Best Guitar Picks for Eric Johnson Style Guitar Playing
Looking for the best guitar picks for Eric Johnson style guitar playing?
Short summary
Eric Johnson’s playing combines precision, articulate lead lines, dynamic picking and a highly controlled attack. His signature Jazz III is famous for its compact shape and pointed tip.
For guitarists who enjoy this style but want to explore a thicker, more rigid pick, we often recommend trying the ChickenPicks Badazz III 2.0, 2.5 or 3.2mm.
Many guitarists using this type of guitar and playing style choose the Badazz III, although the best guitar pick always depends on your technique, grip and personal tonal preference.
For more information, see our guide to the Best Guitar Picks for Jazz, Best Guitar Picks for Rock or Best Guitar Picks for Stratocaster players.
What Makes an Eric Johnson Style So Distinctive?
Eric Johnson is renowned for an exceptionally controlled and articulate approach to guitar playing. His sound combines blues, rock, jazz and country influences, while his picking technique places considerable emphasis on tone and precision.
Interestingly, Johnson himself has spoken about how important the pick is to the final sound. In a 2026 interview, he described pick material and picking mechanics as fundamental parts of guitar tone.
His official signature pick remains the Eric Johnson Custom Nylon Jazz III 1.38mm, developed with a custom nylon blend and a refined pointed tip.
That makes the Jazz III concept particularly interesting for players who want:
- precise note separation
- a pointed picking tip
- controlled alternate picking
- a consistent attack
- excellent maneuverability during lead playing
However, there is another direction worth exploring: substantially thicker and more rigid picks.
That is where the Badazz III becomes interesting.
Why Many Players Choose the Badazz III
We see many guitarists using the Badazz III when looking for a compact pick with considerably more thickness, rigidity and mass than a conventional Jazz III-style pick.
The Badazz III is available in three thicknesses:
Badazz III 2.0mm
The 2.0mm version is a natural starting point for guitarists who normally use a medium or Jazz-style pick but want to move toward a thicker design.
It provides substantially more rigidity than a thin plastic pick while remaining relatively easy to adapt to.
The pointed tip is particularly useful for precise lead playing and controlled string contact.
For players exploring thick picks for the first time, this is often the least dramatic step.
Badazz III 2.5mm
The 2.5mm version provides an excellent balance between rigidity, control and playing comfort.
Because there is very little flex, the player gets a more direct relationship between hand movement and string contact.
That can be especially appealing for alternate picking, fast lead passages and players who want a very defined attack.
For many players, 2.5mm can be the sweet spot of the Badazz III range.
Badazz III 3.2mm
The 3.2mm version takes the concept considerably further.
Its substantial mass and rigidity create an exceptionally stable picking platform, while its carefully shaped bevel helps the pick move smoothly across the string.
For experienced players who already enjoy thick picks, the 3.2mm version can be particularly attractive for highly controlled lead work, articulate picking and players seeking a very solid attack.
ChickenPicks describes the Badazz III as combining substantial thickness, beveled edges and a highly rigid Thermoset material.
Common Problems People Experience with Standard / Thin Plastic Picks
Thin plastic picks work perfectly well for millions of guitarists. Nevertheless, some players discover limitations when they start playing faster or demand greater precision from their picking hand.
Pick flex
A flexible pick bends when it contacts the string.
As a result, part of the movement from your picking hand is absorbed by the pick itself. For players looking for an extremely immediate attack, this can feel less controlled.
A thicker, rigid pick greatly reduces this flex.
Changes caused by wear
The edge of a conventional pick can gradually change as it interacts with the strings.
Once the edge becomes uneven or develops wear, the way the pick releases the string can also change.
That matters particularly for players who rely on a very consistent attack.
More pick movement
A thin pick may require a firmer grip to maintain control during energetic or highly precise playing.
Consequently, some players find that a more rigid pick allows them to relax their grip rather than constantly compensating for pick movement.
Less definition for some playing styles
This is subjective, but many players looking for precise lead playing prefer the more substantial feel and attack of a thicker pick.
ChickenPicks are designed specifically around this idea: substantial thickness + rigidity + beveled edges.
That does not mean a thick pick is automatically better. Rather, it gives players another tool for achieving the response they are looking for.
What Makes ChickenPicks Unique?
The most important difference is not simply thickness.
It is the combination of material, mass, geometry and edge design.
Thermoset material
ChickenPicks are manufactured from a specialized Thermoset material, rather than the conventional thermoplastic materials commonly used for guitar picks.
