best guitar picks and plectrums

Best Guitar Picks: My Top 10 Plectrums Of All Time

Last Updated on March 13, 2024 by Justin

Welcome to my best guitar picks of all time. If you’re looking to make sweet music with your guitars, then you’re going to need to find the right tools for the job.

fender celluloid guitar picks
V-Picks Screamer

Dunlop - Jazz IIIHerco Flex NylonFender Celluloid 351Dunlop Tortex Standard
My Top Choice PickSuitable For Lead and JazzGood for Acoustic Strumming and RockPreferred by Blues playersMost Versatile and popular

In the world of plectrums, there are an overwhelming amount of varieties, brands, gauges, materials, shapes, and sizes to choose from. For that reason, I’ve compiled a list based solely on my opinion, Of the old and new picks that have improved my guitar playing over the last decade.

I aim to review each product in-depth and then give some recommendations as to which applications and styles of guitar, each pick is suitable for.

What are the best guitar picks?

It is important to remember that guitar picks are all about personal preference and feel.

However, these are merely what I believe to be the best guitar picks you can buy based on all the years I have been rocking.

Pick Material, Gauge, and Shape

When it comes to picks, there are three main elements to look for. These are the material, the gauge, the size, and the shape of the plectrum. Picks come in so many different types within all of these aspects. All of which affect your guitar playing.

Material: A Significant Factor In Tone

Many people believe they are made from plastic. But there are so many different types of plastics. Not only that but, there are other materials such as nylon. Delrin and also more exotic like bone wood and metal.

The material of a guitar pick can dramatically alter the sound of your acoustic and electric guitar. Thinner picks, often made of nylon or lighter plastics, typically produce a warm tone, favored by many acoustic players. In contrast, thicker picks crafted from denser materials, like Delrin or Ultem, deliver a brighter sound, often preferred by metal players.

Gauge and Thickness: Adapted to Your Playing Style

The second element to look out for is the gauge. This is actually quite a crucial aspect because it will have a drastic impact on the way the guitar-playing experience will feel.

Thicker picks, with less flexibility, offer greater control, making them a popular choice among lead players. Thinner picks, due to their flexibility, are a more common choice for strumming patterns on acoustic guitars. It’s important to experiment with different thicknesses to find the best guitar pick for your style.

Some like to break up gauges into thin/medium/heavy. However, most picks come with specific numeric gauges. Usually anywhere from 0.46 all the way up to 2.5mm and sometimes even heavier.

Size: It Matters!

Size is another aspect that will affect the way you play with your guitars. As well as how the pick will interact between your fingers and the strings. You can find a wide variety of sizes when looking for plectrums. Again, this will come down to personal preference. However, I recommend you try as many different sizes to get a good idea of what you like and what you don’t.

Shape: Each with its Unique Sound and Feel

Guitar pick shapes vary greatly, from the classic shape, similar to an elongated teardrop, to more specialized designs, like the sharp, small Jazz III. The shape influences how the pick interacts with the strings, providing a unique sound and feel. Fast picking and intricate lead playing often call for a pick with a sharp point, like the Ernie Ball Prodigy Picks, providing greater precision and a brighter tone.

1) V-Picks Screamer Sapphire Blue

best guitar picks

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The V-picks company is known for making some of the best guitar picks.

You can see this just by looking at the list of guitarists who use and endorse V-picks: Carlos Santana, Billy Gibbons, and Orianthi. These famous names would suggest that this pick is chosen to play lead guitar.

Whilst this might be true to a certain extent, this plectrum is actually very versatile and can suit any player of any genre. V-picks characteristics:

  • The tone is rich
  • The material is strong
  • And the Acrylic sticks to your hands and improves the more your hands warm up.
  • Glides smoothly across the strings

As a result of all of this, you get a sound that is louder, and sharper with a brighter tone. V-picks have taken this plectrum and improved it even more by adding a small hole in the middle of it.

This helps to know exactly where the pick is in your fingers at all times. This pick has a triangle shape. Which also makes it one of the best picks for beginner guitarists.

The triangle helps with dexterity and guitar pick angle. which is particularly useful when you’re still developing your skills. This particular version has made a massive difference to my guitar playing for the better.

And it has become harder and harder to remember life before the screamer came into my guitar world. I also suggest you check out a V-picks variety pack so you can try the different types they have to buy. These packs can be found on Amazon.


2) Dunlop Jazz IIIjazz III pick

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The Dunlop Jazz III is a popular guitar pick among guitar players because of its small size and sharper tip.

The smaller size means that the thumb can make more contact with the guitar strings. Thus, enhancing the guitar players’ control over picking.

The “standard” or “regular” Jazz III is made out of Nylon and comes in either black or red. The difference between the two colors is that the black Jazz III is stiffer than the red one. The term Jazz III has become more of a reference to the shape of the plectrum rather than what the plectrum is made of.

