Best Finger Picks For Acoustic Guitar? The 57 New Answer

It’s probably the smallest piece of guitar gear out there. However, the humble pick has more impact on your technique and sound than you might think. Whatever your needs, we have the right selection. Let us walk you through some of the important things to consider when finding your perfect Ernie Ball guitar pick (or guitar pick).

The designed angle of attack.

Engineered for high power, high accuracy, and high speed, the Prodigy pick is the only Ernie Ball pick with a beveled edge and sharp point that gives you ultimate control. For more information, visit our Prodigy Pick 2018 launch blog.

The best picks for speed, shredding and alternative picking

For 2019 we have added more shapes and sizes to our range. Whether you need something bigger to grab, something smaller for hybrid picking, or more playing surface for tonal exploration, we’ve got you covered. If you want to experiment, we also have the 1.5mm multipack and 2.0mm multipack available.

If you’re looking for the ultimate guitar pick, take a look at the Ernie Ball Prodigy Pick.

Hear what others have to say about our Prodigy picks

Watch our friends Matt The Riff Master and Acoustic Life take a look at the Prodigy picks.

Best choice for a beginner guitarist

If you’re just starting out in your guitar playing or not sure where to start with picks, take a look at our 0.73mm Everlast or 0.88mm Everlast picks.

In terms of thickness, they would be classified as “medium”. That means if you find it too hard or too soft, you’ll have a better idea of ​​how much to move up or down in thickness. They are the traditional and most popular pickaxe shape and are made from a durable material (called Delrin) for a safer, non-slip surface.

Guitar pick thickness guide

With our Everlast picks you can choose from eight gauges, from our thinnest 0.48mm to our heaviest 2.0mm.

Thin picks (0.48 mm – 0.60 mm) are ideal for acoustic, 12-string and delicate playing. You’ll find that these produce a higher tone as they slide across the strings, but the thinner picks aren’t great for control as they bend and flex.

Medium picks (0.73mm – 0.88mm) are probably the most common gauge. They’re a good compromise between the flexibility needed for strumming and rhythm and the stiffness needed for clear lead work. Great high to mid tones without being too boomy.

Heavy picks (1.0 mm – 1.14 mm), on the other hand, are ideal for solos, heavy rock and metal. They give great control with your attack on the strings. And because they are thicker, the harder you hit the strings, the more harmonics they reproduce.

Extra heavy picks (1.5 mm – 2.0 mm) ensure a warmer and softer sound. Great for jazz or players who prefer a deeper and darker tone. If you’re a fast or metal player, you might like these due to the amount of control and attack you get.

But this is just a guide. It’s about what works for you and making sure you have the right tools at your disposal. It’s not uncommon for you to use different picks for different needs. Going just 0.14mm thick could be the difference when nailing this solo.

Other guitar pick options for practice and performance

Other Ernie Ball picks are available in alternative materials.

Our cellulose picks are smoother than Everlast. Cellulose is a type of plastic that is more brittle and can add a bit more bite and tonal punch. However, they will wear out faster than the Everlast made by Delrin.

If you find that you need extra help holding onto your pick due to sweaty fingertips, check out our range of nylon picks. These tend to be softer too, but being made out of molded plastic, they feature raised surface textures, making the pickax much easier to hold and maintain an even grip.

If you’re looking for something more unique, you can also get Glow In The Dark (for those dimly lit stages), Camouflage, or Pearloid picks.

Conclusion: experiment. See if you notice a difference. Let us know why you made your choice in the comments below.

Do you want to take your skills to the next level, or do you need a choice that will help you increase speed and accuracy? Check out the Ernie Ball Prodigy selection.

Which guitar pick should you buy?

Let’s tackle this number one question head-on. With anything guitar related, what works for you is a personal preference. There are no rules, so experiment. The most important thing a guitar pick has to be is comfortable. If it doesn’t feel right between your fingers, it won’t do what you want it to do. That’s the whole point of a pick: making what you’re trying to play easier.

If you want to learn more about the differences in our picks, take a look at our previous blog Picks Buying Guide where we go into a bit more detail on thickness, material and comparisons. Or take a look at our full line of Ernie Ball picks.

EDIT: No, I would NOT recommend fingerpicks as they eliminate residual travel – a very important technique for classical fingerstyle guitar. I would recommend that you let your nails grow, but not too long – just enough white to emphasize string release during a rest stroke. (The shape of your fingernail is also important.)

ORIGINAL ANSWER FOLLOWS: I suppose it depends on your finger style. There are two distinct styles used in classical guitar: the rest stroke and the free stroke.

On the rest stroke, the flesh of the fingertip plays the note (accented by the fingernail). The finger follows through and comes to rest on the adjacent string. Of the two techniques, this one is more powerful and precise. The remainder provides an anchor for the following note(s) using different numerals.

As with most fingerstyles, the free stroke hovers the hand over the strings. The nails (or picks) are predominantly used, rather than the fingertip. Because the hand is floating, it can be more error-prone. And while the nail (or pick) makes a nice sound, it’s not as powerful as the fingertip.

Both techniques each have their niche. I wouldn’t do anything to rule one out for the other. I would recommend that you let your nails grow out, but not too long. Just enough white to emphasize the release.

However, another alternative is “Chicken-Pickin'”. A proponent of this style wears two long acrylic nails on the middle and ring fingers.

There are many styles. Adapt…

Fingerstyle uses the fingers of your right hand to pluck the strings of your instrument. The point of contact on your fingers can be either your fingertip or your fingernails. On the guitar, your thumb is usually assigned to the fourth, fifth, and sixth strings, while your index, middle, and ring fingers are assigned to either the fourth, third, and second strings or the third, second, and first strings.

Technology

As you may have noticed, the main difference between flatpicking and fingerstyle is technique. Flatpicking requires using your fingers to hold a pick, while fingerstyle requires using your fingers as individual picks. It’s helpful to think of fingerstyle as having four picks instead of just one.

Because fingerstyle gives you the ability to have four picks, some techniques that can be performed with fingerstyle are impossible or very difficult to perform with flatpicking. For example, chord-melody arrangements (combining the chords and a melody on the guitar) of songs can be easily achieved with fingerstyle, but very difficult with flatpicking. Some chord melody arrangements require you to play a walking bass line on the sixth and fifth strings while playing the melody note on the third, second, and first strings. If you only use flatpicking, it’s impossible to play a bass line that has a different rhythm than the melody line.

Similarly, many folk songs can only be played fingerstyle, due to the frequent need to play two different notes (on non-adjacent strings) at the same time. Adding percussive elements like slaps and slap strums – commonly used by artists like Sungha Jung, Tommy Emmanuel and Andy Mckee – is also much easier with fingerstyle.

On the other hand, flatpicking allows you to perform sweep picking techniques more easily. In general, it’s easier to play faster with a pick than with fingerstyle. However, many guitarists can play extremely fast with their fingers, so building up your speed can be a matter of practice.

volume

The other major difference between the two playing styles is the tone produced. Using a plectrum gives you a brighter and more consistent tone than using your fingers because the plectrum is made of the same material throughout, while plucking strings with different parts of your fingers creates different sounds. This difference in tonal consistency greatly affects the sound of rhythm guitar parts, especially when you’re playing something that needs to sound aggressive throughout. For example, if you’re playing a rhythm guitar part for a funk song, using a pick will give you a consistent sound whether you’re playing an up or down strum. However, when you use your fingers, your downstrokes will sound different than your upstrokes because your downstrokes hit your fingernails while upstrokes hit the flesh of your fingertips.

Although plucking the strings with different parts of your fingers produces different sounds, that doesn’t mean it’s a fingering error. In fact, different sounds allow for a much wider range of dynamic expression. Sure, it’s possible to play very softly with a plectrum, but with your fingers you can choose to play softly and soften the sound a lot by using the flesh of your fingers to pluck the strings. Alternatively, you can pull back the strings and bang them against the fretboard for maximum volume and impact.

In short, flatpicking generally has a more consistent tone, but if you spend enough time mastering the different possible sounds fingerstyle can produce, fingerstyle can open up a wider range of dynamic expression.

Best of both worlds

There are ways to combine both playstyles for maximum speed, consistency, dynamics, and complexity. The first method requires you to learn how to manipulate the pickaxe in your hands. To switch between flatpicking and fingerstyle, move your pick to a position where you still have control but your ability to use fingerstyle techniques is not impeded. Personally, I like to hold my pickaxe between the first and last knuckles of my middle finger.

Words from Alex Watts

Equipment analysis grunge icon.

Long before he was a digitized character on Guitar Hero, Kurt Cobain and Nirvana were one of the biggest acts in the world, bringing a punk attitude, a sound and aesthetic borrowed from Seattle’s underground hardcore scene, and a talent for writing anthems associated pop songs.

Behind all the “grunge” hype was a veteran guitarist who was responsible for reintroducing Fender guitars to the new generation of ’90s rock bands. In this installment of Gear Rundown, we take a look at Cobain’s setup.

For gear overviews and more, check out all of our features.

electric guitars

The main guitar used over the years that was most closely identified with Cobain was his 1969 Fender Mustang. It was a left-handed version, painted blue with racing stripes.

“I’m left-handed and it’s not easy to find quality left-handed guitars at reasonable prices. But of all the guitars in the world, the Fender Mustang is my favorite,” Cobain said in a 1992 interview with Guitar World.

“I’ve only owned two of these. They’re cheap and totally inefficient, and they sound crappy and they’re very small. They also don’t stay in tune, and if you want to raise the string action on the fretboard, you’ll have to loosen all the strings and remove the bridge entirely. You have to turn these small screws with your fingers and hope that you have guessed correctly. If you make mistakes, you have to repeat the process over and over again until you get it right.”

The other legendary guitar favored during Nirvana’s career was his 1965 Fender Jaguar. When he first used it, this left-handed model had a Dimarzio PAF pickup in the neck position and a Dimarzio Super Distortion in the bridge position, although the latter was switched to a Seymour Duncan JB after being damaged on stage in 1993.

