One thing I have found to be a major problem with many players is they are not very comfortable at using a pick, or have totally inadequate picks. That seems incredible when you think that modern guitar players use one to play most of the time. The pick is part of the instrument, just like a bow is to a violin, or sticks are to a drummer. If you are going to give the pick only scant attention, then the results you produce are not going to be of very high quality.

I have found that many beginners tend not to carry picks in their guitar case and always have to ask someone for one. If that is you, then you are putting yourself at a serious disadvantage because playing different picks all the time can feel strange and be very off-putting whenever you are playing. Professionals carry a pick in their pockets at all times because you never know when a playing opportunity might arise.

There are many different types of picks and everyone tends to have their favourite shape, colour, thickness, and so on. The best way to find out what pick you prefer is to try them all out. Picks are an inexpensive part of our equipment so get down to your local music store and buy one of each to see what works best for you.

Some people like to make their own picks from plastic bottles, while others like Brian May of Queen go to extremes and use a five-cent coin. I don’t recommend plastic bottles and coins, but most professional players I know tend to use a variety of commercially available shapes and almost always gravitate towards heavy picks. Heavy picks are 1mm in thickness or more. Many beginners tend to prefer light picks which are very flexible, but they tend to give a very thin flimsy type sound and because of their flexibility don’t activate the string immediately when struck, making you play slightly behind the beat.

Click here to see a diagram of a pick.

Some General Tips

If you find that the pick tends to slide about in your hands when you begin to perspire, there are a couple of good ways to fix that problem. One is to cut some little grooves into each side of the middle of the pick by using a pocket-knife or other sharp utensil. The Small grooves or channels give the flesh of your hands something to grip. Another way is to drill a hole, or even two or three holes in the middle of the pick. These holes will give you a much firmer grip if the pick tends to move about excessively.

You should always carry a pick in your pocket so if an opportunity arises to play at least you have your favourite pick with you.

If you are playing on dark stages then brightly coloured picks are good choices as it makes them easier to find if you drop or lose one.

Always have spare picks nearby just in case you do drop one in the middle of a song. Yes, it does happen to the best of players occasionally.

You should buy them in lots of 10, 20, or 30 as you tend to lose them well before you wear them out.


Here are some beginners’ tips on using a pick in your playing.

Many beginners don’t like using picks for a number of reasons and some of those are, they see friends strumming with their thumb, the guitar sounds too loud, it feels clumsy, and so on. Learning to use a pick is like learning to play, it takes time and you should be patient with your progress. It is not difficult and doesn’t take too long to acquire good beginner pick technique.

Many players hold their pick so that about 75% of it is sticking out from their fingers. You should hold it so that only about 10% protrudes from your fingers. This helps eliminate the “flapping sound” that occurs when you strum, and also makes it more accurate when picking.

You don’t always have to use the pointed end of your pick to play, you can use the more rounded point of the pick like Stevie Ray Vaughan used to. You will find your pick doesn’t get caught in the strings so much.

When strumming downwards, strike the string with the point of your pick and slightly tilt the top of the pick towards the floor. When strumming upwards, slightly tilt the top of the pick towards the roof. It is strumming upwards that takes a bit longer to perfect, but hang in there and you will get it.

Once you have the strumming technique going great, then it is time to work on getting used to controlling volume in your playing. Volume is controlled by the force at which you strike the strings with your pick. Try strumming a C (or any other) chord lightly so you can hardly hear it, then after a few bars strum at a medium volume, then try strumming loudly with plenty of force. Then repeat it so you can play soft, medium, and loud all within a few bars. With a week or two practising this technique you should be a lot more confident at using a pick. If it takes a little longer, don’t worry, you will eventually get it.

Here are some intermediate/advanced tips on using a pick in your playing.

When picking single note lines only strike the string with about the first 1cm of the tip. This allows you to strike the string quickly and then begin the next pick execution. If you dig the pick into the string by more than 1cm it tends to make the picking process difficult, which takes your mind off the music.

When playing solos you can generally play faster if the pick plucks the string at an angle. I normally play with my pick at about a 15-20 degree angle of attack to the string, with the attacking side of the pick pointing towards the floor.

When playing chords you can get a very smooth compressed like sound by playing with the long side of the pick attacking the strings at a 15-20 angle. This technique is also great for a cadenza or rave up at the song ending where fast and smooth motion is required.

Here is a tip from my good friend Charles Chapman,
Professor of Guitar at Berklee College of Music; he says that against popular opinion, searing single note lines are not the hallmark of great pick technique, even though burnin’ pick chops are impressive and at times necessary, it is control and coordination that often separates the good from the great guitarists.

I agree and from my playing and teaching experience I believe great pick technique (at any tempo) takes many years of dedicated practise so be patient.

Happy Practising
Kevin.

This lesson was first published in the New Zealand Musician Magazine April/May 2005 issue.

© Kevin Downing 2005
© New Zealand Musician Magazine 2005

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Kevin Downing is a professional guitarist, teacher, and author.
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