Best Guitar Picks for Beginners: Gauge, Material, and What to Try
Picks are cheap, tiny, and weirdly important — the gauge you hold changes how easily you strum and how your guitar sounds. Buy a variety, find your favourite, then stock up. Here is where to start.
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- Start with a medium gauge (around 0.60–0.73mm) — versatile for both strumming and single notes.
- Thinner picks are easier for strumming chords; thicker picks give more control for lead playing.
- Buy a multipack — picks are tiny, cheap, and vanish into sofas and cases constantly.
- Try a few materials and gauges before settling; pick feel is genuinely personal.
- The Dunlop Tortex .73mm is the classic all-round beginner pick worth trying first.
Gauge matters more than you would guess
A pick’s gauge (thickness) shapes both feel and tone. Thin picks (under 0.60mm) flex a lot and glide across the strings, which makes strumming chords easy and forgiving — great for absolute beginners learning rhythm. Medium picks (0.60–0.80mm) are the do-everything middle ground, stiff enough for clear single notes but still comfortable for strumming. Heavy picks (above ~1.0mm) barely flex, giving precise control for lead lines and faster playing, but they can feel clumsy when strumming open chords.
Most beginners are happiest starting around 0.73mm and adjusting from there once they know whether they mostly strum or pick.
Material and shape, briefly
Celluloid (the classic Fender 351) is smooth and warm with a traditional feel; Tortex (Dunlop’s matte, grippy material) resists slipping in sweaty hands and is a perennial favourite; premium picks like the Primetone use sculpted, polished edges for a refined glide and tone. Differences are subtle but real, and finding a pick you like genuinely makes playing more pleasant.
The standard 351 shape (rounded triangle) suits almost everyone. Smaller jazz shapes give more precision for fast lead work later. Start standard, and experiment once your technique settles.
Fender 351 Premium Celluloid Picks (12-Pack)
$5The traditional starting point. Fender’s 351 celluloid picks have the smooth, warm feel generations of players grew up on, in the standard shape that suits almost everyone. A 12-pack costs about the price of a coffee, so you can try a couple of gauges and not panic when they disappear.
What's good
- Classic smooth feel and warm tone
- Standard shape suits everyone
- Cheap multipack
What's not
- Celluloid can get slippery when sweaty
- Less grippy than Tortex
Dunlop Tortex Standard .73mm (12-Pack)
$5The pick to try first. Dunlop’s Tortex in 0.73mm is the all-round beginner favourite — a medium gauge that strums chords comfortably and articulates single notes cleanly, in a matte material that grips even sweaty fingers. The yellow .73mm is iconic for good reason. Buy this twelve-pack and find out what you like.
What's good
- Versatile medium gauge for strum and lead
- Grippy even when hands are sweaty
- The classic beginner default
What's not
- Matte feel is not for everyone
- You may still prefer thinner for pure strumming
Dunlop Primetone Picks (3-Pack)
$6The upgrade for when you know your gauge. Primetone picks use durable Ultex with hand-burnished, sculpted edges that glide off the strings for a smooth, precise release and a clear tone. A small luxury that makes fast or expressive playing feel better — worth it once you have settled on a thickness you like.
What's good
- Smooth, precise release off the strings
- Durable, refined tone
- Lovely once your technique settles
What's not
- Pricier per pick (small 3-pack)
- Overkill for a day-one beginner
Pick preference is personal and you cannot know yours without trying a few. Many brands sell a variety pack with several gauges in one bag — a great first purchase. Once you find the thickness and material you reach for, buy a dozen of that one, because picks vanish faster than any other piece of guitar gear.
Before you buy
Start around 0.73mm — versatile for both strumming and single notes.
Go thinner if you mostly strum chords; thicker for lead control.
Try a variety pack to find your preferred gauge and material.
Buy multipacks — picks disappear constantly.
Tortex grips better than celluloid when your hands get sweaty.
Guitar pick questions
What pick should a beginner use?
Are thinner or thicker picks better for beginners?
Does pick material make a difference?
How many picks should I buy?
Can I play without a pick?
Don’t overthink it: grab a multipack of medium picks and start playing. The Dunlop Tortex .73mm is the classic all-rounder most beginners settle on; Fender 351 celluloid gives a warmer, traditional feel; Primetones are a nice upgrade once you know your gauge. Try a few, find your favourite, and buy a dozen — because you will lose them.
The HobbyStack editorial team researches each guide using practitioner communities, published resources, and direct input from active hobbyists. Every guide is reviewed for accuracy before publication and updated when practices change.
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