It was also fitted with an extra volume control, and the original pickup selector switches were swapped out for a single Gibson-style switch.

“I own a ’66 [apparently actually ’65] Jaguar. That’s the guitar I polish and baby — I refuse to let anyone touch it when I’m jumping in the crowd,” Cobain said.

“Lately I’ve been using a Strat live because I don’t want to ruin my Mustang just yet. I like using Japanese strats because they’re a bit cheaper and the frets are smaller than the American versions.”

Cobain was also known to have purchased a 1993 sunburst Fender Telecaster with a Gibson neck pickup, an Epiphone ET-270, a Univox Hi-Flier, a Martin D-18E, a Mosrite Gospel guitar in the Mark IV Style used , and various Japanese Stratocasters used for smashing at the end of each show.

acoustic guitars

Though the proliferation of the MTV Unplugged series caused every other artist to take back their biggest hits, often with mixed results (look at you, Korn), Nirvana’s set was undeniably brilliant.

Cobain’s tortured vocals and powerful songs were presented in a whole new and unexpected light. While this isn’t the first time Nirvana have used acoustics, it’s definitely their biggest effort.

For this show, Cobain used a 1958/59 Martin D-18E acoustic that he purchased in late 1993. This was one of the earliest Martins to feature electric pickups, although Cobain replaced the stock DeArmond pickups with a Bartolini 3AV.

Prior to MTV Unplugged, Nirvana had used acoustics on a few recordings, the most notable being the Nevermind track “Polly”. The guitar used on this track, as well as on “Something in the Way” from the same album, was a 12-string Harmony Stella that Cobain bought at a thrift store in 1989 for $30. Despite being a 12-string guitar, Cobain played it with only five.

“It’s a $20 junk shop Stella — I didn’t bother changing the strings,” he said. “It hardly stays in the mood. In fact, I have to use tape to hold the tuning buttons in place.”

amplifier

Apparently, Cobain’s amp of choice was a 1960’s Fender Twin Reverb, which he used to record In Utero and MTV Unplugged. He also used a similar amp during the recording of Bleach, although it is not known if it was exactly the same.

He also preferred a Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 preamp, which he paired with a Crown Power Base 2 800W power amplifier. This was purchased just before Nevermind was recorded and used in both those sessions and the tour that followed. Eventually he replaced the Crown with a Crest 4801 power amp which he felt worked better with the Mesa/Boogie.

Later, Cobain used between two and eight Marshall cabinets, either Marshall 1960A Slant Cabinets or Marshall 1960AC Vintage Cabinets, depending on the size of the venue. They were equipped with either Celestion 12″ G12M Greenback speakers or Celestion 12″ Vintage 30 speakers. He had a disdain for Marshall as a brand and covered the logos with gaffer tape.

pedals

Cobain used very few pedals on stage, usually just one or two. One of the mainstays in his arsenal was the BOSS DS-1 distortion pedal, which he always referred to as the Roland EF-1. After Nevermind, he switched to the BOSS DS-2 Turbo Distortion, which has additional features. “The sound changes with every club we play, but I’m never satisfied,” he said. “I think the sound I get is mostly the result of the Roland EF-1 distortion box I use. I do about five per tour.”

The other pedal he relied on was the Electro-Harmonix Small Clone Chorus pedal used live during the Nevermind era and featured on several songs on this album including “Come As You Are” and “Smells Like Teenage Spirit”.

Accesories

Cobain used Dean Markley strings, .010-.052 gauge. The picks he used the most were Dunlop Tortex Standard 0.60mm picks in orange.

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What guitar does Eric Clapton use?

Eric Clapton has probably gotten more teenagers to play guitar than any other guitarist of all time. His nearly 60-year career has produced some of the finest blues guitars Britain has ever produced. But it’s not just blues, Eric Clapton’s guitar style has bridged the genre gap.

From blues to pop, rock, ballads and just about everything in between, Eric Clapton has written and performed them all. Among guitarists, however, his early blues guitar stands out. When Eric played with the Bluesbreakers and Cream, he had such a unique bluesy, rocking sound that many guitarists still strive to emulate to this day.

What kind of guitar does Eric Clapton play?

Eric Clapton plays a lot of guitars depending on the song he’s playing. He tends to play the Fender Stratocaster and for acoustic play Eric often plays a Martin. Eric has played many guitars throughout his long career, beginning with a double cutaway Kay which cost £10. When he started out with the Yardbirds he played a Fender Telecaster, he continued playing Tele until he joined the Bluesbreakers where he started playing a 1960 Les Paul.

During the Bluesbreaker and Cream years, Eric played Les Pauls until sometime in 1967 when he started playing a 1964 Gibson Les Paul SG. In the spring of 1968 he switched to a Gibson Firebird and then alternated between the Firebird and his Gibson ES-335. When Eric formed the band Derek and the Dominos in 1970, he switched to maple-necked Fender Stratocasters, specifically “Brownie”. This was a Strat with a sunburst brown finish, hence the nickname.

Eric Clapton discovers affordable fenders

Later that same year, Eric discovered the Sho-Bud guitar store in Nashville, Tennessee, which sold vintage Fender Stratocasters for between $200 and $300. He bought 6, gave 3 away to friends and fellow guitarists Steve Winwood, Pete Townsened and George Harrison, and played the others himself. He soon found that he liked some features of all 3, but none particularly.

So they were cannibalized into the best of their 3 parts and Blackie was formed. Named after its alder body, which was painted black in 1956. Coupled to the neck of one of the others and the pickups and scratch plate of another. From 1973 to 1985, Blackie was Clapton’s main guitar. By 1988, Fender Eric was making his own Signature Strats based on his beloved Blackie.

50 guitars

During the recording of the From the Cradle album in 1994, Eric used around 50 of his own guitars, including various Gibson ES-335s, an Eric Clapton Signature Fender Strat, various Gibson L-5s, Byrdlands and some Super 400s The acoustic guitars used on the same album include different Martins, a 12-string Zemaitis and different resonators.

As you can see, what kind of guitar Eric Clapton plays is not a question that can be answered in a few short sentences. Like most talented guitarists, Eric owns and plays many guitars. We gave you a brief description just to show how open-ended this question is.

What is Eric Clapton’s fool?

The Fool in question is a 1964 Gibson SG that was rumored to have been given to Eric by his friend and fellow guitarist George Harrison after Eric’s 1959 Standard was stolen. Eric wanted to tour America along with Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce with their recently formed band Cream. They knew they had to come up with something memorable to get noticed in the States. Her manager contacted the design artists who later became The Fool to inquire about promotional material for the upcoming tour.

During this and later meetings, the idea of ​​painting the band’s instruments was born – Eric’s 64 SG became a fool. It was an important part of rock ‘n’ roll history and iconic in many ways. The fool has the distinction of 3 “firsts” which they are:

The very first guitar with “Woman Tone”

During an interview with Beat Instrumental, Eric called the sound of the fool the woman’s sound. Many people understood this description to mean a harsh, snarling sound, while others meant a rich, harmonious, gentle sound compared to that of a siren from Greek mythology.

During an interview with Beat Instrumental, Eric called the sound of the fool the woman’s sound. Many people understood this description to mean a harsh, snarling sound, while others meant a rich, harmonious, gentle sound compared to that of a siren from Greek mythology. The first guitar in rock ‘n’ roll history to be painted with an image

In this way, the instrument becomes a work of art, as does the musical art played on it.

In this way, the instrument becomes a work of art, as does the musical art played on it. The first visually representative guitar that embodies an era

The fool represents psychedelia and all that entails. Peace, Love and Drugs. Plus the very first supergroup – Cream.

What strings does Eric Clapton use?

Like most guitarists, Eric Clapton has a preference when it comes to guitar strings, his favorite strings are:

electric guitars

Eric uses Ernie Ball .10 to .46 gauge strings.

Eric uses Ernie Ball .10 to .46 gauge strings. acoustic guitars

Eric uses Martin & Co. light strings from 0.12 to 0.54 phosphor bronze. Since 2005, Martin has sold “Clapton’s Choice” phosphor bronze strings in 2 gauges – light (.12 to .54) and medium (.13 to .56).

What amps does Eric Clapton use?

Eric Clapton has used a Fender Twin amp for most of his playing career, but he has also used Marshalls, Vox, Music Man amps, Fender Champ, Cornell amps – the Eric Clapton Custom 80 (single channel). He hacks and switches frequently during concerts and regularly resorts to the Fender twin.

Which effects pedals does Eric Clapton use?

Eric Clapton uses surprisingly few effects pedals considering the sounds he gets from his guitars. He is known to have occasionally used the following effects pedals:

1982 Roland G-505

He used this guitar synth during the Edge of Darkness period (1985)

He used this guitar synthesizer during the Edge of Darkness period (1985) Dunlop 535Q Cry Baby Multi-Wah

He has been known to use this wah on a few occasions.

He has been known to use this wah on a few occasions. Vox V847A wah-wah pedal

Eric often uses this pedal on tour and for studio work.

Eric often uses this pedal on tour and for studio work. Boss TR-2 tremolo

Eric uses this pedal on tracks like Badge. To create that almost driving sound.

What pickups does Eric Clapton use?

The Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster uses Fender Vintage Noiseless pickups. Located at the center of the bridge and at the neck. Older versions used the Fender Gold Lace Sensor pickups.

Martin & Co have installed Fishman/Martin Gold+ and Natural Under – the – Saddle Active pickups in the acoustic guitars they ship to Eric Clapton. He also uses a Carlos Juan CP-1 pickup in the Bellezza Nera model of his signature Martin acoustic guitar.

What chords does Eric Clapton use?

Eric tends to play classic blues chords for his blues tracks, like “before you accuse me” is in the key of E and uses E, A, B7 and E7. “Crossroads” is in the key of A and uses A, D7 and E.

