Best Guitar Picks for Shredding
Choosing the Best Guitar Picks for Shredding
Short summary
The best guitar picks for shredding combine speed, precision, control, and a consistent attack.
Many players of shredding prefer smaller thick, beveled picks because they can provide a more precise feel during fast alternate picking, sweep picking, and any other kind of lead work.
At ChickenPicks, we see many players using the Shredder and Badazz III for this style of playing. Both picks are so called small guitar picks, which give you the feel of closer contact to the strings.
However, the best pick is ultimately a personal choice. Learn more about the best guitar picks for alternate picking.
What makes a guitar pick good for shredding?
Shredding demands accuracy and speed. Therefore, the pick should allow you to move quickly across the strings without feeling unstable or getting in the way of your picking technique.
Many shredders prefer a thicker guitar pick with a beveled edge. Instead of a flexible tip bending against the string, a thick pick can feel more controlled and direct. In addition, a carefully shaped bevel can help the pick move smoothly across the strings.
At ChickenPicks, we see many players using the Shredder and Badazz III for fast lead playing, alternate picking, and other demanding guitar techniques.
That does not mean these picks are automatically the best choice for every shredder. Your picking technique, grip, preferred tone, string gauge, and personal playing style all influence which pick feels right to you.
Why are small guitar picks popular for shredding?
Besides thickness, the overall size and shape of a guitar pick can make a significant difference when playing fast. The Shredder and Badazz III are both relatively small picks, which is intentional.
A smaller pick exposes less material between your fingers and the strings. Consequently, there is less pick surface to move through the strings, which can make precise picking feel more controlled and efficient.
For players using rapid alternate picking, economy picking, sweep picking or intricate lead techniques, this compact feel can be particularly appealing.
Small guitar picks are also often associated with greater picking accuracy.
Because less of the pick extends beyond the fingers, the player has more direct control over exactly how much of the pick contacts the string. This can help reduce unnecessary pick movement during very fast passages.
Our featured picks for shredding
Shredder – 2.4 mm & 3.5 mm
The Shredder is specifically designed for players who want a compact, precise pick for fast guitar playing.
Its small size, substantial thickness and beveled edges provide a controlled picking feel with minimal flex.
The 2.4 mm version offers a little more versatility, while the 3.5 mm provides maximum rigidity and a very solid attack.
Badazz III – 2.0 mm, 2.5 mm & 3.2 mm
The Badazz III combines a small pick shape with the rigidity and mass of a thick guitar pick.
Its beveled edges help create a smooth transition across the strings, making it particularly interesting for alternate picking, fast lead playing and precision techniques.
With three thicknesses available, players can choose the level of rigidity and feel that suits their technique.
Both picks are made from ChickenPicks’ distinctive Thermoset material.
Click on images for product page.
Common problems people experience with standard / thin plastic picks
Standard and thin plastic picks are popular for a reason: they are inexpensive, widely available, and familiar to most guitarists. However, when you start playing very fast, some players notice limitations.
Flex and inconsistent attack
A thin pick can flex considerably when it hits the string. Consequently, the attack can feel less immediate and precise, particularly during rapid alternate picking.
A thicker pick has considerably less flex. This can give the player a more solid and predictable connection with the string.
Difficulty maintaining precision
During fast passages, even small movements matter. A flexible pick can make it harder for some players to maintain exactly the same picking motion from note to note.
ChickenPicks’ thick construction and beveled edges are designed to provide a consistent picking surface. As a result, many players find it easier to make controlled, precise picking movements.
Picks wearing down quickly
Many conventional plastic picks gradually develop grooves, rough edges, or a less defined tip as they are used.
That matters because the shape of the picking edge directly influences how the pick interacts with the string.
Thermoset is exceptionally hard and wear-resistant, helping ChickenPicks maintain their shape and beveled edge for a long time. This is one of the reasons players looking for a durable thick guitar pick choose ChickenPicks.
Hand fatigue and excessive grip
Some players compensate for a flexible pick by gripping it harder. Over time, this can contribute to unnecessary tension in the picking hand and forearm.
A rigid pick does not eliminate playing tension, of course. Nevertheless, a solid, stable pick can reduce the need to squeeze the pick simply to prevent it from flexing.
That can make a thick pick worth experimenting with if you regularly experience this problem.
What makes ChickenPicks unique?
ChickenPicks are different from conventional plastic guitar picks in several important ways. To mention the most prominent difference: the material Thermoset.
Thermoset material
Thermoset is a broad class of polymers that undergo an irreversible chemical curing process.
