Stone Guitar Picks – Ever Tried Playing Guitar With Gemstone Picks?
Although plastic guitar picks are the most common variety, plectrums are actually available in a huge range of different materials, including gemstones. In this article we’ll take a look at why so many guitarists like using stone guitar picks, and perhaps you might want to try them too.
Stone picks can be made from a wide range of gemstones, although the various varieties of agate are probably the most common. Agate is easily recognisable due to its banded appearance, and comes in a variety of colours. However, any stone can be - and often is - used to create plectrums, including jasper, bloodstone, amber, tiger’s eye and quartz.
Amber Guitar Pick
Advantages of Stone Picks
So, why use a stone guitar pick? The answer is that these picks give a fantastically resonant guitar tone. Plastic guitar picks, which are the ‘norm’, tend to have a deadening effect on the string. So when you use a plastic pick to strike the guitar string, it doesn’t resonate as fully as it might do if you use one made from other materials. Basically, the denser the material from which the pick is made, the more resonant the tone will be.
Another reason why people like gem guitar picks is their aesthetic appeal. Every pick is unique, and like other gemstone items, they can be very beautiful. Stone picks are also extremely durable, and will not wear down easily like plastic picks do. However, they should be treated with care, as they may smash if dropped on a hard surface. Stone plectrums can also retain their value, and make excellent gifts, either to give to guitar-loving friends, or to pass down through the generations.
Downsides of Gem Picks
A downside to gemstone plectrums is that they’re very smooth and polished, which can make keeping a firm grip difficult. However, you can get stone picks that have been designed with a slightly rougher surface on the area where your thumb and finger, so you can keep hold of them much more easily.
Stone picks are also by their very nature unbendable, which makes them unsuitable for guitarists who prefer to use a very thin and flexible pick. And although very thin crystal guitar picks are available, most of them tend to be on the thicker side, so they won't be the best choice for everybody.
By using a stone pick, you’re basically allowing your guitar’s true tone to ring out unimpeded. Even if you already have your favourite plastic picks, it's well worth giving stone guitar picks a try, as they can add an interesting new dimension to your guitar playing, even if you don't use them all the time.
Where To Buy Stone Guitar Picks
Stone picks aren’t as easily available as the more common materials, but as with most things, if your local music stores don’t have any, there’s always the internet!
http://www.picksandstones.com/
More Articles About Guitar Picks
- The Pros And Cons of Using Metal Guitar Picks
Although most guitarists use plastic guitar picks, they do come in a variety of other materials, and of these its probably metal guitar picks that are the most popular. Let's take a look at why many... - 5 Different Guitar Pick Materials - What Are Guitar Plectrums Made From?
Guitar picks the most commonly made from plastic, but this is by no means the only material that's used. In fact, guitar plectrums can be made from a whole range of weird and wonderful materials. Let's take... - Guitar Pick Jewelry
Guitar pick jewelry is very popular, and the designs range from simple pendant-style necklaces to amazingly creative pieces featuring multiple picks in many colours and designs. Guitar pick jewellery is... - The Dunlop Ergo Guitar Pickholder
Most guitarists know how frustrating it is to lose guitar picks, especially in performance or recording situations and being so small, they're easy to lose too. The solution to this problem is to use a... - Why Use Ergonomic Guitar Picks?
Ergonomic guitar picks are less widely known and used than conventional guitar picks, yet they can actually be a much better choice in many cases. Let's take a look at ergonomic picks in more detail, and see... - Should You Use Guitar Finger Picks?
Guitar finger picks are basically plectrums that are worn on the fingers and thumbs. By using multiple picks in this way, the guitarist can play finger style techniques, but with more volume than plucking with... - Guitar Pick Holders A Must-Have Guitar Accessory
The guitar pick holder is one of those extremely simple little guitar accessories that can really help to make your life as a guitarist a lot easier. If you use guitar picks, chances are you're well aware...