When playing the guitar, one of the first elements we need under our belt is a pick. Although it is an acoustic guitar or an electric guitar, the picks are fair and necessary to achieve certain techniques that require precision beyond what the fingers can achieve.
Although they are not completely replaced (some techniques, such as the classical guitar, which requires strumming the strings with your fingers), they are indispensable.The spikes are classified according to various parameters.
The shape of the barb
One of the easiest ways to classify a spike of a guitar is its shape. First of all, we have triangular spikes: these are the most common of all. These can be presented in a variety of ways, with different angles and different sharpness.
On the other hand are the tear prongs, which have a shape that resembles that of a drop, with a rounded side and a sharper tip: this allows more precision and control over strumming strings. They are usually smaller than triangular spikes, and due to their sharpness and size, they are not usually as easy to handle.
The material
The materials in which is made the prong of a guitar has a direct impact on the final sound will sound. The materials are very diverse: among the most popular spikes are those of celluloid(the most common), those of cortex (which seek to emulate the original spikes of turtle shells), nylon or those of acetal resin.
However, there are other less conventional materials such as tines of metal, and even stones precious as jade. There are even spikes of Kevlar and fiberglass. Different materials have different properties that will make the spike resonate differently with the strings of the guitar.
Thickness
Finally, but not least, the spikes are classified by their thickness. The thickness translates into the hardness of the spike. Thus, there are light spikes, with thicknesses between 0.40 mm and 0.63 mm, ideal for soft strumming on acoustic guitars, while heavy spikes, between 0.85 mm and 1.22 mm are perfect for fast and precise strumming. There is a wide spectrum of barbed thicknesses, which finally adapt to the musician’s style and preferences.