Beveled guitar picks: How They Work and Why They Matter.
Short summary
Beveled guitar picks feature angled or tapered playing edges designed to help the pick move smoothly across the strings.
The shape of the bevel, along with the pick’s thickness, material and tip geometry, influences its feel, attack, tone and string release.
Some guitarists prefer beveled picks for fast picking, precise articulation and a more controlled playing experience and/or durability.
ChickenPicks takes this design further by combining thick construction, a highly rigid Thermoset material and carefully shaped beveled edges to create picks with a solid feel and a clear, articulate attack. Thicker- and beveled picks may lessen hand fatigue or other picking hand problems in some cases.
What are Beveled guitar picks?
A beveled guitar pick has one or more angled or tapered edges rather than a uniformly flat edge.
This shaped edge changes how the pick meets and releases the string during a stroke.
When a pick passes through a string, its edge influences the resistance and feel of that interaction.
A well-designed bevel can help the pick move smoothly across the strings while maintaining a defined attack.
Bevels can vary in angle, width and finish. Some picks have a bevel primarily around the tip, while others have beveled edges along several sides. These differences affect how the pick feels during alternate picking, string crossing, lead playing and strumming.
One important distinction: a beveled edge is not the same as a thin pick.
A pick can have a relatively thin body and a beveled tip, or a thick body with a carefully tapered playing edge
Slanted angle picking
Pick slanting is a playing technique in which a guitarist angles the pick relative to the strings.
Players may adjust this angle to help the pick escape the string more efficiently, particularly during fast passages.
Pictured on the right you will see the difference between pick slanting with a thin, not beveled pick.
While in the image below a 2.7mm thick pick with beveled edges shows up. It let you see that you don’t have to extremely slant your pick when you want to play fast licks.
Pick Slanting and Beveled Edges: What’s the Difference?
A beveled guitar pick has an angled playing edge built into its design. Depending on the bevel and the way you hold the pick, this can help the pick move across the strings without requiring as much deliberate rotation of a flat-edged pick.
However, a bevel does not replace every aspect of picking technique.
Your grip, wrist motion, stroke direction and natural picking angle still matter. The key advantage is that the edge can work with your technique rather than forcing you to rely on technique alone.
Why Beveling Matters on Thick Guitar Picks
A thick guitar pick offers a different playing experience from a thin, flexible pick. Its greater thickness can provide more mass and rigidity, with less flex between your picking hand and the string.
But thickness alone does not guarantee a smooth playing experience. If the playing edge is too blunt or presents too much material to the string, the pick may feel resistant or cumbersome.
This is where the bevel becomes especially important. By tapering the playing edge toward the tip, the design allows the pick to retain a thick, rigid body while presenting a narrower contact area to the string.
The result depends on the bevel’s geometry, the material and your playing technique. A well-designed combination can provide the solid feel of a thick pick with a crisp, responsive attack and smooth string release. At least, it may help you to easier play certain riffs on your guitar.
This is one of the key design principles behind ChickenPicks.
Benefits of Beveled Guitar Picks
A well-designed beveled guitar pick can offer several practical advantages, depending on its construction and the player’s technique.
- Smoother string release: A tapered edge can help the pick pass across the string with less of the abrupt feel associated with a blunt edge.
- Controlled picking: A rigid pick with a defined playing edge can feel stable during alternate picking, string crossing and precise single-note runs.
- Distinctive attack and tone: The combination of material, tip geometry, bevel and thickness influences how the pick excites the string and how the attack is perceived.
- A different playing feel: Some guitarists find that a rigid, beveled pick gives them a more direct connection to the strings and helps them play with less unnecessary gripping tension.
Are beveled guitar picks right for everyone?
Not necessarily.
Some players prefer the flexibility and softer attack of thin picks, especially for particular strumming styles.
Others need time to adapt to a thicker, more rigid pick.
The bevel itself does not guarantee greater speed, better tone or less hand fatigue.
These outcomes depend on the complete pick design, your technique and your personal preferences.
The best approach is to experiment with different shapes, thicknesses and materials until you find the combination that works for you.
What Makes ChickenPicks Different?
ChickenPicks are not simply standard guitar picks made thicker. They are designed around the combination of thick construction, a highly rigid Thermoset material and precision-beveled playing edges.
1. Thick construction and mass
ChickenPicks range from 2.0 mm to 3.5 mm thick. This substantial construction provides a rigid feel with very little flex, giving players a more direct connection between their picking hand and the strings.
