Guitar picks can seem fairly simple; you just need a little piece of some material that you can use to strum the strings. But most guitar players know first-hand that picks can be a bit more complicated. There are countless different sizes and styles of guitar picks available on the market. On top of that, there are tons of materials that guitar picks are made out of.
Today, we’re going to take a look at guitar pick materials—how they came about, what they sound like, how they feel, and what they’re best suited for. First, let’s start with a classic but long gone pick material, tortoise shell.
Tortoiseshell
Prior to the invention of tortoiseshell guitar picks, feather quills were the dominant picks for string instruments. However, John Farris designed and patented a pick made from the Atlantic Hawksbill Sea Turtle in 1885, and it quickly became the standard for instrument picks.
Sadly, this practice was not sustainable. Atlantic Hawksbill Sea Turtles were over harvested for their tortoiseshell (not just for picks), and they were placed on the endangered species list in 1973, putting an end to tortoiseshell picks.
So why exactly were these picks so popular in the first place? Well, there weren’t many other options available, and tortoiseshell was the best option available to players. Tortoiseshell is made out of keratin, so they are similar to human nails in terms of tone and feel.
However, many modern players who have played tortoiseshell feel that it is inferior to the plethora of modern materials available. Tortoiseshell picks are also much more fragile than most modern picks. They are also illegal to sell in most places. With all the new options available, it’s best to leave the sea turtles alone.
Celluloid
Celluloid is the original tortoiseshell substitute, and it also happens to be the first commercial plastic. It was invented in 1870 by John Wesley Hyatt after a billiard ball manufacturer offered a $10,000 reward for an ivory substitute. It is made from cellulose, and incredibly abundant natural material, and turns into celluloid when combined with heat and pressure.
Celluloid first made its way to guitar picks when Tony D’Andrea stumbled upon a sheet of tortoiseshell patterned celluloid at a sidewalk sale in 1902. He discovered that celluloid was a great guitar pick material, and the rest is history.
Celluloid is very flexible and durable, which makes it a great fit for guitar picks. Tonally, celluloid is usually described as having a bright tone and sharp attack. It is also a remarkably cheap material, meaning picks can be made and sold for cheap. To this day, celluloid is still one of the most popular pick materials on the market.
Nylon
Once tortoiseshell was out of the picture, pick manufacturers were looking for other alternatives. In this search, Jim Dunlop (a name we’ll see much more of later) ended up creating the nylon guitar pick. Technically, Herco came up with nylon picks first, but Dunlop bought the brand.
Nylon picks are most known for their flexibility and feel. Because of the material, they typically feel thinner than they actually are. They also are a bit slippery, but most manufacturers make them with dimples for improved grip.
In terms of tone, nylon picks are very versatile. Players say they are on the warmer side, but they can still produce brighter sounds with certain techniques. They are popular in everything from rock to jazz, so they are obviously very capable for a wide variety of styles.
On the downside, nylon picks aren’t very durable. You may end up swapping picks a lot if you play frequently or are a heavy-handed player. Also, many players simply don’t like the flexible and slippery feel, preferring a stiffer and more “solid” pick. Still, it is one of the most popular pick materials out there.
Modern Synthetics
These materials are grouped together because they are all modern synthetics created by Jim Dunlop for guitar picks. These materials have become some of the most popular and commonly used today, so let’s look at some of them.
Delrin, Delrex, Acetal
These three are basically all the same, so let’s just discuss them together. Delrin was first used for guitar picks by Jim Dunlop, again in the search of tortoiseshell alternatives. It is essentially a plastic, making them an affordable and functional pick material.
Delrin picks are most known for their durability. It is an incredibly strong material that can hold up to a lot of use. They last much