Last Updated on January 5, 2023 by Justin
Let’s take a look at the Chick picks review by going in-depth with this relatively new yet awesome guitar pick.
Most of the guitar picks I review on Guitar Pick Zone are made by big companies that have been producing guitar picks for many years. The reason I focus a lot on these is that they’ve been around for a long time and are just so popular all over the world.
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However, I absolutely love and support the smaller and newer guitar pick companies that make innovative and boutique guitar picks. When I think of these smaller companies, one of the first that come to mind is Chicken Picks.
Chicken Picks is a plectrum company that is not even 10 years old, yet, has impacted the guitar-playing world in a big way with its small yet extremely innovative range of guitar picks.
I’ll attempt to review Chicken Picks as a whole as well as look at each of the individual models they have available in their range.
Chicken Picks Standard 2.6mm | Chicken Picks Shredder 3.5mm | Chicken Picks Badazz III 2.0mm | Chicken Picks Bermuda III 2.7mm | Chicken Picks Bermuda III Pointy 2.1mm |
What Separates Chicken Picks From Other Guitar Picks?
- Chicken Picks are extremely resilient to wear and can last a substantially longer life than regular plectrums
- These guitar picks mold and wears just the right amount to your playing style.
- It is made from a material that is incredibly strong
- The grip is second to none
Other Factors that make Chicken Picks great.
Chicken Picks Are “Ergonomic” Plectrums
How can a guitar pick be ergonomic? Easy, the Chicken picks have been designed with a curved edge which means they make much less friction with the guitar.
This allows you to hold the guitar pick lighter which is much better for the muscles in your hand and will reduce sore hands and fingers considerably.
Not only does this allow you to play the guitar faster but it also allows you to hit the notes and strings far more precisely and accurately.
Chicken Picks Shapes, Gauges & Sizes
The Chicken Picks are all made from the same high-grade thermoplastic material which gives them the durability and tone that they’re known for.
They’re also all made with the signature Chicken Picks curved edges. Despite this, there are still only four different shapes available with each shape having an option of two gauges. I’ll review the Chicken Picks range below:
1) The Regular Shape Chicken Pick:
This Chicken Pick comes in your regular shaped pick that we all know. This shape has an option of a 2.6 or a lighter version being a 2.2-millimeter gauged option.
The regular/standard shape is the flagship model
2) The Chicken Picks Shredder:
This particular pick is only made in one gauge of 3.5 millimeters. This is definitely Chicken Picks’ thickest gauge available. The shape of the Shredder resembles that of the regular shape however it is slightly smaller.
My best guess as to why this pick is called the Shredder is that it is most suitable for guitarists who like to shred.
3) The Badazz III Chicken Pick:
The Badazz III is my favorite Chicken Pick shape of them all. It is the Chicken Picks version of the Jazz pick but what makes it different is that it has three points/tips.
The tips are all the same size and shape so it’s not quite as versatile as Bermuda below but having three of the same edge means this guitar pick can essentially last you 3 guitar picks worth. You can choose the Badazz in a choice of 2.0 or 2.5-millimeter gauge.
4) The Bermuda Chicken Pick:
Bermuda is a bigger triangular shape than the Badazz above and whilst it features 3 points/tips as well, the top two tips are sharper whilst the main tip is rounder.
Chicken Picks Bermuda III 2.1mm | ||
Chicken Picks Bermuda III 2.7mm | ||
Chicken Picks Bermuda III XL 2.1mm | ||
Chicken Picks Bermuda III Pointy 2.1mm | ||
Chicken Picks Bermuda III Pointy 2.7mm |
These different tips/points make it quite a versatile pick in comparison to the others in the range.
What Kinds Of Guitar Styles Are Chicken Picks Good For?
The word “Chicken Picking” has pretty much become synonymous with bluegrass and country guitar styles. However, these Chicken Picks are definitely not limited to those genres and styles.
In fact, it is said that the Chicken Picks are great to be used for almost all different styles.
In my opinion, the Chicken Picks are great for your faster styles of music where precise and quick picking is essential. Ironically, that covers the bluegrass and country territory again.
Despite this, I definitely think that Chicken Picks are some of the best blues guitar picks but you might find these to suit you on other styles too. It is definitely worth pointing out that chicken picks can be used as bass picks. This is due to their gauge and their beveled edges.
Downsides To Chicken Picks?
There aren’t really any downsides to these guitar picks. However, where I don’t like the Chicken Picks is on the acoustic guitar.
The reason has very little to do with the pick but more due to the fact that I just prefer a softer pick when playing acoustic.
So in reality, there’s very little wrong with these picks. Perhaps their range could be larger? But I actually like the fact that they have narrowed it down to 4 picks so they can concentrate and make them the best 4 possible.
I’d say that’s a pretty good definition of “boutique”.
After a few weeks of playing this pick, I have one small downside to add. I found that with the Chicken Picks, I’d often get unwanted pinch harmonics from striking the string. The reason this happen is due to the curved edges of the Chicken Picks guitar picks.
Whilst the curved edges are the main selling point of these plectrums, it is also a big contributor to unwanted/unplanned pinch harmonics. This could also just be down to my technique.
How Do The Chicken Picks Sound?
I like the consistency is sound of the Chicken Picks. No matter how you strike them they’ll tend to sound the same.
With the Chicken Picks, you get a much louder-sounding pick without the flappy sound that I so hate from some guitar pick materials.
Not Sure Which Chicken Picks Are For You?
If you’re like me and are not sure which of the above Chicken Picks is best suited for you, then I suggest going for the Chicken Pick “Try out All” pack of guitar picks.
This pack includes all of the Chicken Pick Shapes and gauges available so you can try them all out and decide which ones suit your playing and your style best.
Concluding The Chicken Picks Review
All in all, I like the innovation, the texture, and the sound of the Chicken Picks. These haven’t been the most revolutionary for me but it is perhaps due to the fact that these are only produced in very heavy gauges which is not something I am used to. These are my go-to picks when I need to do some pinch harmonics (which is not very often at all).
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Hey, fellow guitar mate! I’m Justin, I have been a professional guitarist since 2012. I have traveled the world playing on different stages alongside some of the best indie bands, at some of the biggest music festivals in the world. As a result, I’ve played lots of different guitar gear. Instead of keeping that knowledge to myself, I have set up this site to share my honest reviews of various guitar gear. But most notably, my love for guitar picks.