In order to answer these questions, we have compiled a standard guitar pick thickness guide that includes the best thicknesses based on desired sound, playing style and genre.

How Thick Should A Guitar Pick Be?

To begin the process of answering this question, we need to know what the purpose is for which we are purchasing a guitar pick. There are 3 main purposes – playing style, sound and genre. The thickness of a guitar pick will have a direct effect on your playing experience (sound) and will also have an indirect effect on your sound (playing style).

Playing Style

These days it seems like there are more and more new guitar pick designs in the market than ever before. Its hard to keep up with all the different thicknesses and materials available. If you play blues or rock, thicker picks generally produce a cleaner sound while lighter picks produce more of a light sound. This is also true for punk, jazz, folk and pop styles.

The thickness of your guitar pick will also have an effect on your playing style. For example, if you play jazz or blues with a lighter pick, you would use it more like picking technique rather than slapping like a heavy metal player would use a thick pick for example.

Sound

With the advent of playing styles and sound, the decision on what thickness to pick up guitar becomes even more important than picking style. This is because you also need to consider your intentions regarding sound. Do you want a bright delicate sound or a heavier tone?

For example, a clean tone for the blues or jazz would use a thinner pick while metal players would prefer a thicker pick. For most mainstream metal styles, guitarists generally prefer to use a thicker pick due to the popular metal genre known as power metal. Doing so adds more heft and punch to the tone.

Genre

Another important consideration when picking up guitar is your genre of music. For example, if you are playing metal or heavy rock, you may want to invest in a stronger pick. This will add more sustain and punch to your tone. While hardcore punk bands may have different requirements on what they use, they also use guitar picks (as do all other genres of music).

In the end, it is important to consider your desired playing style, sound and genre when picking up guitar. This way you get a balanced approach to the process that will allow you to achieve what you want out of your instrument.

Does Guitar Pick Thickness Make A Difference?

Yes. The thickness or gauge of a guitar pick will make a difference in the sound and playability of your instrument. A guitar pick with a thicker edge means that the pick will have more mass and weight on the strings. This can be a desirable effect for genres such as blues and rock. Also, a thicker pick will naturally produce more volume.

However, playing styles may have a different preference for the thickness of their guitar pick. For example, if you play jazz or blues, it may be better to use a lighter pick because it better simulates finger picking than using a thick pick that would normally be used for rock or metal style guitar picking.

Guitar Pick Thickness Chart

Most Common Guitar Pick Thickness

The most popular guitar pick thickness is a medium pick at around 0.73mm (0.028 inches). A medium guitar pick is the most versatile pick you can own and is a good all-around choice. It is a good thickness for most material types and can do well with most playing styles. If you are just starting out, this is the pick you should buy.

Best Pick Thickness For…

Electric Guitar

Electric guitarists generally prefer a medium pick. This is because thicker picks produce more overdrive in their tone. It also naturally boosts their volume level out of the amp. This is helpful in recording scenarios where amps are not always turned up to their highest levels.

Acoustic Guitar

For acoustic guitar, the best thickness to choose is going to depend on your style of play. A lighter pick gives you a country twang while heavier picks will give you a more distinct and edgier sound.

For Beginners

If you are a beginner, I would recommend that you buy a medium pick and see if you like the sound of the thickness. Then buy a few thinner picks and see how those do. If you want to play hard rock or metal, then get some thicker picks!

For Heavy Metal

A thicker guitar pick will give you a heavier sound for metal styles. For example, you could use a medium pick for more mainstream metal and heavier styles such as thrash or death metal. If you want yet another advantage of thicker picks, is that it makes the strings easier to hit and produces a warmer tone.

For Jazz & Blues

If you are interested in jazz and blues then I would recommend buying a medium size pick. This thickness and sound will have a more clean and jazzy tone, which is ideal for this genre.

For Strumming

If you just want to strum your guitar, a medium pick will work fine. It’s suitable for most music styles. If you want to play heavier styles, try a thicker pick. Use a thin pick for lighter and softer genres such as folk or pop.

For Thicker Strings

If your guitar has heavy strings, then consider using a thicker pick. The heavier the strings, the more likely it is that you will have trouble playing with a thinner pick. Also, if you have bigger hands, a thinner pick might feel too small and be harder to grab. A thick pick will help reduce any hand fatigue you may be experiencing.

For Lead Guitar

The lead guitarist is probably the most important musician in any band. The guitarist is responsible for creating the mood and atmosphere of a song. A thick pick can help you achieve this effect if you want a more raw, heavy and powerful sound for your lead playing.

For Rhythm Guitar

For rhythm guitar playing I would recommend that you use a medium pick. This is because it will give you a good balance when playing rhythm guitar.

What Thickness Guitar Pick Should I Use?

