What Can I Use as a Guitar Pick? Alternative Strumming Solutions

When you’re strumming your guitar and suddenly find yourself without a traditional guitar pick, there’s no need to pause your jam session. Throughout time, guitarists have improvised picks using various materials at hand, reflecting both creativity and necessity. While a guitar pick is a small and simple tool, its impact on your playing style and the music you create can be significant. There are many alternatives readily available within your home to use as a temporary or even a permanent replacement for a standard pick.

Evaluating what you can use as an alternative to a store-bought pick involves exploring common materials like plastic or wood, as well as repurposing everyday items like coins or credit cards. Creating your own DIY guitar pick can lead to customizing its shape, thickness, and texture to precisely match your playing preferences. Whether you opt for something lying around your house, design a custom pick, or stick with a traditional one, the choice of pick can shape the tonality and the feel of your guitar playing.

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Key Takeaways

• A variety of household items can effectively substitute for a guitar pick.
• Custom making a guitar pick allows for personalized playability.
• The choice of pick deeply influences your guitar’s sound and handling.

Common Guitar Pick Materials

When choosing a guitar pick, the material is pivotal as it influences both your playing style and the tone produced. Let’s take a look at the most popular materials used.

Plastic Picks

Plastic is the most widely used material for guitar picks due to its versatility and cost-effectiveness. Picks made of plastic range in thickness and can be further classified based on the type of plastic used:

• Nylon: Known for its flexibility; ideal for a smoother strumming.
• Celluloid: Mimics the classic feel of tortoiseshell picks and typically produces a brighter tone.
• Delrin (Acetal): Offers a more matte finish and generally provides a good grip during play (Ultimate Guide to Guitar Picks).

Metal Picks

Metal picks are less common but valued for their durability and distinctive sound. They tend to produce a sharper attack and brighter tone, making them a favorite for some genres:

• Stainless Steel: Provides a crisp sound and is resistant to wear.
• Copper and Brass: Warmer tones and often used for their unique musical influence on the guitar’s sound.

Wooden Picks

Wooden guitar picks are relatively niche but cherished for the warm and natural tone they impart:

• Hardwoods: Such as ebony and oak, deliver a rich and warm sound that is different from plastic or metal picks.
• Softer Woods: Like pine, grant a gentle and smooth playing experience.

Each type of pick offers a distinct feel and sound, allowing you to express your music in unique ways. Your pick choice can deeply affect your performance and the sonic character of your guitar playing.

Household Items as Guitar Pick Substitutes

While you’re in the middle of a jam session and find yourself without a traditional guitar pick, don’t let that stop you. Your home is full of objects that can act as a suitable substitute.

Coins and Credit Cards

Coins are a classic substitute pick – they’re firm and easy to grip. You might find using a coin provides a unique sound, adding some metallic edge to your strumming. On the other hand, a credit card may be a bit more flexible, but they can still hit the strings effectively. Here’s an interesting fact: legendary guitarist Brian May often uses a British sixpence piece as his pick.

• Coins: Metallic sound, firm grip
• Credit Cards: Flexible, convenient

CDs and Gift Cards

If you have old CDs or DVDs lying around, they can be cut into the shape of a pick. They offer a sturdier feel and can be good for both strumming and picking. Similarly, gift cards that have run out of credit work just like pre-cut picks and provide a smooth playing surface.

• Old CDs/DVDs: Custom shape, sturdy
• Gift Cards: Pre-shaped, smooth edges

Other Creative Alternatives

You can experiment with various household items to find your unique sound. A bottle cap can function as a pick but with a grip that is more challenging to master. Business cards or card stock might be flimsy but can work in a pinch. If you’re eco-conscious, why not try a piece from a recycled KFC container or a plastic bottle cap? For more precision, try the thin edge of a SIM card or a plastic ruler.

• Bottle Caps/Plastic Bottle Caps: Distinct grip, textured sound
• Business Cards/Card Stock: Light, easily available
• KFC Containers/Plastic Rulers: Eco-friendly, durable

Keep in mind that these substitutes may impact your strings differently than a traditional pick, so consider the potential wear when choosing your alternative.

Customizing Your Pick for Playability

Crafting your own guitar pick allows you to fine-tune the thickness, shape, and grip to suit your playing style perfectly. By customizing your DIY guitar pick, you optimize the balance between flexibility and control, enhancing your overall musical expression.

Adjusting Thickness and Shape

The thickness of your pick greatly influences your tactile connection with the guitar strings. For strumming, a thinner pick—usually around 0.38 to 0.60 mm—offers more give, which can create a lighter sound. For picking or lead playing, a thicker pick—from 0.60 to 1.4 mm or more—provides more control and a heavier attack. Utilizing a pick punch, you can shape your DIY picks from a variety of materials like old credit cards or plastic lids. Remember to smooth out the edges to avoid unwanted string noise.

• Materials: Old credit cards, gift cards, plastic lids
• Tools: Pick punch, scissors, file
• Thickness Guide:
  • Thin: 0.38 – 0.60 mm (Strumming)
  • Medium: 0.60 – 0.80 mm (Mixed Use)
  • Thick: 0.80 – 1.4 mm (Picking/Lead)

Creating Comfortable Grip

A pick with a comfortable grip ensures it won’t slip during an intense playing session. You can create a DIY pick with a grip by etching a series of small grooves on one side of the pick or stick small pieces of grip tape. For an improvised tactile enhancement, some even opt for serrated edges, though be sure it doesn’t interfere with your playing. If you’re using a pick punch, try punching picks with textured areas of the source material for a built-in grip.

• Gripping Methods:
  • Grooves: Use a nail file to etch small grooves for a homemade grip.
  • Grip tape: Cut small pieces and apply them to the pick.
  • Textured Materials: Choose the area of the card or plastic with a pre-existing texture.

By personalizing the grip and shape of your pick with a pick puncher or simple DIY methods, you can achieve a pick that feels like an extension of your fingers—a true conduit of your musical intent.

Conclusion: Finding Your Perfect Pick

When searching for your perfect guitar pick, consider how it feels between your thumb and index finger, as this is crucial for both comfort and control. The right pick can affect your picking speed and the precision of your fingerpicking or strumming.

For Fingerstyle Technique:

• Try using your thumb and fingers if you prefer the nuances of fingerstyle playing; no pick is often the choice of fingerstyle guitarists.
• Artists like Lindsey Buckingham are known for their fingerstyle genius, often forgoing a pick entirely.

For Strumming:

• A thinner pick may offer more flexibility and a softer sound.
• Common household items like quarters, nickels, or a dime can be used temporarily.

For Shredding:

• Thicker picks are usually preferred for fast picking speed as they offer more control.
• Jazz picks, which are often thicker and smaller, can be exemplary for intricate lead work.

If You Need a Pick in a Pinch:

• Substitutes such as wooden toothpicks, toothpicks, pens, or paperclips can serve temporarily.

Buying Picks:

• Explore online stores like Amazon, Sweetwater, or Guitar Center for a wide selection.
• Consider trying a homemade guitar pick for a personalized touch.

Experiment with different shapes, sizes, and materials until you find one that feels right. Remember, the goal is to find a pick that complements your unique playing style, whether you are strumming chords, fingerpicking, or shredding solos.