Grippy Guitar Picks – Picks With Grip

Last Updated on August 14, 2023 by Justin

Grippy guitar picks and guitar picks with grips are not for everyone. But they definitely give you some added benefits compared to picks without grips. These grippy plectrums are worth trying out and I’ll answer the FAQ around these guitar picks as well as suggest some grippy picks that I like to use and think are great.

What Are The Best Guitar Picks With Grip?

Below are just some of the guitar picks I have tried over the years and which I deem to be worthy in terms of grip. I’ve learned that many picks feature gimmicks that very rarely work. However, I have picked out the ones that do actually work!

1) Dunlop Max Grip Picks

In my opinion, the Dunlop Max-Grip picks provide the best grip of any guitar picks I’ve ever tried. They were designed to provide guitar players with greater control which improves their accuracy and playing in general.

The max-grip grip features a criss-cross textured pattern which Dunlop has patented. This enhances grip and reduces slipping. Dunlop Max-Grip picks are available in a range of gauges, or thicknesses, to suit different playing styles and preferences. They are popular among guitarists for their versatility and ability to provide a secure grip, even during long playing sessions.

My personal favorites are the Jazz III max-grip picks and the Standard 1.14mm shape. Check out my Jim Dunlop guitar picks article to read more about the Max-grip plectrums.

2) Daddario Duragrip Guitar Picks

This is by far the second-best guitar pick with a grip that I have used. D’addario, like Dunlop, has developed its own gripping system. In this case, D’addario calls it “Duragrip”.

The Duragrip feature is a checkerboard-like type of grip. This feature really works as a grip and is not like anything I have seen on any other picks.  Check out my D’addario picks review to read more about Duragrip.

3) Dunlop Gator Grip Plectrums

Here is another range of guitar picks by Jim Dunlop. They are the Dunlop Gator Grip picks. I absolutely love the Gator Grip range. That includes all their shapes and gauges.

At first glance, it may appear that the Gator Grips don’t have an integrated grip. But that is not the case. If you hold the pick in your fingers, you’ll feel a chalk-like covering. And it is that which improves your grip.

This is a very effective grip but the only downside is that the chalk-like substance will wear away with time. Having said that, the Gator Grip picks also sound amazing. They sound slightly darker compared to other materials. Which I really like and makes them suitable for rock music.

4) Dava Grip Tip Picks

Dava picks produces some of the most innovative guitar picks on the market. And they have been doing that since the mid-90s! Dava has developed what is called “multi-gauge” technology which they integrate into all of their guitar picks.

This technology also acts as a grip which makes the Dava picks some of the grippiest on the market. If you’d like to read more about their innovations, check out my Dava guitar picks review.

5) Everly Star Guitar Picks

Everly Star picks are not much different from Tortex. In fact, they are pretty much similar except for one massive grip innovation. This innovation is a star cut-out, This cut-out is not for looks. But it actually functions as a great grip. Which is something that regular Tortex is lacking.

Therefore the Everly picks took a classic pick and made it even better.

The only problem is that they are limited to the standard shape only. Read my Everly picks review to get a better understanding of their picks.

6) V-Picks Screamer

The V-picks range of picks is one of the newer pick companies. But that doesn’t mean anything, because they’re made quite a splash in the pick industry. The V-picks picks are made from the highest quality acrylic compounds and as a result, have come out with some of the best picks in the industry.

In fact, the V-picks screamer is my best guitar pick of all time. Now I’m sure you’re looking at these picks and wondering, where’s the grip? Well, that would be a good question. But let me explain.

The acrylic material warms up your fingers while you are playing. This heat improves grip drastically. It is basically an invisible grip which is amazing!

7) Stubby Picks By Dunlop

The stubby picks are, as the name suggests, stubby in the way they are made. That means they are quite thick.

With this thickness came the opportunity to integrate a grip into these picks. And, Dunlop did just that. By integrating a round indent on each side of the pick.

This gives you a place to put your thumb and index finger comfortably. Thus, enhancing the grip and improving your playability and accuracy. My personal favorite is the nylon Stubby picks. You can read more about those in my nylon guitar picks review.

8) Timber Tones Stone Picks

Polished stone picks are inherently slippery. There are not many ways to get around that. Which among other reasons, makes them a lot less popular than other materials.

However, Timber tones have developed stone picks that have an integrated indented grip. Read more about this in my Stone guitar picks review.

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FAQ About Guitar Picks With Grip:

There are many questions surrounding guitar picks with grip. For that reason, I thought I would shed some light and answer those in the hope that it helps you choose the best pick to suit your guitar needs.

What Are Guitar Picks With Grippy Surface?

These are specifically designed guitar picks that have been manufactured in such a way that it provides the guitarist with an end-product guitar pick that has a grip and does not slip.

Why Would You Need Grippy Guitar Picks?