Most of his pop or rock songs tend to have standard chord structures as well. Tracks like “Wonderful Tonight” use G, D, C and Em. Eric’s skill lies in the riffs and licks that fill out the chords in his playing.

Which selection does Eric Clapton use?

Eric Clapton uses the Ernie Ball – “Eric Clapton Special” picks that were specially designed for him. He used to use Ernie Ball’s “M” heavy pick (same as the Eric Clapton Special). In his early days there is no record of what picks Eric used. So he probably went through hundreds before finding the most suitable one.

What kind of music does Eric Clapton play?

Eric Clapton plays a number of different music styles and genres including:

Rock’n’Roll

Many of Eric’s songs are pure rock ‘n’ roll songs like “Layla” for example.

Many of Eric’s songs are pure rock ‘n’ roll songs like “Layla” for example. blues

Needless to say, many of Eric’s songs are heavily influenced by the blues, such as “Before you accuse me”.

Needless to say, many of Eric’s songs are heavily influenced by the blues, such as “Before you accuse me” rock

what is rock A mixture of Rock’n’Roll and Blues. Eric Clapton fits this genre perfectly. A great rock example would be “Bad Love”.

what is rock A mixture of Rock’n’Roll and Blues. Eric Clapton fits this genre perfectly. A great rock example would be “Bad Love”. pop

Pop is a shortened way of saying popular music, it’s as true today as ever, Eric Clapton’s music is popular.

Pop is a shortened way of saying popular music, it’s as true today as ever, Eric Clapton’s music is popular. country

Eric slips into the country genre with songs like “Lay down sally”.

Eric slips into the country genre with songs like “Lay down sally”. reggae

Eric Clapton’s cover of the Bob Marley song “I shot the sheriff” was pure reggae.

Eric Clapton’s cover of the Bob Marley song “I shot the sheriff” was pure reggae. ballads

Unfortunately, one of Eric’s finest ballads was written after the loss of his young son, Tears in Heaven.

Unfortunately, one of Eric’s finest ballads was written after the loss of his young son, Tears in Heaven. carols

In 2018 Eric released the album “Happy Xmas” with classic Christmas songs like “White Christmas”, “Silent Night” and many more.

How to play guitar like Eric Clapton

Playing guitar like Eric Clapton takes a lot of practice, but here are a few pointers to get you started.

Play loud first and foremost

Clapton cranks up the amp and controls the sound with his guitar controls. Mix major and minor pentatonic scales

This adds depth to your solo playing and breaks the monotony of using the same phrases over and over again. Get to know your guitar sounds

Learn how to change the sound of your guitar using the volume and tone controls. The right combination is important

Gibson guitars work well with Marshall amps and Fender guitars work well with Fender amps. Learn from the best

Check out classic blues guitarists like Eric and create some licks of your own.

At what age did Eric Clapton learn to play guitar?

Eric first picked up a guitar when he was 13, it was a cheap Hoyer steel-string guitar that was almost as tall as he was. He is said to have said: “I started at 13 and gave up at 13.5”. Luckily for us, that never deterred him for long, at the age of 16 he was kicked out of college for failing to show up. The reason – learning to listen to and play the blues guitar.

What was Eric Clapton’s first guitar?

Eric Clapton’s first guitar was the German-made Hoyer, which nearly prevented him from learning at all. His first electric guitar was a double cutaway Kaye which cost him £100 in 1962. His grandparents helped him with the money to buy them.

Why was Eric Clapton’s nickname Slowhand?

The nickname Slowhand was given to Eric when he was a member of the Yardbirds. It had nothing to do with his hand speed (as anyone who has ever seen him play can attest). Apparently he snapped guitar strings quite often at concerts. As he changed the string, the audience slowly clapped, waiting for him to start playing again. Yardbirds manager Giorgio Gomelsky came up with the ironic nickname “Slowhand” after witnessing the crowd’s reaction to his broken strings.

Eric Clapton and the Beatles

Eric Clapton was friends with George Harrison, the Beatles’ guitarist. During rehearsals and recording of The White Album, George felt the rest of the group disliked his song While My Guitar Gentle Weeps. So he asked Eric to play the solo, which by the way was an extremely unique invitation. No other non-band member has ever worked on a Beatles song.

Layla was inspired by Pattie Boyd (George Harrison’s wife).

Eric Clapton was in love with his friend George Harrison’s wife. Pattie Boyd told the Guardian newspaper in 2008 that she was “stunned and thrilled” by the song but wanted to “hold on” to her marriage. The song was a smash hit for Clapton’s band Derek and the Dominos in 1970.

In 1977 Pattie divorced George and two years later Pattie and Eric were married. Eric and George remained good friends with Harrison performing at their wedding alongside Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney.

Layla was partly inspired by Pattie Boyd and partly by a 12th-century Persions tale, the tale of Layla and Majnun. A story of unrequited love and when Eric wrote the song “Layla” he was in love with Pattie but she didn’t want to leave her then-husband George Harrison, that’s exactly what it was. Eric and Pattie divorced in 1989.

frequently asked Questions

Fingerpicks are an interesting topic. So many different playing styles, so many different instruments and it’s certain that the same pick doesn’t go with everything.

The construction material can be important to get a smooth sound, but there are so many other considerations. Even the thickness and flexibility are important to get the sound you want and play easily. The pickaxe is a very important piece of your gear that is so often taken for granted.

Some bass guitarists would never use a pick, as would some folk guitarists. Some players simply use a thumb pick; others just play with their fingers.

So, with all this variety of seemingly simple items, let’s take a look at the best fingerpicks…

Top 5 Best Fingerpicks To Buy In 2022 Reviews

1 Dunlop 37R.018 Brass Fingerpicks, .018″, 20/tube

The guitar picks manufactured by Dunlop are popular in all areas of music. You take it seriously.

They come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, and even building materials, so there’s always an option to make the right choice for you. Dunlop recognizes that this kit is at the heart of your sound as a musician and as such seeks to accommodate all needs.

Here we look at some of the fingerpicks they make.

This particular selection of picks are made from brass and come in a variety of sizes and gauges to suit your needs from .13″ to .25″.

A sharper, more defined sound…

Metal-based picks always deliver a sharper, more defined sound than other materials, making them suitable for most instruments. In this case, guitar, banjo, and pedal steel would all benefit from brass picks.

There is a thought that metal-based picks can damage the strings and wear them out faster. We don’t see this as a problem and don’t believe there is a difference between metal picks and sturdy plastic picks.

Brass picks have some advantages in that they are more pliable than steel and can therefore be formed to finger size, although they tend to lose pliability more quickly than a harder metal.

Like most things Dunlop makes, they produce quality, and these picks certainly are.

Produced in a variety of strengths and sizes, you’ll find the perfect choice for what you use it for. Trusted by the pros, these picks are designed to produce the best possible tone.

They come in packs of 20.

Benefits Well made in a variety of sizes and thicknesses.

Well made in a variety of sizes and thicknesses. Composition of brass.

Composition of brass. Bright and defined sound. Disadvantages Brass wears out faster than other metals.

2 National NP-2B-4PK Fingerpicks – Brass – 4-Pack

Most musicians who use picks will be familiar with the National name. They have been at the forefront of instrument pick manufacturing for many years and are chosen by many. In fact, these picks have been around since the 1930s and have stood the test of time.

When using finger picks there is often a trade off between comfort, durability and the sound they produce. You can often find picks that have the sound jumping at you with great tones, but they’re just so uncomfortable to use.

These picks have been the choice of banjo players for many years because they produce a great, crisp, clear sound, but are also comfortable to wear. They come in packs of four, but the thumb pick must be purchased separately.

Not for every instrument…

It should also be noted that these picks are only available in quarter-inch sizes and are therefore not suitable for all instruments. They work well for banjo, but acoustic guitar players may need to examine them carefully. On a guitar they are not a beginner pick.

These picks are made of brass, which makes them more pliable and easily conforms to the shape of your finger. They are not as strong as the steel types but produce a slightly softer sound. However, they will not stress your strings as much as some other metals.

Brass is a good choice for your picks as it produces a nice tone but isn’t as harsh on your instrument or fingers.

A quality pick, but not suitable for all instruments.

Price range in the middle range.

Benefits Well made by a company with a reputation for quality.

Well made by a company with a reputation for quality. Made of brass. Cons Not the cheapest you can buy.

3 Alaska spade finger picks, large

This selection has an interesting design. The manufacturer is aware that some people like to play their instrument with their fingernails.

We can totally understand this as it could be said that you get a better feel for the string and therefore the music when it’s you actually touching a part of your body and not a finger pick.

However, playing this way has its own problems. Breaking a nail is the obvious. If you break a nail, what do you do with three fingers and with fingernails and one finger with your finger? It does not work.

Well designed…

This innovative design slips over your finger but then fits under your nail. You’ll still have the feel of the string, but the risk of breaking a nail is eliminated. You’ll have to hold your own nails a little longer to keep them in place, but some would consider that a small price to pay.

They are acrylic and can even be filed to fit your own finger. It’s a novel and very clever idea if it works for you. We’re not sure everyone will like it, but if you play this style it might be worth seeing if it fits.

We’ve encountered players who have grown their nails long, some even sticking on nail extensions, but in both cases the results are dangerous for live concerts.

We believe that with this product you have a better chance than hoping a nail won’t break or nail glue holding a false nail in place.

If your technique requires it, take a look, it might solve some problems.

They come in packs of 12 and are not expensive.

Benefits Eliminates the problem of broken nails. Cons Will be an odd concept for some.

4 3 x Stainless steel open design metal finger picks

Let’s move on to some more conventionally designed fingerpicks. These are made of stainless steel, making them lightweight and durable. They are particularly suitable for guitar and banjo.

They are designed to be “one size fits all”. The collar of the pick can be adjusted to the size of your finger for comfort. They can be adjusted to fit your fingers, whether they are small, medium or large.

The positive thing about these little picks is that you can make the fit precise. Some images may move, even rotate, while you’re using them because the fit isn’t quite snug enough. These picks eliminate that problem by being adjustable to the exact size of your finger.

