Guitar Pick Pickin’—Part 2

The guitarists’ quest for tone is never-ending. But it’s more than just what an instrument is made of, but how it’s played and even what the playing “tools” are made of. How you strike the strings is what makes your sound different from the sound of the next player. Last time, we highlighted fingerstyle picking. This time, we’ll talk about the iconic guitar pick.

Flatpicking and Strumming

For steel-string players, strumming with a flat pick (or as our friends across the pond say, “plectrum”) is the dominant playing method. The rounded triangle guitar pick/plectrum is so iconic that even non-players often recognize it. But there is so much more to the flat pick than just the traditional shape.

Shape

The shape we’re most familiar with, a rounded triangle with one elongated curved point, dominates the guitar pick landscape. It’s known as style 351, developed by the pioneering D’Andrea company, but its one of many shapes produced by the company. And even today, several versions pop up for a variety of playing styles. Jazz picks are similar in shape, but significantly smaller. Pointed shapes add sharpness to the elongated part of the traditional pick. Teardrop and triangle shapes are other variations on the standard, while the shark fin shape steps outside tradition.

Shape affects the player’s strike (depth “into” the strings), speed (smaller can be faster), accuracy (size certainly can matter), and angle (certain shapes work better for angled strikes that add percussive qualities to the strum—from more standard shapes to smaller and larger variations, to the unique sweeping shark fin.

Gauge

Guitar picks are measured in gauge, or thickness. Some companies use millimeters (mm), while others use less specific terms, like “thin,” “medium,” or “heavy.” Thinner picks are brighter with a more percussive sound from the pick itself. As picks get heavier, the tone becomes darker (though generally louder), while the noise of the pick itself is diminished.

Material

Plastic and nylon dominate guitar pick materials today. Historically, the well-known “tortoiseshell” design originated from real turtle shell picks (made from the shells of real animals that oddly weren’t tortoises), but for the good of these endangered species (thankfully), the move was made toward plastics. Dunlop’s Tortex, and other styles derived from “Delrin” manufactured by DuPont, were pioneered to provide a sustainable and humane alternative.

Nylon picks are also very popular, but their brightness yet more vintage tone is a better match for jazz than for rock styles.

In the “exotic” category, picks can be made from stone, wood, metal (like brass), or even leather. These different materials do contribute to very distinct tones that work in sometimes very specific settings. It’s not a match for every instrument or every setting (full stage band vs. solo coffeehouse performance), but it’s great to experiment.

DIY

Fancy custom-order picks are always an option from a variety of vendors (including big-name brands), such as:

• PickWorld
• Clayton
• Zazzle
• InTune Guitar Picks
• Dunlop
• EGOpicks

And there are many more. But if you prefer the DIY approach, an ingenious device is your solution: the Pick Punch. Make a guitar pick out of any suitable material—including gift cards, old credit cards, and even bulk plastic sheets. If you like thick or exotic picks best, this isn’t up to the task, but for the most common types, it’s excellent, and the line has expanded to several popular shapes.

Last Stroke

As you develop your own style and technique as a flatpicking guitarist, you will find that pick selection is very unique and personal. And you may use a variety of pick gauges and materials depending on the song style, band complement, or venue. Or—you may just pick your pick and stick (with it).

But the most important thing is that you make your choice with some knowledge of how picks and playing style impact your tone, so that you have the best match for you—your guitar, how you play, and the music you make. Guitar Pick Pickin’ is part art, part science, and entirely a whole lot of fun!