How to Make Flexible and Durable Guitar Picks
Choose the material., Trace the shape of a pick on your choice of material. , Cut out the pick shape., File down the corners., Paint your pick.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Choose the material.
Metal
- You can buy metal picks (ice picks , etc).
If you have any kind of sheet metal lying around, you can use this.
Metal gives a sharp, bright tone that isn't very well suited to acoustic guitars, but sounds good with electric.
Leather
- If you don't have a bass guitar, this can be a true life saver.
Cut a pick shape from a real leather belt, and pick the low strings of an acoustic guitar.
Fiddle around a bit after you record it, and there you have it, perfect bass sound.
It has a muted, thick tone.
Plastic
- Find any piece of plastic, and cut it into shape.
Experiment a bit, because thickness and cut change the sound.
Credit cards
- Any old credit card makes a perfect pick.
Simply cut it out and use it normally.
Credit cards are the perfect thickness for bass guitars, but you can use them for guitars just as well. -
Step 2: Trace the shape of a pick on your choice of material.
, Use an X-Acto knife or sharp scissors. , Use a rough scrap of sandpaper to sand down the corners to a rounded edge. , Cover any personal information that can be used to steal your identity. -
Step 3: Cut out the pick shape.
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Step 4: File down the corners.
-
Step 5: Paint your pick.
Detailed Guide
Metal
- You can buy metal picks (ice picks , etc).
If you have any kind of sheet metal lying around, you can use this.
Metal gives a sharp, bright tone that isn't very well suited to acoustic guitars, but sounds good with electric.
Leather
- If you don't have a bass guitar, this can be a true life saver.
Cut a pick shape from a real leather belt, and pick the low strings of an acoustic guitar.
Fiddle around a bit after you record it, and there you have it, perfect bass sound.
It has a muted, thick tone.
Plastic
- Find any piece of plastic, and cut it into shape.
Experiment a bit, because thickness and cut change the sound.
Credit cards
- Any old credit card makes a perfect pick.
Simply cut it out and use it normally.
Credit cards are the perfect thickness for bass guitars, but you can use them for guitars just as well.
, Use an X-Acto knife or sharp scissors. , Use a rough scrap of sandpaper to sand down the corners to a rounded edge. , Cover any personal information that can be used to steal your identity.
About the Author
Denise Williams
Committed to making DIY projects accessible and understandable for everyone.
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