Best Guitar Picks: Taking You Beyond Chords & Strumming Styles.
It is no surprise that guitars are among the most popular instruments in the world. What many people fail to realize, however, is that guitar picks play an integral role in shaping the sound an instrument produces. Whether you are a newbie strumming your first chords or a seasoned windmiller, having the right guitar pick can make all the difference.
In this article, we’ll be exploring the world of guitar picks, discussing the various styles, shapes, and materials that are available on the market. We’ll then provide you with specific advice on which guitar picks you should be choosing for different types of playing and musical styles. Ready? Let’s get started!
Understanding the Different Types of Guitar Pick
The world of guitar picks is huge, with many styles, shapes, and sizes to choose from. It could be said that the key to creating your own sound starts with the type of pick you’re using, so it pays to know your ‘plectrums’. To get you off to the best start, let’s take a look at the three basic types of picks.
Rubber Picks
Rubber picks are often favored by jazz and funk guitarists, as they have a more mellow, round and fat sound. Much of the tones are due to their material composition, which consists of a rubber exterior. Such picks will produce a warmer and softer tone and they can also generate more sustain and overtones than other picks. My advice to you? Try out a rubber pick when tackling genres such as jazz, funk, and country music!
Foam Core Picks
Foam core picks are perhaps most commonly used for acoustic guitars. They are made from a type of foam and are designed to offer a warm, bright, and mellow tone. Such a pick will naturally add more sustain and better articulation. If you want a greater range of dynamics from your acoustic guitar, then this is the pick for you.
Flexible Picks
Flexible picks are popular among metal, heavy metal, and thumbing styles of playing. They have a greater degree of flexibility, due to their material composition, which consists of a semi-flexible and plastic material. Flexible picks have a greater surface area than most picks, and are designed to offer added grip. They produce a bright and articulate tone with lots of treble and a short attack.
The Shape and Size of a Guitar Pick Matters
Like the type of pick you choose, the shape and size of the pick has a big impact on the sounds you will create. Here, we will take a look at the two most common shapes and sizes of pick: narrow, and jumbo.
Narrow Picks
Narrow picks are the most popular size of guitar picks on the market. Generally, they measure around 2-3mm, and are accessible in widths of up to 7mm. Such picks are ideal for those of us who want clarity, precision, and accuracy while strumming and picking. Narrow picks are great for electric, acoustic, and bass guitar playing.
Jumbo Picks
Jumbo picks are larger in size than their narrow counterparts. Generally, they measure around 4-5mm in width and are most popular among jazz and strumming guitarists. The increased size of these picks gives you extra grip, allowing you to pick or strum with greater dynamics and control. Jazz players find jumbo picks particularly helpful, as they build on the already-warm tone that their genres of music are famed for.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Guitar Picks
When shopping around for guitar picks, it is important to understand the factors that will accommodate your style of playing. So, let’s go through each of the considerations that you should make before making a purchase.
Material
The material of your guitar pick should play a role in the tone you produce. As such, it is important that you match the material of your picks to the type of music you’ll be playing. If you’re into rock and heavy metal, then it may be worth looking into more flexible picks, with their bright and articulate tones. For jazz, blues, and funk genres, then you’ll want to seek out picks constructed from rubber, which is capable of producing a warmer and richer tone.
Shape
Different shapes provide different levels of precision, control, and accuracy. Here, we suggest choosing a pick shape that suits the style of music you’re going for. Generally, narrow and small picks are the best for producing notes with a greater degree of accuracy. Jumbo picks and teardrop shapes are best used for the likes of jazz and strumming, where aesthetics and tone are the most important factors.
Size
The size of the pick you choose will, again, impact the tone you produce. Generally, thinner picks of 0.4mm or less produce bright and articulate sounds, similar in nature to a flexible pick. Thinner picks are, again, better for precision and control. Thicker picks of around 0.8mm can produce articulate sounds, but with extra warmth and sustain due to the bigger material size.
Grip
Grip is an important factor to consider when buying guitar picks, as the last thing you want is your pick slipping out of your hand during a solo. Luckily, many guitar pick manufacturers nowadays offer great grips due to their textured surfaces. Such textured surfaces provide extra grip and control, allowing you to play with greater accuracy and speed.
Conclusion
We hope that this article has provided you with a comprehensive overview of the world of guitar picks. Remember, the type of pick you use, its shape, size, and material make up a large part of the tone you produce, so make sure to pay attention when buying your next pack. Good luck and happy picking!