Pick or fingers - it is one of the first questions every guitarist faces. The answer depends on the music you want to play, but this lesson will help you make an informed choice and use whichever technique suits you best.
Whether or not you need to learn to play with a plectrum (also called a pick) depends on the music you want to play and the type of guitar you have. A plectrum is normally only used on guitars with steel strings. It does not suit nylon-strung guitars and may even damage the strings if used incorrectly.
Lead and rhythm guitar styles, both electric and acoustic, are normally played with a plectrum. If you play a steel-strung guitar and want to join a group or band at any point, learning to use a pick is essential. Folk, blues, and country music is also often played with a plectrum, although you may still need to play fingerstyle sections within those genres.
Rock and pop music almost always uses a pick for both rhythm and lead playing. The pick gives you a brighter, sharper attack on the strings that produces the punchy tone you hear on most recordings. For anyone who wants to play electric guitar in a band, the pick is your primary tool.
Classical and flamenco guitar is always played with the fingers. A plectrum should never be used on nylon-strung guitars. Fingerpicking styles for folk, country, and blues give a warmer, more intimate tone that a pick cannot replicate. The ability to pluck individual strings independently gives you much greater control over melody, bass, and harmony simultaneously.
Many singer-songwriters prefer fingerstyle because it allows them to control each string individually while concentrating on singing. Artists like James Taylor, Paul Simon, and Nick Drake built their entire sound around fingerstyle on acoustic guitar. If that kind of intimate, detailed sound is what you are after, fingers are where to begin.
The best advice for anyone with a steel-strung guitar: learn to play both ways. Use a plectrum for strummed chord songs and lead lines, and use your thumb and fingers for picking patterns and folk-style arrangements. Most versatile guitarists are comfortable with both and switch freely depending on the song.
Picks come in a range of thicknesses, usually measured in millimetres. Thin picks (0.46 mm to 0.60 mm) are very flexible and produce a softer, janglier sound. They are easy to strum with but tend to click awkwardly on single notes and bend under string pressure, which makes precise playing harder.
Medium picks (0.70 mm to 0.85 mm) are the most versatile and the best starting point for beginners. They give you enough stiffness for clean single notes while still being flexible enough to glide through strummed chords smoothly. Most guitar teachers recommend starting with a medium pick and adjusting from there as your style develops.
Heavy picks (1.0 mm and above) are preferred by many lead guitarists because they offer maximum control and produce a full, warm tone on each note. Jazz guitarists often use very thick picks (1.5 mm or more) for the dense, rounded sound they produce. Try a few different thicknesses as you develop and let your ears guide you.
Hold the pick between the tip of your right thumb and the side of your index finger. The pointed end of the pick should point roughly perpendicular to your thumb and extend just a few millimetres beyond your fingers. You want enough pick exposed to contact the strings cleanly, but not so much that it wobbles or flexes too much.
Your grip should be firm enough that the pick does not slip or rotate while you play, but relaxed enough that your hand does not tense up. A tense grip is one of the most common beginner mistakes and leads to stiff, uneven strumming. Think of it like holding a pencil: secure but not clenched.
When playing single notes, push straight down through the string and let the pick come to rest on the next string below. This is called a rest stroke and gives you a clean, controlled sound. When playing chords, sweep the pick across all the strings in one smooth, relaxed motion rather than pressing into each string individually.
Most beginners only pick downward when they first start using a pick. As you progress, you will need to master alternate picking, which means alternating between downward strokes (D) and upward strokes (U) for every note. Playing a scale would use D-U-D-U-D-U across the notes, rather than D-D-D-D which wastes energy and limits your speed.
Alternate picking is what allows guitarists to play fast, precise passages cleanly. It uses half the motion of all-downstroke picking because your hand is already returning upward between each stroke anyway. Start practising alternate picking slowly on a single string, making sure both your down and up strokes produce an equally clear, even tone before you try to increase your speed.
The angle at which your pick meets the string affects the sound you produce. When the pick is held perfectly flat against the string, it produces a slightly mechanical, clicking tone. Rotating your wrist so the pick strikes at a slight angle (roughly 10 to 15 degrees) produces a warmer, smoother sound with noticeably less string noise.
Experiment with the angle of your pick and listen carefully to how it changes your tone. A more angled pick glides through the string more easily, while a flat pick hits harder and louder. Neither is wrong, but understanding the difference gives you more tonal control as you develop your own style.
Take any chord sequence or melody you already know and play it twice: once with a pick, once with your thumb and fingers. Notice how different the same notes sound depending on which technique you use. Developing comfort with both approaches opens up a far wider range of musical styles and ensures you are never limited by your technique.
If you choose to ditch the pick and play fingerstyle, you have another choice to make: playing with the soft flesh of your fingertips, or playing with your fingernails.
You don't always have to choose! "Hybrid picking" is a technique where you hold a plectrum between your thumb and index finger, but leave your middle, ring, and pinky fingers free to pluck the other strings simultaneously.
This technique is incredibly popular in country music (often called "chicken pickin'") and progressive rock. It allows you to strum a chord powerfully with the pick, and immediately pluck a complex, piano-like chord with your fingers on the very next beat. It takes practice to coordinate, but it unlocks incredible versatility.
Every beginner who uses a pick will eventually drop it inside the sound hole of their acoustic guitar. When (not if) this happens, don't panic! The easiest way to get it out is to hold the guitar so the sound hole faces the floor, look inside to locate the pick, and gently rock the guitar back and forth until the pick slides over the edge and drops out. Keep a few spare picks handy so this doesn't ruin your practice session!
Everything guitarists ask about this topic
It depends on the music you want to play. If you are interested in rock, pop, or rhythm guitar, learning to use a pick is important. If you are drawn to folk fingerpicking, classical, or country styles, start with fingers. The ideal approach for most beginners on a steel-string guitar is to learn both - start with your thumb and fingers, then introduce a pick once you are comfortable.
A medium gauge pick in plastic is ideal for beginners. Medium picks are versatile - stiff enough for single-note clarity but flexible enough for comfortable strumming. Avoid very thin picks (they click and bend too much) and very thick picks (they require more force). Start with a standard teardrop shape and experiment with different thicknesses as your playing develops.
Hold the pick between the tip of your thumb and the side of your index finger. The pick should point roughly perpendicular to your thumb, with only a small amount extending beyond your fingers. Grip firmly enough that it does not slip, but not so tightly that your hand tenses up. The pick should rest lightly on the string rather than digging in.
Yes - many styles including folk, country, blues, and acoustic pop use fingerpicking on steel-string guitars. Players like James Taylor, Paul Simon, and Tommy Emmanuel are famous for fingerpicking on steel-string acoustics. The slightly harder strings give a brighter tone to fingerpicked notes compared to nylon strings.
Plectrum technique refers to how you use a guitar pick. For single notes, the pick moves straight down through the string and comes to rest on the next string. For chord strumming, the pick glides over the strings without digging in. Good plectrum technique produces a clean, clear tone without unwanted clicking or scratching sounds.