Learn & Master Guitar Secret #6

The right pick can make a big difference

This is #6 in a series of Learn and Master Guitar Secrets. These simple tips can help you improve your guitar playing skills and sound better. This is a great way to easily improve your sound. This is A TINY tip...with a big payoff...

One of the most overlooked parts of guitar playing involves the 'tiny' choice of which guitar pick to use. Think about it...

The guitar pick is the main point of contact between your musical ideas and the guitar. And yet many guitarists hardly give a second thought to what pick to use. It never occurs to them that one type might work best for their particular musical situation.

Here are some guidelines to 'picking picks' ...

1. Thinner picks work best if you're doing a lot of strumming. They offer less resistance as the pick moves across the strings. The downside is that because they are thin, they 'flap' a lot. All of this motion in the pick decreases their precision.

2. Thicker (or heavier) picks work best for single note lines that require a lot of precision and speed. A thicker pick gives you more control, especially if you're needing to execute a lead part (fast, single-note runs.)

3. Experiment with different sizes of picks. Picks come in a variety of sizes. Find a size and shape of pick that is comfortable for your hand.

4. Nylon picks last longer than cheaper plastic picks. Cheap plastic picks have a tendency to split and break under the rigors of playing. Nylon picks last longer and are more durable.

5. Don't be afraid to change picks 'on the fly' according to the type of playing you are doing. If I have a night of strumming acoustic guitar then I'll grab a thin pick. But if I am in the studio and need to play an intricate part, I'll pull out a heavier pick.

6. For 'general purpose' playing, a Jim Dunlop nylon .73 medium pick works very well for me.

From time to time, go ahead and experiment with different types, sizes, and gauges of picks. This would be a relatively low-cost experiment for the 'high yield' it could return.

Keep Learning and Growing!
Steve Krenz
Author and Instructor- Learn & Master Guitar

Steve Krenz is a professional guitarist and guitar teacher in Nashville, Tennessee. For more information on his award-winning Learn and Master Guitar home study course, click on the button below.