To Pick Or Not To Pick ... Using Guitar Picks for Jazz: Tips and Techniques

There's no doubt about it:

Choosing the right picking style is one of the mostly hotly debated topics in jazz guitar. Tune in today where we'll have an in-depth discussion on the different picking approaches for jazz guitar and our recommendations.


Key Takeaways:

Fingerstyle and picks are both valid and important techniques for jazz guitarists.

Heavier, stiffer picks are common in jazz, providing more control and a warm tone.

Picking location along the strings affects tone, with playing near the bridge sounding brighter and near the neck warmer.

Guitar and amp settings have the biggest impact on electric tone, while right hand technique and nail shape affect acoustic fingerstyle guitar.

Picks may help build speed faster on single note runs for beginners, but fingerstyle can also reach advanced speeds with practice.

The choice between fingerstyle and picks depends on musical goals - fingerstyle suits chord melodies and multiple voices, while picks excel at fast single-note lines.

Other picking options like hybrid picking, thumb picks, or tucking a pick provide versatility.

Experimentation is key to finding the ideal picking approach.


What do you think? Do you prefer using a heavier or lighter pick? Fingerstyle? Hybrid approach of using pick and fingers?

Let us know below in the comments!

Cheers,

Greg O’Rourke
Guitar Expert & Founder of FretDojo.com
BMus (Hons), ANU

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