2. Precision-beveled edges
A thick pick still needs a carefully shaped playing edge. ChickenPicks feature beveled edges designed to help the pick move smoothly across the strings without sacrificing the solidity of the thicker body.
The tapered playing edge also helps create the characteristic snappy, articulate attack that many ChickenPicks players appreciate.
3. Hard Thermoset material
Material matters just as much as thickness and shape. ChickenPicks uses a hard, wear-resistant Thermoset material that helps maintain the pick’s shape and playing edges through extended use.
The combination is what matters
A thick body, a hard material and a carefully shaped bevel each contribute something different to the playing experience. Together, they create a pick designed for players who want a solid feel, precise control and a clear, punchy tone.
Rather than assuming that a thicker pick is automatically better, consider how these design features work together—and whether they suit your own technique and sound.
Made from different materials
Boutique picks can be made from various materials, including plastic, nylon, acrylic, and even metals and wood. Each contributing to the overall feel and sound.
Usually most of the boutique picks are made of acrylic or some other synthetic material.
ChickenPicks guitar picks
ChickenPicks are made from Thermoset material, known for its hardness and rigidity. Its hardness can be measured on the Shore D scale, a standardized method for testing hard plastics.
The Shore D test method is standardized under ASTM D2240 (in the US) and ISO 868 (internationally).
How to choose the right beveled guitar pick?
A good starting point for players who want to explore a thick, rigid, beveled pick in a familiar 351-style shape might be the Light 2.2 mm.
As said before, it has a thicker, but not extremely thick body. This pick already has pronounced beveled edges.
For players looking for a substantial body, a more pronounced sense of mass and a firm, controlled attack, we suggest the Regular 2.6 mm might be a good choice. Actually it’s the same model as the Light 2.2 mm, but generally thicker.
Find both Light 2.2 mm and Regular 2.6 mm guitar picks on our website and read the product description for more detailed information.
Guitar picks like Badazz III 2.0 – 2.5 – 3.2 mm deliver a compact, pointed shape for players who prefer precision and a smaller pick, particularly for lead playing and fast passages.
Of course, these extremely pointed and small guitar, Jazz III shaped, picks have beveled edges as well.
For more information on Badazz III picks please visit the product page.
Click on Pick Dude for the web store.
For players who prefer a smaller pick providing a rounded tip and want to explore different thicknesses the Shredder guitar pick may be a good alternative. In fact the Shredder is a 351 shaped pick, but smaller.
Many players find it perfect for precise- and speed picking while looking for fatter and articulate attack.
For more information in Shredder guitar picks please check the Shredder product page.
Triangle-shaped alternatives for players who want a different grip area and either rounded or pointed playing tips can be found at ChickenPicks guitar picks as well.
The Bermuda III picks are available in picks with rounded tips as well as with pointy tips.
The ChickenPicks Bermuda III picks features a comfortable triangular shape with three usable tips.
Its thick, rigid Thermoset material and beveled edges deliver a solid, articulate tone, smooth string release, and a generous gripping area for confident playing.
Both Bermuda III and Bermuda III-P are available in thicknesses 2.1 mm and 2.7 mm and may be found here.
Besides the “Standard” and “Pointy” models, you might want an even bigger triangular guitar pick and in that case you might want to check out our Bermuda III-XL 2.1 mm.
Many players choose the Bermuda III picks because of the larger gripping surface. But there is a way for any pick available to enhance the grip on the pick with the use of Gripperzz.
Gripperzz are small stickers with pronounced ribs for more grip, which can be glued on any pick, not only ChickenPicks.
As said there’s the Bermuda III-XL in 2.1 mm, which is the same idea as the “standard” Bermuda III, but larger.
We called it The Bass pick.
And as it may be a good pick for bass guitar, many players use it for electric- and acoustic guitar as well.
It’s just the name of the pick.
For a condensed comparison overview of all available picks in terms of sizes and thicknesses there is a guitar pick sizes chart on this page.
My Story: Why I Started Developing Thick, Beveled Guitar Picks
I’ve been playing guitar since 1979, and my search for a better guitar pick began in the mid-1980s.
At the time, I wanted the more solid feel and tonal response of a thick pick. The guitar picks available to me didn’t provide the combination of comfort, control and sound I was looking for.
Rather than settle for a compromise, I started experimenting with different materials and designs.
Over time, this led me toward the hard Thermoset material.
