Guitar Start Guide
Choosing the best guitar picks for beginners feels trivial until you realise how much a tiny piece of plastic changes how you sound and feel. Thickness, shape, and material all matter, and the right pick can make strumming smoother and single notes cleaner from day one. The good news: picks are cheap, so you can experiment freely. This guide breaks down thickness gauges, materials, and a few genuinely good starter options.
Why pick thickness matters more than brand
Pick thickness (or “gauge”) is measured in millimetres and is the single biggest factor in how a pick behaves. Thin picks flex and glide across the strings, which suits strumming chords. Thick picks stay rigid, giving you more control and volume for single notes and lead playing. Most beginners strum first, so a thinner-to-medium pick is usually the friendlier starting point.
| Thickness | Gauge (mm) | Feel | Best for beginners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thin | 0.44–0.60 | Flexible, “clicky” | Gentle acoustic strumming |
| Medium | 0.60–0.80 | Balanced, forgiving | Great all-rounder — start here |
| Heavy | 0.80–1.20 | Stiff, controlled | Single notes, riffs, electric |
| Extra heavy | 1.20+ | Very rigid | Lead playing (later on) |
The sweet spot for most beginners
If you want one number to start with, aim for around 0.60mm to 0.73mm. That medium range is forgiving enough for strumming but stiff enough to pick individual strings without the pick flopping around. Once you can strum comfortably and want cleaner single notes, try stepping up to 0.88mm. Buy a small variety pack and let your hands tell you what feels right.
Materials: does it matter?
- Celluloid — the classic feel, warm tone, a little slippery when your hands are sweaty.
- Nylon — grippy and flexible, often has a textured surface so it doesn’t slip.
- Delrin/Tortex — durable, matte finish with reliable grip; a favourite for good reason.
- Ultem/Acrylic — bright, hard, and long-lasting; more of a step up for lead players.
For a first pick, a Delrin/Tortex-style medium is hard to beat — grippy, cheap, and consistent. Don’t overthink the material; thickness and grip matter far more when you’re starting out.
Shape and grip
The standard 351 shape (the classic rounded-triangle) fits almost everyone and is what we’d recommend first. If you keep dropping the pick, look for a textured surface or a model with a raised grip. Some beginners hold too tightly and tire out — a slightly grippier pick lets you relax your hand, which actually improves your playing.
Recommended starter picks
| Pick | Thickness | Why it’s good for beginners |
|---|---|---|
| Dunlop Tortex Standard | 0.60 or 0.73mm | Grippy, durable, colour-coded by gauge |
| Fender 351 Medium (celluloid) | medium | Classic feel, cheap, widely available |
| Dunlop Nylon Standard | 0.60mm | Textured grip, flexible for strumming |
| Variety/sampler pack | mixed | Best way to find your preference cheaply |
Prices are tiny — often around $5 to $8 for a handful, at the time of writing. Buy a variety pack, keep a few in your case, your pocket, and next to where you practise, because you will lose them.
Check current prices on Amazon: Dunlop Tortex Standard .73mm · Dunlop Nylon Standard .60mm · Fender 351 celluloid, medium · Dunlop variety pack →
Once you’ve found your pick: The right pick is a small win, but the bigger one is having a plan, so pair it with a structured course like Jamorama and actually put it to work.
Picks are just one small piece of the puzzle. If you’re still assembling your kit, our roundups of the best beginner guitars, the best acoustic guitars for beginners, and the best electric guitars for beginners will help you get the big decisions right first. You’ll find everything else in our guitar gear section.
Frequently Asked Questions
What thickness pick should a beginner use?
Start around 0.60mm to 0.73mm. It’s forgiving for strumming but firm enough to pick single strings. Move to 0.88mm or heavier as you get into single-note playing and lead.
Are thin or thick picks easier for beginners?
Thin picks are easier for gentle strumming because they flex over the strings. Thicker picks give more control for single notes but can feel stiff at first. A medium gauge splits the difference nicely.
Do I need different picks for acoustic and electric?
Not really. Many players use a slightly thinner pick for acoustic strumming and a heavier one for electric lead, but you can happily use the same medium pick on both while you’re learning.
How do I stop dropping my pick?
Use a textured or grippy pick, and check you’re not gripping too hard — a relaxed hold is more stable. A little practice holding it between your thumb and the side of your index finger goes a long way.
What to Read Next
- Best Beginner Guitars 2026: Acoustic & Electric Picks
- Best Acoustic Guitars for Beginners (2026)
- Best Electric Guitars for Beginners (2026)
How we reviewed this (updated 16 October 2026): this page is based on the vendor’s official information, pricing and policies and on public user feedback. We have not hands-on tested the products listed.
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