In this lesson
A guitar pick, or plectrum, is used to pluck or strum the strings. Picks come in different shapes, materials and thicknesses. A few inexpensive examples are enough to compare how they feel.
How to Hold a Guitar Pick
Start with the pick between your thumb and the outer edge of your index finger. The index finger points towards the tip of the pick, with the tip left clear to meet the strings. Hold it securely enough that it stays in place without squeezing hard.
This is a starting grip. Some players use a different grip, including three fingers. Try a few gentle strokes across the strings and check whether you can control the pick without unnecessary tension. If it slips, pause and adjust the grip. Stop if playing causes pain.
Once the grip feels manageable, try the downstrokes and upstrokes in our pick-stroke lesson.
Things to Consider When Buying a Guitar Pick
Compare picks while playing the same short passage. Strumming and picking individual notes may feel different with the same pick.
Material
Plastic picks are common; metal and stone picks are also available. Personally, I’ve mostly stayed with conventional plastic picks because I find them easy to use. Material affects feel and sound alongside the pick’s shape and thickness.
Shape
A rounded triangle is a familiar shape, but picks also come with different tips, gripping surfaces and contours. Check how easily you can hold the pick and how the tip passes across the strings. A shape that suits someone else may feel awkward in your hand.
Stiffness
Try bending each pick gently to compare its flexibility, then play with it. Thickness is one clue to stiffness, but material and shape matter too. Choose by how it handles the music you want to play; there is no single best pick for every guitarist.
For a first exercise, use your chosen pick with a simple strumming pattern. If you need help with the chord shapes, start with reading chord diagrams.