It’s never too early to find the best acoustic guitar pick for beginners.
Believe it or not, finding the best acoustic guitar pick for beginners can be a confusing process.
The different materials, sizes, shapes, and thicknesses can be confusing.
Plus, it’s often hard to know where to start.
To show you what we mean, here’s a quick rule of thumb guide:
- A pick with a thin gauge is easier to strum with but will give you more “clack”.
- Thicker gauged picks give less “clack” but take more effort to strum.
- A wider-shaped pick is often better for strumming than playing lead guitar.
- Playing lead on an acoustic guitar is often easier with a pointier, smaller-sized pick.
Remember, this is just a guide.
The best way to find the right acoustic guitar pick for you is to do some experimentation.
To get you started, we’ve reviewed the best ones available on the market today.
Check it out!
Best Acoustic Guitar Pick for Beginners: Best Overall
Jim Dunlop Acoustic Variety Pack (PVP112)
If you’re just starting out playing acoustic guitar and looking to find the perfect pick to match your playing style? Then check out the Jim Dunlop Acoustic Variety Pack (PVP112).
This variety pack includes 12 picks of different materials and thicknesses so you can get a good sense of what best fits your style of playing.
Thicknesses include thin, medium, and a range from 0.60mm to 0.88mm which is perfect for acoustic guitar playing whether you’re strumming or practicing leads.
The picks are made from various materials including Ultex, Tortex, Celluloid, and nylon so you can get a real sense of how different materials affect your tone and find your favorite.
Finally, all of the picks are standard-sized or slightly smaller which means you have a good baseline for what kind of shape you prefer.
Pros
- Nice Variety of Thicknesses and Materials
Cons
- No Larger Sizes or Shapes
As you can see, the Jim Dunlop Acoustic Variety Pack (PVP112) gives you a good mix of picks to choose from that are perfect for playing acoustic guitar.
We think you’ll find the variety of materials that will help you find your favorite and hone your tone.
Why wait? Click here and get yours now.
Best Acoustic Guitar Pick for Beginners: Best Budget
ChromaCast CC-SAMPLE Sampler Guitar Picks
If you’re looking for some great picks that are budget-friendly and perfect for playing acoustic guitar, then check out the ChromaCast CC-SAMPLE Sampler Guitar Picks.
It includes 6 Durapicks and 6 celluloid picks in various thicknesses so you get a nice assortment to experiment with.
The 6 Durapicks include thickness from .50mm all the way to 1.14mm while the 6 celluloid picks come in a variety of light, medium, and heavy gauges.
As a result, you’ll be able to find the thickness that best suits your playing.
The celluloid picks are made from premium celluloid which has a natural feel and delivers warmer, thicker tones.
The Durapicks are made from Delrin so they’re strong, durable, and deliver clear articulation when playing fast leads.
All 12 of these picks have the classic, standard guitar pick shape that provides an easy-to-play width and a rounded tip.
Pros
- All Picks Made in the USA
Cons
- Only 1 Pick Shape
As you can see, the ChromaCast CC-SAMPLE Sampler Guitar Picks provide a nice variety of picks at a price that’s easy on your wallet.
We think you’ll find they’re solid picks that’ll give you a good grounding on what thicknesses and materials you prefer.
Don’t miss out! Click here and get yours today!
Best Acoustic Guitar Pick for Beginners: Best Runner-Up
Fender All Shapes Medley – Celluloid – Medium – 8 Pack
Are you interested in finding the perfect shaped pick for your style of acoustic guitar playing? Then check out the Fender All Shapes Medley – Celluloid – Medium.
This pack includes 8 medium gauge picks that are in 8 different shapes which gives you an excellent range of choices for playing acoustic guitar.
Plus, medium gauged picks are great for beginners since they can be used to strum and pick.
All the picks are composed of Tortoiseshell celluloid which means they deliver the classic guitar sound, have a proven record of performance, and are easy to play.
Finally, with 8 different shapes to choose from you’re sure to find the exact shape to suit your needs.