Feel the threads on your fingers…

It can take a little getting used to and finding the right sizes, but the benefits are obvious. The added bonus is that due to the open design you will still feel the strings on your fingers somewhat.

Playing metal fingerpicks on a guitar’s metal strings may not be the optimal arrangement. The sound can be harsh and twangy.

This may suit some styles, but may not suit others. It’s possible these picks are better for banjo than guitar, but you won’t really know until you try your own instrument.

They’re well made, but simple and cheap enough to experiment with. A good option for those looking for metal finger picks.

The price includes three finger picks only.

Pros Can be adjusted to fit any finger size Cons It may take some time to get used to using it.

5 Dunlop 9020TP Shell Plastic Finger & Thumbpicks

With this range, Dunlop has returned to simplicity and basics, with plastic finger and thumb picks in an attractive shell design.

The advantage of plastic picks is that they can be used on virtually any instrument without being invasive. Even the nylon strings of a classical guitar, which are often so difficult to play with a pick, sound nice and warm.

While metal picks really twang and sharpen the tone, plastic won’t. And provides a smoother, more rounded sound, which some will consider a big plus. Of course, if a sharp twang is what you want or possibly need, then you won’t get that easily from plastic pictures.

On the smaller side…

These particular picks can be quite small and if you have large fingers you may want to consider whether they will fit.

Obviously no formal size adjustments are possible. You can try stretching them a bit, but since they are plastic they might break.

Fingerpicks are really only about two things…

Are they comfortable and how good is the sound they produce?

We won’t go into size. Everyone is different and what suits one may not suit another. But we can look at the sound. These picks produce a neutral sound that could best be described.

They aren’t too sharp and twangy and have a nice ambience across all strings. They are therefore ideal for most musical genres and many different instruments.

Each pack contains one thumb pick and three finger picks for a very reasonable price.

Advantages Suitable for most instruments.

Fits most instruments. A very neutral and balanced plucked sound. Cons No resizing.

Choose the right picks…

As with all decisions, it is a very personal matter and what suits one will not suit another. The decision depends on so many variables, and not all of them are completely controllable.

Nowhere is this more relevant than in music when it comes to purchasing equipment, no matter how small or seemingly irrelevant to the “outsider”.

The importance of fingerpicks cannot be overstated…

Totally taken for granted by many, like a bit of plastic taken out of a box and often chosen for the color or pattern they like.

Try saying that to a musician who relies on the sound of the fingerpick or the ease of playing it offers. Small it may be in size, but small is not in meaning. So what will influence your choice?

What are the picks for?

Or maybe first which instrument. Some picks work better on certain instruments, often determined by the sound they make. Metal picks are either loved or hated when it comes to acoustic guitars. Some find them too aggressive, others believe they offer a more real reproduction of the sound.

They are indispensable on a banjo and also on a steel guitar. Not so with classical guitar which needs a softer feel so plastic might give better results.

What instrument they are and even the style of music is important to your choice.

Plastic V Metal

This choice can be dictated by its application, as we have mentioned. Some instruments really should have a certain sound.

Plastic is usually the cheaper option, but then it may not be easily adjustable to finger size. They produce a smoother sound and some feel easier to use.

Metal picks last longer, can often be adjusted to fit your fingers, and have a much more defined sound when the metal of the pick meets the metal of the string.

comfort

Comfort when carrying a finger pick is crucial. If they don’t feel right, it probably won’t sound right.

They can’t be too tight or they’ll pinch or worse, peel off the skin, and they can’t be so loose that they move around your finger or worse, fall off.

Even the material they are made from affects how you feel when you wear them. Some just can’t play with metal picks and just prefer the feel of plastic, others vice versa.

So many influences on your choice…

This is unavoidable. There are many things to consider, but the main ones are what instrument you are using them with, how comfortable you are wearing them, and what sound you want.

We’ve reviewed some fine picks to find the best finger picks, but the choice is yours. What’s best for you?

And the best fingerpicks?

Not an easy choice, mostly given the quality of what we were looking at.

Finger pick manufacturers with worldwide reputations offer an exceptional product and there are others who have innovated in the design of their products.

Some brass, some metal and some plastic, all good quality but we opted for the…

3 x Stainless steel open design metal finger picks

Simple, easy to use, adjustable, they give us what we would need from a finger pick.

4.8/5 – (116 votes)

Guitarists and other instrumentalists who enjoy using fingerpicking often prefer fingerpicks because they help bring better clarity, power, and brightness to each note. There are many options available on the market in different materials, shapes and innovative designs.

One of the newest additions to the guitar accessory world, butterfly finger picks are designed to make guitar playing smoother and more comfortable.

In this guide we will try to take a closer look at this accessory, how well it works and what to expect from it.

Butterfly Finger Picks Review – A Complete Guide

Butterfly Fingerpicks are an innovative product aimed at helping guitarists who are unable to grow fingernails or use acrylic nails for fingerpicking. They’re also a great option for playing bluegrass, as fingernails aren’t a classic choice for playing the dobro, banjo, or guitar. These picks solve a major problem for traditional guitarists and fingerpickers, saving them from growing nails.

2 sets of 4 butterfly finger picks: copper and silver.

The Butterfly Finger Picks are made in the USA with high quality construction. They are easy to use and comfortable. They are designed so that you can easily mold them around your fingers for a nice snug fit and once fitted they will not slip off even if you move your hand and shake your fingers. Because they conform to your fingers, you can keep them on for the duration of your guitar playing and then gently peel them off to allow them to keep their shape.

Each finger pick has a hard, triangular wedge at the base that gives you a comfortable grip and good pick control. They have a slight curvature like nails, which allows you to use different attack tonalities on the strings depending on the side down. These guitar picks are made from tarnish resistant copper material and come in three color options – copper, gold and silver. You can also get the coating option, which is a more expensive, abrasion-resistant, polymer-coated metal pick. These are ideal for those who want a smoother tone when playing wound metal strings.

Butterfly finger picks for classical guitars

Classical guitar generally involves a finger picking technique in which the player uses their fingers to separate the strings. Finger picking can cause nail problems after hours of gaming. Because of this, an accessory like Butterfly Finger Picks is a great way to upgrade classical guitars. It’s a tool that helps guitarists create the fingerpicking sound, reduce the discomfort that strings can cause your hands, and improve performance.

Butterfly finger picks are designed to allow you to easily pluck the strings while protecting your nails and skin while playing. They are easy to use and large in size and won’t pinch your fingers. These fingerpicks allow you to play guitar in natural thumb and finger positions without long fingernails. The sound you get from these picks is pretty clear and loud compared to other picks or nails. They also ensure that you can play longer with little fatigue.

Unlike other fingerpicks, butterfly picks allow you to feel the guitar strings, giving you better control of the fretboard and strings. You also reduce your chances of injuring your fingers. It helps create a warm, fuller tone by sliding off the strings with minimal effort. It’s great for double-stringed instruments, and if you’re playing the “single note arpeggio” plucked style, these picks will add plenty of definition to your guitar. You can hear every sound very clearly.

How do you measure finger picks?

Butterfly finger picks, when used properly, help bring out a cleaner sound from the instrument in the natural finger position without the need for long nails. These finger picks are large and regular size fits most adults. They should be fitted to each finger before first use. Here are the instructions you can follow:

Butterfly finger pick sizing is one of the easiest things you will ever do

The fingerpick should be sized so that the ring fits snugly on the finger. Try opening and closing the ring until comfortable. If the ends of the pick along the ring hurt your finger, bend them out a bit so they don’t.

The ring that the finger slides through should be straight and at a 90 degree angle to the finger. This will ensure the tip of the pick is in the correct position. If necessary, slide the ring back or forth until it is straight.

If your nails are longer, you can bend the pickaxe tip off your finger so it extends past the nail tip.

With the thumb pick, you may need to push the ring toward the nail so the tip rests on your nail line.

If the fingerpicks are well fitted and large, they should feel snug and comfortable on the fingers with no air space at the tips. Because every finger is different, it is recommended that you wear the same finger pick on the same finger every time you play.

Butterfly fingerpicks against others

Given the frenetic popularity and superior ergonomics of finger picks, there are several new brands offering different variants, giving consumers a wide choice.

Fingerpicks can also be made with generic wire, and there are numerous sellers on sites like Amazon and Etsy that sell generic wire fingerpicks at incredibly low prices. Apart from that, there are options from popular brands like Dunlop that offer metal and plastic variants.

There’s even the Alaska Spade fingerpicks, which continue to receive rave reviews. Pricing aside, all options have minor differences. However, it is always best to try the choices before you buy.

Final Verdict

Butterfly finger picks do a good job of assisting in fingerpicking, helping to get pure tones out of the instruments without having long nails or using acrylic fingers.

Since then it has gained prominence among musicians and enthusiasts. We hope this guide has helped you make the right decision. Please use the comments below to let us know what you think.

Please note that this is an archived topic, therefore it is locked and cannot be answered. However, you can start a new topic and link to this topic: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/138942

Banjov1 – Posted – 02/03/2009: 14:15:21 A new thread about blue chip thumbpicks got me thinking about trying some new thumbpicks myself. I started playing a new selection that I really like. It seems to snap the strings well and doesn’t shift on my thumb at all. But after playing with it for about an hour, I noticed my thumb was turning blue. It doesn’t feel too tight, but it’s tighter than the Nationals I used to play with and I think I’m a little worried about my thumb stain.

How tight do you like your thumbpicks?

tony

carteru93 – Posted – 03/02/2009: 14:38:46 Just tight enough that it doesn’t shift and doesn’t feel like it’s going to fall off.

____________________________________________________

carter

Blaylock Bear pursues Banjo the “Growler”

Westvon – Published – 02/03/2009: 14:51:46 I can rarely find a thumb pick that fits perfectly, but to make sure it fits perfectly I put a strip of higher grit sandpaper on the thumb pick and it does really a great job grabbing my thumb.