You might have the question – how to choose guitar pick thickness. You need one that fits your playing style. If you are a beginner, I would suggest you start using medium guitar picks and see if you think they sound good. Then try and find out what thickness guitar picks work best for you.

If, after testing a few thicknesses, you still think the medium pick sounds good, then stick with that pick throughout your entire journey as a guitarist. You can always switch to a thicker or thinner pick as time goes on and your playing develops.

What’s The Difference Between Thin, Medium Or Thick Guitar Picks?

Playing with thick guitar pick vs thin vs medium guitar pick can give you a different sound and feel. Thin guitar picks make it easier to play the higher frets. Thick picks are useful for playing riffs and rock solos, as they can generate more volume. Medium thickness picks tend to be used by many players, including beginners. Thin picks are also very popular amongst acoustic guitarists due to their ability to deliver a clear, crisp sound.

Guitar Picks With Different Thickness

There is also a types of guitar pick that has different thicknesses. These triangle shaped picks have three points. Each of these points are a different thickness. These are great for guitarists that might want to change in different parts of a song.

More Related Guitar Pick Articles

• Best thick guitar picks
• Guitar pick thickness for metal
• Thin guitar picks vs thick

How Thick Of A Guitar Pick Do You Use?

What thickness do you prefer? Feel free to comment below to let us know!

The post Standard Guitar Pick Thickness Guide appeared first on Happy New Guitar Day.

We’ve put together this article about what separates thin vs thick guitar picks and which type is better for your guitar pick thickness needs!

Difference Between Thick And Thin Guitar Picks

The main difference between thick and thin guitar picks is obvious – the thickness. The thickness determines how far the pick bends in your fingers when you play. Thicker picks tend to be more durable and they won’t break easily. They also have more mass, which means that they are more responsive.

Additionally, very thick guitar picks can produce a brighter sound. They may feel more stable because of the way that they are put together.

On the other hand, very thin picks feel very different because they bend easily while playing. They have a lot more give with plucking the string. Thin picks are more responsive and you can pick very quickly when you use one. An ultra-thin pick is possible to play with, although it will be more difficult to bend because of its extreme thinness.

When To Use A Thin Or Thick Guitar Pick

A thick guitar pick is a great pick to use if you play acoustic guitar on the regular. A thick pick will produce a bright and full sound. Many players enjoy the heavy tone that they get when they use large picks with their electric guitars. They think that it gives them a fuller, more robust sound for their playing style.

In contrast, a thin pick is great for players who want to strum or pick the strings very hard but not produce as much volume. Thin picks work best with an electric guitar, but they can be used on acoustic as well.

Ultimately, the type of pick that you use comes down to personal preference. There is no right or wrong pick for what type of sound or playing style you want to have. The only way that you will know if a certain kind of pick works for you is if you give it a try!

Benefits Of A Thicker Guitar Pick

A thicker pick is more durable and can last longer. The material and quality of a thick pick will determine how much longevity it will have, but in general you can use a guitar pick as long as you take care of it. A thicker guitar pick will provide more mass so that you can feel the strings when you play.

A thicker pick will have more sound and will be more responsive. As a result, you have more control over the sound that it produces. The strings will vibrate with a lot of energy, which leads to a fuller sound coming out of your guitar.

Benefits Of A Thin Guitar Pick

The material of the thin guitar pick is less rigid, but it still holds together very well. Thinner picks are more flexible because they have less mass to them, but they don’t bend as easily when playing.

When strumming with a thin guitar pick, the string response of the thinner pick will be less, but it will still have maximum responsiveness from it.

Thin picks are incredibly responsive and can produce a very bright sound when used with an electric guitar. Thin picks are best for strumming or picking the strings.

Disadvantages Of A Thicker Guitar Pick

Since these guitar picks don’t have any flex in them, they can make it harder to strum chords. You have less control over the strings when you have a thicker guitar pick in your fingers. It doesn’t have as much give as the thinner picks, so you might struggle to strum.

So, while a thick pick does give you more control when playing individual notes, strumming can be a bit harder to do consistently.

Disadvantages Of A Thin Guitar Pick

The disadvantages of a thin guitar pick is basically the opposite of the thick pick cons. When playing individual notes, you will have less control over the pick if it’s very thin.

Additionally, when you strum with it, a very thin guitar pick may not produce as much of a response from the strings. You might find that you have to strum down harder when strumming in order for your chords to sound at their fullest.

Are Thick Guitar Picks Better?

It depends on your preferences. If you play acoustic and usually strum your guitar, a thinner guitar pick is a great choice. It will produce a more consistent sound.

If you prefer to use the individual notes when playing the guitar, however, you may prefer to use a thicker pick. The thick pick will make it easier to control each note that you play.

The Verdict: Which One Is Best, Thin Guitar Picks Or Thick?

