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You can play the guitar by strumming the strings with just your bare hands and fingers. However, you can only get so far without a certain tool many guitarists couldn’t live without — that, of course, is a guitar pick.
If you’re not familiar with guitar picks (or if the pick you got from your local music store is still waiting to be put to good use), don’t worry. We’ll tell you how to use a guitar pick the right way and how to choose the right pick for you. Although learning to use a pick may not seem that important to beginners, you’ll thank yourself later for mastering this tool.
Table of contents
What is a guitar pick?
So, what exactly is a guitar pick, and why should you bother learning to play with one? A guitar pick (also known as a plectrum) is usually a triangular tool used to “pick” the guitar strings, hence the name. Even though we’re talking about modern guitar picks used for electric or acoustic guitars, picks or pick-like tools have been used to play various stringed instruments for centuries.
Today, guitar picks come in many different materials (more on that later). Famous manufacturers sell different sizes, gauges, colors, and types of guitar picks. For example, thinner picks might be better for certain uses than thicker ones. Because of all the options, choosing the right pick for you may seem overwhelming at first.
Although there are several factors to consider when choosing a guitar pick, the most important thing is your personal preference. When you start on your guitar-playing journey, try as many different guitar picks as possible to find your pick (pun intended). Luckily, guitar picks are usually quite inexpensive, so you can buy several to test different materials, gauges, and sizes. However, there are also more expensive and fancy ones on the market.
Why you should use a guitar pick
Now that you know what a guitar pick is, why exactly should you use one in the first place? After all, you could just pick the strings with your thumb or learn fingerpicking to play. However, using a pick allows you to learn new guitar-playing techniques. In addition, when playing the guitar with a pick, you’ll be able to create a brighter sound and a warmer tone.
Listen to how your music sounds when using a pick instead of just your fingers to strum a chord or play an individual string. You can also play individual notes much faster using a pick than with your thumb alone.
Even if holding and playing with a pick feels uncomfortable at first, don’t be discouraged. With some practice, you’ll find that playing with a pick will give you much more control over your playing.
How to choose a guitar pick
Let’s talk about picking the right guitar pick. As we mentioned, it’s a good idea to buy several picks to test which type is best for you. We’ll share some tips for buying guitar picks and a few factors to consider when shopping online or in your local music store. Some things to remember include your instrument (i.e., an electric or acoustic guitar) and the thickness, size, and material of the guitar pick.
Thickness
Let’s start with the thickness or gauge of a pick. A thinner guitar pick is a good option for beginner guitar players. As a beginner, you’re more likely to practice strumming and play basic chords. Because of this, a thinner pick might fit your needs and playing style better. Many beginners also use a nylon-stringed acoustic guitar when they start out. You can look for a thin guitar pick made specifically for this purpose and for this type of guitar.
The thickness of guitar picks is measured in millimeters (mm). Generally, picks vary between thin, or light (0.4 mm) and thick (1.5 mm) picks. If you prefer strumming and want to play riffs or rhythm guitar, go with a thinner guitar pick. A thicker pick, on the other hand, works well if you need more control. Consider the thickness of your strings as well. For example, choose a thicker pick when playing the bass or a guitar with thicker strings. There are also bass picks if you’re a bass player.
When selecting a guitar pick, you may notice that they’re labeled according to their thickness. Here are the most common guitar pick gauges you might come across:
- “Extra thin” (also known as “extra light”) guitar picks tend to be under 0.45 mm in thickness.
- “Thin” (also known as “light”) guitar picks are between 0.45 mm and 0.70 mm.
- “Medium” picks are between 0.60 and 0.80 mm.
- “Heavy” guitar picks are usually between 0.80 and 1.2 mm.
- “Extra heavy” guitar picks are anything thicker than 1.2 mm.
Remember that these numbers aren’t set in stone, and there is no industry standard for guitar pick gauges. Make sure to check the exact thickness in millimeters when shopping for a new pick.
Size and shape
Guitar picks come in different shapes and sizes. A good choice is a standard or classic guitar pick with one sharp point and a pointed top. There are also guitar picks where all three sides are shaped similarly (also known as “tri-tip” picks). This allows you to hold the pick any way you want.
Different pick manufacturers may have their own signature shapes, materials, and sizes, so testing different picks is key. For example, Dunlop is known for their Dunlop Tortex Standard guitar pick. The material used in the Dunlop Tortex Standard, as well as the image of a turtle on the pick itself, are a reminder of the guitar pick’s history. In the past, guitar picks were often made out of turtle shells. Another unique design is the Jazz III, which provides great precision and control, making it a favorite among jazz players.
Not everyone’s hands are the same size; remember this when selecting a pick. If your hands are large, go with a larger pick. Luckily, there are both smaller and larger guitar picks to choose from, in addition to thin and thick ones.
What are guitar picks made of?
Before the materials used to create guitar picks today became commonplace, tortoise shells were one of the most common options. Luckily for tortoises, nylon and other plastics have now become the most common materials for guitar picks, though metal, wood, and glass are also common.
Nylon picks are a good place to start. They’re quite light and flexible, making them a good choice for beginners and for strumming when you don’t need a great deal of precision and control. Nylon guitar picks come in many different gauges and colors, allowing you to choose the one that best suits you.
Picks for acoustic guitars
If you’re choosing a pick for an acoustic guitar, a thinner nylon guitar pick is a good choice. These are great for strumming, but they also allow you to do some picking when you need more control. However, if you like playing more intricate melodies and solos with an acoustic guitar, you can choose a thicker guitar pick. A medium pick (around 0.60 mm and 0.80 mm in thickness) is a good all-purpose option for acoustic guitars.
