Which thickness guitar pick

Therefore, the first thing we did was to create a big online survey on our Instagram guitar community. The survey we created was online for 24 hours on an Instagram story and the participants were asked to answer two simple questions. This question was the first one, and its aim was to see if guitar players prefer thick or thin guitar picks.

Here are the results:. It seems that over two thirds of the guitar players prefer guitar picks considered as thick. Honestly, I thought there would be a relation and this surprised me a lot. The results showed that on average, a pick must be at least about 1.

We did not find any study or survey with more participants than ours. Of course, we have to consider that we do not have any way to track more specific characteristics of the participants like skill level, music preferences, guitar type, age, and so on.

Additional research on this topic showed that during the past decades, the average thickness of the guitar picks has increased substantially. Thin guitar picks are even considered as vintage by many players due to the tone they produce. This is no surprise, given that most modern guitar techniques and effects that require thick picks like shredding were non-existent during the s and s. A minimal change in the thickness of a guitar pick of only 0. Let's pretend there are no medium guitar picks and create a clear line that divides both thickness ranges, to make the differences between thick picks and thin picks more appreciable.

The common rounded edges that can be manufactured with thicknesses over 1 mm — combined with their rigidity — increase the bass tones and the volume these guitar picks can provide, while reducing the pick noise the pick produces. These picks provide more control over single notes and are usually the best option for lead guitarists.

Most advanced guitarists prefer thick picks, because in their guitar journey they develop new guitar techniques that can be performed better using this kind of picks. Thick plectrums provide more control when it comes to single notes and complex guitar pick techniques like pinch harmonics. One of the biggest advantages of using heavy picks is the durability they provide. Thin picks are the best option for guitarists looking for brighter tones, especially using acoustic guitars and some strumming techniques on electric guitar.

The flexibility of these picks limits the maximum volume that can be achieved. This can be an advantage because it works like an analog limiter. This is especially helpful in a studio session, where the maximum volume achieved must be controlled. Most beginner guitar players start using thin picks because their guitar skill set at the beginning includes guitar techniques like strumming.

When most people think of a guitar pick, this is what they picture. Some players like Gene Simmons and Jimmy Page swear by nylon picks. These have a bright sound and tend to be pretty flexible. Your Stringjoy , Tortex Standard, and Delrin picks are made out of this highly durable plastic. Companies started making picks out of these materials once it became illegal to make tortoiseshell picks in These are going to be stiffer than the nylon picks, but less stiff than Ultem picks.

Picks made of this, like the Dunlop Ultex picks, are super stiff no matter the thickness and they produce a bright tone. While guitarists use these, they have become very popular among mandolin players. These have been around since the 80s and are tough, light, and can be molded to almost any thickness. The thickness of your pick will play the biggest part in how bright or how warm your guitar sounds.

As with everything, the different options for guitar pick thickness from thin, medium, and heavy each has its own pros and cons. Your thin guitar picks are usually going to range anywhere from. These will have a lighter sound, naturally, and work best for delicate playing. They are great for acoustic guitar strumming and other times where you want that bright and defined rhythm tone that you hear in so many rock and country albums.

You also tend to have a loss of control due to the extreme flexibility of thin picks. Medium Picks are going to range in thickness from. Medium thickness picks are the most popular choice among guitarists. While they may not provide that same shimmer on acoustic strumming that thin picks do, medium picks still have enough flexibility for good rhythm playing while still retaining the stiffness needed for those leads.

They have a nice high-end and mid-range to them without having the boominess of thicker picks. Picks that are. These are going to provide you with the most control when it comes to your playing. Thick picks are often used by guitarists in heavy or aggressive music styles. The stiff pick gives you a solid attack on the strings and that comes across in your tone.

Many lead guitarists who play fast alternate picking use thick picks such as the Dunlop Jazz III a thickness of 1. Check out this Jazz III variety pack here. These picks are color-coded based on thickness. This gives you an easy way to compare different thicknesses while keeping the material the same.

Grab a Tortex variety pack here or simply buy one or two of each thickness. The reason I recommend buying a Tortex pack is that the shape and material remain the same across the different pick thicknesses. This lets you only compare thickness without bringing other factors into the mix. Once you decide what type of thickness you prefer, you can look at how different pick shapes or materials feel at the thickness you prefer.

The shape of your guitar pick plays a big part in your comfort when playing. Pick shape is a very personal thing and guitarists tend to stick to a certain shape. If you have never experimented with different pick shapes before, you need to.

You will hate most of the pick shapes you try, but you might find one shape that blows your mind and completely changes the way you play. Each type of shape suits a different type of guitarist. Take a look at the below picks and think about what style of playing each one suits:. Bigger picks are often preferred by guitarists who play with a looser feel.

The large picks are easier to hold on to and strum chords without worrying about accuracy or pick dexterity. Smaller picks feel like they give you more precision over your picking.

This is the part that makes contact with the strings, so its shape matters. Generally speaking, rounder tips produce a softer attack and give you less dexterity in your playing. They suit guitarists who play looser styles of music and work really well when strumming. The big and round shape of the above pick would be great for an acoustic guitarist wanting to strum chords while singing.

Sharper tips produce a stronger attack and give you more accuracy and dexterity in your playing. Guitarists playing fast alternate picking or complicated solos often prefer a sharper point. The sharp point gives him plenty of dexterity for his fast alternating picking, string skipping, and arpeggios. Imagine John Petrucci trying to play his solos with the large and round pick, while an acoustic guitarist trying to strumming chords with the thick and tiny Jazz III.

In other words, the shape of your pick matters. So find the right shape for your playing style. This Dunlop variety pack gives you an easy way to compare different pick shapes and sizes. Every guitarist has dropped a pick while playing at some point.

If you play acoustic guitar, you know this feeling all too well. If you find that you drop your pick regularly, you might want to look at getting a textured pick. Many picks have a smooth and polished shine to them such as celluloid picks. The long story short is that the thicker the pick, the less movement required to pick a note.

Start making music. As tapered guitar picks are a specialty of Mr. We couple this with the attack and wear resistance of a stiffer material, and bevel it for smoothness for a comfortable and smooth guitar pick.

Guitar picks can be made from a variety of different materials, all with their own characteristics and sounds to offer your strings. Obviously, the guitar pick thickness for picks made of these more dense materials will be significantly heavier, even for the thinnest of picks. Experimentation is extremely important! Many guitar shops will let you try out different picks in store, and some will even let you put together a mixed bag of picks to purchase and take home.

We recommend starting out with a 1mm tipped pick or a 1mm pick overall to hear the clarity that it brings. From there, either move up to a larger guitar pick thickness, or scale back to something thinner. Pro Tip: The size of your pick matters too! Variety is the spice of life, and you will never find yourself in a situation where one style of guitar pick will last you the rest of your days as a guitarist.

Do yourself a favour and get a guitar pick container, then fill it with a variety of different picks.