What guitar picks should I use as a Beginner?

Choosing a guitar pick may seem like a small detail. But it can make a surprisingly big difference in how comfortable your playing feels and how your guitar sounds. Choosing the right pick can help you play more accurately, reduce hand fatigue, and make practicing more enjoyable even when you are a beginner.

While many beginners automatically reach for thin, flexible picks, there’s no single “best” choice. Your ideal pick depends on your playing style, the music you enjoy, and what feels comfortable in your hand. The best approach is to experiment with different thicknesses, materials, and shapes until you find what works for you. (Guitar World)

Short summary

For beginners, the most important factors are pick thickness, material, shape, and grip. Although many new players start with thinner picks, it’s worth trying thicker picks as well for finding the best guitar pick for you.
You may discover that a thicker, beveled pick offers better control, improved tone, and a more relaxed playing experience. And of course, it’s more durable.

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Why thickness plays a role in guitar tone

More mass is more tone

A guitar pick transfers energy from your hand to the string. Generally speaking, a thicker pick contains more mass and flexes less, allowing more of that energy to go directly into the string.
This may result in a fuller, warmer and more articulate tone.

Thin picks can produce a brighter sound, but they also absorb part of your picking energy by bending before the string is released. That flexibility can reduce precise picking during single-note playing and faster passages as you may also understand from what GuitarWorld says in their article about picks (GW).

More grip with thicker picks

A thicker pick fills your fingers more naturally, making it easier to hold without squeezing tightly. Because the pick is more substantial, many players find they can maintain better control with less effort.

This can be especially helpful when learning new techniques or playing single note runs.

Why beveled edges make precise picking easier

Less string distance between 2 strings

Another advantage of thicker picks is that the thickness seems to reduce the amount of space between two strings.
Many guitar players feel this makes string changes feel more precise and efficient, especially during lead playing.

Less delay in pick attack and the flexibility is in your hand

The actual showed model here is a ChickenPicks guitar picks Badazz III 3.2mm. Find more information about the Badazz III picks here.

Often guitarists find that a thicker pick feels more natural in your hand and you don’t have to grip too firmly. Accordingly, this loosener gripping may help the pick not that sturdy. Actually, the degree of grip between your fingers determines how flexible and easy the pick glides over the strings.

Less string breakage with thicker picks

It may sound surprising, but many players find that thicker beveled picks are actually gentler on strings than thin picks with sharper edges.

A thicker pick has more mass of its own, which helps you creating more as we said earlier in this post. That said, many guitar players say that a thicker pick increases volume, more than thin picks do. This is the reason that you won’t have to pick your strings extremely hard to get that full tone with thicker picks.

Furthermore a thicker beveled pick glides over the string instead of snapping against it, the contact can be smoother, potentially reducing unnecessary pick wear. Accordingly, less pick wear may sometimes also mean less pick noise.

Why thicker picks help avoiding hand fatigue (Grip less firmly)

One overlooked advantage of thicker picks is ergonomics.
Since you don’t need to pinch them as tightly to maintain control, your fingers, wrist and forearm can stay more relaxed. Less tension often means less fatigue, especially during longer practice sessions.

Relaxed hands also make it easier to develop good picking technique from the beginning.

Increase faster playing

The more relaxed you hand / forearm is, the easier it will be to speed up your picking speed. Many people find that you should not try to play as fast as you can starting from the beginning. Build up your speed in time and avoid some sort of “overkill” to your picking hand.

Would you need smaller picks, or larger guitar picks?

There is no universal “best” size.

Smaller picks often provide:

• Faster, more precise picking
• Better control for lead playing
• Efficient string changes

Larger picks often provide:

• More surface area to hold
• Comfortable grip for beginners
• Great control for rhythm playing and strumming

Many players eventually own both and switch depending on the music they play.

The solution for sweaty fingers

Even the perfect pick isn’t helpful if it constantly rotates in your fingers.

