A pick (also called a plectrum) is usually made of plastic and is used to strum or pick the guitar string. With so many to choose from I wondered where to start.
- A medium pick gives control and some flex, but you might prefer something a bit stiffer.
- A teardrop works well for small and medium hands. A triangular pick is better suited to medium or large hands.
- Ridged picks are useful if you struggle with grip.
- Brands and colour do not affect the playability.
What Are The Differences Between Thin, Medium And Heavy Guitar Picks?
| type of pick | minimum thickness | maximum thickness |
| extra heavy/thick | 1.2mm | 3mm or even more |
| heavy/ thick | 0.8mm | 1.2mm |
| medium | 0.6mm | 0.8mm |
| thin | 0.4mm | 0.6mm |
I started out with a heavy stiff pick, thinking that this would be best for playing a Cigar Box Guitar. However, I quickly found that this didn’t suit me well. I found the lack of flex a bit awkward. Maybe it was because as a beginner I tended to mostly strum. I prefer a bit more flex in my guitar pick for strumming.
Lead guitarists might find that they like thicker stiffer picks. However I find it tricky to pick individual strings with a pick and tend to use my fingers instead.
I did initially start playing classical guitar as a child and perhaps that’s why I have found it difficult to transition to playing lead guitar with a pick. Hopefully with practise, I will get more confident in this but at the moment I prefer using my fingers.
I tried a much lighter thinner pick next and I found that easier to control and hold. It just felt a bit too flexible. They are best for light strumming I think, particularly when the guitar is not amplified. However I don’t really like the kind of “clicky” sound which they seem to make.
It wasn’t until I tried a medium pick that I found what I’d been looking for. It gave the control I needed with just enough flexibility.
Which Is Better – Thin, Medium Or Thick Guitar Pick?
As a beginner, start off with some in the medium range ( 0.6mm – 0.8mm) as this is what I think you will find the most versatile. I think it is then worth buying a few in a variety of thicknesses. They are not expensive and cost as little as 20p. They are the kind of things that get lost easily.
Some styles of play suit a heavier pick and you will probably want to have a few different thicknesses, even after you’ve found your favourite.
Don’t invest in too many of one kind until you have had a good chance to experiment. Fingers and hands are different and it’s important for you to find the kind of pick that suits yours.
Different Materials For Guitar Picks
You also need to know that picks are made from different types of plastic. This means that sometimes two picks of the same thickness have quite different flex.
I would suggest that you try buying some thinner picks with less flex and some thicker picks with less flex. That’s why it is useful to go to a guitar shop and actually hold the picks to test how bendy they are. If you can’t get to a shop and need to buy online, look at the resource page for some ideas.
Which Size and Shape Guitar Picks Are Good For Beginners?
I think it is worth trying both a teardrop shaped pick and a triangular one.
I tried both and for me the tear drop shaped was easier as I have small hands. The triangular ones seem to get in the way a bit for me. They are a bit bigger and I found it was too much pick to hold comfortably.
However, if you are struggling to keep a grip on a teardrop shape I would suggest you try a triangular one. (See paragraph below for information about ridged picks too.)
A bonus with a triangular guitar pick is that you can use any of the three points to play so they wear out less quickly.
You need to experiment with holding the pick until you get just the right amount sticking out. I use my thumb and forefinger to hold the pick, but you can try thumb and middle finger or even thumb, forefinger and middle finger.
Hold the guitar pick securely, but not too tightly. It should feel like an extension of your fingers or an extra long fingernail. Persevere until it feels natural to just pick it up and play.
Why Use A Guitar Pick At All?
In some ways, not using a pick can give extra control over exactly which string you are playing and when, but it does wear your nails down if you strum a lot. It can make your fingers uncomfortably sore.
Some guitarists like to use their thumb or thumbnail to strum chords or play bass notes. Some like to use their index finger, using the face of the nail.
I like to keep my right hand fingernails short except for my thumb and forefinger. This enables me to play and experiment without a pick. But I tend not to strum for very long without picking up my favourite pick: a medium teardrop shaped without ridges.
As I said before, I still find it easier to play without a pick if I am not strumming, but I am practising playing individual strings with a heavier pick. There are so many styles to play on a cigar box guitar and I want to improve my skills to play as many as I can.
What About Textured Picks?
You can buy textured picks with ridges for extra grip. This means ridges on the fatter part of the teardrop. Nylon picks often have these ridges.
I personally don’t like these, but I guess that they would suit someone who finds the smooth pick slips out of their fingers. So maybe try them, especially if you have sweaty hands?
Designer Guitar Picks
There are many designs and colours of picks to choose from. Many guitar manufacturers sell branded picks.
For me, the feel of a pick is much like important than the look. Now that I know which type suits me best, medium weight teardrop, I tend to choose those. I still like to have a few different weights and shapes, even though I tend to use my favourite 90% of the time.
You can definitely choose some neon coloured or those with art on if you prefer something a bit less boring than the black or tortoiseshell effect I tend to buy. I’ve also found that I tend to lose brightly coloured ones less often. (They are much easier to spot when they fly out of your fingers).
Thumb Guitar Picks
I have tried the kind that wrap around your finger or thumb and again I don’t personally find them very easy to use.
Yet some people love a thumb pick for strumming or picking out bass notes. It leaves them the freedom of using the rest of their fingers for picking strings without feeling they are going to drop their pick. Once you’ve been playing a little while, it would be a good idea to try one, particularly if you play country music.
A thumb pick is useful for playing a resonator guitar. I’ve written an article about this here.
Make Your Own Guitar Picks
You can cut up old credit or debit cards to make your own custom picks. Just use a sharp pair of scissors and then file the edges smooth. You don’t want to end up with cut fingers.
You can also buy a metal press that cuts out a traditional teardrop shape. Look on the resource page at plectrum punch. You should be able to get one for under £20.
Why Is It Worth Experimenting With Different Guitar Picks?
It’s definitely worth experimenting with different picks to see what suits you as they are not too expensive. A good pick will become an extension of you and enable you to play for so much longer than using bare fingers and thumb.
Once you find a style that you like, buy a few! Picks tend to disappear, falling down the sofa cushions or flying away and under furniture, not to be seen for months!