Are you about to begin taking guitar lessons? Some people have a secret wish to be able to play the guitar but never got to the point of actually learning it. Other people take the dare head-on and are suddenly faced with the task of choosing their guitar and the accessories as well as the music teacher who will show them the way to pleasurable guitar playing. After you have bought your guitar and set appointment with your guitar teacher, you may want to check if you have already shopped for that one small thing that could matter and affect your music—your guitar pick.
First thing, you may want to wait until you have taken a few guitar lessons before you actually get your own pick. It could help to get the feel of actually strumming the guitar with your bare fingers. You may also want to get the input of the person who is going to give you tips and tricks of playing beautifully. The first rule in choosing your plectrum is the same for choosing the guitar: choose whatever you think feels best.
Guitar picks are available in different brands, thickness, material and shape. Here are the basic characteristics that differentiate picks:
Material
Plastic is the most common material for producing picks. Picks can also be made of steel, which could contribute to the wear and tear of the strings, or exotic materials such as gemstones, organic materials and hardwood.
Shape
Picks can also be shaped differently to make it easier for the guitarist to hold them or to move across the strings. It can be equilateral, shaped like a shark’s fin, sharp on the edges or heart-shaped. There are other shapes available in the market; some are even patented because of their unique designs.
Brands
Choosing a brand is basically based on personal preference. You may choose the more popular brands like Fender, Dunlop, D’Andrea, Clayton, Gibson or Herco. Some guitarists even choose the brand selected by the musicians they want to emulate.
Thickness
Guitar picks differ in thickness: thin, medium and thick. Thickness can be printed on the pick itself and expressed in millimeter or thousandths of an inch. It can also be indicated as light, medium or heavy, in reference to the corresponding weight.
For beginners,some guitar teachers recommend getting a few picks to be used as the lessons progress. A thin guitar pick is suitable during the early stage when the lessons focus more on strumming. Later, medium picks are good for both playing the notes and strumming. Eventually, you may use thicker or heavier picks for a more precise and faster guitar playing.
Ultimately, your choice of guitar plectrum will depend on what you feel suits your style of playing and the kind of string that you use.
To determine what is right for you, experiment with different kinds of picks. Once you have already nailed down what you want you may even move on to select a custom guitar pick. When you get to that point, you will have so much more choices but the process of choosing will be more subjective.