Accessories & Guitar Gear
What Is a Guitar Pick?
A guitar pick, also called a plectrum, is a small tool held between the thumb and finger to strike the strings. It can play single notes, repeated notes, arpeggios, riffs and full chords.
The pick becomes the contact point between the hand and string. Its shape, flexibility, surface and the amount of tip exposed all affect attack, tone and control.
Pick Shape and Point
The common rounded-triangle shape provides several usable edges and a familiar grip. A sharper point can release from the string precisely for single-note playing, while a rounder edge may soften the attack. Smaller picks place the fingers close to the strings; larger picks provide more gripping area.
No shape is automatically best. The useful question is whether the pick remains secure and produces the response required by the music.
Thickness and Flexibility
A flexible pick bends as it passes through the strings and can feel forgiving for broad strumming. A thicker pick changes less under pressure, which can improve control for flatpicking, lead lines and precise articulation. Very rigid picks also reveal excess gripping force because they do not absorb the movement.
Pick thickness interacts with string gauge, playing angle and hand pressure. Compare picks by playing the same phrase at the same volume rather than judging them only by feel.
How to Hold a Pick
Rest the pick against the side of the index finger and place the thumb across it. Expose only enough tip to clear the string. A large exposed tip can catch between strings; almost no exposed tip may cause the fingers to scrape the strings.
Hold the pick securely but not rigidly. The thumb and finger guide it while the wrist and forearm supply the larger motion. A slight angle can reduce resistance, but too much angle may create scraping noise.
Picking Methods
- Alternate picking alternates downstrokes and upstrokes.
- Economy picking may continue in the direction of travel when changing strings.
- Sweep picking uses a connected motion across adjacent strings.
- Tremolo picking repeats one note rapidly.
- Strumming uses the pick across several strings as a rhythmic unit.
Pick Comparison Exercise
- Choose three picks with noticeably different flexibility or shapes.
- Play one open-chord pattern with each pick.
- Play a one-octave scale with each pick.
- Record the examples at the same distance and volume.
- Choose separately for strumming comfort, single-note clarity and grip security.
Why the Guitar Pick Matters
A pick is inexpensive, but it changes the way the string begins to vibrate. It can influence timing, tone, volume and articulation enough to become part of a player’s technique rather than merely an accessory.
Kalymi Tip
Keep only a small, useful amount of the pick beyond the fingers. When too much tip is exposed, the pick tends to catch and the hand often compensates by gripping harder.
Test a new pick with both chords and single-note lines. A pick that feels excellent for strumming may not give the same control for flatpicking, and there is no rule that one pick must serve every job.
When the pick rotates, first reduce excess motion and pressure. A thicker or textured pick may help, but a relaxed, centred grip remains the foundation.
Related Terms
Learn More
- Guitar Learning Path
- 12 Tips for Flatpicking Celtic Guitar
- Guitar Arrangements
- Kalymi Music Library
- DADGAD Celtic Guitar Flatpicking
- Celtic Flatpicking in Open D
Reviewed by
Brent C. Robitaille,
music educator and founder of
Kalymi Music.