Do Guitar Picks Change Guitar Tone? 

What kind of pick do you use? Which one would you try next?

I did my 8th grade science fair project, a few decades ago, on how a guitar pick affects tone. I took an hour drive to a music store and bought 100 picks. When the owner found out what I was doing he only charged me $1 for 100 picks.

So I'm saving $60 per video by playing fingerstyle ;)

I would still lose that gigantic pick💀

If you point Abe's head toward the strings it makes for a more honest tone.

I’m just here to see this guy playing with the gigantic pic

"There's no right way to play the guitar" Yea, but there is a wrong way. My way.

When I was younger I used Jazz III exclusively, usually the tortex and sometimes the nylon when I couldn't get tortex. Now that I'm in my 30's and have pretty bad MS, I use the gator grip regular sized picks because I've lost a lot of the feeling in my fingers and it helps to keep the pick from suddenly disappearing. I also use to play, nearly exclusively, fingerstyle when I was young until I lost some of the feeling in my fingers.

I have found that the attack angle of my pick can affect my tone much more substantially with the Tortex and other similar delrin type picks. I keep finding myself playing John Petrucci’s black Dunlop picks because I can keep a consistent tone despite my own personal inconsistency

Giant pick appears “Gotta get one of those.”

I prefer the Pick of Destiny

Drinking game: take a half shot every time he says “pick”

Everyone Else: I spend $60 on Pick’s every month Brian May: Hold my Sixpence

Tyler: “I just spent $60 on guitar picks” Me who always loses their picks: “first time?”

Ah yes, I always use the Chibson pick whenever I play, sounds amazing and never gets lost

I use a Dunlop 2.0 mm Ultrex. I find myself turning it to use a less sharp corner of the pick. Going back and forth that way really demonstrates the difference in tone and attack. It's a trick I learned from a former teacher and again from an interview with Scott Henderson.

BRO! Something I really love about your channel, it is unapologetically just chill. As an avid Ola fan, in all the best ways you are his opposite and I get excited every time I see your videos come out. Happy to see you back post COVID and you're doing ok. NEVER STOP NOT STOPPING!!

Brian May uses a sixpence, which doesn’t matter all that much, except it has ridges like dime so he can use it to make a rasp depending on how he holds it. The intro to Keep Yourself Alive is a great example.

I am a man who wants to experiment with all kinds of picks, I usually found that sharp picks are great for lead, while flimsy is great for rhythm.

Thank you for the best overall in depth comparison of picks video ever!

Excellent demo! You have helped me make the decision I have been searching for! I want one of each!!Love them all!

I like wearing my nails longer, useful for classical guitar and peeling oranges.

Just bought guitar super-system and I am concerned as to that there isn’t an entire section on the Chibson pick

i love how there’s a cool pick so when you talk about your picks you can say your picks are cool

That last little melody was great! Awesome video!

I have hundreds of picks but can never pick the right pick to pick for picking.

Exceptional video! Loved how much difference there actually was on most of these. The penny was so cool as well. Hearing the scrape in the attack is so awesome! Also well done nailing that link with the giant pick. I imagine that took a couple extra tries :)

Love that PRS you’re holding in the video’s screen capture!

Am I tripping or does that metal pick sound amazing

I just use my old toe nail as my pick. Free and renewable

Me explaining to my Dad why we need to go back to Guitar Center for picks again

Anybody else just love when he actually plays. Just like when the end of a video is him just playing or improvising. That’s my favorite

Fun fact: Brian May uses a pre 1950 sixpence. He says it’s a good all rounder

When I first tried a jazz 3 pick it felt way too small and awkward to use. But after a while I started to prefer it. I think it just comes down to what you’re used to

This is the 6th or 7th guitar pick video I watched today. It is by far the best. The explanations are clearer and your approach made it easier to hear differences than anything else I watched. Thank you! Btw, Tyler, I loved your short video on how guitar tone is all in the hands.... I just looked but didn't find it. I wanted to link to it. I don't want to explain it as that would ruin other people's fun. If you see this please put a link to it.

Trying a new guitar pick was my answer to playing way better. I played the best about 2 years or so into my playing. I was using a Fender medium at the time. But I joined a band and was influenced (misguided really) into thinking that a heavier pick equal better tone. I struggled to play fast, be articulate, etc. for more years than I care to mention. I recently got an assortment of picks and began to experiment. I settled on a Dunlop Nylon Max Grip 0.73. I am playing better than I have in many years! Your grip, the way you hold the pick, the angle of the pick, all factor in. Experiment and use what works for you the best. You pick may be your obstacle like it was for me!

