Guitar Picks are an inexpensive and simple way to change your guitar tone. The material used to make the pick and its thickness will significantly affect your guitar tone.

Material

Picks were initially made from the shell of a turtle. It is no longer legal to make this type of pick. Today’s pick manufacturers tend to use different kinds of plastic, but you can also find plectrums made from metal, stone, leather, and wood.

Nylon was one of the first plastics used to make picks. It is a flexible material that tends to bend easily, even when using a thicker gauge. The material is very different from a stiff turtle shell. Most people describe the sound of a nylon pick as warm or mellow, which means it brings out more low-end from your strings. You will hear the sound of the pick striking the string more than other materials. There are often raised bumps on nylon picks that help you grip them.

Celluloid and Delrin picks are similar to the original turtle shell picks. They are stiffer and less forgiving. These picks tend to have a smooth surface that sometimes makes them harder to grip. Both materials will bring out more high-end from your stings. Stiff picks help single notes cut through the mix and have a more precise sound.

Stone, Metal, and Wood picks are not as common and tend to have a harsh sound. These materials are not forgiving at all, but some players love the sound they make. Brian May from Queen plays with a metal pick.

Thickness

For most beginners, it feels easier to start with a thin pick. Thin picks range from .35mm to .60mm. Thin picks are not as loud, so your mistakes are not as pronounced. Not hearing your mistakes may seem like a good thing, but these picks help mask problems in your playing that you need to address.

Medium picks range from .60 to .75. Medium picks add a bit of stiffness which helps bring out a more midrange tone. Many acoustic strummers like picks in this range

Thick picks start at .88 and go over 1mm. Picks like the popular Jazz III series are 1.38mm thick. Thick picks do not flex, giving you instant feedback on how well your hands are synchronized. They tend to make playing fast or more intricate passages easier to execute. Thick picks produce a clear full tone, making playing with dynamics easier.

How Do You Choose

Luckily picks are not expensive. The best way to figure out what pick helps you get the sound you want is to buy a bunch of different picks and try them. Listen closely to how the material and thickness affect your sound, and choose the one that sounds the best to you.

I have tried many picks over the years and have a few favorites. I played .88 Dunlop Tortex picks for many years. Even though they are considered a thick pick, I wanted something thicker to help articulate notes more. I switched to Jazz III picks. These picks are fantastic but small. Unfortunately, their size became an issue as I got older since I started having problems hanging on to them. Luckily, Dunlop came out with the John Petrucci Ultex Jazz III, a slightly bigger pick with a pointed edge.

In the end, a pick is a personal preference. You will probably have to try quite a few picks before finding the one that suits you, but it is worth your time and effort since the pick has such a significant impact on how your guitar sounds.

About the author: Brian Fish is a professional guitarist living in Northeast Ohio and is an expert guitar instructor at Guitar Lessons Geauga.