Picks for electric guitars
Generally, you should go with a thicker pick for an electric guitar, than for an acoustic guitar. Playing lead guitar with a thin pick can be more difficult than playing with a thick or medium pick, especially when playing really fast, like with tremolo picking. However, we recommend a medium pick as a good option for the electric guitar.
If you play both electric and acoustic guitar, you can use the same pick. Just pay attention to the material of your strings. For instance, maybe your acoustic guitar has nylon strings, while your electric guitar may have steel strings.
What is the best guitar pick?
Sadly, there is no one answer to the question, “What is the best guitar?” What you might consider the best guitar pick depends on your personal preference, playing style, and the type of guitar you use. This is why it takes some testing to find the best pick for you and your needs.
Playing the guitar with a pick
Now that you’ve gone through the effort of comparing different picks, materials, sizes, and gauges, you’re eager to start playing. But what’s the right way to play with a pick and incorporate it into your playing style? How do you hold a guitar pick in the first place? Below are a few tips. Grab your guitar pick, and let’s start practicing!
How do you hold a guitar pick?
There are almost as many different ways to hold a pick as there are different guitar players. However, there’s certainly a “wrong” way to hold a guitar pick. Here’s one way to hold a guitar pick correctly.
To hold your pick, make sure that the nail on the thumb of your picking hand is facing toward you. Firmly place the thumb of your picking hand on top of the pick. The other side of the pick should be pressed against the topmost joint of your index finger.
With your pick between these two fingers, the pick should be pointing out of the side of your thumb. In other words, don’t align the tip of the pick with your thumb, but rotate it 90 degrees. With a steady grip on your pick, leave about a centimeter of the pick’s sharp tip sticking out from between your thumb and index finger. Use this part of the pick to do the actual picking or strumming against the strings.
Leave the other three fingers free when holding the pick with a steady, good grip (but not too hard). Think of it like doing the “OK” sign with your hand: your thumb and index finger pressed together (with the guitar pick in between) and the three other fingers extended. Just make sure that your palm and wrist aren’t pressing against the strings so you don’t accidentally mute the strings as you play.
Picking the strings and strumming
When strumming guitar chords, try to angle the pick so that you don’t bend your wrist to play. Instead, you want to keep your wrist straight and the pick perpendicular to the strings and the body of your guitar. To strum the strings, focus on moving your elbow rather than your wrist.
Try strumming down a few times and play any chords you’re familiar with. Once strumming down starts to feel comfortable and you can play different chords and strum only the correct strings, add a few upstrokes. Instead of just strumming all of the strings in reverse order, focus on strumming only the two or three highest strings. For example, first strum down a couple of times and play all six strings. Then, add a single upstroke where you play only the highest B and E strings.
Alternate picking
One technique picks are especially good for is alternate picking. Alternate picking refers to picking individual strings both up and down, not just simply picking strings with a downward motion. A good way to practice this is by choosing a string and picking it down with a small movement. After the first downward stroke, pick the string upward instead of coming back up over the string and picking down again. Do this slowly and then start doing it faster.
The key here is to use small movements, unlike the big ones you use when strumming. You might find that your guitar pick accidentally bumps into other strings you didn’t intend to play. Just make sure that you’re using small enough movements, and soon you’ll gain enough accuracy to use alternate picking on more than just a single string.
To practice alternate picking, you can try anchoring your palm on top of the strings near the bridge. This mutes the strings and creates a thumping sound when you pick it. Now you can comfortably use smaller movements to pick a string up and down.
How long do guitar picks last?
How long your guitar pick lasts depends on many things, including the material the pick is made of, the thickness of your guitar strings, and how you play. Playing more frequently and with a more aggressive playing style (think of heavy strumming and intense shredding) will wear out your guitar pick faster.
Generally, a guitar pick lasts weeks or even months before it begins to wear down or lose its shape and grip. Less frequent players can use the same pick for well over a year without noticing a change in performance. However, if you’re like many other carefree guitarists, you might lose your pick before it wears out!
Troubleshooting pick problems
Sometimes, playing with a pick may seem more difficult than using just your fingers, especially if that’s what you’re used to. If playing with a pick feels awkward despite your best efforts, you might be holding or using your pick incorrectly. If you’re experiencing problems with your pick-playing, make sure you’re not making the following mistakes:
- The pick feels floppy. If the pick doesn’t feel firm between your fingers, you could be gripping the pick too far away from the tip. Adjust your grip so that only the tip of the pick is exposed, with your thumb covering the rest.
- Your arm gets tired. This could be due to lack of practice, but if your arm gets fatigued when picking and strumming with a pick, check which parts of your arm are moving. You could lose a lot of accuracy and end up hitting unwanted strings if your arm moves too much while picking.
- The pick drops from your hand. Sometimes, the issue may not be your playing but the tools you’re using. If the pick is difficult to hold, it could be that it is worn out. Try using a brand-new pick and see if you can get a better grip.
- You lost your pick inside the guitar. Your guitar ate the pick! This last one may be familiar to those who play an acoustic guitar. Keep a firm grip on your pick, or it might drop into the guitar’s sound hole.
Learn to play the guitar with a pick
The guitar pick, or plectrum, is a fantastic tool that helps you advance as a guitarist. Learning to use one is worth the effort! As we mentioned, test different picks to find the one that fits your playing style – after all, the best pick for you depends on your personal preference. Some guitar and pick manufacturers even offer packs that contain multiple picks in a variety of sizes and gauges, allowing you to easily test different types.
To further level up your guitar-playing skills, try Yousician, your personal guitar teacher. Yousician’s interactive guitar lessons are perfect for all skill levels. You can also learn to play your favorite songs on the guitar with Yousician’s impressive song library. Try Yousician for free today and download the app on your computer or Android and iOS devices.