Pros
- Made in the USA
Cons
- Only 1 Thickness, 1 Color, and 1 Material
As you can see the Fender All Shapes Medley provides a nice range of easy-to-play, versatile, and high-performance picks.
We think you’ll find it’s a great way to find the perfect pick for playing acoustic guitar.
Don’t miss out! Click here and get yours now.
Best Acoustic Guitar Pick for Beginners: Best for Playing Rhythm
Dunlop Tortex Triangle Guitar Picks Variety Pack
Are you mainly interested in playing rhythm guitar on your acoustic? Then check out the Dunlop Tortex Triangle Guitar Picks Variety Pack.
Acoustic guitar players who mainly play rhythm often prefer a larger, stiffer pick since it makes it easier to strum acoustic guitar strings.
This variety pack fits the bill and includes 12 picks in 6 different gauge thicknesses so you can experiment and find the perfect pick for you.
With 6 different thicknesses that range from 0.5mm to 1.14mm you have a range that’s perfect for strumming and playing rhythm guitar.
All the picks are made from Dunlop’s Tortex which was originally designed as a replacement for tortoiseshell.
This means these Tortex picks have a snappy tone, are durable, and won’t slip out of your hand.
Finally, the triangular shape of these picks gives you a larger surface area to grip and a wider area of string contact.
As a result, strumming all 6 strings requires less effort and lighter finger pressure.
Pros
- Tortex is a Popular and Proven Pick Material
Cons
- No Light Gauge Picks
As you can see, the Dunlop Tortex Triangle Guitar Picks Variety Pack is the perfect pick for acoustic rhythm players.
We think you’ll find that the variety of thicknesses will give you a great handle on which pick is perfect for you.
See for yourself. Click here and get yours today.
Best Acoustic Guitar Pick for Beginners: Best for Playing Lead
Fender Premium Picks Sampler – 12 Pack
Are you a beginner mainly interested in playing lead guitar and looking for the right guitar pick? Then check out the Fender Premium Picks Sampler.
It’s a set of 24 Fender picks in 3 different thicknesses in a variety of different colors, so you’ll get a nice selection to experiment with.
Plus, Fender picks are an excellent size and shape for playing lead on acoustic guitar.
There are 8 picks in each thickness including thin, medium, and heavy gauges so you get a full spectrum to choose from and will be able to decide on which works best for you.
Finally, all of the picks are composed of celluloid which is a very popular and time-tested material that gives you a warm, full sound.
Pros
- Fender Picks are Very Versatile and Popular with Many Guitarists
Cons
- Only 1 Shape, Size, and Material
As you can see, the Fender Premium Picks Sampler provides a variety of thicknesses and colors that are great for beginners looking to play lead on an acoustic guitar.
We think you’ll find they’re a great pick for beginners since they have a size and shape that’s natural and easy to play.
See for yourself. Click here and get yours now.
Best Acoustic Guitar Pick for Beginners: FAQ
- Which size pick is best for acoustic guitar beginner?
- A medium gauged (usually 0.60mm to 0.8mm) pick in the standard guitar pick shape is the best choice for a beginner since it’s stiff enough to easily pluck strings with, thin enough to make strumming easy, and is wide enough to feel natural between your thumb and index finger.
- Which pick is best for acoustic guitar?
- A popular pick for playing acoustic guitar is a medium gauge triangle-shaped pick like the Fender 346 Guitar Picks or the Dunlop Tortex Flex Triangle Picks.
- Both picks give you a larger surface area to grip and are flexible enough to facilitate easy strumming as well as single-note picking.
- What size pick should I use for acoustic?
- If you’re just starting out a variety pack is probably your best bet. This way you can get a feel for how different thicknesses and shapes change your sound.
- Should beginner guitar players use a pick?
- Absolutely, yes. Being able to play with a pick is a skill that will take time, practice, and energy. The sooner a beginner starts learning how to control their playing with a pick the better off they’ll be.
- Here’s a link to guitar picks for electric guitar.
JT currently resides in Southern California and has been playing the guitar since he was 13. He enjoys baking French pastries, drinking loose-leaf tea, and running Slackware Linux.