David Russell

www.hotbanjolicks.com

www.thebluegrassmusician.com

Banjov1 – Posted – 2/3/2009: 4:54:05 PM Quote: Originally posted by Westvon

I can rarely find a thumb pick that fits perfectly, but what I do to make sure it fits perfectly is put a strip of higher grit sandpaper inside the thumb pick and it really does a great job of gripping my thumb .

David Russell

www.hotbanjolicks.com

www.thebluegrassmusician.com

Hey David, that sounds interesting but I’m not sure I understand. How do you attach the sandpaper?

Tony Hey David, that sounds interesting but I’m not sure I understand. How do you attach the sandpaper? tony

jscourt – Posted – 03/02/2009: 17:00:26 I sometimes use the Acri thumb pick and otherwise the Propik. Both can be easily adjusted to fit comfortably. Most of the time I rub my thumb and fingers with a bit of “Pick Stuff”, like Gorilla Snot but cheaper. This material allows picks to be easily adjusted without loosening while playing. It works great.

Choose her hot!!

Jerry the Winter Texan

Strangg1 – Posted – 02/03/2009: 17:33:19 Pretty tight, always had a problem with plastic picks slipping so I started trying metal with plastic tips.

I use a few different thumbpicks but prefer my Perfect Touch Thumbpick. I also have a bunch of pro pick’s that I really like. I prefer the Perfect Touch and the Pro-Pick because I can perfectly mold both of them to fit exactly how I like.

~p

Pickin’ & Grinnin’

1four5 – Posted – 03/02/2009: 17:46:38 I am using the lick and stick method on a rolled metal Dunlop rim. I bend it for a snug but not too tight fit. I can squeeze or pry it apart as needed for the day. Once the tip is smoothed and incorporated I wouldn’t trade it for anything else I’ve tried. Not as forgiving as plastic but close and crisp and works for me.

dean

banjojason88 – Posted – 02/03/2009: 19:29:26 I really like the fit of a big Dunlop but I like the tone of the big Golden Gates but they are a bit too loose and sometimes fall off. So I keep changing the thumb picks.

moses – Posted – 03/02/2009: 19:33:27 As tight as I can stand.

stellingbelle – Posted – 02/03/2009: 19:44:09 I like it when my thumb turns blue… I use Iveroid Golden Gates.

T

moses – Posted – 02/03/2009: 19:49:45 Tina, I also use ivoroid golden gate. Medium size. They’re tight, but I play hard and they’re going to stay.

Westvon – Posted – 2/3/2009: 19:49:55 Quote: Originally posted by Banjov1

Quote: Originally posted by Westvon

I can rarely find a thumb pick that fits perfectly, but what I do to make sure it fits perfectly is put a strip of higher grit sandpaper inside the thumb pick and it really does a great job of gripping my thumb .

David Russell

www.hotbanjolicks.com

www.thebluegrassmusician.com

Hey David, that sounds interesting but I’m not sure I understand. How do you attach the sandpaper?

tony

The same company that makes the Paige capos (here in Michigan) makes a product called the Paige Pik Griptz. They are small pieces of sandpaper with an adhesive on the back. Simply peel off the backing and fit into the pick. Work like a charm. The small pieces are a bit wider than most thumb picks, so I usually cut them off with a razor blade. No problem. Check it out here

http://elderly.com/accessories/items/PPG24.htm

David Russell

www.hotbanjolicks.com

www.thebluegrassmusician.com

The same company that makes the Paige capos (here in Michigan) makes a product called the Paige Pik Griptz. They are small pieces of sandpaper with an adhesive on the back. Simply peel off the backing and fit into the pick. Work like a charm. The small pieces are a bit wider than most thumb picks, so I usually cut them off with a razor blade. No problem. Check it out here. David Russell

stellingbelle – Posted – 2/3/2009: 19:56:33 Quote: Originally posted by Moses

Tina, I also use Ivoroid Golden Gate. Medium size. They’re tight, but I play hard and they’re going to stay.

I’ve been using them for years. I have big hands for a woman but I think they are small hands for a man. The Ivoroid are spot on. I’ve always wanted a Golden Gate Clown guitar pick, but they only make them in He-Man sizes. I’ve used the Golden Gate Pearloid but in my opinion they just don’t have the same sound and they tend to slip around more.

T

I’ve been using them for years. I have big hands for a woman but I think they are small hands for a man. The Ivoroid are spot on. I’ve always wanted a Golden Gate Clown guitar pick, but they only make them in He-Man sizes. I’ve used the Golden Gate Pearloid but in my opinion they just don’t have the same sound and they tend to slip around more.T.

countrydirt – Posted – 02/03/2009: 19:56:41 I have a medium sized national thumb. Just a little lick and that thing will never walk again. I use it on the banjo and 6 strings. Mine are pretty tight, but not enough to turn my thumbnail blue!

Troy Mayfield

Beginner since November 2004

called over there

picnparty – Posted – 02/03/2009: 20:20:47 I like to grab my selections straight from the music store bin. I try each and set the best aside. Pick a few from this pile

I like my tight. Tight on hot days or cold. I like the Golden Gates. They seem to be the tightest fit to me. I’m experimenting with the multicolored ones. I like the fit, I just want them to be white too. A little too disco but they work great.

Make your thumbs blue….. How do you explain that after the banjo session? and they call it blue chip……maybe it should just be blue thumb.

Boots…

Banjov1 – Posted – 02/03/2009: 20:27:38 Wow!!! thanks for the tips everyone. I feel a little bit better because my thumb is turning blue now. Though I have a few other things to try… pick stuff… sandpaper… and metal straps. I will try to test them all in the coming weeks.

tony

hawksbill – Posted – 03/02/2009: 20:29:22 Try a very small dot of superglue on the finger and thumb pads…when performing…that way they aren’t too tight and I’m holding keeping the blood flowing through my fingertips in the cold.

HOOKBILL

steve davis – Posted – 02/03/2009: 21:00:57 I refine the fit by heating just the “hinge” in very hot water and bending it either tighter or looser.

7ball

Sterling Grass – Posted – 02/03/2009: 22:04:22 At least I’m not the only one walking around with a black thumb.

jeanie

tanglefingers – Posted – 03/02/2009: 22:43:21 Is anyone doing the trick described in Earl’s book? ie. I tried this 20 years ago (before I played other things and reinvented the banjo for 15 years) by using a sharp knife to make a series of angled cuts in the flat area where the pad of the thumb sits, around a row of barbs for traction (claw) and it stopped a lot of slippage…I never liked having a blue thumb as described above. For me there are no words to describe the joy of playing the banjo “without picks”.

We can bomb the world to pieces, but we cannot bomb it to PEACE.

Michael Franz.

goldtopia – Posted – 02/04/2009: 05:16:10 My fiddle player commented on how tight I wear my thumb and finger picks. Well I would have thought everyone would carry them tight in case they fall off – common sense. They are curved in such a way that they are shaped for the finger to fit snugly and snugly. Plastic thumb picks are different. They wear out quickly and don’t fit properly, plus they sound a bit choppy. I sometimes wonder if there’s something wrong with people wearing plastic thumb picks.

Bill O

hawksbill – Published – 02/04/2009: 07:07:49 I now wear “acrylic nails”. They never fly away, they never get lost, and they feel like my own and the tone is warmer (to me).

HOOKBILL

goldtopia – Posted – Feb 4, 2009: 7:29:56 am Acrylic nails!. I thought girls wear them. One of the most beautiful things in life is watching beautiful girls play the banjo.

Bill O

Jaminbanjo – Posted – 02/04/2009: 07:55:08 Very tight. Kinda cuts off the blood flow…

austin

Latest mp3:

Wildwood Flower Edited by – Jaminbanjo on 2/4/2009 8:05:58 AM

stellingbelle – Posted – 2/4/2009: 8:05:10 AM Quote: Originally posted by goldtopia

acrylic nails!. I thought girls wear them.

Not all girls wear them…some of us have GUY HANDS

T

Not all girls wear them… some of us have MAN HANDST.

Cabinwood – Posted – 2/4/2009: 9:45:53 AM I like them so tight they’re almost too tight in wet weather. I don’t like them shifting or having any “spring”.

farley – Posted – 02/04/2009: 17:36:19 I use Dunlop metal thumb picks. I like bending them so tight my head turns purple!!! Farley

5Wires – Posted – 2009-02-04: 18:35:12 so they don’t fall off. I use the Golden Gates which are nice and chunky – you KNOW you have a thumb pick.

“Jazz is not dead………it just smells funny” (Frank Zappa)

“We are not anti-union, we are anti-union dominance” (John Howard)

Flying Eagle – Posted – 2/4/2009: 7:09:22 PM I use the Golden Gates too. They are the closest to the old National thumbpicks I can find. It needs to be fairly snug so it doesn’t slip or move at all. If I play for more than an hour they get a little uncomfortable and I try to take them off for a minute when that happens.

A Whiporwill call is just a reminder

Pretty girls have hearts of stone.

HuberTone – Posted – 2/4/2009: 9:42:18 PM Before I got addicted to my BlueChip, I had bought a piece of skateboard cover tape, which is essentially a giant piece of sandpaper with an adhesive backing (because, you know, it has to get stuck on the skateboard deck haha). The damn thing is huge, you could cut enough strips of that stuff to fit 1,000 thumbpicks.

“My girlfriend told me I’m not much of a lover, so I must be a freaking fighter!”

Banjov1 – Posted – 5/2/2009: 8:20:34 AM Quote: Originally posted by farley

I use the metal Dunlop thumbpicks. I like bending them so tight my head turns purple!!! Farley

Tony Tony

banjo ron – Posted – 05/02/2009: 15:56:08 I just threw away my favorite thumb pick (tortoise shell, no name) after years of playing had worn it down too much. It was really thick plastic, just the way I like them. Had to sift through my stack of picks from several different brands. What’s the deal with plastic thumb picks? They’re either too loose, too skinny, too tight, or just look freaky. I finally settled on an old gold gate which is thick, guess it’s an ivoroid which I like a lot. It’s a medium and a little tight, but doesn’t slip. I also found some brass propik finger picks that matched, give a slightly different tone than the Dunlops and are extremely comfortable.

steve davis – Posted – 02/05/2009: 18:39:10 You can get any fit you want by using hot water on the hinge.

