Experimenting with different guitar picks is one of the best and simplest ways to completely change the sound and feel of your playing. It’s often an overlooked accessory, especially if you’re new to playing, but the difference it can make is surprisingly vast.
Do You Ever Think About Your Guitar Pick (& Why You Should)?
A lot of beginners sort of “end up” with a particular pick (also called a “plectrum”), and as veteran players, they might just stick with what they’ve known for years if they’ve never considered trying a new one. Usually a new player will choose based on looks, or possibly feel or thickness, without much consideration for how it might affect their playing.
The truth is, different picks have wildly different feels and even sounds (based on thickness and material). The major takeaway is that you don’t have to settle for a traditional shape, a traditional material, or “light,” “medium,” or “heavy” thicknesses. There’s a whole world of options out there, and picks are a cheap enough accessory to be able to try everything until you settle on a favorite!
Different Picks Are Designed for Different Types of Players
It’s true that certain picks excel at different things. Shape is one of the most important factors. A larger pick, with greater surface area, is going to be good for an acoustic player or someone who does a lot of strumming. They can more easily strike all the strings in a strum thanks to the plectrum’s increased size. On the other hand, smaller picks with sharper points offer greater precision for lead players, jazz guitarists, and metal guitarists who have to be more concerned about string separation and accuracy.
What Differentiates One Guitar Pick from Another?
Pick Material & Texture
Plectrums used to be made of natural materials, though by and large, your current “everyday” pick will be synthetic. Common materials include all sorts of durable plastics, like celluloid, Ultex, Delrin, acrylic, and nylon. Each material will have its own texture in the hand, with some being grippier and others more slick. Material also plays a role in sound, with celluloid/nylon tending to be darker, and something like acrylic being brighter and more aggressive.
Hardness
Hardness, or thickness, is important to nail down. Thinner picks are snappy, with a bright sound but a somewhat mellow overall attack. Usually thin picks are good for strumming since they tend to glide more easily across the strings. For lead playing, they require more strength to wield.
Thicker plectrums offer a more pronounced attack and ultimately work harder for precision players wanting to build up speed and accuracy — the pick does most of the work. The sound is generally rounder and more mellow than a thin pick, and they’re somewhat more difficult to strum chords with.
While these provide a general guideline, it all comes down to personal preference. There’s no reason a metal player can’t use a thin pick and an acoustic player who strums can’t use a thick one. Individual dexterity plays a big role, and you might find an “unconventional” plectrum given your style is actually the most comfortable and usable.
Shape & Size
Finally, we come to shape/size. In my opinion, this is the most important differentiator between plectrums since the feel can change drastically. Something like the Jazz III shape is small in the hand, designed for precise movement. A standard Dunlop Tortex, on the other hand, offers one of the most traditional shapes for a wide variety of players. Then you have everything from Jazz III XLs, to Dunlop Flows, to Dunlop Sharps, and everything in between. Plectrums are one of the most fun accessories to experiment with!
The Best Guitar Picks for Any Playing Style in 2024
1. Dunlop Tortex Standard Guitar Picks (An Industry Standard)
Dunlop Tortex Standards have been at the forefront for over four decades. The shape, size, durability, balanced tone, and variety of thicknesses all contribute to it being one of the most popular picks ever. Its shape lends itself to virtually any style of playing, and while there are a dozens of highly specialized plectrums out there, you can always fall back on Dunlop standard and feel right at home.
2. D’Addario Pearl Celluloid Guitar Pick
Celluloid was introduced in the early 1900s as an alternative to real tortoise shell. So, it’s been a go-to plectrum material for ages. The D’Addario Pearl collection has a very natural feel and sound — great for acoustic players and beginners seeking a balanced pick. Of course, it comes in different thicknesses to help you find just the right sound and feel for your taste and comfort.
3. Dunlop Nylon Jazz III Guitar Pick (For Serious Shredders)
Dunlop has been an innovator in guitar picks for decades, introducing a host of new materials and shapes over the years. However, the original Jazz III is a simple nylon structure with a unique, small shape with a sharper tip. Nylon tends to produce a mellower sound, which jazz players seek, and the precision shape lends itself to intricate playing. Originally a jazz pick, metal players have adopted the Jazz III shape, favored for its controllability.
4. Fender 351 Shape Celluloid – (Nail That Nice Warm Tone)
The Fender 351 is one of the most popular standard shapes around. It’s an extremely common starter pick, sold at virtually every guitar shop the world over. The celluloid construction sounds warm and balanced, and you’re actually able to play it on its tip or on its sounds to change the sound and feel. For another classic, you can’t go wrong with a Fender 351.
5. Ernie Ball Everlast (An Indestructible Pick for Heavy Handed Players)
Everlast plectrums by Ernie Ball are made of Delrin. Delrin is a widely used material noted for its remarkable durability (not unique to Ernie Ball, by that doesn’t change the fact that this is a quality pick). The Everest features a more or less traditional rounded triangle shape for an overall balanced playing experience.
6. D’Addario NP2SS-04 National Finger Pick
Here’s a highly specialized finger pick designed for use with folk instruments like banjo, guitar, lap steel, and others. Made of stainless steel, these finger picks offer an ultra-bright and powerful sound to coax the character out of a twangy instrument. These are perfect for folk and bluegrass, where the proper fingerstyle tone is as important as the instrument itself.
Don’t Be Afraid to Play Around Before You Pick One!
Guitar picks seem mundane, but they’re one of the best ways to completely change the way your instrument feels and sounds. It’s always nice to have a variety at your fingertips, so you can experiment with different shapes and thicknesses in real-time. No one says you need to settle on one type anyway, so feel free to play around with one of the most affordable and most impactful accessories there is.