How To Choose A Guitar Pick - Plectrums Explained!

Choosing a guitar pick can be a little confusing, especially if you're just starting out playing the guitar. In this beginner's guide, Sam explains the differences between the most common types of guitar picks, so hopefully we can help find the right one for you!

00:00 What is a guitar pick/plectrum?
01:18 What materials can picks be made from?
02:05 Tone demo - Felt vs plastic vs metal pick
02:43 Pick coatings & grips
03:25 Thumb & fingerpicks explained
04:20 Different plectrum sizes & shapes
05:26 What is a Shark Fin pick?
07:03 Guitar pick thicknesses & gauges
07:45 Tone demo - Thin vs thick pick
08:38 What plectrums do Sam, Dagan & Meg use?
09:31 How to hold a guitar pick
10:42 Where to try & buy guitar picks/plectrums

For the demos in this video, Sam is playing a Taylor GS-Mini E Koa acoustic, recorded using a Lewitt LCT-440 Pure Condenser Microphone...

There are literally thousands of different types of guitar pick out there to choose from, and plectrums come in all different shapes and sizes, so if you are a beginner, picking the right one for you can be a little tricky. With that in mind, we've made this plectrum buying guide to explain the differences between them all, offering advice on which would be most suitable for your particular playing style or the type of music you want to play.

We look at the materials that a pick can be made from and how this affects the tone, we compare their shapes and thicknesses and finally give you a few tips on how to hold a plectrum.

Hopefully you'll find this guide helpful, you can try out any of the guitar picks you've seen here at your nearest Professional Music Technology store.

#guitarpicks #beginnersguide #howtochooseaplectrum
__________________________________________________________

Subscribe to PMTVUK:

Find us on social media:

[quango]

Another fun fact about Tortex (and other Dunlop picks): the order of thickness (ascending) is the order colours of the rainbow. Makes 'em easy to recognise easily when theres a few scattered about

[austinknowlton]

I started playing over 35 years ago, and I tried a LOT of different picks. My biggest issue was keeping a grip on them, not only avoiding dropping them but also keeping them from sliding around in my fingers to a position where I couldn't play effectively. A couple years ago I started playing mandolin as well, and discovered that I really like the larger pointed mandolin picks, like the ones available from Golden Gate. A lot more surface to grip onto. Now I use them for everything.

[Keithphotorama]

Excellent video, straight to the point, and very informative. Thank you.

[mickavoidant]

There is also Dava Control picks. They hinge in the middle to give a bendy or stiff pick with where you hold it.

[althor]

I started learning guitar almost a year a go. I got a telecaster, and I've only recently noticed that I got 2mm picks. I went down to a .58 and wow, what a completely different world. I've recently started learning some creed songs, and I couldn't figure out how to get that g string to ring more clearly than the other strings, but after switching to that lighter Guage, it all clicked

[Iron_Sights]

Very glad to have found this
Awhile ago I was gifted a guitar and it has always been a goal of mine to learn it.
Learned yesterday you needed a guitar pick to properly play, but living rural gives very few options.
So today I found an old bolt washer about 2" in diameter and grinded it down to the general shape I need Drilled a small hole at the top for keychain purposes, sandblasted and sanded it to smooth it out, and scored the top area for extra grip. Its fairly thick, but I think it will do the trick to get started.

[Patrickjohnphotography]

Thank you for helping with the language used to explain what results The different picks give you. Easier to find what you like if you know how to explain your goal.

[Cinestudi]

Tortex 1.14 jazz III pitch black baby!

[waynewescott]

For different guitars, strings, and styles it is good to have at least a couple different gauges of your favorite pick brand/type. After many years of playing I've settled on Tortex yellow .73mm for acoustic and Tortex green .88mm for electric. Everyone is a little different, but these allow a lot of versatility for both strumming and leads without locking into anything that leans too far in one direction. It's extremely important to learn to make adjustments to your grip as you transition between strumming and precision picking.

[ThatBaritoneGuitarGuy]

The shark fins were my very first plectrums, and are nearly all I have ever used. Granted, I have experimented with Dragon's Heart plectrums, which I very much enjoyed. But, I always come back to the shark fins. After more than 20 years of playing, shark fins are home. That is where I started, and probably where I will end.

[waifubreaks]

Tortex Jazz IIIs in 1.14 mm work for me the best. I don't have the biggest hands so they fit me great.

[censored]

Great video. I'm almost astonished that someone managed to make a video about guitar picks without arrogantly and yet idiotically claiming which one was "best".

[yashdamree]

I'm new to guitar.. I bought lots of picks. Currently digging a .96 Fender pick..

[D.O.]

You forgot to mention the
Pick of Destiny!

[gtgodbear]

I only know one tune on a guitar and I carry two guitar picks in my wallet. They came in handy a few times for other people. A Duniop .88mm and a Fender.

[croay]

idk, I started out recently with electric guitars and tested many gauges and my fav so far is the 2.0!

[PendelSteven]

Very simple actually: I've got the same pickup as you do. Tortex, .73 mm. But on holding the pick: I use three fingers to hold it like you would hold anything with three fingers or well: the thumb and the two other fingers acting as one big one, you get what I mean.

[nicholascrow]

My preference: grey "grippy" textured Jim Dunlap (flexible guage) for acoustic, slick fender medium gauge for electric (any brad really, just bought a bunch when I got my strat), and thumb picks when I feel like hurting my brain trying to learn Tommy Emanuel songs...
Fingerstyle for most of what I play (mayer acoustic songs, think stop this train)
Used to do the whole grow/shape my nails, but working as a chef makes this not very practical when not playing...
What does everyone else use? Let's need out a bit on plectrums

[edward]

You'll always be my favourite Sam <3

[philhitchings]

Those Shark fin picks look interesting.