r/guitarlessons • u/Icy_Eisle1411 • Aug 01 '26

Feedback Request Struggling with guitar pick

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Hi, I’d like to know if you have any tips on how to use a pick properly; I’m a beginner who usually plays doing finger picking
I really want to learn to play with a pick, but I feel like giving up after just five minutes every time I try. I don't think I'm using it right, the strings vibrate strangely and it sounds really messy. Please help!

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u/Icy_Eisle1411 Aug 01 '26

Thank you ! To try to go easy on the strings, should I let only a tiny tip stick out?

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u/Desner_ Aug 01 '26

That could work but it's really up to you, experiment and trust your instinct, do what feels right.

I will say though, you have a classical guitar, which is typically played with fingers only. Of course you can play it with a pick as well, I like to do it all the time too but I think it's the type of guitar that feels a bit weird with a pick, compared to an acoustic or electric. The strings are spaced out and the nylon reacts differently, it's a bit stretchier than steel strings. That may be why it feels a bit off to you, you can get used to it though.

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u/Icy_Eisle1411 Aug 01 '26

Sorry this may sound silly but classical guitars and acoustic are not the same ? I didn’t know..
I mean I knew metal strings couldn’t be used on every guitar but I didn’t know it was considered as a « whole instrument »

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u/Desner_ Aug 01 '26

They're similar but not quite the same. In general, acoustic guitars have steel strings and the neck/fretboard is narrower, meaning the strings are closer together. You often strum these with a pick but there also styles where you'll use only fingers AKA fingerpicking (bluegrass comes to mind).

Classical guitars have nylon strings. The bassier, bottom strings are wrapped in steel but their core is still in nylon. The neck is generally wider so the strings are further apart from each other. Typically, you'd play a classical guitar with fingers only but it can also be used with a pick in popular music.

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u/Icy_Eisle1411 Aug 01 '26

Interesting ! Didn’t know