Thermosetting polymers form a permanently cross-linked structure during curing. Unlike thermoplastics, a cured Thermoset cannot simply be melted and reshaped. This type of molecular structure can provide high rigidity, dimensional stability and wear resistance.
For a guitar pick, this is particularly interesting.
The material’s rigidity works together with the substantial thickness of the Badazz III. Consequently, the pick flexes far less than a thin conventional pick, helping create a more immediate and controlled connection between your hand and the string.
You can read the full explanation here: What Is Thermoset? Understanding the Material Behind ChickenPicks.
Beveled edges
The edge of a guitar pick is constantly interacting with the string.
A carefully engineered bevel can help the pick transition smoothly across the string instead of presenting a large flat edge.
Combined with the rigidity of Thermoset, this is one reason ChickenPicks are designed for players who value smooth string release and precise articulation.
Make thicker picks precise picking easier?
Many people say that a thicker guitar pick can also feel more precise because less of the pick sits between two adjacent strings.
This reduces the space the pick has to travel when changing strings, which many players find helpful for accurate alternate picking, string skipping and fast, controlled passages.
More mass
A 2.0mm, 2.5mm or 3.2mm pick obviously contains more material than a thin pick.
That additional mass changes the physical feel of the pick and can contribute to the perception of a fuller, more substantial attack.
Therefore, ChickenPicks are not simply “thicker versions” of ordinary picks. The goal is to combine mass, rigidity and edge geometry into one playing system.
What the Experts and Guitar Community Say
There is useful independent evidence that pick design and material matter.
MusicRadar noted that the Jazz III’s “pointed tip and rounded edge” were central to Eric Johnson’s choice, reflecting the importance of shape and string interaction in his playing.
Jim Dunlop likewise states that Johnson adopted the Jazz III as an important part of his setup and describes his signature pick as having a refined tip and a material chosen specifically for its tonal characteristics.
And this isn’t only theoretical. Independent guitar-pick specialist Guitar Pick Reviews has published a dedicated review of ChickenPicks, while Anatomy of Tone has also examined ChickenPicks in the context of guitar and bass pick development.
ChickenPicks are also stocked by established retailers including Musikhaus Thomann and Chicago Music Exchange. Thomann currently lists all models including Badazz III 2.0mm, 2.5mm and 3.2mm models among its Chicken Picks range.
Related Articles & Products
Discover more about the world of thick and precision guitar picks:
Best Guitar Picks for Jazz
Explore why many jazz and precision-oriented guitarists prefer rigid, articulate picks.
Badazz III Guitar Picks
Read the complete Badazz III specifications, design philosophy and playing characteristics.
What Is Thermoset?
Discover why the material behind ChickenPicks is so different from conventional guitar-pick plastics.
Ready to try the Badazz III?
Explore the Badazz III 2.0 + 2.5 + 3.2mm Variety Pack in the ChickenPicks Store
Trying all three thicknesses is one of the easiest ways to discover which level of rigidity and mass fits your own playing.
Don’t try to copy Eric Johnson’s setup exactly — copy what you like about his approach.
Eric Johnson’s signature pick is a relatively thin 1.38mm Jazz III.
However, if what you love is the precision, pointed attack and controlled articulation of that style, a much thicker pick can be a fascinating experiment.
Start with the Badazz III 2.0mm. Then try the 2.5mm and finally the 3.2mm.
You may discover that the extra rigidity lets you relax your grip while giving you the controlled attack you’ve been looking for.
And remember: the best guitar pick is ultimately the one that feels and sounds right to you.
Designed by guitarist Eppo Franken
Playing guitar since 1979.
Developing guitar picks since 1985.
Founder of ChickenPicks guitar picks since 2010.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily.
However, many players like thick picks because they offer less flex, greater stability and a very direct picking response. Whether that is better depends on your technique and personal preference.
There is no universal answer. Many fast players prefer picks around 1.5–3.0mm because they provide greater rigidity. The Badazz III 2.0mm and 2.5mm are good starting points, while the 3.2mm is intended for players who want maximum rigidity.
Yes, it can. Pick thickness, material, shape and edge geometry all influence how the string is attacked. A thicker, more rigid pick can produce a different attack and feel compared with a thin flexible pick.
They can feel unusual at first, especially if you have always used thin picks. Nevertheless, many players adapt surprisingly quickly because a rigid pick does not flex in the same way as a thin pick.
The Badazz III 3.2mm is the thickest Badazz III version. It is designed for players who want maximum stability, substantial mass and a highly controlled picking response.
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