What's the best way to hold a guitar pick?

Holding a guitar pick comfortably is one of the first things you need to learn for acoustic steel-string and electric guitar playing. It’s easy to feel a little awkward with at first ; a pick is a small piece of plastic that seems to move around by itself. Learning the right grip is essential.

There are two types of the modern guitar pick (also called a ‘plectrum’). A thumb-pick is the curved type that fits around your thumb (some players call these as a ‘curly-pick’). A flat-pick is the conventional flat pick that is basically triangular in shape and is the most common type of pick used for electric guitar and acoustic guitar strumming. Old style flat picks are a narrow, teardrop shape and are still the preferred pick type for mandolin players.

Thumb-picks are used mostly by Folk/Country players on acoustic steel guitars, and early Rock ‘n’ Roll style players on semi-acoustic electric guitars. Thumb-picks are especially useful for the ‘hybrid-picking’ style that combines the pick on lower notes with the fingers picking the higher notes. Thumb-picks create a strong tone on the bass notes and can also be used for strumming when needed. Holding a thumb-pick is easy as long as it is securely fitted around your thumb and is worth trying as a ‘training-wheels’ version of a flat pick; the pick fits under the thumb-pad exactly the same way a flat-pick should but the curly bit keeps it stuck to your thumb - handy!

Flat-picks are the standard type used for most steel-string styles. To hold a flat-pick you need the pad of your thumb to be pressed flat on as much as 3/4 of the pick. The shape of the pick accommodates the thumb covering most of it; only the tip of the pick actually contacts the strings. To keep the pick still your fingers need to be relaxed in a half closed shape. The thumb holds the pick still against the side of the small segment of your index-finger. Do not let the pick slip around to the index-finger pad and do not try holding it with two fingers and thumb. Do not let the pick slip along the index finger to the middle knuckle (your hand is clenching if this happens). Your fingers must not clench into the palm, nor should they splay out straight ; your hand must stay relaxed. The pressure is only in the thumb pad and this is how we regulate volume and tone; more thumb pressure produces a stronger tone ; less pressure produces a lighter tone.

An experienced guitar teacher will help you with pick technique. It’s normal for a beginner player to find holding the pick such a nuisance they decide they don’t want to use it but the pick is an important part of steel-string guitar technique. You do need to use it if you want to sound like what you hear on thousands of famous, professional recordings.

A rotated view of how to hold a guitar pick. Your fingers should be gently tucked in- don’t anchor them down onto the guitar!

A top down view of how to hold a guitar pick. Note how the plectrum is held 90 degrees to the thumb direction.