That same time I started to change the blunt edge to a beveled one for more comfort and a more pronounced attack.
The sharp beveled edge now felt not too far from home regarding the picks I used to use before.
The pick I made for myself is what we now know as the Regular 2.6mm pick and I still use this model everyday.
When my wife, Jolanda, and I founded ChickenPicks in 2010, the goal was to share that solution with other guitarists.
Today, our designs continue to focus on the same principle: a guitar pick should be more than just a piece of plastic.
Its material, thickness, shape and playing edge all contribute to how it feels and responds.
— Eppo Franken, Founder and Guitar Pick Designer at ChickenPicks guitar picks.
Less hand fatigue or picking hand problems
Thicker, beveled guitar picks may help reduce picking-hand fatigue for some players. Their rigid construction provides a solid, direct feel, while the beveled edge helps the pick move smoothly across the strings.
This combination may reduce the need to grip the pick tightly. This combination may reduce the need to grip the pick tightly, subsequently allowing a more relaxed playing hand and less tension while playing.
Of course, ask your doctor when you deal with these problems.
Let your pick do the work!
Don’t squeeze your pick like it owes you money! A thick, beveled pick may give you a more secure, direct feel with less gripping pressure. Keep your hand relaxed, let the bevel glide across the strings, and see how comfortably you can play!
What Independent “Guitar Pick Reviews” Says
The playing characteristics of a guitar pick are not determined by thickness alone. Independent reviews of ChickenPicks have also discussed their rigidity, playing feel, tonal response and edge design.
In its Chicken Picks full review, Guitar Pick Reviews describes the picks as fast and precise and discusses their bright tonal character and rigid construction. The review also compares different shapes and explains how the individual models feel to the reviewer.
Musikhaus Thomann – Germany
SoundHouse – Japan
Chicago Music Exchange – USA
Anatomy of guitar tone
Shop ChickenPicks guitar picks here (click on Pick Dude)
Designed by guitarist Eppo Franken
Playing guitar since 1979.
Developing guitar picks since 1985.
Founder of ChickenPicks guitar picks since 2010.
Frequently Asked Questions
Beveled guitar picks are picks with one or more tapered or slanted edges rather than a completely flat edge.
The bevel is designed to help the pick glide on and off the strings more smoothly, reducing resistance during picking. Beveled guitar picks are generally thicker than standard picks, often around 2.0mm or more.
They can be. The beveled edge acts like a built-in slant. It allows the pick to move smoothly across the strings without needing to rotate a flat pick as much.
This can reduce resistance and make fast single-note lines and alternate picking feel easier and more controlled.
A beveled, rigid guitar pick can produce a cleaner and more defined attack with less unwanted pick noise.
However, the final tone also depends on the pick’s material, thickness, shape, guitar, strings and playing technique. ChickenPicks’ combination of thickness, mass, beveled edges and Thermoset material is designed to produce a clear, bright tone with strong definition.
Many guitarists find beveled picks surprisingly comfortable. Because the edge can glide more easily across the strings, less force may be needed to pick, which can help reduce tension and hand fatigue during longer playing sessions.
A thicker, rigid pick can also feel more stable between the fingers.
The best beveled guitar pick depends on your preferred size, shape, thickness and playing style.
ChickenPicks offers several models with beveled edges. This includes the Regular, Light, Shredder, Badazz III, Bermuda III, Bermuda III-P and Bermuda III-XL.
All ChickenPicks models use Thermoset and feature beveled edges designed for smooth string contact.
No. A bevel describes the shape of the playing edge, not the overall thickness of the pick. Beveled picks are available in different thicknesses. ChickenPicks specializes in combining thick construction with carefully shaped bevels to create a rigid, controlled playing experience.
Yes. Beveled picks can be used on acoustic guitar as well as electric guitar and bass. The best choice depends on the sound you want, your strumming or picking technique, and your preferred thickness and shape. Players who want a softer, more flexible strumming feel may prefer a thinner pick.
Some players find that a rigid, well-shaped pick feels more stable and helps them avoid squeezing too hard. However, hand fatigue can also be caused by technique, posture, practice duration and muscle tension. A beveled pick may help some players, but it is not a guaranteed solution.
ChickenPicks combines substantial thickness, a highly rigid Thermoset material and precision-beveled playing edges. This combination is designed to provide a solid feel, minimal flex and a clear, articulate attack.
Different models offer different shapes and thicknesses to suit different playing preferences.
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