You don’t have to hurt yourself to keep going.

7ball Edited by – Steve Davis on 05/02/2009 18:40:48

Gold Star GF-85 – Published – 02/06/2009: 04:36:11 I use Iveroid Golden Gates and shape them just tight enough that they don’t rotate when playing, but I think I still have new ones every now and then position.

Big John and his 1987 Gibson Earl Scruggs Standard.

Gold Star GF-85

vtyankee5 – Posted – 02/08/2009: 04:23:50 The AMB thumbpicks are a bit thicker

Banjov1 – Posted – 2009-02-10: 17:12:59 Quote: Originally posted by vtyankee5

The AMB thumbpicks are slightly thicker

I really like the AMB thumbpicks

Tony I like the AMB thumb picks Tony

Plectrum for beginners:

Guitar picks are one of the most useful accessories for beginners who have just started playing guitar or bass.

A pick won’t make you a professional guitarist any faster, but it will improve your guitar’s playability.

With the right picks, you can easily learn new techniques and sculpt your skills.

The amount of guitar pick brands available on the market today is vast. This can be overwhelming if you’re a beginner guitarist, and choosing the right pick can be a difficult process if you’re starting in the wrong place.

But first of all, who is considered a beginner guitarist?

Who is considered a beginner guitarist?

A beginner guitarist could be someone who just started playing last week or someone who has been practicing guitar for 2 months.

It is very difficult to draw a line between beginner and intermediate levels of guitar playing. Especially if you learned to play the guitar yourself.

In general, to be considered an advanced player, you should know and be proficient in the following areas:

Switch smoothly between basic open chords.

Knowing power chords and then being able to move cleanly.

Know the difference between major and minor root chord shapes and sounds by listening.

Know the note positions on the fretboard for the low E and A strings.

Mastery of a significant number of strumming patterns.

You can practice with a metronome and know your comfort tempo for each technique.

Have a basic understanding of music theory for keys and chords.

Play through several complete songs without stuttering.

You must become comfortable with the basic lead techniques of plucking, bending and sliding,…

Why Use Guitar Picks?

Guitar picks have several advantages when compared to fingers.

Guitar picks help increase your playing speed, produce a louder, brighter sound than fingers, and can be shaped to give better results when using various techniques such as strumming or palm mute.

In general, plectrum techniques are easier to master than classic fingerstyle or hybrid. It’s easier to play fast plucked notes.

As a beginner, this is very motivating because your learning process is accelerated.

Guitar Picks Quick Start Guide:

At the very beginning of your guitar learning process, your sense of tone and the feedback that a pick provides is undeveloped.

Therefore, you should only consider these two characteristics of a guitar pick:

Guitar pick thickness

pick shape.

Simplifying the “science” of a guitar pick will help you make a quick choice without spending too much time and stress.

After your first few months of playing the guitar, you will develop new skills that will allow you to factor more complex factors into your final purchase decision, pick material, pick size, and other specifics.

If you feel confident enough to understand these additional features of a pick, read our guide: How to choose the right guitar pick, which you can find HERE.

For thickness and shape, you should start here:

0.75mm Guitar Picks: The best choice for beginners

Lightweight picks less than 0.6mm are considered entry-level picks.

The reason for this is that most beginner guitar players first learn strumming techniques, which are usually easier to play with thinner picks.

However, medium-sized picks, 0.75mm thick, are the best place to start.

Medium gauge picks are the most versatile in terms of tone and can be used for rhythm and lead guitar.

If you enjoy strumming exercises, a medium thickness will work well. If you need to practice some lead guitar techniques it will work too.

After that, depending on what type of guitar player you want to become, you may consider moving to a higher or lower gauge range.

Rombo Origami is a good example of a medium gauge pick.

Teardrop Shape & Standard Shape Guitar Picks: The best choice for beginners

Teardrop and standard shaped guitar picks are simply the most common shapes for picks and are well known to every single guitarist worldwide.

You can’t go wrong using one of these shapes for your first pick.

Both picks have enough surface area for a solid grip, and the tip tends to have a medium radius and often even a slightly beveled edge for a smoother play.

When is it time to change picks?

I’m not talking about wear and tear. We have already published the article “Guitar Pick Durability” on this.

What I’m really saying is, when is it time to question the guitar pick model you’re using and go with a different thickness or material?

Avoid sticking to a single pick model for the rest of your life.

Using different guitar picks gives you the opportunity to expand your tonality ranges, develop a more accurate feel for different guitar techniques, and become more aware of your guitar gear preferences.

So the answer is: Always! I can’t recommend enough the benefit of trying out as many different picks as possible and then deciding which are your favorites.

I used the plural “Favorites” because you should find at least 3 of your top picks.

As you develop your skills as a guitarist, you will find that some pick shapes or pick thicknesses are better suited to certain techniques.

Discover our variety package HERE

In my case, I like medium-sized picks for strumming, hard ponty picks for practicing scales and loud music, and very round picks for those days when I just want to relax, use my reverb pedal, and create nice, clean guitar melodies.

Conclusion: The right pick for beginners

An important part of learning to play guitar is knowing the gear you’re using: the amps, the pickups, the different guitar strings, the guitar pedals, and also the guitar picks.

Don’t feel overwhelmed by the amount of guitar picks out there. It’s just a matter of preference, and you’ll need to spend some time trying new guitar picks, which can be fun and bring you some nice experiences.

You can start with a regular shaped pick that is 0.75mm thick. But if you’re not comfortable with just one option, try a variety pack that includes a few different picks. Close your eyes and choose the pick that feels right for you.

Please leave a comment and let us know the thickness of the first pick you had. Thanks very much!

Guitar picks are often overlooked by guitarists – especially beginner and intermediate guitarists. Guitar picks are so cheap it’s hard to imagine a small piece of plastic having any impact on playability and tone.

In this guide, we’ll examine why finding the right pick is critical to your development as a guitarist. Guitar picks play a big role in your game. Using the wrong selection can harm your development and affect your technical ability.

By the end of this guide, you’ll be a guitar pick expert. You will know how to find the right choices for you and why certain choices are better for different playstyles.

At the end of this guide, I’ve included an FAQ section that answers the most common questions guitarists have about guitar picks.

Do different guitar picks make a difference?

Many guitarists don’t think about different picks because they don’t think it makes a difference. Choice is choice, right?

Let’s try that out right away so you can get an idea of ​​how much of a difference different guitar picks can make on your tone and playability.

Grab a coin and play some of the usual riffs and licks you love to play. If you have a few different sized coins, grab one of each size to try them out.

How does it feel to play with a coin?

Depending on the size and thickness of the coin, it’s likely to feel weird and awkward. Due to the round shape of the coin and its rigidity, you may even have trouble playing some parts. Try playing a quick alternate pick and you’ll quickly run into trouble.

How does it sound?

You won’t have any trouble hearing the metallic quality added to your tone. The coin can also make a scraping noise when it hits the strings. You may also be able to hear the coin’s stiffness change as the strings vibrate.

It should be pretty clear that playing with a metal coin is quite different than playing with a regular pick.

While the difference between a coin and a pick is vast, today there is a difference between any type of pick. The differences between different guitar picks won’t be as extreme as a coin, but they will be there.

Different guitar picks make a difference in your tone and your playing. The material used for the pick, the thickness of the pick, the shape of the pick, and the texture of the pick all play an important role in your tone and playability.

Every guitarist learns this lesson at some point, so hopefully you’ll learn it early in your development as a guitarist. The sooner you start experimenting with different picks, the sooner you’ll find the right pick for you.

Guitar Pick Materials: What are guitar picks made of?

Guitar picks can be made from a variety of different materials, and each type of material has a unique impact on playability and tone.

Guitar picks available today are most commonly made from plastics such as nylon, celluloid, or Delrin. Other materials include wood, metal, stone, or tortoiseshell (now banned).

As you found out in the pick versus coin example above, the material of the pick has an impact on your tone and playability. Even different types of plastics stand out due to the different rigidity and texture they offer.

In the first half of the 20th century, the most popular material for guitar picks was hawksbill turtle shell:

While plastic picks gradually became more popular, the big change came when the hawksbill turtle became endangered and tortoiseshell was banned in 1973 (that’s right – we call it tortoiseshell, even though it came from a turtle).

Let’s look at some of the main types of pick materials and get an idea of ​​their different characteristics:

Nylon Guitar Picks – Nylon is a very flexible plastic and has been the guitar pick of choice for decades.

Some guitarists say that flexible picks produce a warm or mellow tone compared to stiff picks, while others say they have a brighter tone. Regardless of the impact on the sound, you will be able to hear a big difference compared to other plastics.

Some guitarists say that nylon picks produce a vintage tone as you can hear nylon picks in action in most early rock or blues music.

While nylon picks come in many different gauges, at any gauge you will find that nylon picks are far more flexible than other plastics.

Nylon guitar picks are usually a solid, flat color and usually have a textured grip on the top half of the pick.

Check out this Dunlop variety pack to compare some nylon picks as well as other plastic picks.

Celluloid Guitar Picks – Celluloid was the original alternative to tortoise shell and was developed to offer a similar feel and sound. Celluloid is more flexible than tortoiseshell but much stiffer than nylon. These picks produce a snappier tone with more treble than nylon.

Celluloid picks are usually pearl-like in texture or made to mimic the appearance of tortoiseshell.

Check out this Fender Premium Celluloid Pack for different thicknesses to try.

