When it comes to purchasing guitar picks, there are several different factors that you need to consider. These include the shape, size, thickness, design, etc. Therefore, choosing the right one for yourself can get a little confusing at times - especially if you are a beginner.
This buying guide outlines all the features of a guitar pick you must look into to purchase the best guitar pick for yourself. Let’s get right into it.
What are the different materials used to make guitar picks?
Guitar picks are made from a variety of different materials - with stone, nylon, delrin, and celluloid being the most popular options. The material of the pick impacts the tone and playability of the guitar, hence it is important that you choose the one that suits your playing style.
Let’s have a look at how four of the most common guitar pick materials differ:
Celluloid Guitar Picks
Celluloid guitar picks are very popular and have been around for quite some time now. These were originally created to replace tortoise shell picks that got banned back in the 1970s. Celluloid picks create similar tones to that of tortoise shell picks - warm and well-balanced. As compared to tortoise shell picks, these ones are less stiffer.
Nylon Guitar Picks
Nylon picks are one of the easiest picks to handle. These picks are made of plastic and are very lightweight and flexible. As compared to stiff picks - nylon picks are known to produce warm mellow tones. Though other types of plastics are also used to make guitar picks, nylon is the one that is mostly preferred by guitarists.
Stone Guitar Picks
Though stone picks are not every guitarist’s cup of tea, they are still an excellent option if you like picks that are stiff. The rigidity of stone picks is known to create balanced and loud tunes, which is also one of the reasons why they are more commonly used to play single notes rather than cords.
Since most of the stone picks are hand-made, they tend to cost more as compared to the other options. Also, these picks are very eye-catching - depending on the texture and the design of the stone they are made from.
Delrin Guitar Picks
Derlin guitar picks are also known as acetal picks, and these are created from plastic made from DuPont. These picks have a very smooth texture, which makes them easy to grip. Moreover, these are fairly durable and last much longer as compared to pick materials such as nylon and celluloid. Derlin guitar picks are a great replacement for the old popular tortoise shell picks (that have been banned now.)
Does the guitar’s pick thickness matter?
Guitar picks come in three general gauges - thin, medium, and thick. The thickness of a pick has an impact on the control and flexibility it offers, hence it is another important factor that needs to be considered for buying the best guitar pick for yourself.
Thin
Thin guitar picks measure between .40-.60 mm or less and are usually made from celluloid. These are known to create brighter tones and work great for strumming hard without playing too loud or breaking the guitar strings. Moreover, these are recommended for beginners as well because of how easy these are to handle.
Medium
Medium picks measure between .60 to .80 mm and are the most preferred choice of guitarists. These picks are known to create brighter tones and have a dynamic range. Typically, medium picks offer a good amount of flexibility along with balanced stiffness, which makes them great for both; beginners as well as experienced guitarists.
Heavy
Heavy picks measure between .80 to 1.2 mm and are much stiffer as compared to thin and medium picks. These create mellow tones and heavy distorted sounds, offering more separation and clarity between notes. Other than this, heavy picks offer the most control over playing. However, it requires more practice to master as well, which is why these are usually used by experienced guitarists.
What shapes do best guitar picks come in?
Guitar picks usually come in four shapes - classic, tri-tip, jazz, and jumbo jazz.
Classic Picks
Classic picks are the most popular ones among all the options. Almost all brands classic picks in different colors and sizes. These have a triangular shape and are very comfortable to hold in hand. Moreover, their size and tip make them a great option for beginners.
Tri-tip picks
Tri-tip picks have a shaper tip as compared to classic ones. Hence, these offer more precision as well. Tri-tip picks create warmer sounds and provide more control and feedback as compared to the other options. Also, since these picks can be used to play from all three corners, they tend to be much more durable as well.
Jazz Picks
Jazz picks are not specifically used to play jazz, but also work great for rock and metal music.As compared to classic and tri-tip picks, jazz picks are bigger in size, hence they work great for playing fast music.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do guitar picks break easily?
The durability of guitar picks largely depends on the material they are made from. Other than this, the thickness of the pick also matters in this case. Picks that are lighter tend to break easily, whereas the thicker ones are much more sturdy and last longer.
What material is best for guitar picks?
The pick material that would work the best for you depends entirely on your preferences. However, if you are a beginner then you might want to start learning with a Nylon pick since thewse are flexible, lightweight, and have a textured grip.
Do guitars come with a pick?
Yes, the majority of the brands provide a couple of free picks with guitars. However, you can also buy separate ones if you don’t like their quality.
When should you replace a guitar pick?
You should consider replacing your guitar pick after its tip wears down and it is not able to create tones properly.