These now come in a large number of options such as with different materials and gauges. For example, you can get Jazz III picks in an XL, Primetone, Max-grip, Tortex, or Ultex option.

As the name would suggest, this is one of the best guitar picks for Jazz. However, these are favored by guitarists that play a wide variety of styles. For example, some professional guitar players even use the Jazz 3 for playing metal music.

Nylon is a diverse pick for multiple genres and tones due to the way it slides against the strings. This is yet another pick that changed my guitar playing quite drastically. Before utilizing Jazz III, I struggled to play lead guitar and solos. Since using them, I was able to improve my lead guitar playing exponentially. If you have a tough time playing solos, I definitely recommend giving these a go.


3) Herco Flex 75

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The Herco Flex 75’s are a medium gauge and are the closest thing to “The pick of destiny” it gets. They’ve been used by rock legends and the old ones from back in the day can bring a pretty penny due to the fact that the company went out of business for some time.

However, in recent times Jim Dunlop, one of the best pick brands, swooped in and somehow got the rights to produce these plectrums again. The Herco Flex 75’s are back in business.

Notable guitar players that use these include Jimmy Page, Gene Simmons, and David Gilmour. With all of that in mind, I would have to say that this is my chosen guitar pick for rock guitar. It gives me all the attack I need whilst still maintaining the flexibility that is often associated with nylon picking.

Furthermore, the list of famous rock guitarists who use this pick is long. Therefore, it becomes the obvious choice as the best guitar picks for metal and classic rock.


4) Fender 351 Classic Celluloid Picksmy top 10 best guitar picks

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The Fender Celluloid is a historic and classic guitar pick. It is nothing new, however, it is indeed a classic. They pretty much-shaped blues guitar as we know it.

This is due to the blues guitar players that have used this plectrum. These include names such as Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan. These plectrums have become the best guitar picks for an electric guitar as well as rock & blues over time.

Guitar players like the rounded tip and the regular/standard shape as well as the gauge options which range from thin to extra heavy with a medium and heavy gauge in between.

The plectrum is great for the different styles of guitar playing thus enhancing its popularity. These are some of the best celluloid picks in my opinion. However, the D’addario pearl celluloid picks are just as good.


5) Tusq Guitar Picks – Graphtech

best guitar picks

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The company that makes these is called “Graphtech”. They are perhaps better known for their high-quality guitar saddles, nuts, and end pins. However, this plectrum feels great and the tone sounds amazing.

They manage to achieve this by using a material that Graphtech invented. The material is a “man-made ivory” as is referred to by them. This special new material is used on most of their guitar gear and is what separates them from the rest.

What makes them different is that the plectrum is able to produce increased harmonics in comparison to other plectrums and thus results in a much sweeter tone. In my opinion, I’d have to say that these are good choices of guitar picks for shredding and speed picking. This is due to the fact that these glide off the strings more so than plastic picks. And, they have somewhat of a beveled edge.


6) Sharkfin Plectrums sharkfin plectrums

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I came across these unique guitar picks at my local music store when I was still a student. They intrigued me because of their name and odd shape. Essentially the only part of it that looks like a regular pick is the rounded tip. The rest of it is totally different.

The great thing about these is that each tip is made differently from most and thus produces tones. And can be used for different applications. This is a popular guitar pick among acoustic players as they are thinner (although you do get thicker ones) which makes for the pleasant sounds of chords being strummed.

They are my best pick for acoustic guitar strumming.  The Beatles, Trevor Rabin, and the Beach Boys have used these picks before. I often suggest these sharkfins as a good choice for beginners. The reason is that they really allow for a simpler grip when compared to other guitar picks out there.


7) Dunlop Tortex Standard Guitar Picksdunlop tortex standard yellow

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The Tortex plectrum is loved by many players for its sound and its feel. To be precise, it is the material of Tortex that makes them so loved. The plectrum comes straight from the factory with a fine layer (almost sand-like) for better grip. But I find this layer to wear away very quickly. It provides the player with a bright and responsive tone, referred to by Dunlop as a “snappy” sound.

In simple terms, this means that the plectrum has a fantastic attack. You can get the most popular shapes in Tortex material as well as choose from a full spectrum of gauges for each shape. The yellow Tortex is one of the best-sounding guitar picks in my opinion. And are the perfect thickness for electric guitar.

I absolutely love these. If the yellow one is not for you, perhaps try out the Dunlop Tortext variety pack. This is my recommendation as the best guitar pick for beginners so check them out if you’re just starting out!


8) Dunlop Max Grips (Nylon)

nylon max grip pick

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The nylon plectrums with max grip are another very popular pick by Dunlop guitar picks. The nylon Dunlops have been used by artists such as Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin and Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead. However, the addition of Max-Grip is a new feature that you can choose. This material will produce a much warmer tone compared to other materials.

