used to it, and depending on our style and desire as far as
sound, you might prefer a medium to light pick. Yurdal Tokcan as far as I remember used a relatively flexible pick - probably medium thickness - and
picked with only a small part of the tip. With a heavier pick, you can usually use more length of the pick for plucking, since it is stiff enough to
bounce back on its own.
I think it's all relative - I personally usually use a very heavy pick unless I feel like using a lighter touch. 
mavrothis
JC1907 - 2-7-2007 at 05:30 PM
It's all personal preference in my opinion. Yorgo Bacanos used hard picks according to accounts of him and we all know his tremelos and speed. I
prefer medium to light. I like to feel the mizrap in my hand but I don't prefer too stiff of a mizrap. I have some favorites that I always use.