Have you ever wondered about the pointy little things on the guitar player’s hand? Are you rolling your eyes at this question because, of course, those are nail picks? Either way, this one’s for you. Besides channeling Wolverine and temporarily equipping any musician with a claw, guitar picks have a long history of helping musical humans compensate for the things nature did not provide.
What Are Guitar Picks for?
Guitar picks extend your reach and increase your ability to isolate single notes. They are small, simple devices that are used to play one string at a time. Most people picture a single, triangular guitar pick, but they aren’t the only game in town.
What Do Different Guitar Picks Do?
- Individual Picks– Most single picks are shaped like triangles and teardrops. Their various sizes and widths affect your ability to grip them and play individual notes. Many larger picks also make it easier to strum.
- Finger Picks- These are individual gadgets you put on your thumb and each finger to give you even more control, increasing your ability to call on single strings quickly. Some purists still prefer to grow out their natural nails or add acrylic nails instead of adding equipment. Not everyone wants permanent picks, but picturing actual fingernails helps to understand their purpose.
- Thumb Pick– A thumb pick usually comes in the same pack as a fingerpick but has an entirely different purpose when you put it on. You normally strum with your thumb, so a thumb pick augments this motion and gives you more control over your emphasis and volume.
What Genres of Music are Guitar Nail Picks Good For?
A love of bluegrass, folk, or country music, classical guitar, or any string-heavy song is a great reason to learn picking. Many other instruments also benefit from the use of these same picks. Ukelele, banjo, mandolin, and harp all utilize nail picks.
How Do I Choose Guitar Finger Picks?
Guitar Finger and Thumb Picks: Metal Vs. Plastic
Metal and plastic are the primary materials for today’s nail picks.
Metal– Metal picks stand up against guitar strings and provide a bright, crisp sound. If you’re using your nail picks for a banjo, this durability might be non-negotiable. Metal picks are often adjustable so that you can get the right fit.
Plastic– Plastic guitar nail picks are inexpensive and versatile. They can be quickly filed or altered. Plastic nail picks have more give than their metal counterparts, so they naturally produce a softer sound. Celluloid, nylon, and acrylic are some artificial materials that qualify here.
Thick or Thin Picks?
Guitar nail picks vary in thickness from 0.4mm to 1.22. That millimeter span makes a huge difference. Guitar nail picks are rarely extra thin, as this width is best for light strumming, which is not the point of a finger pick. Finger Nail picks vary but trend toward a medium thickness of about 0.85mm.
Our Favorite Guitar Nail Picks
At less than $20 for the most expensive pick on our list (and that’s a big bag with multiple sets), nail picks are a low-risk experiment for guitar players. We haven’t separated the contenders by price because they’re all relatively cheap.
National NP1-8B Thumb & Finger Pick Pack
Pros: Nationals are widely appreciated for their versatility and affordable price point. These metal standby picks include four stainless steel picks and two plastic thumb picks. We have linked to the large size here, but they are available in three sizes. They run true to size, according to most reviews.
Cons: Metal picks are thicker and can’t be customized.
SUNLP Celluloid Guitar Pick Variety Pack
Pros: SUNLP multipacks of celluloid (plastic) guitar nail picks let you try out a few fits and widths inexpensively. You can file them down with abandon at this price. Get just the right angle, or change it up for a new song. From banjo to ukelele, these versatile finger picks seem like a safe first try if you’re interested in nail picks.
Cons: Some musicians find these too flimsy for a really raucous tune.
Alaska Pik Fingerpicks
Pros: One of the most classic plastic offerings on the market, aLaska provides great plastic guitar nail picks. This unusual design fits over the finger and under the nail, whereas most picks sit atop the fingernail. Many users report this takes some getting used to, but the stability and control afforded are worth the adjustment.
Cons: These aLaska fingerpicks aren’t comfortable for some musicians, even after giving them a fair shot.
Stainless Steel Adjustable Fingerpicks
Pros: Metal nail picks are not always adjustable, but these are. This generous set of a dozen stainless steel picks and two plastic tumb picks will serve its function no matter what size fingers ordered them.
Cons: Metal picks come in a smaller set than their plastic counterparts, which means spares are harder to come by. Buy a few sets or keep them in a safe place to avoid a lonely, naked finger while the others fly.
Dunlop Nickel Silver Finger and Tumbpicks
Pros: These versatile nickel fingerpicks provide a bright sound and classic look. These appear faithfully vintage and fully functional. It’s no surprise they constantly rank among the most popular nail picks recommended by guitarists.
Cons: This is another small set. At $6 a pop, you can afford to buy a few. Some people complain that the adjustable closure pinches if set too tight. This seems like an easy fix.
Our Pick: Stainless Steel Adjustable Fingerpicks
User-friendly, durable, and versatile, adjustable stainless steel has our vote.
Finger Pick Pro Tips and Personalization
Here are some things beginners wish they had known when selecting and trying out finger picks.
- Heat plastic picks in hot water and fit to your digits for a customized fit.
- Make sure you get the right size if choosing a set that can’t be adjusted. Some finger picks come in several sizes. Others are adjustable, whereas some come in one size fits all.
- Some plastic and nylon picks can be filed down to get exactly the right angle for your sound. This may be different for each song you want to play. There are plenty of excellent tutorials on how this is best accomplished.