You may be wondering what the best electric guitar picks are for your instrument. Whether you’re new or have been playing for a while, your choice of guitar pick can make a big difference in your tone and playing ability.
In my guitar playing career, I’ve gone through many different types of picks. This guide to the best guitar picks will help you pick out something that works for you.
Quick Look: Best Electric Guitar Picks
★ #1 Best Electric Guitar Pick Overall: Jim Dunlop Jazz III ★
- Best Cheap Electric Guitar Pick: Ernie Ball Everlast
- Best Rock/Blues Electric Guitar Pick: Jim Dunlop Gator Grip
- Best Metal Electric Guitar Pick: Jim Dunlop Flow
- Best Fingerstyle Thumb Pick: Black Mountain Thumb Picks
Keep in mind that you have to experiment with this accessory. What you like may not be something that someone else likes. These are all my personal choices for picks, and I feel that they would benefit you.
What Is an Electric Guitar Pick?
A guitar pick is essentially a small device that looks like a triangle or similar shape. The pointy end of the triangle is used against the strings. You pick the strings on your electric guitar with the pointy end of the guitar pick.
Although you can pick a guitar with your fingers, many players use a guitar pick. Some players use a pick exclusively, while others pick with their fingers and a guitar pick.
It’s usually made out of nylon, celluloid, Delrin, wood, or a similar material. Try to experiment with different picks and thicknesses until you find something that works for your own playing.
Types of Electric Guitar Picks
There are several different types of guitar picks that you need to know about before you buy. The type of pick that you end up purchasing all depends on your needs. Feel free to experiment with guitar picks, as they’re quite cheap.
Nylon Picks
Nylon is a common material used to make guitar picks. It’s easy to hold and allows for fast strumming. It’s not as good for lead guitar lines, as the pick tends to bend unless it’s quite heavy.
Celluloid Picks
These picks are stiffer than the nylon ones. They’re excellent for lead guitar lines because they can connect easier to the string without bending. You can get them in a wide range of thicknesses.
Delrin Picks
Delrin is a material that’s quite thick. It’s used in guitar picks such as those from Jim Dunlop. Since this material is quite rigid, it’s an excellent choice for playing lead guitar.
Stone/Steel Picks
Picks can be made out of other materials such as stone or steel. This type of pick is incredibly rigid and can be used for a wide range of styles. They may be rougher on the strings and cause more breaks because they’re so heavy.
Things to Consider When Buying an Electric Guitar Pick
There are several things you need to keep in mind before you purchase electric guitar picks. It’s a good idea to try several different thicknesses as well as sizes of guitar picks. You may not know what will work for you.
Thickness
The thickness of a guitar pick is important. Picks that are quite thin are easier for strumming. A thicker pick will dig into the strings more, which is more suitable for lead guitar playing.
The downside to thin picks is that they’re not that great for lead guitar because they tend to bend. Thick picks may not be the best choice for strumming because they don’t glide over the strings as well.
Shape
Most guitar picks are in a triangle shape, although some have a different shape. You should try several shapes of picks to determine the ones that work the best for you.
Playing Style
Your playing style may be important for the type of pick that you buy. If you’re strumming all the time, then a lighter pick may be your best choice. If you’re a lead guitar player, you may want a pick with more thickness.
Material
You should experiment with different materials to determine the best one for your needs. Since picks are not that expensive, you can try different ones to see if a different material works for your playing or not.
10 Best Electric Guitar Picks
You’ll go through a lot of picks in your playing career. Here are some of the best electric guitar picks that you can buy.
All of these are great choices for any player regardless of playing style or skill.
1. Jim Dunlop Max Grip Jazz III
- Size: Small
- Material: Nylon
- Grip: Yes
- Best for: Fast lead guitar
The Jim Dunlop Max Grip Jazz III picks have a sharp point and a great grip. They’re an excellent choice for electric guitar solos. They’re easy to hold in your hand and glide across the string surface while you’re playing. These picks improve playing speed.
Why I Recommend It
My guitar playing changed when I started to use jazz guitar picks by Jim Dunlop. These picks are quite small, and you might think that they’re not all that great, but they are. I find these picks to be excellent for playing lead guitar.
The Max Grip is even better than the regular Jazz III because they have a surface that sticks to your fingers while playing. They also have a nice fine point, so they have good contact against a string.