Delrin Guitar Picks – Delrin is a type of plastic developed by DuPont and used in popular brands of picks such as Dunlop’s Tortex and Ernie Ball’s Everlast. Delrin picks are quite stiff, which creates more highs in the tone.

If you compare tortex picks to celluloid picks, you will immediately notice the texture of the tortex. It has a powdery feel that gives you grip in your fingers as well as friction on the strings.

Delrin picks are usually single color and the Tortex line has a color code based on pick thickness, which is very handy.

Stone Guitar Picks – If you’ve never tried a stone pick, you might be surprised at how good they can feel in your hand. Different companies make picks from different materials such as agate, jade, and jasper. Visit stoneworkspicks.com for an example of some incredibly beautiful picks.

As you’d expect, stone guitar picks are incredibly stiff, and that stiffness has a huge impact on tone and playability.

Guitar pick thickness

A pick’s thickness makes a massive difference in playability and tone. Even a tiny change in thickness can produce noticeable changes in tone and playability. This means that unless you’ve tried the full range of pick strengths, you may be playing the wrong pick strength for your style.

The thicker the pick, the stiffer it becomes. While thick nylon picks are still fairly flexible, thick Delrin picks have almost no flex at all.

Let’s look at how different pick gauges affect tone and playability so you can figure out what’s right for you:

Thin Picks – Picks less than about 0.60mm thick are considered thin. Thin picks are incredibly flexible (especially nylon picks) and produce a much brighter tone with less bass or midrange.

Think of an acoustic guitar strummed softly and you get an idea of ​​how thin picks sound. The way the plectrum hits the strings plays a big role in the smooth tone. Many acoustic guitarists use nylon picks for strumming while using thicker picks for solo acoustic parts.

Many guitarists consider skinny picks “vintage” picks because they produce a tone heard in a lot of 50’s and 60’s music.

Medium Picks – Picks between 0.60 and 0.80mm thick are considered medium. Picks in this area start to get stiffer, and the extra stiffness changes the way the pick attacks the strings. You get more bass and mid-tones, and notes have more volume.

Medium picks are often preferred by rhythm guitarists as the stiffer pick makes it easier to play riffs and rhythm parts accurately.

Thick Picks – are picks that are over 0.80mm thick. Thick picks are incredibly stiff, which adds a lot to the bass and midrange. Try playing chords on an acoustic guitar with a thick pick and you get a loud and boomy sound.

Thick picks are often used by guitarists playing heavy or aggressive styles of music. The stiff pick gives you a solid attack on the strings and it shows in your tone.

Many lead guitarists who play fast alternative picking use thick picks like the Dunlop Jazz III (which is 1.38mm thick) and find that it makes fast picking easier and more comfortable.

If you’ve never tried playing with a thick pick, I recommend getting a Jazz III. It’s one of the most popular big picks out there today. Check out this Jazz III strain pack here.

How to find the right pick size for you

The easiest way to find out what’s right for you is to start with Dunlop Tortex picks. These picks are color coded based on thickness. This gives you an easy way to compare different thicknesses while keeping the material the same.

Get a Tortex variety pack here, or just buy one or two of each thickness. Spend time with each pick and you’ll quickly learn how much of a difference thickness makes in your playing.

The reason I recommend buying a Tortex packing is that the shape and material stays the same across different pick thicknesses. That way you can just compare thickness without bringing other factors into the mix.

Once you’ve decided what type of thickness you prefer, you can see how different pick shapes or materials feel at your preferred thickness.

Guitar Pick Shapes

The shape of your pick plays a big role in your comfort while playing. Pick shape is a very personal thing and guitarists tend to stick to a specific shape.

If you’ve never experimented with different pick shapes, you need to do this. You’ll hate most pick shapes you try, but you might find a shape that blows your mind and completely changes the way you play.

Each type of shape suits a different type of guitarist. Take a look at the tips below and consider which play style is right for each:

Larger picks are often preferred by guitarists who play with a looser feel. The large picks are easier to hold and play chords without worrying about accuracy or dexterity. Smaller picks feel like they give you more precision when picking.

The most important part of a plectrum’s shape is the tip, which faces the strings. This is the part that comes in contact with the strings, so its shape is important.

In general, rounder tips produce a softer touch and give you less dexterity when playing. They are suitable for guitarists who play looser styles of music and work really well for strumming.

The large and round shape of the above pick would be great for an acoustic guitarist who wants to strum chords while singing. The large size gives the guitarist plenty of grip, meaning they’re less likely to drop it. Thanks to the round tip, he doesn’t have to worry about the accuracy when striking the strings.

Sharper tips produce a stronger attack, giving you more accuracy and dexterity in your game. Guitarists playing fast alternate picking or intricate solos often prefer a sharper point.

The above pick (Jazz III) is the pick of choice for Dream Theater guitarist John Petrucci. The sharp point gives it great dexterity for its rapid alternating plucking, string jumping and arpeggios.

Imagine John Petrucci trying to play his solos with the big and round pick while an acoustic guitarist is trying to play chords with the big and small Jazz III. While it is possible, it will not be comfortable and both guitarists would feel an additional challenge or strain due to the shape of the pick.

In other words, the shape of your pick is important. So find the right shape for your play style. It may or may not be the shape you are currently using.

This Dunlop variety pack gives you an easy way to compare different pick shapes and sizes.

guitar pick textures

Every guitarist has dropped a pick while playing. For some guitarists it’s a real problem to contend with. If you play acoustic guitar, you know this feeling all too well.

If you find yourself dropping your pickaxe regularly, consider getting a textured pickaxe. Let’s look at the different types of textures you can find in guitar picks.

Polished picks

Many picks have a smooth and polished sheen, like celluloid picks. These picks are good to grab unless you start sweating. Once your fingers sweat, you’ll find that it becomes a lot harder to grip the pick without it slipping and sliding around.

If you’ve only used polished picks before, you might want to grab some of the picks below and see if you prefer the feel of them.

Ground picks

Picks like the Dunlop Tortex range tend to feel sandy or powdery. A brand new tortex has a very powdery feel, making it very easy to grip when playing.

That’s partly why they’re so popular. You’re less likely to drop the pick mid-game as you have a lot more grip. The logo also gives you more grip over the pick as it is slightly engraved on the pick.

This type of pick still feels smooth but offers enough grip for many guitarists.

Increased pickaxes

Some picks will give you a raised or bumpy area to provide extra grip while playing.

It’s not hard to imagine how much extra grip the above picks will give you compared to a smooth surface. If you’re a live performer and find you really sweat while playing, you might want to experiment with one of these picks.

Other material textures

If you’re given a pick made of other materials, such as stone, metal, wood, or leather, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the texture is also different than plastic picks.

While these other materials are nowhere as popular as plastic picks, it’s worth getting some just for fun. You’ll be surprised how good a stone pick feels in your fingers.

Frequently asked questions about guitar picks

Why Do Guitarists Use Picks?

Guitarists use guitar picks (or plectrums) to gain more control over what they’re playing. A guitar pick lets you play in ways that wouldn’t be possible without it. A plectrum gives you precise control over the strings you play. Some styles of music are easier to play with fingers (e.g. classical), while other styles of music are easier to play with a pick (e.g. metal).

A guitar pick also sounds different than fingers. Trying to play classical music with a plectrum would come across as sterile or cold, while trying to play heavy metal with your fingers would come across as boring or sloppy.

Is it better to learn guitar with a pick?

The answer depends on what you want to learn. If you want to learn styles of music that are typically played with fingers, don’t learn with a pick. If you want to learn styles of music that are typically played with a pick, then you should learn with a pick.

Are guitar picks necessary?

While one could argue that guitar picks aren’t necessary at all, some styles of music are much easier to play with a pick. You can play some styles of music without a pick, and some styles of music sound better without a pick.

Guitar picks are necessary for styles of music where there are a lot of complicated or fast pasts like metal. Finger capabilities are limited, and guitar picks allow guitarists to further advance their techniques.

Do guitar picks wear out?

Yes, guitar picks wear out over time. How quickly a pick wears out depends on the material, the thickness and the way you play it. Some picks can wear out in a matter of weeks, while others can be used for years with no apparent wear.

The way you play can have a big impact on how quickly your pick wears out. A guitarist who strums chords easily can use their pick for a very long time before it wears out. A metal guitarist with a heavy string gauge and an aggressive plucking style will find their guitar pick wearing out quickly.

When should I replace a guitar pick?

You should replace a worn pick when it feels different than a new pick. As the edge of a pick begins to wear down, it will gradually change the way you play and feel different. This is a gradual change so we won’t notice it while playing. When you compare a worn pick to a brand new pick, it can be obvious how different a worn pick feels when playing.

You should only worry about replacing a worn pick if it feels different and you don’t like the way it feels. If a worn pick feels good, there’s no reason to throw it away.

Are thick picks better?

Thick picks are generally better for certain styles of music, like rock or metal, where you want an aggressive attack on the strings. Thick picks give you more control when playing fast riffs or licks.

Thick picks are no better for styles where you want a loose or soft feel. For example, strumming an acoustic guitar gently with a thick pick can sound and feel terrible. In this situation, a thin pickaxe would be much better.

What are thin picks good for?

Thin picks are good for strumming chords and playing soft parts. A thin plectrum will flap against the string, obviously affecting the tone. Many guitarists consider thin picks “vintage” because thin picks were used on early music recordings.

If you play acoustic guitar, you probably prefer the sound of a thin pick over a thick one.

Which pick is best for beginners?

I recommend for beginners to get a Dunlop Tortex strain pack. These picks are quite large and have a nice tacky texture. This makes it easier for beginners to hold on and play. The variety pack includes picks of various gauges, giving beginners the opportunity to experiment and find what’s right for them.

How do guitar picks affect the tone?

Guitar picks affect tone by changing the way the string vibrates. A stiff and thick pick has a strong attack on the string, which produces more bass and mids in the tone. A thin and flexible pick produces more treble and less bass. The pick material also subtly changes the tone.

What are Dunlop Tortex picks made of?