Some picks include textured grip surface. Unlike ChickenPicks guitar picks which provide large ribs which allow some ventilation. As a result, many guitar players find that these ventilating ribs help you not getting too much sweat between your fingers. Even when you already have too much sweaty fingers, the ribs can help wick away some of the moisture.

Pictured above you will see the standard gripping ribs on ChickenPicks guitar picks. Many guitar players find these perfect for more grip onto their guitar pick.

The best grip stickers

If you struggle with extremely sweaty hands, accessories like GRIPPERZZ as showed in this link, add grip to any pick, helping you gripping securely throughout your playing. The ribs that these GRIPPERZZ provide are incredibly high and guitarists find that these provide the best grip accessories for guitar picks since Monster Grips went out of business.
When you want to know more on GRIPPERZZ, please read our post.

What is the best guitar pick material for beginners?

The material affects both feel and durability and tonal differences.

Popular materials include:

• Thermoset: Extremely rigid and durable, delivers percussive fat punchy tone.
• Nylon: Flexible with a softer feel, often preferred for strumming.
• Celluloid: Traditional feel with a warm response, although it wears faster than many modern materials.
• Delrin: Durable, balanced tone and good all-round choice.
• Ultex: Famous for its rigid feel and crystal-clear bright tone.

Which Pick Shape is best for Beginners

Shape is largely personal preference as many guitarists find that they use the picks that fit their needs.

The classic 351 shape remains a great starting point because it’s versatile and works well for almost every playing style.

Smaller Jazz-style picks offer excellent precision, while larger triangle picks provide additional grip.
Over time, you’ll naturally discover which shape feels most comfortable in your hand.

For me personally I like a guitar pick that feels well balanced in my hands and which makes me feel good. My opinion is that when the pick feels well balanced, I don’t need to push that hard to let the strings ring fully out.

How to hold a guitar pick

As a beginner you might want to know how to hold your pick for strumming, playing riffs and more.
In fact, the way you hold the pick best is the way it feels best for your comfort.

Place the guitar pick on top of your index finger with a little less than let’s say 6mm sticking out past the fingertip. The pick is sandwiched between the thumb and the side of the (curled) index finger. When you are interested in more information about how to hold a guitar pick for different guitar and/or music styles, you could dive into the special we wrote.

Why I started ChickenPicks guitar picks

It must be somewhere around the time that I was about 18 years old in ca.1986 that I played with a Scotty’s 0.6mm Nylon pick for years and I wasn’t happy with it anymore. The Heavy picks back than were Gibson Heavy black picks with a thickness of a little over 1.0mm I guess.

On the other hand you had the purple Dunlop 2.0mm, which I tried to become used to for months.
But I missed the balance giving me the feel of synergy when playing. Furthermore I absolutely hated the sound that this pick created. It was dull and characterless.

Trying any material that I came across

Well, I was on the search for my new guitar pick that I wanted to create for myself. Anything from ash trays to even the front of a radio, you name it. I tried it all.

Thermosetting plastic

One moment I came across a piece of thermosetting plastic and I found out that it had the perfect thickness of 2.6mm to create bevels on both sides. And after a few hours I found the perfect pick, the perfect material and the perfect size for me.

From now on I was able to play licks that I wasn’t able before

The most striking advantage of this material, thickness and beveled edges was that I did not have to grip too tightly.
This made it easier for me to play guitar licks that I wasn’t able to play with thin flimsy picks.
At ChickenPicks guitar picks you will find the Regular 2.6mm, which is my goto pick ever since.

Trying to selling them

Well, after all these years of making them for myself and for some friends, my wife Jolanda asked me in 2010 if we could sell them. As a joke (we both had a great job in banking) Jolanda created a small website and I started to post on Twitter.
The joke turned to a serious company selling our picks in 100+ different countries and over time more than 200,000 guitarists have been playing with ChickenPicks guitar picks.

You can find the different models of our picks through this link as well as the other products we make.

