Guitarists tend to be creatures of habit when it comes to their guitar picks. Once they find one it's quite rare for them to move to something different, and if you've found yourself in that position, you might well be missing a trick. Changing to one of the best guitar picks can open up a whole new world of playing, affecting your playing technique and the very core of the way you interact with your guitar.
I've been playing for over twenty years now, and I've had first-hand experience with every single pick in this guide. I can conclusively say that there is no best guitar pick overall, only the best guitar pick for your particular needs. In particular, the thickness and shape of the guitar pick have a drastic effect on your playing, so I'd always recommend trying out a few different choices because you may well surprise yourself with what you end up gelling with.
Whether you're an absolute beginner, or you just want to try something different, you should start with the Dunlop Tortex Standard Pick Variety Pack. It features a wide variety of pick thicknesses that will help you find the right gauge for your particular playing style. We've also got a how-to-choose section further down the page that deep dives into the differences between pick thicknesses, materials, and shapes if you want to learn more before purchasing.
Product guide
Material: Delrin
Thickness: .50mm, .60mm, .73mm, .88mm, 1mm, 1.14mm
Features: Powdered finish, made in USA, color-coded gauge system
+ Great for starting
+ A true classic
- Doesn't excel in any one genre
The first pick I used was a Dunlop .73mm because my guitar hero, Matt Bellamy of Muse, used one. As a beginner guitar player, you're still finding out what exactly it is you want from a pick, which is why I'd recommend every beginner purchase the Dunlop Tortex Standard variety pack.
It gives you two of .50mm, .60mm, .73mm, .88mm, 1.0mm, and 1.14mm sizes, which cover a lot of pick thicknesses in one pack. It means you can settle on your desired pick, and the color coding system makes them easy to recognize once you learn the different thicknesses.
Material: Nylon
Thickness: .60mm, .73mm, .88mm, 1mm, 1.14mm, 1.5mm
Features: Made in USA, coarse grip
+ Excellent grip
+ Variety of thickness
- Some won't like grip feel
For electric guitar players, I've gone for the Dunlop Nylon Max Grip. It's not all that different from the Dunlop Standard, but that extra grip makes it great for guitarists who've advanced towards performing or rehearsing with bandmates.
It provides an outstanding grip with a specially engineered, coarse grid that ensures the likelihood of you dropping your pick shrinks significantly. My favorite is the .88mm, but there's a good selection of thicknesses available too, whether you prefer something with give or like a thick pick.
Material: Celluloid
Thickness: Thin, medium, heavy, extra heavy
Features: Made in USA, traditional Fender 351 shape
+ Warm tone
+ Good grip and feel
- Not as durable
The Fender 351 Shape Celluloid Classic is a guitar pick that's been around for a long time, and it's my pick of choice for acoustic guitars. The celluloid material delivers a great mix of rigidity and flex, making it great for pairing with the high tension of a steel string acoustic.
There's a huge array of color options available and Fender keeps it simple with thin, medium, heavy, and extra-heavy options. I personally prefer a medium pick, but there's also a variety pack available if you want to try all the options first.
Material: Delrin
Thickness: 0.48mm, 0.60mm, 0.74mm, 0.88m, 1.0mm, 1.14mm, 1.5mm, 2.0mm
Features: Non-slip surface, rounded point, durable material, ‘Slinky’ color system
+ Super durable material
+ Excellent range of gauges
+ Versatile shape
- Too long for some
I switched to a baritone a couple of years ago for my heavy riffing endeavors and in doing so found my current pick just couldn't handle the thicker strings and lower tunings. Enter the Ernie Ball Everlast, which is perfect for those who want to chug.
The 1.14mm is my favorite, but there's a huge selection available. I really love that the pick shape is quite long, making it easier to play across the strings of extended-range guitars. I do appreciate this length might not suit all players when it comes to ultra-fast playing.
Material: Nylon
Thickness: 1.38mm
Features: Embossed logo for grip, medium-sharp jazz tip
+ Great for fast playing
+ Durable material
- Too sharp for some
A friend of mine - who's also a John Petrucci superfan - introduced me to the Dunlop John Petrucci Jazz III, which in my opinion is ideal for players who want to shred. It's a little longer than the regular Jazz III which makes it a bit more versatile, although still slinky enough for arpeggios and string skipping licks.
I find the regular Jazz III a little too short for me, and I end up rubbing my 3rd knuckles on the strings when I play. With the slightly elongated length here you can avoid that, whilst still retaining plenty of fast-playing feel.
Material: Lexan
Thickness: 2mm, 3mm
Features: Embossed logo for grip, rounded tip
+ Great for bass
+ Durable material
- Too thick for some
Generally, if you're playing bass guitar you'll want a thicker pick (unless you're Fat Mike of NOFX) so I've gone for the Dunlop Big Stubby as the top pick for bass players. I first encountered this pick in a college rehearsal room where a bassist I was jamming with was using one.
I found them horrible on guitar, but once I switched to using one on bass I never looked back. It really lets you dig into the thicker bass strings when you need it, but the rounded tip makes alternate picking nice and smooth.
How to choose guitar picks
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Choosing a guitar pick that suits your playing style is every bit as personal as the guitar you play, the pedals on your 'board, and the amp that your tone comes out of, so it's not a decision to be taken lightly. A different pick can completely change the way you approach your playing, and as you develop as a player you'll find your taste changes over the years too.
I've been playing for over twenty years and I've tried (and lost) more picks than I care to remember. Below you'll find some advice from me on how to go about choosing your guitar pick, as well as some important info on the materials and thicknesses available.