The Dunlop nylons are known for their superior grip. This is because of the microdots that form little “stubs” mentioned above, on the pick. The pick thus remains tightly in the player’s fingers, improving control and making for much less slipping. I like to recommend the Max grip nylons for acoustic guitar players.

Specifically, the lighter gauges. I believe that the grip along with the warm sound and feel of these make them the perfect choice for strumming. You will find a version of this pick featured in my list of the best bass picks.


9) Gravity Picksgravity picks

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The Gravity Guitar Picks are a relatively new addition to the plectrum market but are seriously worth mentioning. The reason is due to their growth in popularity and their fantastic products.

Gravity picks are made from an acrylic material which as far as we know has never been used as a material for a plectrum before. The thick acrylic material makes for a much more Treble-orientated sound as well as being higher on the decibels in comparison to other plectrums on the market.

Bluegrass guitar players tend to like this pick a lot. Possibly because it is a thicker pick allowing for more control with hybrid picking. Bluegrass music requires speed picking. So does shredding some lead guitar. Therefore, I’ve chosen the Gravity Classics as my top choice for shredding and speed.


10) DuraGrip Planet Waves Picks (D’addario)d'addario dura grip

D’addario (Planet Waves) has this range of relatively new picks with one of the best grips on the market. This feature is the checkerboard-like grip on the pick.

Little squares have been strategically placed with divots in between that enhance the grip dramatically for the guitar player.

These are also supposed to be very stable in the hand, which prevents your hand and fingers from getting pain. This also makes it yet another possible contender for beginners. The Dura-Grip series are a great choice of picks for acoustic guitar.


Honorable Mentions:

Here are three more honorable mentions of some that could have very easily made this list.

I have a lot of favorite picks and I wish I could have chosen more. Alas, these are some more that didn’t quite make the top 10.

Ernie Ball Prodigy Picks

With their sharp point and beveled edge, the Ernie Ball Prodigy picks provide enhanced control and speed, perfect for fast picking styles of lead players. The precision these picks offer makes them one of the best guitar picks for those venturing into metal or other genres demanding quick, intricate picking. They come in a choice of two gauges and shapes. You can opt for the larger or smaller size as well as between 1.5mm and 2.0mm options.

Dava Poly Gel

dava poly gel

Here’s a guitar pick that could also be classified as a great guitar pick. It’s the Dava Control Poly Gel series of plectrums. These guitar picks are seriously good because they give you the ability to control the gauge while you’re playing. The way you control the gauge is determined by where you hold the guitar pick in your fingers. These Dava picks are seriously revolutionary but might not be what you’re looking for if you’re looking for a consistent gauge. The picks feel really good on the guitar strings and respond well.

Ernie Ball Standard

ernie ball standard celluloid

The Ernie ball standard plectrums are very similar to the Fender Celluloid picks. They’re similar due to the fact that they are both celluloid guitar picks. due to the popularity of these picks over the years and the impact, it has made to guitar and music.

Eric Clapton has been a user of these plectrums and still uses them today. Like the Fenders, they come in a variety of colors and range from thin, to medium to Heavy. The picture above is Eric Clapton’s personal plectrum for a US tour way back when. This is definitely a personal favorite due to the epic caption on the plectrum. Also, the mere fact that it was owned and played by “Slowhand” himself.

Fender Tru Shell

If you don’t already know the history of guitar picks, I’ll give you the shortest version ever. Basically, for a long time guitarists would use guitar picks made from real tortoiseshell. Since then, it has become illegal to produce and sell real tortoiseshell guitar picks.

Guitar pick companies have tried to replicate the tortoiseshell sound. Many have come close. However, Fender has recently come up with a real replacement that could pretty much kill all other tortoiseshell guitar pick replacements. Called “Tru-Shell” and is made from real proteins. This means animals or the environment are not harmed in any way.


How to Choose the Best Guitar Pick for You

When selecting the best guitar pick, consider the type of music you play and the specific demands of your playing style. Metal players might prefer a pick like the Ernie Ball Prodigy for its precision and bright tone, while jazz players might lean towards the Dunlop Jazz III for its unique sound and feel.

Your choice of pick can also depend on the guitar you play. Acoustic players often benefit from thin guitar picks, providing a balanced tone suitable for strumming, while electric guitarists might favor thicker picks for more intricate melodies and solos. On the other hand, medium picks offer a good balance, combining the flexibility of thin picks with the control of thick ones. They can adeptly handle both rhythm and lead roles, making them a favorite choice for many players.

Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to picks. Experiment with different materials, thicknesses, and shapes. You might be surprised how much this simple piece of equipment can impact your playing experience. Good luck with finding the best guitar pick that resonates with your unique playing style!

Conclusion on My Top 10 Best Plectrums of All Time

The picks featured in this list are the ones that I have used extensively in my time playing guitar.

Having said that my true recommendation is to test out as many of my best guitar picks as possible to find the one that suits your playing style.

There are definitely no rules when it comes to guitar picks so let your creativity run free!