8 Myths about guitar picks
8 Myths about guitar picks
We have been in the guitar pick industry for a couple of years now. During this time, numerous customers have sent lots of inquiries with repeated questions and myths.
We have summarized the top 8 myths that “shocked” us the most, and we explain why they don’t make any sense!
1st Myth: Guitar picks don't influence guitar tone.
In guitar picks, qualities like thickness, material, shape, and size play a pivotal role in tone, feedback, grip, guitar pick noise, sustain, etc…
Why this happens has a simple explanation: Different shapes or materials make the guitar strings vibrate in different patterns.
In our article “Do guitar picks really affect the tone of your guitar” we discuss all the aspects in detail.
2nd Myth: There is a "best" pick for everything
The guitar is one of the most popular instruments because it is versatile. This versatility is achieved by a broad range of techniques. Different techniques require different picks.
Like in every guitar aspect, there is no "better" or "worse".
If you are looking for a brighter sound, then Tortex might be your choice. Nevertheless, if your aim is to get a warmer/darker/deeper tone, other materials like Nylon could perform way better.
The same applies to guitar pick thickness, shape, size, the grip texture, etc.
I recommend having at least 3 to 5 guitar picks for different specific usages. If you do not know where to start you have three options:
- Learn about guitar picks
- A Variety Pack
- Get advice (free advice here)
3rd Myth: You don't need picks if you know how to play with your fingers
Both methods are valid and appropriate for the right musical context. Your goal as a musician is to be able to create the sounds you imagine. The method is up to you!
However, some basic techniques like tremolo picking, palm mute, pinch harmonics, or pick slides are very difficult to perform with fingers. Even more, they are also faster to learn if you use guitar picks. This point also plays a role in keeping your motivation at a high level.
If you love both picking methods you’ll end up with a broader technique repertoire and will profit from both worlds.
4th Myth: Bryan May uses a coin. Everyone should do the same.
You can make a pick out of every item, a penny, paper, old credit cards, or anything else. The important thing here is the joy of exploration. Not the specific taste of one excellent influential guitarist.
Imagine how much you’ll limit yourself if you make the wrong decisions at the beginning of your career.
5th Myth: Guitar picks don't have an influence on speed.
Some qualities like pick shape, a beveled edge, and a polished guitar pick can play an important role in your speed.
“Real” guitar shredders use thick and pointy guitar picks. Probably this combination is the best place to start if you are looking for guitar speed. But remember, the most influential factor when it comes to developing speed is the number of hours of deliberate training!
6th Myth: Once you find a pick that works for you, stick to it forever.
If every song has different requirements, why always use the same guitar pick?
Different guitar picks make a difference in your tone and your playing.
I am not saying that’s impossible to play a “master of puppets” with a 0.38 mm rounded guitar pick. It is all a matter of practice and habits. However, with the right tools, you will learn faster.
In this case, for such a song with lots of palm-mute and downpicking, I would choose a thick, pointy, durable guitar pick, like Rombo Diamond.
If later today, I’m feeling like playing bossanova-jazz phrases with my semi-hollow guitar, I’ll probably use a rounded medium pick. Preferably our of Nylon.
7th Myth: Guitar picks are expensive
This is one of the most controversial aspects related to guitar picks.
You can find arguments for both the “cheap” and the “expensive” side.
Argument: “Guitar picks are expensive”:
- It’s just a piece of plastic
- I’ll lose it very fast
Argument: “Guitar picks are actually cheap”
- If it is a good one, I can use it for over 200 hours (more on durability here)
- It’s the fastest way to change the tone of your guitar
- It’s the bridge between your hands and your instrument and it deserves more attention.
- It costs less than a cup of coffee.
Put in perspective, when you purchase a guitar pick you don’t only “buy a piece of plastic”. Behind the shape and the material development there is a lot of engineering going on.
In addition, you are supporting the infrastructure behind it (customer support, web development, logistics, production, marketing, distribution, R&D, packaging,...). Without one of these single elements, there won’t be guitar picks.
8th Myth: After five seconds on the floor, a pick disappears and goes to an unknown dimension.
This happens after only three seconds, not five.
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