The answer is simple really, the reason one would want or need to use guitar picks with grips is to reduce the guitar slipping out of the fingers. Guitar picks with grip provide some other added benefits…

What Are The Advantages of Using Grippy Guitar Picks?

Besides the obvious reasons mentioned above regarding stopping the guitar pick from slipping out the hand, what other possible benefits could this design provide?

• Well, not only will slippage be something of the past but a grip on a guitar pick allows it to stay and keep its original position in between your fingers. Picks often move around in between our fingers and even if slippage isn’t a problem for you, you’ve most likely experienced the plectrum moving. Adding a grip to guitar picks stops this. This happens even more so with bass players that use a pick.
• Plectrums with grips also allow you to hold the pick with much less tension. Without a grip, guitar players have to thus grip the picks tighter to stop the pick from moving around and to stop it from dripping. Throwing a grip into the equation means you don’t have to grip as tight which is both ergonomic and will provide a better playing experience.
• Many guitarists find the grip to allow you to concentrate less on picking and more on playing. Other guitar players tend to not be phased by grips and continue using plectrums without them. The reference is up to you however I definitely recommend giving them a try.

Do Grippy Guitar Picks Sound Different

If you use these gripped guitar picks in the way in which they were intended to be used, then they sound pretty much exactly the same as picks without grips.

With that being said, there’s a trick that some guitar players in the 70s discovered. The trick involves taking guitar picks with grips and instead of holding the gripping surface, these guitarists would use the actual grip to strike the strings. The provides a very different sound as well as feel.

What Shape & Materials Do Grip Guitar Picks Come In?

You can find guitar picks with grips in almost all the different guitar pick materials as well as shapes available. Each company has its own specially designed grippy plectrums.

At the end of the day, they all achieve the same thing. However, each company has its own unique way of producing plectrum grips so my recommendation is to try the ones I’ve outlined and see which one feels and plays best for you.

The good thing about guitar picks is that they are not so expensive so you can experiment with different grips, shapes, gauges, and materials until you find the most suitable.

What Gauges Do Gripped Picks Come In?

Guitar picks, including those with grip features, come in a wide range of thicknesses (or gauges). The gauge of a pick can significantly influence the tone and playability. Thicker picks tend to produce a fuller and louder sound, while thinner picks offer more flexibility and are generally easier for strumming.

Here’s a general breakdown of common guitar pick gauges:

Extra Thin/Light: 0.44mm and below

• Very flexible
• Produces a softer tone
• Commonly used for strumming on acoustic guitars

Thin/Light: 0.45mm to 0.69mm

• Thin picks are usually flexible and good for strumming
• Popular among beginners and for acoustic guitar playing

Medium: 0.70mm to 0.84mm

• Medium picks are super versatile and can be used for both strumming and picking
• Good balance between flexibility and rigidity

Heavy/Thick: 0.85mm to 1.20mm

• Thick picks are less flexible but offer more control for lead lines and solos
• Produces a louder and more pronounced tone

Extra Heavy: 1.20mm and above

• Very rigid
• Popular among hard rock and metal players for fast picking and solos

Built-In Grip Vs. Guitar Pick Grip Tape

When thinking about gripped guitar picks, one generally assumes that these are built-in to the pick. What is meant by this is that the actual pick was designed with a grip as part of the pick and the grip is built-in.

But what happens if you have a favorite pick that has no grip but would like to add a grip? No problem! There is special guitar pick grip tape available, the most notable are the monster grips.

The monster grips are grip tape for guitar picks that you can stick onto your favorite pick and thus improve the grip of that pick.

This is a great innovation for picks that you’d like to use but were not designed with a grip. I have more about these featured in my list of cool guitar picks here.

Some guitar picks such as the Dunlop Gator grip featured here above, don’t necessarily have a built-in grip. Nor do they have a guitar pick grip tape.

Instead, the Gatorgrips are coated in a special substance that makes the guitar pick stick to your fingers. These are effective however I find that with a lot of use, the grippy surface layer wears away.

Are All Guitar Pick Grips The Same?

Not at all, in fact, each pick manufacturer has its own way of designing grips. For example, Jim Dunlop has the Max-Grip series or the Gator Grip series. Whilst D’addario has Duragrip.

These grips all differ from one another in the way they were made. They also differ in the way they feel in the fingers. The end result that they each produce is the same, however.

Aren’t Picks With Grips For Beginners?

This is a common misconception about grippy guitar picks which is just simply not true. Yes, guitar picks with grips are a good idea for beginners for the various advantages and benefits which I have mentioned at the start.

However, despite the fact that these gripped plectrums are good for those just starting out on the guitar, they’re frequently used by guitar players of all levels. From beginners all the way to professionals including some rock idols you probably didn’t know used non-slip picks.

Are Non-Slip Guitar Picks Expensive?

These grippy guitar picks are no more expensive than your regular guitar picks. Sure, there are some really uniquely designed plectrums with grips that might ask for a higher price. But, nothing is out of reach.