All of them were pretty similar, metal one was weird and a bit tinny, o'd say my favorite is the dunlop, but we all know the real hero here is the Chibson pick.

The only pick that can realistically affect your tone has horns on it and is made of green ivory or some shit.

Great video! That was a lot of food for thought. I use Dava picks a lot because the grip feels secure in my hands. I am naturally a clumsy guitar player, so being able to hold on to my pick is of number one importance.

I love the black Jazz 3s cause they''re abit harder than the red ones. Great for solos and metal playing.

Loved the sound of the penny actually....I'd love to hear how they'd sound with those .07 gauge strings :)

13:57 is what you’re here for

For learning alternate and tremolo picking I started with a light pick then moved through the gages to an extra heavy. I feel like I have more control with a thicker pick

It is quite interesting to see how much the sound actually changes! I just made several picks (thanks for being part of the inspiration) out of different woods, from hard to soft woods. And it is really interesting to hear the tone shift.

the real questions is "how much guitar picks affect the way you play?"

what about 'how every different type of finger affects guitar tone'

Nice to see you back!

I used to use the Dunlop Stubby 3mm, and I loved it so much. And then I got the Dunlop Hetfield's White Fang 1.14, and now they've been my daily picks. I carry them everywhere I go.

You forgot the pick made out of a useless plastic card you find in your wallet when you’re at a party, pick less, and too drunk to use your fingers. Works surprisingly well with a good pair of scissors.

Good video bro! I would also add that you can control a lot of the tonality based on the attack that you utilize when you are picking. I use the Dunlop greens myself and I’m able to get a wide scenario of sounds based on how aggressively I play. Keep up the great work!

I am currently using "Jim Dunlop Jazz III 1.4 Primetone Sculpted Plectra". I'm really liking them.

I like the Dunlop oranges (.6mm) for electric, acoustic, and bass. It feels the best for me especially in lower tunings.

I like the Kirk Hammet Heart lookin picks

Glad to see you are doing well.

Originally I didn’t use picks because I didn’t like how big they were, so i used my fingers for the longest time. Then I found out some of my favorite player’s like Jim Root used jazz 3 picks. So, I was curious and got a pack of regular Dunlop jazz 3s and even John Petrucci’s signature jazz 3s. I absolutely LOVE jazz 3 picks, they’re the ones I used to really get the hang of using a pick. BTW, the metal pick sounded like a sitar almost when you played chords.

Brian May used a 6 Pence , a British coin. Which is quite different than a penny. He would often pluck a string or strum with the pick on a slight angle to get that grungy scraping sound of the outer rough edge of the coin.

Its actually fun to watch somebody’s guitar picks

Hats off for playing with this chibson one !!!! The penny makes such a tonal difference.

Such a great video, finally someone addressed the difference in picks.

Tyler, i was listening to this video while trying to come up with a new tone. At 11:50 i unconsciously started jamming with u. we were pretty good

Tyler: I spent $60 on picks on Amazon. Me, a pick addict: Aww, first time?

I used to only use jazz 3s for soloing, but I realized recently the jazz 1 adds a much more muted sound from the rounder edge that is amazing for riffs that have less attack.

I love the tone of the jazz 3 on the single coil. I usually use the tortex Dunlop picks so I’ve just bought the jazz 3 to check them out.

Everything affects tone even if just a small bit

Dava control picks are the best ones I’ve ever played.

I dont use picks often but when i do i use Dunlop Tortex Jazz III 1.14mm. I love the way the feel and i really like the tone Tortex gives u. I feel like Tortex gives u more of a mellow, warm tone thats very balanced to me, but its not as bright, but it is very rare that i use one. I love finger-style

That clean work at the end was really nice. Can you do a whole tutorial on that?

Now I have a sad, you stopped at 3mm. Love my 6mm picks.

I've used one of those plastic glow in the dark stars that go on the ceiling as a pick...modified of course

awesome video as usual!

I love the fender extra heavy 70s style, the texture is like this dry powder feel and it makes the grip so nice

My favorite picks are Tortex Jazz iii XL size 1.5mm.

Dava picks are my go to.

Really liked that Dava Jazz grip. And the D'Addario Classic

Beautiful prs you got tyler !

