When you first pick up the guitar and start to play, you may be wondering what is the best guitar pick to use when playing? What are all those different shapes and sizes? Which one should I choose?
Well, we at Fretboard.com have compiled a list of 10 tips for picking a guitar pick that will help you decide which one is right for you.
1. If you just started playing, begin with an extra heavy pick.
2. If you are strumming chords, most likely a thicker pick will work better because it will give you a fuller sound due to its thicker attack.
3. If you are playing single notes or solos, consider using a thinner pick so it can “bend” easier between your thumb and index fingers.
4. When using a thinner pick, there will be less attack when strumming chords and therefore less volume and sound.
5. Medium picks (also known as medium heavy picks) are the most commonly used types of picks, they are the easiest to find and come in many shapes and sizes.
6. Using jazz guitar picks while playing other styles of music can help create more dynamics in your sound because they are flexible and allow for more bending between your fingers than a traditional
The pick is the most important part of playing guitar. The best technique and knowledge can be wasted without a good pick. These are the top ten things to remember when picking a guitar pick.
Pick material – Plastic, metal, wood, tortex, etc…
Pick size – The bigger the pick the louder the sound and vice versa.
Pick shape – Flat, round, or triangular shaped picks.
Pick thickness – Thinner picks give a brighter sound and thicker gives a fuller sound.
Pick texture – Smooth or textured for grip.
Pick color – Pick colors can vary but many players do not care about color as long as it works right.
Pick brand – Picks are manufactured by many different companies but in reality they are all very similar in design and playability which leaves open to personal preference and what you feel comfortable with when playing.
Traditional style vs modern style – Traditional style has a rounded tip while modern style has more of a pointy tip. Some people prefer one over the other but they both work well depending on how you like to play.
Personal preference – This is the most important factor when choosing a guitar pick because if you do not like it then there is no point in using it because it will not make sense to you or
The right guitar pick is essential to getting a good tone out of your guitar. Unfortunately, it’s not always as simple as choosing the first one you come across. There are many types and sizes and they can be very different in terms of thickness and material.
To help guide you through the maze of guitar picks available, here are 10 tips on how to select the perfect guitar pick for your needs…
1 What type of guitar do you play?
This will make a big difference to the type of pick you need. For instance, if you play electric guitars with humbuckers (such as Les Pauls or SGs), it is best to use medium or heavy picks (usually between 0.85mm and 1.5mm in thickness). If you play with single coil pickups (such as Stratocasters), then go for lighter picks such as 0.50mm – 0.75mm in thickness. The heavier the pickup, the more attack you will get from your guitar and vice versa.
2 What style of music do you play?
It’s also important to consider what kind of music you want to play. Rock music works well with heavy gauge picks, while jazz is often played with lighter ones. This does vary from
1. Find the right shape
2. Find the right material
3. Find the right thickness
4. Think about your playing style
5. Consider your guitar and strings
6. Try a few different picks
7. Don’t be afraid to experiment!
8. Keep it safe!
9. Don’t get attached!
10. Have fun!
Choosing a pick is a personal thing. What feels good in your hand and gets the sound you want from your guitar is what’s important. I’ve put together a list of tips to help you choose the best pick for you.
1. You should try different pick sizes, thicknesses and materials until you find the one that gives you the tone and feel you like best.
2. A thicker gauge pick will give a brighter sound than a thin gauge pick.
3. A thicker gauge pick will be more rigid and less flexible than a thin gauge pick, making it harder to bend strings with it.
4. A softer pick material will be more flexible than the same size and thickness of a harder material, making it easier to bend strings with it, but less durable than the same size and thickness of a harder material.
5. A smaller (narrower) tip will give a softer attack than a larger (wider) tip because there’s not as much mass behind it to make contact with the string before flexing away from it (like a diving board). This also gives the advantage of focusing more energy into fewer strings at once if you’re strumming or picking individual strings in rapid succession (like an alternate-picking solo).
The pick you use to play guitar is an important part of your sound. Really, every aspect of your playing – your picking hand technique, the amount of gain you use on your amplifier, the type of strings and even the type of guitar you play – contributes to the overall tonality that you create. But if you’re like me, since picks are so small I often forget about them until it’s time to change one.
I’ve always been more concerned with keeping a good selection of guitar strings (and at least a few sets for each instrument I own), but I’ve definitely found that a good pick can make a big difference in how I play.
Here are a few tips to help you get some variety into your picking arsenal:
1. Vary the thickness of your picks. Experiment with picks ranging from thin (.38 mm) to heavy (.88 mm) and beyond. The difference between a thin pick and a heavy one is not just volume – it can also affect how much attack there is in your sound when you strum or pick at different speeds.
2. Try using jazz picks if you don’t already. Jazz picks are usually thin and have rounded edges, which makes them great for fast lead playing, as well as strumming chords