This product list contains affiliate links. This means that at no extra cost to you, I may earn a commission if you use one of these links to make a purchase.
Last updated on June 22nd, 2023 at 04:12 am
The RIGHT guitar pick is crucial when you’re learning to play metal or performing in a band. They help you develop the right technique to make epic solos and riffs sound amazing. But most beginners don’t know where to start!
That’s why we’ve done the research and put together some of the best guitar picks for metal players so that you don’t have to!
How to Choose The Best Pick for Metal?
It takes a while to learn that almost everything has an effect on tone once you’ve been playing for a long time. Choosing the right pick is part of the puzzle. So, how can you know which one is the best for your needs? Here are a few to note!
Weight
Heavy or extremely rigid picks guarantee that the majority of your picking force is applied directly to the strings. When attempting to play with any degree of speed and accuracy, lighter-gauge picks have a mushy feel.
It is a sort of phenomenon that is difficult to articulate, but obvious once experienced. Heavy picks offer you a sense of control that light or medium gauge picks do not.
Shape
Most players choose the teardrop form because it has a point on one end to hit the strings with and a lovely round end on the other. However, for a more quiet transient that emphasizes the other parts of your tone rather than the attack, a more rounded pluck might be what you need if you want the note to gradually emerge and slowly slide into the song.
Size
You’ll be able to commit more to each note if you use a larger pick with a larger grip area. It is also possible to play faster by using a smaller pick. Pick size depends on how much motion you’re making with your fingers, wrist, or elbow.
Edge
Overall, the taper has a more natural feel because the transition is less sudden, making each stroke appear quite natural. The flat tip, on the other hand, is more definite; there is no easing into anything; it is simply here and gone. A rounded tip gives the smoothest feel, but the control is mushier and strokes are not as clearly defined.
Thickness
Guitar picks for beginners are those that are thinner than 0.6 mm. Most beginner guitar players begin by learning strumming methods, which can be played more effectively with thinner plectrums. However, medium-thickness plectrums are the most adaptable in terms of tone, and they may be used for both rhythm and lead guitar.
Choosing the wrong pick might even cause guitar picking shoulder pain!
As with all of these factors you should naturally use whatever feels most comfortable, but you must know what different ends of the spectrum will give you.
Best Guitar Picks For Metal
Have you ever wondered what the best guitar picks for metal would be? Well, you’re in luck! Here are two of the best picks that you can use while playing metal guitar.
This product list contains affiliate links. This means that at no extra cost to you, I may earn a commission if you use one of these links to make a purchase.
Dunlop Ultex Jazz III 1.38mm
I LOVE the Dunlop Ultex Jazz! IMHO it is the best guitar pick for metal.
Dunlop’s Classic Jazz III form is combined with their cutting-edge Max Grip technology in this 24-piece set of Max Grip Jazz III guitar picks.
The non-slip grip of the Dunlop pick is sculpted into the whole gripping surface for exceptional control, and the tip is sharp and beveled for swift string release. This incredible combination will benefit players hoping to improve their speed and articulation, as well as Jazz III fans like me.
Fender 551 Shape Classic Celluloid
Another great pick for metal, a couple of my friends use it and they just love it.
There is a wide range of picks available from Fender in a variety of sizes, shapes and thicknesses, but the majority are made of celluloid.
Compared to other picks, this substance has a more mellow tone. With a slightly larger body and a sharper tip than Fender’s 451 models, the 551 is suited for fast single-note licks.
Best Guitar Picks For Thrash Metal
These are some great guitar picks for thrash metal players. I would definitely recommend the first one but the other one is good too. Choose what ever you like the most!
Dunlop Tortex Standard 1.14mm
The Dunlop Tortex is one of the best guitar picks for thrash metal and one of my personal favorites!
Tortex picks are well-known for their distinctive texture and form, which allows them to securely grip your fingers without ever becoming sticky. Delrin, the material used to make Tortex picks, is known for its strength and resistance to bending and wear, so it can withstand heavy use without losing its usefulness.