Dunlop Tortex guitar picks are made from Delrin, a type of acetal resin developed by DuPont. Delrin guitar picks were developed as an alternative to tortoise shell.

What is the most expensive guitar pick?

The most expensive guitar picks currently available are made by an Australian company called Starpics, are made from meteorites and sell for A$5,000.

They’re expensive, not because they’re better than regular pickaxes, but because they’re made out of meteorites. While it might be cool to say your picks are from outer space, you’d probably rather use your 50c picks than these.

What is the best size for guitar picks?

The best sized pick is one that you feel comfortable playing with. Some guitarists prefer small picks that are easy to grip, while others prefer large picks that make it easier to strum chords without snagging your fingers.

Find out what the best size guitar pick is for you by buying a few different sizes and seeing what you like. Every guitarist has different pick preferences, so you’ll need to experiment with different pick sizes to find what works for you. Check out this variety pack to try out some different shaped picks.

Thick picks vs thin picks

Thin picks vs. thick picks. This never-ending struggle has been part of every guitarist’s conversation for decades. It is time to finally evaluate both alternatives in detail.

Generally measured in millimeters, the thickness of a guitar pick is an attribute that affects many physical aspects such as tone and flexibility. For most players, this is considered the most important attribute when choosing the right pick.

However, after doing some research online, no one seemed to really know how thick a pick needs to be to qualify as a thick or heavy pick. where is the line

So the first thing we did was create a large online poll on our Instagram guitar community.

1- What is considered a thick guitar pick? Thoughts from the guitar community

The poll we created was live on an Instagram story for 24 hours and asked participants to answer two simple questions.

Personal Preferences – Big Picks or Thin Picks?

This question was the first, and its goal was to find out whether guitarists prefer thick or thin picks. Here are the results:

It seems that more than two-thirds of guitarists prefer picks that are considered thick. To be honest I thought there would be a 50/50 ratio and I was very surprised.

What do you consider a fat guitar pick?

This was the second question and the guitarists were able to select different thicknesses, which they rated as the “minimum thickness required for a guitar pick to be considered thick or heavy”.

The results showed that, on average, a pick must be at least about 1.0mm thick to be considered a thick guitar pick.

These results are very interesting as the information we found during the research claims that a pick is considered “thick” or “heavy” if it is 0.8mm thick. We didn’t find any study or survey with more participants than ours.

Of course, we must take into account that we have no way of tracking more specific characteristics of the participants such as playing level, music preferences, guitar type, age, etc.

Average thickness of guitar picks over time

Further research on the subject showed that the average thickness of guitar picks has increased significantly over the last few decades. Thin guitar picks are even considered vintage by many players because of the tone they produce.

This isn’t a surprise considering most modern guitar techniques and effects that require thick picks (like shredders) didn’t exist in the 1950s and 1960s.

2- Why does pick thickness matter?

The thickness of a guitar pick is one of the most influential attributes.

The thickness of the pick affects:

The flexibility of choice

The sound produced by the plectrum

Loudness and body of each note

The picking sound made by the pick

The durability of the pickaxe

Control over the selection

The feedback you get from the selection

A minimal change in the thickness of a pick of just 0.2 millimeters (equivalent to two ordinary sheets of paper) is enough to drastically change the characteristics of a pick.

3- Thick picks vs thin picks:

Let’s assume there were no middle picks and create a clear line separating both thickness ranges to make the differences between thick picks and thin picks clearer.

Thick / heavy picks

(more than 1mm) Thin picks

(less than 0.55mm) Flexibility Stiff/Very Stiff Flexible/Very Flexible Tone Warm/dark tones and soft tones. Brighter tones, less bass. Volume Provide high volume. Wider dynamic range Maximum volume is limited. Less dynamic range Guitar pick noise Reduced pick noise Noticeable pick noise Durability More permanent Less durable Control High control over individual notes Less control over individual notes Popular techniques Lead guitar, shredding, sweep-picking,… Rhythm guitar, strumming, tremolo -Picking Common type of players Intermediate and advanced guitarists Beginners, acoustic guitarists.

Thick Picks: Summary

Thick picks provide softer/darker tones. The usual rounded edges, which can be made over 1mm thick – combined with their rigidity – enhance the bass tones and volume these guitar picks can deliver while reducing the picking noise the pick produces.

These picks offer more control over individual notes and are typically the best option for lead guitarists.

Most advanced guitarists prefer thick picks because as they progress through their guitar journey, they develop new guitar techniques that are better performed with these types of picks. Thick picks offer more control when it comes to single notes and complex guitar picking techniques like pinch harmonics.

One of the biggest advantages of using heavy picks is the durability they offer. However, pick life is influenced by many other aspects, as we learned in the pick durability article.

Skinny Picks: Summary

Thin picks are the best option for guitarists looking for brighter tones, especially when using acoustic guitars and some strumming techniques on electric guitars.

The flexibility of these picks limits the maximum volume that can be achieved. This can be an advantage as it works like an analog limiter. This is particularly useful in a studio session where the maximum volume achieved needs to be controlled.

Most beginner guitarists start out with thin picks because their early guitar skills involve guitar techniques like strumming.

Note control can be difficult with thin guitar picks. However, some players use this attribute for certain guitar techniques, such as in surf music, where super-fast tremolo picking is required.

4- Example of a thick pick: Rombo Jade

Rombo Jade is the perfect example of a thick pick. Thanks to its thickness, a very large bevel edge could be implemented as sharply as possible, which offers the necessary precision when using such picks.

The size is small, a hallmark of thick guitar picks, and its shape ends in a very sharp pick tip for maximum attack.

5- Example of a thin pick: Rombo Classic

Rombo Classic is the thinnest Rombo pick. In the middle it is only 0.38 mm.

Extremely flexible, this pick is medium/large in size with a standard 5mm diameter pick tip.

Despite its thickness, the pick has a wide dynamic range. This is caused by the material used in our picks.

6- The right pick thickness for you

I’m sure you already have an idea of ​​the thickness of your favorite pick. If not, it’s probably because you’re at the beginning of your guitar journey.

Is there an incorrect pick thickness for playing guitar? Any pick you use to get sound out of your guitar may work if the sound produced is the sound you’re looking for. It’s entirely a matter of personal preference.

If you are a beginner guitar player I recommend starting with around 0.75mm as I detailed here: “Guitar Picks for Beginners”.

However, if you are an advanced player trying to find a way to discover new guitar tones, I have no better advice than to tell you to try many different gauges and incorporate other important aspects of the pick into your decision, e.g. B. materials, size, shape etc…

The good news is that you will probably end up with 3 to 5 favorite picks to use for different techniques. So, enjoy the journey and be open to experimenting with different tones and textures with your guitar!

7- Current pick strengths at Rombo:

For this chapter, I’ve included the new guitar picks that will be officially released throughout 2021.

As you can see on the thickness scale there are still some slots missing (e.g. something like 0.6mm) which we will fill in the future when designing new picks.

However, we can repeat thicknesses when other aspects change greatly, e.g. B. the shape, the sharpness of the tip, the size of the pick or other grip textures.

8- Variable thickness of pick

Another important factor to consider is that some picks do not have a constant thickness along their design. But why?

During our research in 2018, we found that there are many benefits to designing guitar picks with variable thickness.

Take Rombo Origami as an example: the pick tip of the pick is 0.75, but the holding area is thicker. This simple change allows the pick to produce darker and softer tones without losing much of its flexibility.

With Rombo Diamond, the thickness goes up to 2.65 mm in the central area (where all vertices meet). We increased this range after experiencing that the ratio between thicknesses along the pick also increases pick control for single notes.

Additionally, with more thickness on a given material, you have more opportunities to introduce design elements, like the 3D geometries we use in our picks. These geometries have two positive effects: on the one hand they improve the grip of the pick due to the inclined surfaces, on the other hand the picks look very cool!

In short, the variable thickness makes your picks more versatile and gives you extra control.

9- Conclusion

Thick picks vs. thin picks will remain a hot trending topic in the guitar community.

However, if you’re already an intermediate player with some knowledge of equally important aspects of a guitar pick like shape or material, spread the word to avoid confusion among newcomers.

We have already discussed the wide range of different guitar picks that you can find online in our article “Guitar Picks Online” as this can be overwhelming for some beginners.

The best advice I can give you: Love both thin and thick picks and try to understand why they are different. Both must exist in a world that demands creativity and different tones and styles!

Now it’s your turn, what’s your preferred pick thickness?

There’s no real difference which way you mean it. One could perhaps say that “fingerstyle” refers to not using a pick, but “fingerpicking” does not preclude using both. But no matter what word you use, there are different styles and techniques.

For example, a popular beginner technique is to finger some chords in the fret hand as if you’re strumming them, but in the pluck hand you choose a pattern (thumb, middle, index finger, ring, etc.) and restart the pattern when you die change chords.

But a classical or flamenco player would become a lot more advanced and precise with it. A jazz player can walk a bass line with their thumb while playing chords and/or melodies with their other fingers. A funk or pop player may slap or pop strings like a bass player. You got the idea…

Some use finger/thumb picks or long nails, while others just use the fingertips with very short nails. Some use a regular pick between the index finger and thumb and use the other 3 fingers for finger picking. I do, but sometimes I also use my index finger and thumb without a pick, going back and forth as if I’m “alternatively plucking” with a pick.

As for getting started for solo play… I would start with the “favorite beginner technique” mentioned. If you want to expand it further, you’ll get a decent foundation for both your plucking technique and some independence between your fingers.

In the long term I would try to gradually add other parts (bass, melody) into the mix. For example, if you don’t have a bass player, you might want to add a bass line, or at least alternate the root and fifth. If you’re playing a song with a melody and no one else is singing or playing, find a way to incorporate it. Obviously you can’t play each voice alone, so you’ll have to make compromises by simplifying the voices. Look into the “chord melody” guitar. It’s a term most commonly used in jazz guitar, but the concept can be applied to other styles as well.