Practice

How to choose a guitar pick

A few inexpensive picks and one familiar phrase can tell you more than a universal recommendation.

By Dorica TeamPublished Nov 5, 20263 min read

A pick is a small change you can hear and feel immediately. But the one that works for someone else's chords or lead lines may not feel right in your hand. Instead of looking for a universal best pick, try a few and decide what helps you play the music you enjoy.

What to compare

Thickness and flex

Thickness is often printed in millimeters. Thinner picks generally bend more as they pass over a string; thicker ones generally bend less. That can change the resistance you feel and the sound at the start of each note, called the attack. Thickness isn't the whole story: material, shape and the exposed length of the pick matter too.

If you have a flexible pick and a stiffer one, try both on strummed chords and single notes. Notice whether the pick feels like it gives way too much, catches on the strings, or gives you a response you like. Neither response is inherently better.

Shape and tip

The overall shape affects how much surface you have to hold and how the pick sits in your fingers. A smaller pick may feel maneuverable to one player and awkward to another; a larger one may feel more secure or simply get in the way. Try a shape long enough to play a phrase rather than judging it in your hand alone.

The tip is the part that contacts the string. Compare a rounded tip with a more pointed one: listen to the start of each note and notice how each passes across the string. A sharp point is not a shortcut to speed, and a rounded tip is not restricted to strumming. Wear can change a tip too, so consider its condition when comparing picks.

Material and surface

Picks come in materials such as nylon, celluloid and other plastics, with smooth or textured surfaces. The surface can affect how secure the pick feels, while the material and construction can contribute to its flex and sound. Two picks made from the same material can still feel different; don't assume a material name tells you exactly how a pick will behave. Pay attention to whether it slips, feels comfortable and produces an attack you like.

A low-cost comparison you can play

Start with picks you already have, borrow a few, or buy a small mixed pack instead of committing to a large quantity. Note the thickness and any shape or material information printed on each pick or its packaging. If possible, compare two similar picks that differ in one feature; mixed packs may change several things at once, so they won't tell you which feature caused a difference.

Exercise

One phrase, several picks

In standard tuning, play the eight notes below as eighth notes: count 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and, one note per count. Begin with a downstroke and alternate down and up throughout. The first four notes are on the B string and the last four on the high E string; 0 means an open string.

Tab

e|---------0-2-3-2-|B|-0-1-3-1---------|G|-----------------|D|-----------------|A|-----------------|E|-----------------|

Play the phrase a few times with each pick at the same comfortable tempo. Keep the guitar, amp settings if used, and picking approach as consistent as you can. Listen for the attack and evenness, and notice the resistance and whether the pick moves in your fingers. A phone recording can help you compare, especially if you keep its position and settings unchanged.

Try your preferred two picks again with a chord pattern or melody you actually play. Jot down what you noticed rather than just the label: for example, “comfortable on chords, catches on the string change.” A difference might come from several features at once, and your preference can change with the music. It's fine to keep different picks for different jobs.

If you want to explore the picking motion itself, the alternate-picking exercises include a section on grip. Stop playing if you feel pain, and seek professional guidance if it persists.