It really comes down to personal preference. If you are just starting out on your instrument, you should try out both options and see what you like better. You may like thicker picks if you play a lot of acoustic guitar, but you may prefer thinner picks for playing with an electric.

Ultimately, both kinds of picks have their benefits and you should experiment with them to see what gives you the sound that you desire. If a thin guitar pick feels too fragile for your liking, then try a thicker one and vice versa.

The post Thin Guitar Picks Vs Thick – Which Is Better? appeared first on Happy New Guitar Day.

What Is The Best Guitar Pick Thickness For Metal?

Typically, when playing metal, players go for a heavier gauge of string that will produce stronger tones that will help cut through the mix at live performances. To compensate for this thicker sound from the strings, heavier picks, like 1.5mm or above, are used which produces a sharper attack on the strings and provides better tonal quality.

Thicker picks also help you play more aggressively and speed through a song without losing any of that low end.

Other Things To Consider With Guitar Picks For Metal Music

Although heavier picks are best for metal, you will also want to make sure that the pick is comfortable in your hand. If it’s too thick, it will be uncomfortable to hold and you won’t be able to improvise if playing on stage. To get the right feel, you should always try a variety of different picks until you find one that will suit your musical needs.

How To Choose The Right Guitar Pick Thickness For Metal

When deciding on the right pick thickness for metal, you will be best off going to a professional player or guitar store that can help you pick out a custom-fit pick. Of course, there are also online shops where you can get the desired gauge from around the world with just a few clicks.

If you are buying a guitar pick for the first time, however, it is best that you try a variety of different picks until you find the one that will be able to suit all of your tonal needs.

What Thickness Picks Do Different Metal Players Use?

It is also helpful to do a bit of research to see what thicknesses different metal guitarists use. This will give you an idea of what sizes you should go for in the different brands.

James Hetfield

The picks that James Hetfield uses is a Dunlop Tortex 1.50mm and 2.00mm and Fender Heavy picks at the thickness of 1.50mm and 2.00mm which can be found on his personal website. He uses these picks to produce the growling sound in Metallica that fans have come to love over the years.

Zakk Wylde

Zakk Wylde of Black Label Society is known for his heavy, distorted playing style and thick metal riffs. Zakk, as a result, uses picks that are typically 2.00mm and above, which brings the notes out even more clearly than with a lighter pick.

Avenged Sevenfold

This is another metal band with members known for their aggressive playing styles and speed. Their guitarists use 1.88mm Dunlop Tortex picks or 2.10mm Fender Jim Dunlop picks for their live shows to ensure that their sound is crisp, clean, and sharp all the way through.

Kerry King

Kerry King, who is the lead guitarist for Slayer, uses 0.88mm Tortex Triangle picks that he has found to be extremely durable for live shows and being thrown about on stage. He loves the feel of these picks in his hand and how they are able to withstand a lot of stress without breaking or wearing down.

Kirk Hammett

Kirk Hammett, the lead guitarist for the legendary band Metallica, uses 1.38mm picks, depending on the song and the need at hand. He finds that 1.38mm works best for most songs and he therefore sticks with these thicknesses for live performances, which is a pretty surprising thing when you consider how fast he is able to play.

Other Things To Consider

There are a lot of different things to consider when choosing the right thickness of guitar pick. Of course, if you are looking for a pick that will only be used for practice, it is fine to go with a thinner gauge.

However, the thicker picks are best for when you want to play on stage and want to ensure that your sound will cut through the mix and be heard just as clearly as other instruments. From experience, I have found that there is no way around using a thicker pick when playing metal.

The thicker picks seem to give you the best sound quality and help you play more aggressively, which is what metal is all about. If you are unsure which gauge to choose, it is best to start off with a 1.5mm or 2.0mm pick and go from there.

Do not think that your playing will suffer because of the pick thickness. You will have no problem using a thicker pick, they just need some getting used to if this is your first time using them consistently.

The thickness also depends on your playing style. It is important to realize that some people use lighter picks because they are playing styles that require more precise strokes and faster movement. Lighter picks will allow you to control the tone of the strings and produce a more even sounding string.

Conclusion

The thicker picks are best for metal when you need to control the sound of the strings and produce a better tone. They will also help you play more aggressively and speed through a song without missing any of that low end. Who needs fast though if you don’t have any lows.

There is also a time and place for aggressive practice. But, if you need to choose the right guitar pick thickness for metal, it’s best to stick with a thicker pick.

The post Choosing The Right Guitar Pick Thickness For Metal appeared first on Happy New Guitar Day.

