What Are the Most Common Guitar Picks? from myguitarpicks's blog

Guitar picks are a musical instrument's tool, the heart and soul of playing a guitar. A guitar pick is usually made of one solid material ("rubber", "stickered acrylic", "felt", "tortoise shell" or "stone"). Usually picks are shaped in an isosceles triangular shape with the two equally rounded corners and the third flat corner less so. Other materials used include steel, titanium, brass, silver, graphite, and sometimes gemstones.

First, let us look at what type of guitar picks we are talking about. The two types are open-feeling and closed-feeling. Open-feeling picks are those that have a "weak" grip on the fretboard. These are usually made of plastic or nylon with a sharp point on the end. The advantage is that these picks feel nice and give the player a more natural "ythmic" tone when playing.

Closed-feeling guitar picks are the opposite of open-feeling plectrums. They have a very hard grip on the fretboard. This gives them a firmer tone. When they are brand new, they may have some manufacturing blemishes. Some seasoned players prefer closed-feather plectrums because they are harder to play. However, there is a strong case that they sound superior to open-feather plectrums--especially when the guitar picks are purchased by someone who has not yet learned how to play guitar properly.

Now, let's talk about how the guitar picks are held in the guitar pick grip. To most acoustic guitar players, it is easiest to have the guitar pick held at the midway point between the thumb and first finger. (The thumb is the same distance from the first finger as the first finger.) This is the optimum placement for a guitar pick, so that the pick does not rest on the knuckle joint.

In jazz guitar picking, the guitar picks are held very close to the index finger. To my way of thinking, there is no reason to favor any one style of plectrum holding. It is a personal choice depending on how I perceive the sound I want to make and where the notes are going to be strummed. The rest is up to you.

There are two types of guitar picks that I am recommending to beginning guitarists: steel plectrums and celluloid guitar plectrums. The difference is simple: steel plectrums are easier to hold because they are of the round variety. Celluloid plectrums are heavier and need long fingers to reach the holes. The choice is yours.

Another advantage of using a hard plectrum is that the shape allows you to get more notes per inch of the fret. That is why I recommend the tortoise shell picking string for beginning guitarists. The tortoise shell has been around for years and is known for its rich sound and excellent economy.

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Here are three recommendations that I hope will help improve your understanding of picking techniques. First, try playing a song on a metronome with only flat and bevelled edges. Then try to play it on a guitar with bevelled edges and just plain old flat picks. Finally, try them both together for maximum effect. The third option is performed in the context of electric guitar and therefore requires a working knowledge of electronics.

The first recommendation deals with the two different styles of plectrum handling. The flat-ended picks are simply a piece of wood, thin enough to be felt and the ends bent into distinct shapes. The bevelled edge picks are shaped like a heart with the flat end at the top and the other edge is straight. These picks are used most commonly in classical music and are referred to as "thumb picks". Plectrum players who favor the beveled edges believe these particular picks are harder on the fingers and provide a richer playing experience.

The second recommendation deals with the third common picking style - the nylon picks. Nylon picks are shaped similar to plastic but are hollow inside so the sound is produced by air pressure. Some guitarists feel that the sound produced is cleaner than flat and beveled edges. This can be a good thing, if you are trying to achieve a bright sound. If you play with these in a combination with flat and beveled edges, they are less likely to clash causing a brighter sound, especially if you are striving for a certain effect.

The last common plectrum type is made from myguitarpicks.com, a material known for its affordability. It is available in many shapes and sizes and is easy to handle and play with. Delrin is also cheaper than substitutes such as aluminum or steel. The only drawback is that the sound it produces tends to be on the mellow side compared to other plectrums so if you want to get a really bright tone, it is not recommended.

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