Test them out
If you're new to the guitar, or you just fancy trying something different, then do yourself a favor and buy a variety pack. Most pick manufacturers offer one, and it's a great low-cost way to group-test a bunch of picks to decide which you like best.
You may well find you prefer one for electric and one for acoustic, or one for strumming chords works best while another is better for playing lead guitar. It's only through doing your own testing you'll be able to come across the ideal pick for your particular playing style.
Guitar pick thickness
Thickness plays a big part in how a pick feels, more so than any other component in my opinion. For my playing style, thin picks just don't work for me, but I've come across many guitar players who can't deal with a thick pick either.
The thickness changes the way the pick flexes when you alternate pick, as well as how much resistance you get when you strum across the strings. Pick thicknesses can go from flappy at 0.38mm right through to completely solid in the 3mm range, so it's important to try a wide variety to find what works for you.
Guitar pick material
For me, the material does have an impact on the sound you get, but it's very small. You'll probably notice it a lot more on an acoustic guitar versus an electric which goes through lots of tonal changes before it hits your amplifier.
There's also a small difference in the feel, particularly in the way the pick hits the strings. There's not necessarily a material that's better or worse than another, they're just different in the way they react.
Guitar pick shape
For me, the shape of a pick has a similar impact to its thickness. Generally picks come in a teardrop-style shape, but there are also triangle-shaped picks that offer a very different feel, as well as the Dunlop 'Fin' picks with their wildly different shape.
There are also varying point shapes, with some offering a more rounded tip whereas others have a sharper one. Finally, the length of the pick itself can have a massive effect on how it feels in your hand.
Some players prefer a short pick with a sharper edge that minimizes the contact between the pick and string, thus giving them a faster playing feel. Others prefer a pick with an elongated shape and a more rounded tip that makes it easier to strum and arpeggiate chords.
Again, there's no right or wrong answer here, and there are plenty of players who can play fast with a longer pick or strum chords with a shorter one. The important thing to remember when you're choosing one for yourself is that it's all about the pick that allows you to express yourself comfortably, and accurately.
FAQs
Do guitar picks matter?
Yes they absolutely do. A guitar pick can drastically change the way you approach your guitar playing, and are as personal as any other bit of gear you'll use.
Are thicker guitar picks better?
The thickness of your pick determines how it will react in your hand, and also plays a part in how your instrument will sound too. Generally speaking, a thinner pick will have a brighter sound with a less precise attack, making them great for strummed chords on your acoustic guitar and less so for fast picking.
Thicker picks tend to be better for players wanting to build up speed, with their stiffness meaning less work for your picking hand when playing licks or riffs. This stiffness can make them feel cumbersome when strumming chords, as you’ll really feel each of your guitar strings when you strum. Tonally they offer a fuller, warmer tone thanks to the density of the material, and often come with beveled edges to minimize pick-to-string contact.
Your perfect match will be something that doesn’t make your picking hand work too hard, forcing you to grip your pick tighter. Ideally, you’ll want your picking hand to be as relaxed as possible, giving you a better picking technique and preventing you from tiring out too soon. Whether this is a thicker or thinner pick is all in your personal playing style.
Can you use guitar picks for bass?
Yes you can. There's no real specific bass guitar picks out there, so you can use whatever feels comfortable to you. Some people prefer a thicker pick for bass, but there are plenty of players who use thinner picks when playing the bass guitar.
What is the best material for guitar picks?
Picks have been made from all sorts of materials in the past, including bone, steel, tortoiseshell, wood, and abalone shell. You can also get steel picks but the majority nowadays are made from synthetics like celluloid, acrylic, Delrin, Ultex, or nylon.
The material certainly affects the way the pick feels in your hand, and has a small impact on the sound, but we wouldn’t fret too much about the tonal impact of the material itself.
Do guitar picks break?
We’ve yet to come across a guitar pick that hasn’t worn out eventually, and it's definitely possible to break them, although this is pretty rare. The picks I've broken in the past tend to be those cheaper, personalized ones you get off Amazon.
You put your picks through some pretty tough conditions when strumming hard or chugging riffs, and the repetitive contact of any material on steel strings eventually wears through, no matter how tough it claims to be.
Modern materials tend to be a lot more durable, with Delrin, Ultex, and Nylon offering an excellent lifespan, even if you’re gigging every night. Celluloid on the other hand does its utmost to imitate tortoiseshell, so will wear out relatively quickly, and quicker still if you play an aggressive style of music.
Should beginners use guitar picks?
Yes you should. Beginners should learn how to use a pick, and how to play fingerstyle if they want to get the most out of their instrument. There's absolutely no harm in starting with a guitar pick if you want to go easier on your fingers when you're fast starting.
- Pick vs fingers: We explore the benefits of both approaches
How we test
The team here at Guitar World consists of players with decades of playing experience, so if there's a pick you've heard about, chances are one of us has tried them. We use this real work experience to inform the picks we choose for our guides, and I've personally used every single pick mentioned here at one point or another over the years.
As guitar picks are so personal, you can't really say that one pick is the best overall, so we opted to sort this guide via use case to aid guitarists in choosing the right pick for them. To make the cut, our chosen picks must put up with repeated use without wearing down too quickly, and be grippy enough to stay in the hand during practice, rehearsal, and at live shows.
We'll also use the picks with a variety of playing styles to determine what they're best for, whether that's sweep picking, strumming on an acoustic, or alternate picking on a bass guitar. Putting them through rigorous testing ensures that they'll suit a variety of different players, so you can rely on our recommendations.
Read more about our rating system, how we choose the gear we feature, and exactly how we test each product.
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