Quick Links To Our Best Thick Guitar Picks Recommendations

• Jim Dunlop Flow Gloss 3.0mm
• Dunlop 475R3.0 Big Stubby®
• TimbreGear Exotica Genuine Handcrafted Wooden Guitar Picks
• Dunlop Tortex Standard 1.0mm
• Fender Wavelength Tortoise Shell Guitar Heavy Picks

Our Top Thick Guitar Pick Reviews

Jim Dunlop Flow Gloss 3.0mm

The Flow range is one of the first ranges Dunlop released on their own. Their thick picks have been widely popular since, which is unsurprising as the company was behind them from the start. The Flow range has been used by many top recording artists and have always proved to be a reliable tool for tone shaping.

Made from Ultex, they are also super durable, so you can really dig in and really feel your music, not your pick. This comes from having no flex in the pick at all.

These picks are a great choice for all styles of music as they have such a strong tone especially when strumming chords on an acoustic guitar.

They are designed for speed and precision by Dunlop themselves. The range has expanded since their first releases and includes a variety of different picks in different sizes, thicknesses and shapes.

The finger indents make it easy to hold your pick as well.

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Dunlop 475R3.0 Big Stubby®

The Dunlop Big Stubby® is another one of the most famous Dunlop picks. This is because it’s a fantastic tool for speeding up your playing. You can play faster than ever with this pick, as there are no binding issues and it won’t break in half as easily. It’s also super durable, so you can really dig in without worrying about it breaking on you at all.

The 3.0mm thickness picks are great for a bold sound. The big, round shape is great for strumming chords on an acoustic guitar and sound is also bold, but controlled. This pick comes with a string winder so it’s super easy to wrap your strings around it.

It’s a perfect tool for all types of music. It’s especially brilliant when used with any acoustic/electric guitar as you can really have complete control over the notes of your performance, no matter what style you are playing.

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TimbreGear Exotica Genuine Handcrafted Wooden Guitar Picks

TimbreGear Exotica Genuine Handcrafted Wooden Guitar Picks are a brilliant natural and unique option for your guitar. Each pick is handmade from a different species of wood, making them all unique from each other. They’re super durable and deliver great tone.

However, the best thing about these picks is their tone. They give an acoustic-like sound to your guitar with a little more punch than regular picks do. This is mostly due to their density. They’re quite heavy, but really comfortable to use for long periods of time and easy to grip.

The best thing about these picks is how majorly stylish they are. They look great and would make a brilliant addition to any guitarist’s guitar pick collection.

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Dunlop Tortex Standard 1.0mm

These are a bit thinner than some of the other options in this list but I still consider 1mm as thick. As long as you’re careful, this pick is durable and easy to control. These can be a great choice for speeding up your playing or for a more delicate sound when strumming chords.

These are also ideal for any style of music that uses chords such as bluegrass and country, or when doing classic rock music. It’s a great pick for rhythm guitar playing. They also create a nice bright tone with a lot of snap to the attack.

It has a very basic design with an easy grip and a lot of people find that it lasts longer than other picks as well as being easier to control and play with. It’s also pretty cheap, so you can easily buy several of them in case you broke one.

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Fender Wavelength Tortoise Shell Guitar Heavy Picks

If you’re looking for something a little bit more classic or stylish, then these tortoise shell picks by Fender could be perfect for you. They are made in a traditional “351” guitar pick style, but with a slightly thicker 1mm thickness. This makes them perfect for blues and rock and roll music.

This is the exact thickness that you’ll find on most of your standard guitar picks at the moment, so they’re an easy option if you are looking to make that change to thicker picks. That said, they’re really unique and classic looking, which is always a bonus. You can easily buy several to make sure that you always have one on you.

They are also made in the USA from a celluloid material.

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Are Thick Guitar Picks Right For You?

Thick guitar picks are definitely a good option for some people, but there is a lot more to it than just the thickness of the pick. You have to take into account what type of music you play, as well as how much control and speed you would like to have. Some people prefer playing with only light picks so that they can get the most out of their strumming, but for others it’s great to have a bit of extra control.

If you’re a beginner, then having the option to ease into thicker picks and use the correct size for your style of music is important. You don’t want to make buying thicker picks one of your first purchases, as there could be an issue with either your playing or the pick.

Thick guitar picks are also great if you play in a band where the rhythm guitarist plays chords and you have lots of complex chord progressions . Having only lighter picks will start to cause frustration and frustration when your playing gets faster. Instead, having a thicker pick will reduce the need for you to be quite so fast in terms of your movements and you’ll be able to concentrate more on the quality of your playing.

Thick picks are perfect for hard strumming styles such as metal music. They offer plenty of control, but also give a really bright tone. Due to their strength, they are also less likely to break in the middle of a performance.

Be sure to check out our guitar pick thickness guide as well.

Conclusion

Thick picks are a great choice for any type of music and can really help enhance your tone. They’re also very simple to use, so you won’t have to adjust too much when using them. They’re made by some big brands and are always reliable for a bold sound.

The post 5 Best Thick Guitar Picks Options Make Great Tone appeared first on Happy New Guitar Day.