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.
Comparison
Pick vs. fingers at a glance
| Aspect | Pick | Fingers |
|---|---|---|
| Tone | Bright, clicky | Warm, round |
| Volume & attack | Loud and direct | Softer, more nuanced |
| Speed | Easy to play fast, tremolo | Possible too, but takes more practice |
| Multiple strings | Ideal for strumming | Fingerpicking patterns |
| Per-string control | Less | Lots |
| Typical styles | Rock, pop, punk, bluegrass | Classical, folk, fingerstyle |
| Learning curve | Quick results | A little more patience |
Pick thickness
Which pick thickness for what?
Thickness decides how much the pick flexes — and so how it sounds and plays. A rough guide:
Thin · 0.40–0.60 mm
Flexes easily on the attack. Great for strumming and acoustic rhythm — forgiving on your timing, with an audible “swoosh”.
Medium · 0.60–0.85 mm
The all-rounder. Enough body for chords and enough control for single notes — the safest pick for pop and rock.
Thick · 0.85–1.20+ mm
Little flex, lots of control and attack. The choice for lead and single notes, especially on electric.
No idea where to start? Grab a variety pack of a few euros with several gauges and feel what suits you.
Which to pick
When do you choose what?
Mostly strumming chords
Grab a pick. You'll get a full, rhythmic sound sooner and keep your strumming even more easily.
Fingerpicking or classical
Choose fingers. You play multiple strings independently and get the warm, nuanced tone this repertoire calls for.
Want to do it all
Learn both and switch per song. Most guitarists do — the technique just follows the tune.
Oefen het met een les
Les · met Levi
Trying fingers? Start with fingerpicking
Want to get the finger technique down? Levi teaches you the PIMA pattern — the foundation of fingerpicking — calmly, step by step.
Fingerpicking starter (PIMA) zit in de abonnementen Gitaarles en Alles-in-één. Probeer een maand voor € 1.
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.