Minor correction. Brian May uses old British Silver Sixpences. They have a corrugated edge which he uses for pick scrapes and he has a REALLY light touch. Check out his Premier Guitar "Rig Rundown" episode. I've tried most of these: Jazz 3, too small and despite the grip factor, still slips cos it's so small. Celluloid - too slippery Metal - too stiff so any benefit you gain from it being thinner is offset. Also little grip. DAVA - surprisingly good. Sticks well in the fingers, and I particularly like that you can change it from stiff to soft depending on where you grip it (I know what that sounds like, but get your mind out of the gutter!) Wood (still stay out of the gutter!) - love the tone & the texture is great at first. As you play though, your sweat fills in the grain and they become more slippery. All in all it's a toss up (still in the gutter I see!) Between DAVA and Tortex, with Totex first! Great video by the way!

They 100% affect the sound I use 3 picks a evh signature pic, fender medium delrin, and a ernie ball prodigy drastically different. I think its due to the give away of the pick while your playing and the surface area that touches the strings. In the case of the prodigy the angle of the bottom of the pick helps change the sound as well.

Great video. I’ve used a Tortex Jazz III XL for the longest time but switched to the Flow and never looked back.

That was a really sweet example you played at the end

Not even kidding, I’ve used the same Dunlop Flow 2 mm pick for the past 5 years. Haven’t ever lost it. It’s worn away a bit, and it actually makes it super nice to use and gives me heaps of control over where I pick. Tried other picks, they just haven’t worked as well for me.

I switched to Jazz III's about a year ago. I feel that they made me a better lead player - forced me to focus more on accuracy. Not everyone likes the smaller size though.

I've used those pointy red Dava picks for about 8 years and love them.

I recently ordered a variety pack of 4 wood picks from this website called Timber Tones. They sell picks made of a bunch of different materials. I would love to see you do a video comparing wood to metal to mineral to abalone. When you start getting into alternate materials, there are so many crazy possibilities.

My man Uncle Judy did something similar (in his own style). In any case, really helpful Tyler!

That melody you play at the end with all the picks is one of my favorite things I've ever heard on guitar.

I liked the clean sound comparison at the end. Good topic and inclusion!

I have that same dava pick! my brother gave it to me for my birthday ages ago, I use it a lot for bass

Dunlop is green, feels nice, has a title and a clever name. Clearly it is the best 😎

I used Jazz III-type picks for about 20 years. Then I had a phase of feeling really clumsy in my picking. I got some regular sized picks and it was instantly better. I figured it was the guitar player equivalent of needing stringer reading glasses and I got older.

Jazz III and Adamas 15R's here. Great vid. Cheers.

I can't recall the name but I use one of those really thick transparent picks and it sounds perfect when I use the neck pickup on my Custom PRS Paul's Guitar(same electronics and pickups as what Tyler is using)for blues.

I love these comparison videos, however even with headphones with RU-vid audio compression I hear alot less of a difference than I know this should make. I always found in the studio with cans on I hear HUGE differences with little things like pick size and material, how hard you push on the strings etc. Obviously this makes sense but it is note worthy that in a studio environment or even home recording you'll notice a much bigger difference than over RU-vid of in a live setting.

When you played with the different guitar picks, I could almost hear the difference.

I’ve been making my own pics out of assorted hardwoods for the last two years and prefer them for jazz and lead work - they don’t have the ‘click’ you get from plastic. I’ve also settled on 3 shapes - a medium jazz style for general playing, a mini jazz for soloing… and a sharkfin design for everything else - with all the trimmings - so I have 3 different shaped points and 2 long sides for some more complex sounds. And then I have some very light gauge Dunlop’s for general strumming. It’s wonderful to have the choices. PS - my preferred woods are cedar and rimu - they take nice finishes - and I’ve even tried palm tree - which looks amazing, although it’s not going to last as long as the hardwoods!

Props for being able to play that descending run with that novelty pick!

OMG NOOOO, literally one hour ago my order with some strings and picks arrived 😅 wish would have waited enough just to see this video

Correction, Bryan May used a Sixpence English coin, not a penny. He also used the year he was born Sixpence coin. The ridges on the sides of the sixpence gave him some cool sound options too when scraping. A Sixpence coin is a little thicker than a dime. In my experience, Tortex and Celluloid don't wear out that much. The Alice plastic picks wear out very fast. Good video.

I love that you answered the question in the thumbnail, and we all click anyways because you’re videos are fantastic!

Great video. And the pick I liked the least is the Dava which is the only pick I use. It’s the pick I play the best with. Hmm, I’ve got some thinking to do.

Next up: " playing the guitar with a dinner plate"