2. Jim Dunlop Gator Grip
- Size: Normal pick size
- Material: Delrex
- Grip: Yes
- Best for: Lead guitar
Jim Dunlop Gator Grip picks are easy to hold thanks to the matte finish. They connect easily against the string, so your playing is smooth and accurate.
Why I Recommend It
My second go-to pick is the Jim Dunlop Gator grip. They’re easy to hold on to, and I find that they don’t slip out of my hand due to the matte finish. You can also get them in different thicknesses for strumming as well.
I never had a problem with the Jim Dunlop Gator grip. I’ve just moved on to a different type of pick now. You should give them a try because they’re one of the better picks on the market.
3. Fender Picks Sampler
- Size: Normal pick size
- Material: Celluloid
- Grip: No
- Best for: Rhythm and lead playing
It’s a good idea to experiment with different thicknesses of picks. The Fender Picks Sampler gives you that chance. There are several picks in this package with different thicknesses to try for different aspects of your playing.
Why I Recommend It
I have a large container in my music room with many picks in it, and I have quite a few Fender picks. These are decent picks that are perfect for both lead guitar and rhythm playing.
It’s important when you’re first starting to try different pick thicknesses, and I like the fact that you get a wide assortment in this package for one low price.
4. Ernie Ball Everlast
- Size: Normal pick size
- Material: Delrin
- Grip: Yes
- Best for: Rhythm
Ernie Ball makes the Ernie Ball Everlast picks in several different sizes, colors, and thicknesses to meet your needs. They have a grip surface, so they won’t fall out of your hands while playing.
Why I Recommend It
I’ve used Ernie Ball picks in the past, and they’re generally quite decent. This is a nice pack of 12, and it comes in at a good price point. These are perfect picks for strumming or lead guitar lines.
If you want a pick with a smoother edge, these are the ideal choice for you. They’re nice for strumming faster passages. I still have several of these in my pick container that I use from time to time.
5. Fender 346 Medium
- Size: Oversized
- Material: Celluloid
- Grip: No
- Best for: Rhythm and lead guitar
The Fender 346 Medium guitar pick is larger than a regular size pick. Some players prefer these because they’re easier to hold, which makes for more accurate playing.
Why I Recommend It
I have several of the largest size Fender Medium 346 picks in my pick container. They take a little bit of getting used to because they’re larger, and they have a nice attack on the strings.
You can use them for all styles of playing. They’re probably better for flatpicking as they connect to the string well. You can also get this pick in different thicknesses, but medium is the most well-rounded.
6. Master 8 InfiniX-U Grip Picks
- Size: Normal pick size
- Material: Not known
- Grip: Yes
- Best For All guitar styles
The Master 8 InfiniX-U is a pick with a traditional look. It feels like a celluloid pick but has a better gripping surface. They feel like they’re covered in sand, so they stay in your fingers without any slipping.
Why I Recommend It
Dropping your pick is always a problem that leads to frustration. These picks are the size of a regular pick, but they’re an improvement over many regular picks because of their unique gripping surface.
I recommend these to anyone who has a problem holding a pick in their hand and who’s always dropping it. The gripping surface on these is unique, so you shouldn’t drop your pick as often. They come in different sizes.
7. D’Addario Thumb Picks
- Size: Large thumb pick
- Material: Celluloid
- Grip: No
- Best For Fingerpicking
For those players into fingerpicking, the nails are often not enough. The D’Addario Thumb Picks is a good choice for players that need more attack than only their fingers on the strings.
Why I Recommend It
This is a nice thumb pick for beginners as it doesn’t cost all that much but lets you change your sound dramatically. You get a warm tone when using this pick.
These are made with celluloid, so the pick will last a long time. It has a good point on it for reliable picking when using this thumb pick.
8. Black Mountain Thumb Picks
- Size: Regular thumb pick/flat pick
- Material: Plastic/metal
- Grip: No
- Best For Fingerstyle/flatpicking
Black Mountain Thumb Picks are a unique combination of thumb pick and flat pick together with a hinge. You can easily switch from thumbpicking to strumming with the pick. This is a pick you need to get for advanced styles.
Why I Recommend It
I think Black Mountain thumb picks made a great innovation in this type of pick. It’s easy to switch between thumbpicking and flatpicking with the hinge system on this unique pick. These picks allow you to expand your fingerpicking style.
If you fingerpick and like using a pick, then the Black Mountain Thumb Pick is a game-changer. You’ll pay a lot for these picks, but they’re well worth it. You can fingerpick and strum together and have a blast with this cool pick.
