Pick
Pick or fingers?
Both can work, and both do — they're not rival camps but two techniques for different sounds. A pick gives a clearer, crisper tone and is faster for single notes. Fingers give you control over individual strings at once and sound warmer.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference in sound?
A pick is a hard, thin piece of plastic — that gives a sharper, "clicking" attack. Fingers (flesh or nail) are softer, producing a rounder, warmer tone. Hearing a crispy acoustic chord like Ed Sheeran's: pick. A restrained fingerstyle ballad: fingers. Many guitarists switch per song or even within one song.Which pick thickness do I start with?
For strumming chords: light/medium (0.50-0.73 mm). Thinner gives with the attack, sounds more audible as a "swoosh" and is forgiving for your timing. For single notes and lead playing: medium/heavy (0.88-1.14 mm) — more control and attack. Many guitarists carry several. Grab a variety pack for a few euros and feel what suits you.How do I hold a pick?
Between thumb and the side of your index finger, roughly two-thirds covered — the tip sticks out 5-7 mm. Grip firmly enough that it doesn't fly away, but not so tight your hand cramps. Rule of thumb: you should be able to rotate the pick between your fingers while playing. Does it keep flying away or tilting? Try something thicker, or a pick with grip.Should I start with fingers instead?
No wrong choice. Starting with fingers has advantages: you immediately feel which strings you're hitting, so you learn faster which chords use which strings. Pick gives you a recognizable pop-rock sound faster. For classical or fingerstyle, finger technique is the right path anyway. Our advice: learn both eventually — they open different repertoires.Switching between pick and fingers — is that common?
Very common. Many singer-songwriters strum with a pick for the verse chords and switch to fingers for the breakdown passages. Technique: hold the pick between your middle and ring finger during the fingerstyle section ("palmed"). With practice you switch it back within half a beat. This is a nice trick to learn once you've got both down.Fingernails — short or long?
For classical and fingerstyle guitar, slightly grown nails on your right hand are common — they give a clear, projecting sound without needing a pick. On your left hand always keep them short, otherwise you can't press the strings cleanly. Don't feel like maintaining nails? Pick is a great alternative.My fingers get sore spots from the pick tip — is that normal?
Sometimes, especially if you're squeezing hard. Two solutions: a pick with a textured surface ("Tortex", "Max-Grip") so you don't have to squeeze, or accept that your hand needs to adjust at first. Squeezing itself should be light — sore index finger side often means too tight a grip.
Try both today.
Play the same song twice — once with a pick, once with fingers. You'll hear the difference right away.