A guitar pick is a small material that helps you strum your guitar in a particular speed and protects your fingers from prolonged strumming and abrasion from the strings. It comes in different shapes, sizes, and thickness.
Playing lead or rhythm?
Choosing the appropriate guitar pick depends on how youre playing your guitar. If youre in the rhythm section and doing more strumming, rounded tips with lighter gauge (thickness) are the most suitable choice.
Lead guitarists who usually do solos and play one note at a time use sharp picks with thicker gauge, especially those who play heavier music.
Thin vs thick
Thin picks bend easily, making strumming easier and the chords sound smoother. They allow the guitar player to strike the strings firmly without playing too loud. Rhythm players often prefer thin picks because they can use them frequently without the risk of breaking them, as they absorb the shock of playing chords better than thick picks. They also provide more comfort and helps with preventing fatigue.
Thick picks, on the other hand, offer more volume control and attack on the strings, which are great for playing heavier chords.
Right material
The most common material used for creating picks are nylon and celluloid. Picks made out of rubber (to slightly dull the twang), metal (heavy string playing), wood (more mellow sound), and felt (muted and low-volume sound) are used for special effects.
Right shape
- Standard - maximum memory, minimum wear
- Jazz - jazz pick size and speed
- Tear drop - classic shape and grip
- Fin - four unique edges, great for any playing style
- Triangle - wider surface, preferred by bass players
- Sharp - extremely sharp tip for precision playing
- Edge - large grip area for greater control
- TIII - sharp tip for speed and clarity
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