9. Jim Dunlop Jumbo Flow
- Size: Above average size
- Material: Ultex
- Grip: Yes
- Best for: Rhythm and lead
The Jim Dunlop Jumbo Flow has a nice sharp point for an accurate pick attack on the strings. It features a grip surface so the pick won’t fall out of your hands while using it.
Why I Recommend It
I recently tried the Jim Dunlop Flow pick after using Jazz III for so long. These picks are larger but have a great grip surface so that you won’t drop them as often.
The pick has a nice sharp point, so you can dig into the strings for a string attack and faster playing. This is a nice pick that works for most guitar styles, and one I will use it in the future.
10. Jim Dunlop Tortex
- Size: Regular pick size
- Material: Tortex
- Grip: Yes
- Best for: General playing
Jim Dunlop Tortex picks are the perfect choice for any player. They come in different thicknesses and are great for many different styles of music. They’re low cost and will last you a long time.
Why I Recommend It
I started with Jim Dunlop Tortex picks. They’re easy to hold and great for beginners. The .73mm is ideal as they’re not too thin and not too thick.
Dunlop makes great picks, so give these a try. They’re basic, but it’s really all you need when just starting out. These are the best electric guitar picks for newbies or anyone that needs an easy-to-use pick.
Best Electric Guitar Pick Brands
You may think that a guitar pick is just a guitar pick, but there are a few brands that you should know about.
Here are the best guitar pick brands you should consider.
Jim Dunlop
I’ve used Jim Dunlop picks for most of my playing career. They make a wide range of picks to suit all styles. Their picks last a long time and are always my go-to choice.
Fender
Fender is known for their guitars and electric guitar amps, but they also make a wide range of great picks. You can get them in all sizes and thicknesses, so you’re sure to find something that works for you.
D’Addario
This company makes great strings but also has a wide range of picks available in different thicknesses. They also have some signature picks and ones with great colors.
Ernie Ball
Ernie Ball makes strings, but they also have a broad range of picks for you to choose from. They carry regular picks as well as thumb picks and other types.
Electric Guitar Picks Features
There are a few things that you may want to consider before you purchase a guitar pick. Here are the points to keep in mind.
Material
There are several materials used to make guitar picks. Here is what you need to know.
- Nylon: Nylon picks are great for strumming. Thinner nylon picks are easier to strum with but don’t grip as well for single notes.
- Celluloid: These picks are pretty standard. They’re great for both strumming and lead guitar. They’re smooth and can be hard to hold for some.
- Delrin: This is a hard plastic used by companies such as Jim Dunlop. This material is suited for both strumming and lead playing.
- Other Materials: You can also get steel, metal, and stone picks. These are harder on your strings due to the thickness of the material.
Finish
Guitar picks have different finishes. Picks can be smooth, or they can have a matte finish or bumps on the surface, making them easier to hold.
Color
Picks come in a wide range of colors and designs, so you can tailor your pick choices to what you like. Many players like to put their own logos on their picks and give them to fans.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Here are some frequently asked questions about guitar picks that you should be aware of before you buy.
How Much Do Guitar Picks Cost?
Guitar picks are low cost. You can typically get a bag of picks for $5-$10. A small bag is around 12 picks. Larger bags and special picks such as thumb picks will cost you more.
What Are the Best Electric Guitar Picks?
Guitar picks are subjective. What you like may not be what someone else likes. Try different materials and thicknesses to see what you like. I would suggest a medium guitar pick to start for most players.
Jim Dunlop Jazz III: Best for Lead Guitar
I play a lot of blues lead guitar, and I find the small-sized Jim Dunlop Jazz III to be the best pick I’ve ever used. It has a nice point that makes it easy to dig into the strings.
Dunlop Gator Grip: Best for All-Around Playing
I used Dunlop Gator Grip a lot in the past. They have a nice finish, so you won’t drop the pick. They’re a good all-around choice for most players. They come in all thicknesses and are low-priced.
Black Mountain Thumb Picks: Best for Fingerstyle
Black Mountain Thumb Picks are unique as they can be used as a traditional pick and a thumb pick. You get the best of both worlds with this unique thumb pick combo.
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In Conclusion
Thank you for reading my guide to the best electric guitar picks. Make sure you have a lot of picks on hand as they’re easy to lose. Try different thicknesses and brands until you find one that works for you.
Please share this article, leave comments or ask me some questions about the guitar. I look forward to hearing from you. Now, grab your pick and get back to practicing.
