How to choose a pick

There are various types of picks, but I think many people don't know what pick to pick. It is recommended that you try to find a pick that suits you, but before that, we will guide you through the basic shapes, thicknesses, and materials.

Shape

The shape of the pick can be roughly divided into four types: teardrop, triangle, jazz and thumb pick.

Teardrop type

The most popular style, which is used by many guitarists. As it gets sharper towards the tip, there is less feeling of hooking the strings and smooth picking is possible.

Triangle type

Like teardrop, it is a popular style. As it is called a rice ball (onigiri) type, it has a triangle shape, and it is possible to pick in the same sense anywhere on the three vertices. It is rather good for chord strokes and cutting direction.

Jazz type

The tip of the teardrop is further sharpened and reduced in size. Picking is even smoother than teardrop, and not only jazz guitarists, but also hard rock and heavy metal guitarists use these.

Thumb pick type

When playing acoustic guitars and electric guitars with finger picking, this is a type of pick that you use with your thumb. By using this pick, you can get a solid bass sound by finger picking.

Thickness

Depending on the thickness, the response when playing the string changes. It will be slower if it is thinner and faster if it is harder. It also affects the attack sound produced when you hit a string, and if it is hard, it becomes clear and soft and mild. In the case of acoustic guitar, the thickness especially affects the sound, and a hard pick makes it a percussive sound with a sense of attack. Those who require a delicate touch are generally prone to using thin, soft types, while quicker playing types generally choose hard types with a good response thickness.

If you want to respond well and produce subtle sounds, you can use a thick pick and hand movement to control and produce subtle sounds. With thick ones, there are also 2.0 mm thick picks, and at this thickness, the pick itself hardly works, and the tip of the pick also moves as you move the hand.

THIN (thin) / SOFT (Soft): 0.5 mm
MEDIUM (medium): 0.7 mm
HARD (hard) / HEAVY (heavy): 1 mm

Material

Along with the thickness, the hardness and tone change by changing the material. If the material is different even if the thickness is the same, the hardness is also different. Also, the feel when hitting a string is different even when the thickness is the same.

Celluloid

It is flexible and easy to use, and is commonly used.

Nylon

Hard and resistant to wear. The feeling of attack is weak.

Polyacetal

It has similar properties to nylon and is resistant to wear. Strong against environmental changes.

Delrin

The surface is rough and not slippery. The impression that the picking feel is also rough.

Metal

Because metal is literally metal, consumption of the strings is also fast. Sticky sound.

Others

Knc Picks offers a lineup of picks made of wood such as ebony and maple, as well as picks made of a smooth and hard material called "casein" made from milk protein. Chicken Picks from the Netherlands use thermosetting resin! Please explore these unique selections that stand out from the ordinary.

In order to play the guitar and bass, it is important to first find the pick that suits you. As your first pick, it is good to use picks and musician models that your favorite musicians use. There are various conditions such as the sound that can be obtained, the feel, and the ease of holding, but it may be best to choose something that seems easy to play anyway. Also, if you improve to some extent, if you change the type of pick depending on your mood, the phrases that appear will be different from usual.
Please try different types of picks.

Pick list