Whether you are a head-banging hair-band fanatic, prefer belting out the blues, or picking your favorite bluegrass melody, knowing how to get the sounds you desire using a flatpick is essential. You may be wondering what a flatpick is and how you can use one to create the sound you want when you’re playing your guitar.
Flatpicking is the technique of using a plectrum, more commonly known as a flatpick, to play the strings of the guitar instead of using your fingers. The flatpick is held between your index finger and thumb when playing.
If you are passionate about creating music and wish to learn more about the flatpick and how it is used to create the melodic sounds you love to hear, continue reading this helpful guide.
Brief History of Flatpicking Stringed Instruments
Musicians have been using some form of plectra (a device used for plucking the strings on an instrument) for thousands of years. In early times, the most common item used was the feather quill; it was not until around the 1800s that they began to use the tortoiseshell’s outer layer to achieve the desired sound from their stringed instruments.
In 1973 the use of tortoiseshell was banned as they became a member of the endangered species list. Around 1922, D’Andrea Picks began making flatpicks made from multiple mediums in different shapes and sizes to create the type of sound that was required for different styles of music.
Flatpicking Versus Fingerpicking
As stated earlier, flatpicking is accomplished by using a small flat tool (formally known as a plectrum), typically made of nylon, tortoiseshell, or wood to play the strings of the guitar. Whereas fingerpicking is exactly as it sounds; you use your fingers to play the guitar strings. When picking with your fingers, imagine that each finger is a pick.
You may be wondering which technique is better.
One technique is not necessarily better than the other. They are simply different styles of playing. The best way to know if you need to use a flatpick or your fingers is to consider the style of music you are playing and how much time you plan to devote to your newly acquired skill.
If you are limited on how much time you can put into learning, choose the method you think you will use the most and practice that first.
Flatpicking Is Bright
When you use a flatpick on a guitar’s strings, it creates a more vibrant and consistent sound. Flatpicking allows you to use sweeping/strumming techniques more easily and also allows you to play faster.
Fingerpicking is the Total Picture
Fingerpicking is used more for creating chord melodies. It’s usually a method that allows you to play chords along with a melody at the same time.
Do You Use Both?
In some situations, a more skilled musician may use both techniques to achieve a certain sound. In these cases, there are specially designed picks that slide onto your finger or thumb so you can still use your fingers for picking when you need to or have the option of using the slide-on pick.
Another reason many people prefer to use a flatpick is that fingerpicking can be quite painful until you develop calluses. Many people do not have the patience to truly learn to fingerpick; however, it is a good skill to acquire as it makes you a more versatile musician.
Learning How to Use a Flatpick on a Guitar
To hold your flatpick, you need to pinch it between your thumb and index finger. If you plan on strumming a lot, let the pick stick out a little farther for easier strumming. If you want to play a more intricate melody by picking individual strings, then you need to reduce the amount of pick sticking out from your fingers so that you can be closer to the strings for more accurate playing.
Strumming Technique You Can Learn
When you are learning how to play your guitar with a flatpick, you must:
- First, hold your hand above the hole in the guitar
- Place the pick on the top string
- Make a sweeping motion with your wrist along all of the strings
- Repeat this step from the bottom string to the top
- Continue practicing strumming from top to bottom and bottom to top while maintaining a smooth wrist motion
You do not need to move your entire arm.
Alternate Picking is Possible
After you have honed your strumming skills, it is time to move on to alternate picking. Alternate picking helps you to play individual notes more easily and much faster. The more you practice this technique, the faster and more accurate you will become.
If you are playing a heavier or faster-paced style of music, it is recommended that you use a thicker flatpick because they will not bend and flex when you are switching between strings or break when you are strumming too aggressively.
You Can’t Become a Master Without the Basics
Skip the Youtube™ videos and hire a professional musician to teach you the basics of playing the guitar with a flatpick. When you are first learning how to play any instrument, you must learn the fundamentals before you try to start playing your favorite tunes.
It may be boring and repetitive in the beginning. If you do not master your strumming and picking techniques in combination with learning how to play rhythm, you will have a more difficult time in the long-run. People that try to skip the fundamentals of music tend to peak at a certain point and never go further.
Different Styles of Flatpicks
The type of pick you choose greatly depends on the style of music you are playing and also your personal preferences. If you are just starting out, you may need to try many picks before you find one that you can play with comfortably. Most beginners tend to prefer a more flexible, lightweight flatpick until they are used to the technique of using one.
When you are using scales or basic riffs, a medium weight pick is recommended. Heavyweight picks are typically used if you are playing more aggressive tunes on an electric guitar. A more pointed tip tends to create a more vibrant sound, whereas a more rounded tip creates a more subdued sound.
Flatpicks are now made from a multitude of materials as listed below:
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The following is a list made up of different pick styles that you can choose from:
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Tip for beginners: When you purchase guitar picks, it is highly recommended that you buy a large quantity of them as they are notorious for getting lost the minute you lay them down somewhere. You don’t want to run out of picks while you are in the middle of a major masterpiece.
Choose What Works Best for You – Master the Basics
The beautiful thing about playing a musical instrument is that you can be as creative as you wish and play whatever moves your soul. Choosing the right flatpick can make all the difference when you are playing the guitar or any other stringed instrument. Take your time, practice often, and experiment freely; before you know it, you will be entertaining everyone around you with your intricate picking skills.
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