If you are trying to get rich strumming while hitting complex notes on your steel-string guitar at impressively loud volumes, then you definitely have to pay mind to the kind of guitar picks that you use. Welcome to our guide on guitar picks where we highlight and discuss only the best guitar picks.
Best Guitar Picks
This guide contains a selection of the best guitar picks out of the hundreds of thousands that exist on the market. The trick is to understand which feels better and delivers precision no matter how you are playing. Let’s take a closer look at our top choices for guitar picks.
1. Guitar Picks Variety Pack Accessories with Holder. Custom Cool Unique Design. Medium and Thin Gauge. Guitar Pick for Electric, Acoustic, Bass, Ukulele, and Mandolin
The versatility of these guitar picks makes this colorful piece one of the best pick sets not just for guitars but for various other instruments too.
This pick is child-friendly and comes with accessories that would be a whole lot of fun for the kids. The special colorful piece provides your child with a custom extension to strum their guitars with and also makes for a cool collectible to decorate and accessorize with.
The dazzling colors of the picks are an added bonus but what really drives home the point is their feel. This pick is specially made for young rockers that want to take their music to the next level.
The features include: 12 custom made guitar picks within the size range of 6.46mm and 6.71mm. The guitar picks come in a carrying case that is shaped like an electric guitar.
Each piece carries inspiring aesthetics and designs that make them a sight to behold. The color of the picks are also feminine friendly and stand as an empowering tool for girls of various ages.
The picks are made especially for acoustic and electric guitars.
Specifications
- Weight – 0.2 ounces
- Dimensions – 0.1×0.1×0.1 inches
- Model number – 4334252539
- Thickness – thin and medium
Pros
- Durable
- Comes with accessories
- Child-friendly
- Very affordable
- Great aesthetics for feminine guitarists
Cons
- Heavy size not available
- May not appeal to masculine guitar players
2. ChromaCast CC-SAMPLE Sampler Guitar Picks (12 counts)
ChromaCast takes versatility to a whole new level, providing options to give you a taste of both worlds. In one single brand, you have the celluloid and the Dura Picks in a battle of colors, sizes, and comfort.
You no longer have to purchase only one material type while wondering what the material of another pick set might feel like: you can both in a single batch.
The beauty of this diversity is the variation in musical tone that you will probably notice with every twang. The product comes with the classic pear shape; a narrow oblong tip and a wide body.
The Dura Pick designs come in the following order:
- Red – extra thin (0.50mm)
- Orange – thin (0.60mm)
- Yellow – thin/medium (0.73mm)
- Green – medium(0.88mm)
- Blue – medium/heavy (1mm)
- Purple – heavy 1.14mm
The Celluloid designs come in: black, abalone, blue, green, red, and purple
Specifications
- Weight – 0.317 ounces
- Dimensions – 9x6x0.1 inches
- Size – 12-pack
- Model number – CC-SAMPLE-12PK
Pros
- Variety of designs
- Assorted colors
- Durable celluloid material
- Comfortable to hold
Cons
- No warranty
3. PPpanda Guitar Picks 48pcs, Guitar Plectrums for your Electric, Acoustic, or Bass Guitar Thin, Medium, Heavy 0.46 0.58 0.71 0.84 0.96 1.2mm
When you next handle a guitar, you can rest assured that you will have the best finger extension with these high quality, durable guitar picks.
The product comes with 48 pieces that ensure you have enough picks of every size, from thin to thick, to suit your needs.
There are numerous colors as well so you can pick the color that matches your guitar. The most important thing is that you get a feel of all the different sizes and widths to help you improve your strumming.
Specifications
- Dimensions – 3.54×2.36×0.79 inches
- Weight – 2.39 ounces
- Model number – 43263-155965
- Manufacturer – Pppanda
Pros
- Large number of options
- Various sizes
- Durable celluloid material
- Affordable choice
Cons
- No warranty
4. Fender 351 Premium Celluloid Guitar Picks, 12 Pack, Abalone, Heavy
If you are looking to add that extra magic to your strumming then what you need are these heavy Fender picks. The high quality celluloid material is durable and built for the best experience.
Each pick is unique and gives you a warm feel. They feature a variety of colors in one (abalone) and are designed with a tortoiseshell pattern.
Accessorize with the multicolor picks and get the best guitar playing experience every single time with these Fender celluloid guitar picks.
Specifications
- Weight – 0.32 ounces
- Dimensions – 11.42×7.48×3.54 inches
- Model number – 980351957
- Color – Abalone
- Size – heavy
Pros
- Great aesthetics
- Durable material
- Perfect for electric guitars
- Large number of options
Cons
- No warranty
5. Jim Dunlop Electric Variety Pack Guitar Picks (PVP113)
The best way to change the tone of your guitar is to change your pick. The electric variety pack comes with 12 differently shaped picks.
They are made of diverse materials and gauges to give you a unique sound.
The Jim Dunlop features thick picks that have sharper tips for a more precise single note while the thinner, softer materials provide more compression for the tone.
Specifications
- Weight – 0.464 ounces
- Dimensions – 4×2.5×0.25 inches
- Color – multicolor
- Model number – PVP113
Pros
- Many colors
- Affordable
- Lots of material variety
- Made in USA
Cons
- No warranty
6. Dunlop PVP101 Pick Variety Pack, Assorted, Light/Medium, 12/player’s Pack
Dunlop guitar picks are one of the industry’s favorites and provide quality materials with simple and innovative designs. The Dunlop brand has something for everyone who is into strings.
