If you’re new to playing guitar, then you may not realise the importance of finding the right plectrum. Even if you’ve been playing guitar for a long time, there are always new innovations coming out in the guitar accessories realm. For example, Amazon has over 9000 listings for guitar accessories! It’s so easy to get lost in all of the choices. This post shows five awesome options for finding the right plectrum.
I have organised these options based on the different things you can look for when choosing the right plectrum. There are plectrum thicknesses/gauges to consider, plectrum materials, plectrum grips, plectrum shapes, and a whole lot more.
Let’s take a look at some of those differences and the ways you can trial them through plectrum packages or samplers.
Finding the right plectrum
Fender premium picks sampler
The Fender premium picks sampler allows you to try Fender’s incredibly popular celluloid plectrum range. The plectrums come in a variety of colours and gauges. All of the plectrums are what I’d call the traditional plectrum shape, so the only thing that you are testing here is the different gauges. This pack includes Fender’s thin, medium and heavy gauges.
This pack is an excellent place to start your plectrum testing journey.
Stickpick flexible wood plectrums
The Stickpick flexible wood plectrums all use the same shape that the Fender plectrums do, but they allow you to try a different plectrum material. A lot of guitar players believe that good tone starts with the plectrum. If wood is the material of choice for most guitars, perhaps it makes sense to use wood plectrums as well. This pack allows you to try seven different wood types while searching for your own perfect tone.
Alice durable clear plectrums with storage box
Sticking with the popular plectrum shape, the Alice plectrums bring in something different once again. Although these are plastic plectrums, they include a unique shape with the intention that this thicker and textured section increases your plectrum grip. Also, these plectrums start to introduce some of the thicker plectrums that are out there. This set includes three different gauges—1.0mm, 2.0mm, and 3.0mm. Having 30 plectrums in one storage box doesn’t hurt either!
Dunlop pick variety pack
The Dunlop pick variety pack is one of the better plectrum choices for the guitarist who is having difficulty finding the right plectrum. This collection includes a multitude of different materials, shapes, gauges and grip styles. There is almost certainly something in this pack that either suits you perfectly, or at least narrows down the search by allowing you to determine the right shape, gauge, size, material or grip style.
With 12 very different plectrum styles in this very affordable package, you’ll be testing plectrums for days.
Pick Geek TRIO
Just like the Dunlop offering above, the Pick Geek TRIO provides you with a variety of material types, gauges, shapes, sizes and textures (for grip). All of this in a series of storage tins plus an included free online guitar course by Your Guitar Academy. That’s a whole lot of awesome included in one collection of plectrums.
Who knew that finding the right plectrum could also come with free guitar lessons?!
Included in the plectrum package are celluloid, delrin and steel plectrums in a variety of shapes and sizes. So many plectrums. So many choices.
Finding the right plectrum summary
As you can see, there are a multitude of plectrum choices. It’s up to you to find out if your favourite plectrum is a standard shape or a Jazz shape. Do you prefer a thick plectrum or a thin plectrum? Perhaps you like delrin as your favourite plectrum material. Perhaps you like wood. The only way to find out for sure is through trial and error. These packs make that trial process so much more easier.
Once you’ve selected your favourite plectrum, then you’re ready to pick your favourite guitar based on all of its components. Or as I like to call it, 12 reasons you need another guitar.
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