Best Guitar Picks for Beginners: A Comprehensive Guide

Guitar picks are small but essential tools that can greatly affect the sound and playability of your guitar. They come in various shapes, sizes, and materials, making it challenging for beginners to choose the right one. In this article, we'll guide you through the different types and thicknesses of guitar picks, as well as their shapes and effects on sound. We'll also recommend the best guitar picks for beginners based on material, thickness, shape, and budget.

Types of Guitar Picks

Guitar picks can be made of various materials, including plastic, nylon, celluloid, metal, and wood. Each material has its pros and cons, and choosing the right one depends on your personal preferences and playing style.

Plastic picks: These are the most common and affordable picks. They are lightweight, versatile, and come in various colors and thicknesses. However, they may wear out quickly and produce a bright and thin sound.
Nylon picks: These picks are similar to plastic picks but are more durable and produce a warmer sound. They are also more flexible, allowing for more dynamic playing.
Celluloid picks: These picks have been around since the 1920s and were the preferred choice of many legendary guitarists. They are lightweight, produce a warm and natural sound, and come in various thicknesses and designs. However, they are flammable and not as durable as plastic or nylon picks.
Metal picks: These picks are durable, produce a bright and metallic sound, and are suitable for heavy playing styles. However, they are heavy and may wear out your strings and frets faster.
Wood picks: These picks are eco-friendly, produce a warm and natural sound, and are suitable for acoustic guitars. However, they may break easily and require more maintenance.

Thickness of Guitar Picks

The thickness of guitar picks is measured in millimeters and can greatly affect your playing style and sound. Thicker picks produce a fuller and more powerful sound, while thinner picks produce a brighter and more delicate sound. Choosing the right thickness depends on your playing style, genre, and guitar.

Thin picks (0.38mm - 0.60mm): These picks are suitable for strumming and playing fast and light melodies. They are easy to control and produce a bright and jangly sound.
Medium picks (0.70mm - 0.85mm): These picks are suitable for most playing styles and genres. They are versatile, produce a balanced sound, and are easy to handle.
Thick picks (0.88mm - 1.50mm): These picks are suitable for heavy playing styles and producing a full and powerful sound. They require more control and technique but can greatly enhance your playing.

Shape of Guitar Picks

Guitar picks come in various shapes, including standard, teardrop, jazz, and triangle. Each shape has its effects on sound and playability, and choosing the right one depends on your personal preferences and playing style.

Standard picks: These picks have a rounded triangle shape and are the most common and versatile picks. They are suitable for most playing styles and produce a balanced sound.
Teardrop picks: These picks have a rounded and pointed shape and are suitable for strumming and producing a warmer sound. They are also more comfortable to hold and control.
Jazz picks: These picks have a smaller and pointed shape and are suitable for jazz and blues playing styles. They produce a brighter and more articulate sound and require more precision and speed.
Triangle picks: These picks have a triangular shape and are suitable for classical and fingerstyle playing styles. They produce a warm and natural sound and require more finesse and control.

Best Overall Guitar Picks for Beginners

After considering the different types, thicknesses, and shapes of guitar picks, we recommend the following picks for beginners:

D'Addario Assorted Pearl Celluloid Guitar Picks: These picks are affordable, durable, and produce a warm and natural sound. They come in various thicknesses and designs, making them suitable for most playing styles and genres.
Fender Premium Picks Sampler: These picks are made of celluloid, produce a bright and classic sound, and come in various thicknesses and shapes. They are also affordable and can help you find your preferred pick style.
Ernie Ball Prodigy Picks: These picks are made of Delrin, a durable and flexible material, and come in various thicknesses and shapes. They produce a balanced and versatile sound and are suitable for most playing styles.

Best Budget Guitar Picks for Beginners

If you're on a tight budget, we recommend the following picks:

Fender 351 Premium Guitar Picks: These picks are inexpensive, durable, and produce a classic and versatile sound. They come in various colors and thicknesses and are suitable for most playing styles.
Dunlop Tortex Standard Picks: These picks are made of Tortex, a durable and grippy material, and come in various thicknesses and colors. They produce a bright and punchy sound and are suitable for heavy playing styles.
Jim Dunlop Nylon Picks: These picks are affordable, durable, and produce a warm and natural sound. They come in various thicknesses and shapes and are suitable for strumming and fingerpicking.

Best Premium Guitar Picks for Beginners

If you're willing to spend more on high-quality picks, we recommend the following:

Dunlop Primetone Sculpted Plectra Picks: These picks are made of Ultex, a durable and responsive material, and come in various shapes and thicknesses. They produce a balanced and articulate sound and are suitable for most playing styles.
ChickenPicks Badazz III Picks: These picks are made of thermosetting plastic, a durable and grippy material, and come in various thicknesses and shapes. They produce a powerful and dynamic sound and are suitable for heavy playing styles.
V-Picks Dimension Picks: These picks are handmade of acrylic, a durable and clear material, and come in various shapes and thicknesses. They produce a bright and glassy sound and are suitable for most playing styles.

Best Guitar Picks for Strumming

If you prefer strumming, we recommend the following picks:

D'Addario Assorted Pearl Celluloid Guitar Picks: These picks are lightweight, flexible, and produce a warm and natural sound. They come in various thicknesses and designs, making them suitable for most strumming styles and genres.
Fender Premium Picks Sampler: These picks are made of celluloid, produce a bright and classic sound, and come in various thicknesses and shapes. They are also comfortable to hold and control, making them suitable for strumming.
Ernie Ball Prodigy Picks: These picks are made of Delrin, a durable and flexible material, and come in various thicknesses and shapes. They produce a balanced and versatile sound and are suitable for most strumming styles.

Best Guitar Picks for Picking

If you prefer picking, we recommend the following picks:

Dunlop Ultex Sharp Picks: These picks are made of Ultex, a durable and responsive material, and have a sharp and pointed shape. They produce a bright and precise sound and are suitable for fast and intricate picking styles.
Gravity Picks Classic Picks: These picks are handmade of acrylic, a durable and clear material, and come in various thicknesses and shapes. They produce a warm and smooth sound and are suitable for most picking styles.
ChickenPicks Badazz III Picks: These picks are made of thermosetting plastic, a durable and grippy material, and come in various thicknesses and shapes. They produce a powerful and dynamic sound and are suitable for heavy and aggressive picking styles.

Conclusion

Choosing the right guitar pick can greatly enhance your playing and sound. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced guitarist, it's important to consider the different types, thicknesses, and shapes of guitar picks, as well as your personal preferences and playing style. We recommend trying out different picks to find your preferred one and experimenting with different materials, thicknesses, and shapes to enhance your playing. We hope this guide has helped you find the best guitar picks for beginners and wish you happy playing!

Best guitar picks for beginners