The variety in the pack is one thing that sets this product apart from the others. Experienced players can try their hands on multiple pick types to see if they have other preferences as well.
The Dunlop brand has a wide array of model picks for both beginners and professionals. Your choice of guitar pick invariably defines your music style and pattern. For those who like to diversify or switch up their style once in a while, having a few picks is always a good idea.
Specifications
- Weight – 1 ounce
- Dimension – 2x4x 0.3 inches
- Color – multi- color
Pros
- Multi-color
- Very affordable
- Comfortable to hold
Cons
- No warranty
7. D’Addario Assorted Pearl Celluloid Guitar Picks, 10 Pack, Medium
Sophistication and durability, all in one pack: the assorted natural pearl-design of these guitar picks provides you with great aesthetics and a comfortable feel while strumming. The picks in this pack come in a wide variety of colors with the standard shape.
The celluloid, one of the most widely used materials for guitar picks, provides a warm feel that gives you the best experience.
D’Addario pearl is available in four gauges: light 0.50mm, medium 0.70mm, heavy 1.0mm, and the extra heavy 1.25mm.
Specifications
- Item weight – 0.208 ounces
- Dimensions – 5x3x1 inches
- Model number 1CAP4-10
- Size – 10-pack
Pros
- Ideal for guitarists that already know what kind of picks they want
- High quality
- Inexpensive
Cons
- The assorted pack only comes in 25
Buyer’s Guide
Everyone who has watched a professional guitarist play should have some idea of what a guitar pick is and what purpose it serves. Unless you have bionic thumbs, playing a steel-string guitar for an extended period of time is easier with a pick.
Why do you need a guitar pick?
People often ask “is it necessary to use a guitar pick?” our answer has always been, it depends on what music, style, and type of guitar that you play. Some great guitarists may play with their thumbs, creating fantastic music, but that often depends on the style of music.
Those that play for long hours on steel string guitars will appreciate the ease of using a pick. String acrobats often get serious finger pain, pick or no pick, but it definitely gets easier with time.
Guitar picks give you fast single notes with finesse, not to mention that they are much easier to apply to steel strings because of the spacing between strings.
Do guitar picks make any difference?
Why, yes they do. Guitar picks are made from various materials and each material comes with its own level of strength, and flexibility, giving you a better experience while throwing melodies all willy-nilly. The shape, the texture… they all play a vital role in the playability of your strings.
What should you look for in a guitar pick?
We have successfully established, especially to newbies looking to start learning to play the guitar, that a pick eases the abrasiveness of the strings on the fingers. Now what are the special features that you should look out for when trying to purchase a guitar pick? Are there specific picks that are best for beginners? Let’s take a look at some pointers that would enable you to make the right choice.
The Size
When comparing the sizes of a pick, the emphasis is more on the thickness of the pick than anything else. Note that there is no universal measurement, mostly estimations. Here are the thickness types:
Extra thin picks – these types are below 0.45mm in thickness, they are used mostly for delicate playing. The sound is usually different from heavier picks. It is mostly used by electric guitar players.
Thin sized – these sets can vary in size. They range between 0.46 to 0.70mm in thickness. These picks are excellent for quick, light strumming.
Medium-sized picks – sizes vary between 0.71 to 84mm in thickness. This size of the pick is beginner-friendly and the most versatile.
Heavy pick – These types are essential for heavy riffing. They are most suited to rockers that wield electric guitars. Their sizes range between 0.85 to 1.20mm in thickness. The average size in this category is 0.96 mm in thickness
Extra-heavy picks – these are picks that are specially made for the extra heavy riffing. Basically, any size above that of the heavy picks is categorized as extra heavy picks. They produce a different type of sound when compared with lighter picks and they are suited to many different styles.
There is no particular pick type that is better than the other, it all depends on the type of music that you play. One thing to take note of is that the thickness of your pick may affect your sound and playing style. It would be best to experiment with a few sizes and get a feel of each of them, to know which one you would prefer to settle with.
The Material Type
The material is one essential aspect of a guitar pick. The material type could be made from anything, in most cases metal or plastic. Most commercially sold guitar picks are made from plastics and they are widely recommended by professional players as well. Some materials used in the manufacturing of picks include:
- Celluloid
- Dupont Delrin
- Xylonite
- Nylon
So which one is the best? It is still a matter of preference!
The Design of the Pick
The most common shape of picks is pear drop: you will notice that no matter where you purchase your pick, the shape often remains the same. The only noticeable difference would be the color, pattern, and design. You can experiment with pick color variations and even match your guitar color as well; after all, the pick is an essential part of the guitar.
Which Is the Best Guitar Pick for Beginners?
If you are just starting out on your musical journey and you need the best guitar picks for beginners then we would recommend all of them. Why? Because each one comes with varieties in sizes and even materials which gives any beginner all the options they need to try their hands out and finally choose the one that they are most comfortable with. In short, keep trying picks until you find the one that feels right!
Conclusion
These are our top choices for guitar picks. The quality of these brands is unmatched and they easily provide you with just about all your strumming needs in a wide variety of shapes, gauges, colors, design, and more.
- How Many Frets On A Guitar? The Ultimate Guide - July 21, 2022
- Drop D Tuning: How to Easily D Tune Your Guitar - July 20, 2022
- Grote Guitar Review - July 19, 2022
Pingback: Best Folk Guitars on a Budget: A Buyers Guide - guitarexclusive.com