As for sound, Tortex picks are known the world over for their crystal-clear acoustic and bass guitar tones, which make them excellent for a variety of musical styles!
Ernie Ball Prodigy 1.5mm
To attain unprecedented levels of accuracy, output, and control, Ernie Ball Prodigy guitar picks are precisely machined from ultra-rigid, durable, low-friction Delrin thermoplastic. To maintain a consistent tone and technique throughout the night, the non-slip surface of each pick is meant to hold you back as the temperature rises.
Because of its razor-sharp tip, the Prodigy series can strike with tremendous force and move at breakneck speed. Ernie Ball Prodigy picks come in a variety of sizes and shapes to fit the needs of a wide range of players.
Best Guitar Picks For Heavy Metal
The list wouldn’t be complete without heavy metal eh! Here are the top guitar picks for heavy metal!
Planet Waves Assorted Pearl Celluloid 1.25mm
Planet Waves Classic Pearl Celluloid Guitar Picks are composed of fine celluloid and have a natural feel and thick tone. Comfortable playing is provided by the picks’ normal size and form, which are 1.25mm thick.
Celluloid, a man-made alternative for tortoiseshell picks, was originally produced in the early 1900s. The select packing from D’Addario is made to be as waste-free and environmentally friendly as possible.
Snarling Dogs Brain 0.73mm
Simply put, the Snarling Dogs Brain Picks by D’Andrea are the best nylon picks with a grip surface that can be found anywhere in the world.
Snarling Brain Picks are the best option for guitarists who likes the sound and feel of nylon picks over other materials. These picks are available in colors that correspond to a specific gauge size (6 gauge).
Best Guitar Picks For Black Metal
Yep we have a recommendation for black metal too!
Introducing the….
Dunlop Nylon Standard 1.0mm
The Dunlop Nylon Standard is renowned for both its resiliency and its longevity.
The thinner variants are ideal for strummers who play acoustic instruments, whilst the heavier gauges offer rockers an aggressive and powerful attack. (1.0mm – Black 72 Picks Per Bag)
Best Guitar Picks For Death Metal
And we also have one for death metal! The best guitar pick for death metal is:
Dunlop Tortex Jazz III XL 88mm
It’s an excellent combination of the bright, snappy attack of Tortex and the greater control, speed, and definition of the Jazz III XL form. The turtle logo is readily identifiable, and guitarists have adopted the vivid Tortex palette as a shorthand for gauging.
Ask for Green or Yellow Picks in any music store, and you’ll likely be shown a pack of Tortex. 88mm or .73mm Picks. Numerous performers from all over the world, representing every musical style and genre, have selected Tortex Picks to assist them in doing what they love. Made in America.
How To Hold a Guitar Pick for Metal
You can’t get better at guitar practice if you don’t know how to hold a pick. If you’re a lefty, fretting the guitar with your right hand and strumming it with your left-hand makes perfect sense. If you’re a right-handed person, the same holds. As a result, if you want to play the guitar by hand, you’ll need a pick that fits well in your hand.
To get your hands ready for guitar practice, give them a good shake and rub. Make a small fist with your index finger and thumb now. Now, put your thumb so that the nail on the outside of it touches your index finger, and do the same with your middle finger.
Strumming is made possible by placing the pick’s edge outside your index and thumb fingers. Make sure to keep about an inch of the pick’s edge out of your thumb’s grip when you’re practicing the guitar so that you can strum the instrument properly.
Maintain a loose grasp on the pick at all times. Keep your pick in the middle of your thumb. As soon as you’ve mastered how to hold the pick, begin strumming your guitar from the thickest strings to the thinnest by placing the pick upside down on the strings first.
You don’t have to move your entire arm to play the guitar, so don’t go overboard. This can be accomplished with a few simple finger or wrist movements!
Can you play the guitar with a metal pick?
Do metal guitar picks damage strings?
This product list contains affiliate links. This means that at no extra cost to you, I may earn a commission if you use one of these links to make a purchase.