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Important terms in guitar picks (or plectrums)

Alternate picking

A picking technique where downstrokes and upstrokes alternate continuously. It improves speed, timing and efficiency.

Attack

The initial contact between the pick and the string. Attack strongly influences articulation and how a note begins.

Beveled edge

A tapered or angled edge on the pick that helps it glide smoothly across the strings with less resistance.

Flex

The amount a pick bends while playing. Thin picks flex more, while thicker picks remain rigid.

Gauge

Another word for pick thickness, usually measured in millimeters (mm).

Grip

How securely a pick stays between your fingers. Grip depends on texture, thickness and the material itself.

Rounded tip

Produces a smoother attack and often sounds slightly warmer, making it suitable for rhythm playing.

Pointy tip

Provides greater precision and articulation, making it popular for lead guitar and fast picking.

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Should I use ChickenPicks guitar picks as a beginner?

Many beginner guitarists start with thinner and more flexible picks—typically under 1.0 mm—because they feel forgiving during basic chord strumming (GW).

Beginners shouldn’t limit themselves to thin picks alone.

At ChickenPicks, we see many beginner guitar players who enjoy our thicker picks because they appreciate the improved control, smooth beveled edges and relaxed grip.
While they feel different from traditional thin picks, they can be an excellent option right from the start.

The best advice on guitar picks for beginners is simple: don’t assume thinner is automatically better;
try several different picks and let your own hands decide.

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Why many Beginners choose for ChickenPicks guitar picks

ChickenPicks are designed with a different philosophy than many traditional guitar picks.

Rather than relying on flexibility, they focus on rigidity, carefully designed beveled edges and ergonomic comfort.
Many players find this combination offers:

• Excellent precise picking accuracy
• Smooth string release
• Fuller, more articulate and percussive tone
• Less gripping pressure
• Reduced hand fatigue during longer practice sessions
• Outstanding durability

How to Choose the Best Guitar Pick for Beginners

Whether you’re learning your first chords or starting to explore lead guitar, trying different pick styles is one of the easiest upgrades you can make. While thin picks certainly have their place, many beginners discover that a thicker ChickenPicks pick gives them more confidence, better control and a playing experience that simply feels more natural.
After all, the best guitar pick for beginners isn’t determined by a rule—it’s the one that inspires you to keep playing.

How We Chose the Best Picks

We have many different picks to choose and after trying several models, brands, materials and thicknesses we ended up with just a few for strumming, playing riffs etc. Finally we chose what suits us best for hours and hours of jamming.

Our Recommended Picks

As for ChickenPicks we recommend trying out the Light 2.2mm, Shredder 3.5mm, Badazz III 2.5mm and a Bermuda III 2.1mm pick for starting. Of course, we have many other models to choose from and you are free to choose anything you like. The recommended models cover the most in terms of differentness between them all.

Choosing Your First Guitar Pick ← conclusion

Choosing your first guitar pick doesn’t have to be complicated. While many beginners are told to start with a thin pick, the reality is that comfort, control and confidence matter far more than thickness alone. The best guitar pick is the one that feels natural in your hand and encourages you to keep playing.

If you’re mostly strumming chords on an acoustic guitar, a slightly thinner or medium pick may feel more forgiving. If you’re learning riffs, melodies or electric guitar, a thicker pick can provide greater accuracy and a fuller sound.

At ChickenPicks, we believe beginners shouldn’t be limited by traditional advice. A high-quality pick with excellent grip and consistent tone can make practicing more enjoyable from day one. Whether you prefer a thinner pick or a thicker model, the most important thing is to choose a pick that inspires you to play more often.

Guitar picks sizes chart

When you want to know more about the picks and their dimensions, please check our guitar picks sizes chart.

What others say about ChickenPicks guitar picks

Musikhaus Thomann
Chicago Music Exchange
Guitarpickreviews.com
Anatomy of guitar tone

F.A.Q.