As a beginner, holding that little piece of plastic known as a pick (or plectrum) in your hand and strumming/plucking the strings will usually feel super awkward for a little bit, to say the least!(BUT PLEASE GO FORTH AND CONQUER!!) However there are a few things to look out for when choosing a pick that can make holding it a little more comfy, which can make a BIG difference to your playing:
[Disclaimer: There are some genres that require specialty pick style/shape/thickness. The shortlist belowis based on the picks that myself and my hundreds of students – possibly thousands now- who are into the rock/pop/folk/electric styles of music, have found most comfy! Ultimately you’ll have to find your own fave, but these are a great place to start]
GRIP: Using a pick with some texture or a matt finish can help stop the pick from spinning around in your fingers, a
common frustration of the beginner guitarist.
FLEXIBILITY: Using a pick with a bit of flexibility means less resistance against the strings when strumming, which helps it
glide over the string more easily, making for a more uniform strumming sound. Said another way, playing with a pick that is
on the thinner side, is going to be more forgiving. However, as you get more experience and develop your strumming
technique, you will be able to use a pick of any thickness to get a uniform strumming sound! NOTE: If you’re playing on an
electric guitar, you won’t necessarily need this flexibility in a pick, because there is a bit of ‘give’ in the strings themselves.
I.e. There is less tension in electric guitar strings. 36% Apparently (!)
Best Acoustic Guitar Picks For Beginners:
My Top…”Picks” (See what I did there 😛 )
Dunlop Nylon Standard Guitar Pick – 0.60mm (Light Grey)
You can’t see it in the photo, but this has textured grip.
Dunlop Standard Tortex Guitar Pick – 0.50mm (Red)
*This one doesn’t have obvious texture, but a matt finish helps with grip
Best Electric Guitar Pick For Beginners:
Dunlop Standard TortexGuitar Pick – 0.6mm0 (Orange)
*This one doesn’t have obvious texture, but a matt finish helps with grip
Best Late-Night-Must-Be-Quiet or Self-Conscious-Strumming Guitar Pick:
Dunlop Nylon Standard Guitar Pick – 0.46mm (Cream)
It’s thin and SUPER flexible, and therefore super quiet. I have never performed using this pick as it’s too quiet for me