After curing, the material cannot simply be melted and reshaped like a thermoplastic.
The most important characteristic of a thermoset is its cross-linked molecular structure.
In a typical thermoplastic, the chains can move relative to each other when enough heat is applied. This allows the material to soften and eventually flow.
During thermosetting, chemical bonds form between the polymer chains.
The result is more like a three-dimensional molecular network.Once that network has formed, the material has been permanently cured.
Unlike many common guitar picks made from thermoplastic materials, ChickenPicks are made from a hard Thermoset material. Once formed, Thermoset does not soften and remold in the same way conventional thermoplastics do.
The result is a very hard, rigid and wear-resistant guitar pick.
Combined with the substantial thickness of ChickenPicks, this creates a fundamentally different picking experience from a thin, flexible plastic pick.
Thick construction
ChickenPicks are deliberately thick. Our featured shredding models range from 2.0 mm to 3.5 mm.
That additional thickness provides mass and rigidity, while also allowing the pick to be shaped with a substantial bevel.
Beveled edges
The bevel is particularly important.
Rather than having a flat, blunt edge, ChickenPicks use carefully shaped beveled edges. This allows the pick to transition across the string smoothly while maintaining a precise attack.
For fast guitar playing, that combination of rigidity + bevel + precision is one of the main reasons ChickenPicks can feel so different from standard picks.
Built for serious guitar players
ChickenPicks were developed from a simple observation: guitar players can benefit from a pick that behaves more like a precision tool than a disposable piece of flexible plastic.
We have spent years developing thick, beveled guitar picks for players who want more control, durability and consistency.
Explore all ChickenPicks guitar picks in our web store →
Pick Dude’s Pro Tip
Don’t automatically choose the thickest pick!
A 3.5 mm pick may feel fantastic to one and completely wrong to another. Start with the thickness and shape that feels comfortable, then experiment.
If you’re currently using a thin pick, try a thick beveled pick for a few practice sessions before making up your mind. Your picking technique may need a little time to adjust.
And remember: the best guitar pick is the one that helps you play the way you want to play.
Related articles & products
Want to explore further? These pages can help you find the right ChickenPicks for your playing style:
- Best Guitar Picks for Alternate Picking
- Best Guitar Picks for Electric Guitar
- Best Guitar Picks for Beginners
- How Guitar Pick Thickness Affects Tone
Ready to try a thick, beveled guitar pick?
If you want to discover why so many players choose thick guitar picks, explore the ChickenPicks range and find the shape and thickness that suits your playing style.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Many shredders prefer thick picks because they provide rigidity, precision and a more direct attack. However, pick preference is personal, so a thick pick is not automatically better for every player.
There is no universal best thickness. ChickenPicks shredding players commonly use the Shredder in 2.4 mm or 3.5 mm and the Badazz III in 2.0 mm, 2.5 mm or 3.2 mm. The best choice depends on your technique and personal preference.
Thick picks flex less and can provide greater control and a more consistent attack. In addition, thick picks allow manufacturers to create substantial beveled edges that can influence how smoothly the pick moves across the strings.
Not necessarily. Thin picks can be excellent for certain playing styles and players. Thick picks simply offer different characteristics, including greater rigidity, mass and control. Your technique and preferred feel should ultimately determine your choice.
Yes, a pick can influence the attack and tonal response of a guitar. Thickness, material, shape, bevel and how the player holds the pick all contribute. A thick, rigid pick such as a ChickenPicks can produce a different attack and feel compared with a thin, flexible plastic pick.
Many shredders prefer small guitar picks because they provide a compact, controlled feel and reduce the amount of pick extending beyond the fingers. This can be helpful for fast alternate picking, sweep picking and other precise techniques.
Not necessarily, small does not automatically mean better. Pick size is a matter of personal preference and playing technique. The ChickenPicks Shredder and Badazz III are both small, thick and beveled picks, making them popular choices among players who enjoy fast and precise picking.
Exploring which pick is right for you, you may also enjoy:
- Best guitar picks for Beginners
- Best guitar picks for acoustic
- Best guitar picks for electric
- Best guitar picks for Stratocaster players
- Best guitar picks for Telecaster players
- Best guitar picks for metal
- Best guitar picks for Jazz
- Best guitar picks for Alternate picking
- Best guitar picks for Hybrid Picking
Designed by guitarist Eppo Franken
Playing guitar since 1979.
Developing guitar picks since 1985.
Founder of ChickenPicks guitar picks since 2010.
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