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→Manipulating Tone
The above section on '''dynamics will also affect tone''' in most cases. Playing harder usually causes the string to slap against the frets during the initial part of its sound, adding a kind of raucousness to your playing. If anything, it makes your playing more percussive and each note can be heard more clearly. Rock music typically involves compression or distortion of the signal, which tends to reduce the dynamic range of the instrument. Thus, picking dynamics tend to influence tone more than actual volume.
The '''''pick angle'''''' ''can be manipulated to subtly alter your tone'''. I do not mean the angle in relation to the body. The pick should be relatively perpendicular to the body. I'm talking about its angle in relation to the strings. Normal position for me is slightly angled - the pick is almost parallel to the string. If it were completely parallel, the string would touch the entire face of the pick during the picking motion and may not slide off of it as easily, especially if you hold the pick tight. On the other hand, turning the pick completely perpendicular to the string feels very awkward - you will find it hard to apply pressure to the string, as the string quickly and easily slides towards the tip of the pick. These different feels don't simply affect feel - they translate into the tone the string produces. '''My advice is to get comfortable picking in general before starting to manipulate tone in this manner.'''
===Downstrokes and Upstrokes===