Best Guitar Picks For Acoustic

Did you know that the type of guitar pick you choose can have a profound impact on the captivating sound you produce while strumming your acoustic beauty?

It’s true!

While it might be tempting to grab any old pick that’s conveniently strewn across your cluttered desk, if you truly desire to unlock the untapped potential of your acoustic prowess, you need to give serious consideration to the pick you wield.

In this article, I’ll cover some of the best guitar picks for acoustic — including their materials, shapes, and sizes.

Plus I’ll let you know which picks I use and why…

A guitar pick, also known as a plectrum, is essential when it comes to playing acoustic guitar. Without a pick you can still strum with your fingers, but with much less control over dynamics, which can limit the sound and style of music you’re able to produce.

Using a pick allows you to create:

INCREASED VOLUME AND PROJECTION

Acoustic guitars typically have a hollow body and produce sound through the vibration of the strings.

Using a guitar pick, you can achieve a more pronounced attack and generate a louder sound than playing with your fingers alone.

ENHANCED CLARITY AND ARTICULATION

When you use a pick, your picking hand can achieve more precision and control over individual notes. The pick’s firmness and uniform shape allow for consistent strikes on the strings, resulting in improved clarity and articulation of your playing.

This can be advantageous for intricate fingerpicking patterns, fast strumming, or playing complex chords with distinct note separation.

DIFFERENT TONAL POSSIBILITIES

Did you know that different picks can produce completely different sounds? That’s right! The material, shape, and size of your pick all affect the tone of your playing.

For example, a thin pick will create brighter tones, while thicker picks are more suitable for producing warmer, ‘darker’ sounds.

REDUCED STRAIN ON FINGERS

A guitar pick can also make it easier to hold down chords with less effort. When playing without a pick, the thumb and fingers of your strumming hand are constantly pressing against the strings.

This can cause fatigue and strain on the muscles and joints of your hands over time. You get more leverage with a pick and only need to apply pressure to the strings for fretting and picking lightly.

1. TYPE

Guitar picks are a widely used accessory among guitarists. Over time, guitar picks have become more complex and specialised. Generally, there are three types of pick: flat picks, thumb picks and finger picks. Flat picks are the most recognisable type of pick; they are typically used to pluck or strum the strings of the guitar.

Thumb picks, on the other hand, are usually used for bass strings and may be worn on the thumb, while finger picks are often paired with a thumb pick to pluck or strum lower strings of the guitar.

2. MATERIAL

The material of your guitar pick has a tremendous impact on the way your acoustic guitar sounds and feels. There’s a whole world of options out there, but let’s dive into the most popular ones: nylon, celluloid, acetal, acrylic/lexan, ultem, and carbon fiber.

Nylon

Acrylic

Celluloid

Acetal

Ultem

Carbon Fiber

3. THICKNESS AND SHAPE

When shopping for an acoustic guitar pick, two of the most important things to bear in mind are thickness and shape. These factors can have a huge effect on the tone and playability of your instrument, so it’s essential to think carefully when making a selection.

Thickness — also known as ‘gauge’ — is really key when choosing a pick. They come in an array of different gauges, from extra thin to ultra heavy. Depending on the gauge you choose, you’ll be rewarded with either a bright or bass-heavy tone.

• If you play rhythm guitar, then opt for something within the 0.40mm to 0.59mm range — these picks will give you a brighter sound and more flexibility.
• For med-weight picks from 0.60mm to 0.79mm, you’ll get a combination of both brightness and bass-heaviness.
• But if you’re after something more suited to lead guitar playing, then go for the heavier gauges, ranging from 0.80mm to 1.49mm– these thicker picks will give you greater control and accuracy.

The shape also matters in terms of tone production. Tri-tip picks with rounded tips are usually the best for producing a warm sound on an acoustic guitar due to their mellow attack. On the other hand, if you’re looking for stronger accuracy and control, then go for a pick with a sharper tip G. This will give you a brighter tone.

So, when it comes to getting the perfect sound from your acoustic guitar, pay attention to gauge and shape!

4. EASE OF USE

Ease of use is another important factor to consider when choosing the right pick for your acoustic guitar.

Different materials and shapes can affect how easy it is to play, so make sure you take some time to test out a few different options before settling on one. Carefully check each guitar’s intonation and action to ensure it’s comfortable for you.

5. PRICE

The price of picks is determined by the difficulty of making them. Synthetic picks, which can be produced in sheets, are generally cheaper than those made from natural materials since they require less effort to craft.

Carbon fiber picks usually cost more since it takes a greater amount of skill and expertise to create them.

Read the full article here.