Most guitarists use a flatpick or pick to play their instrument. The trouble arises because these picks are really quite small, and can be easily lost or dropped. So what’s the solution? How do you stop losing or dropping your guitar picks?
Well, in this article we’ll be covering a number of unique ways to stop losing and dropping your picks. Hopefully by the end of it you won’t have to deal with this issue anymore! Let’s get started.
How to Stop Dropping Your Guitar Picks
Make Sure You’re Holding Your Guitar Pick Correctly
I know nobody wants to hear this, but you may be holding your pick incorrectly. If you’re constantly dropping your guitar pick, there’s a chance you’re either not gripping the pick hard enough or not holding onto it in the correct fashion.
While you can self teach yourself guitar, the nuanced technical things you learn while first starting out are often best learned in person. How to hold your pick is one of these things that is best learned from a real guitar teacher in person.
However, there are some great YouTube videos on the subject as well. Here’s one on how to hold your guitar pick correctly:
Use A Textured Guitar Pick for Extra Grip
The next issue may simply be that you have sweaty hands, or have a pick that is very glossy or smooth, and thus prone to slipping out of your hand and dropping. In general, smooth glossy picks are much easier to drop and lose.
In this case, you may want to simply grab a textured guitar pick and see if you prefer it.
My favorite textured guitar pick is the Dunlop Prime Grip (From Amazon):
If you don’t want to spend money on a new textured guitar pick, there are some other options however:
- Add very small strips of duct tape or textured tape to the wide area of the pick where you hold it, thus increasing grip and texture
- Get some light sandpaper and sand the wider area of the pick very lightly, roughing it up and improving the grip
How to Stop Losing Your Guitar Picks
Get A Good Guitar Pick Container
So you’ve stopped dropping your picks, but they still seem to be disappearing on you. In this case, I recommend getting a container that you keep in plain sight, and practice always keeping your guitar picks in this container. It may take some time to build this habit, but if you can do it it will greatly reduce the amount of picks you lose.
This container can be a:
- Glass
- Dish
- Small box
- Anything really
Every time you finish practicing, intentionally return the pick to this container. Over time, it will become an automatic habit that you’ll be thankful for.
Check Your Pockets Regularly
Another common problem is that guitarists simply leave their guitar picks in their pockets. Eventually you’ll discover them again, but it may take weeks at a time. To avoid this, get into the habit of checking your pockets regularly, especially before you go to bed at night. You may just find you left a pick in there!
Get A Quality Guitar Pick Holder
They actually make quality guitar pick holders that attach to music stands or to areas of your guitar. This way you’ll always have a pick handy, and you’ll have a nearby visual reminder to replace the pick when you’re done.
Here’s my favorite guitar pick holder from Amazon. This pick holder attaches between the strings of your guitar’s headstock, and holds some picks there, so that you will always have some picks on hand, and you can easily grab one from here even if you drop your pick while performing.
Keep Some Picks In Your Wallet or Guitar Case
Lastly, it’s a good idea to just keep some picks around in case you do end up losing some. I like to keep picks in my wallet and guitar case. This way, I’m basically guaranteed to have some kind of pick if I’m out playing music with friends or performing. Find some place to keep a pick so that you’ll always have one on you if the need arises.
More Helpful Guitar Tricks & Hacks
A secret to learning the guitar way faster and easier is understanding how to choose, maintain, and care for your instrument.
Because surprisingly few players know how to do exactly those things.
And if you don’t even have a handle on those fundamentals…
Then it doesn’t matter how good you are, or what song you’re playing…
You simply aren’t going to sound good on a poorly maintained instrument.
That’s why in this book, I decided to reveal all the secret tips I know when it comes to buying, owning, and maintaining an acoustic guitar…
…Stuff that took me a decade to learn on my own, since it is scattered randomly around the internet (or rarely discussed at all)
In this book you’ll discover…
- how to choose a guitar
- what to look for in tonewoods
- guitar body styles
- how to get a good price
- whether to buy used or new
- a curated guide to the 10 best acoustic guitars for beginners
- how to choose guitar strings, and make them last 10x longer
- how to maintain your instrument for a lifetime
- caring for the fretboard
- should you use fretboard oil? how often?
- adjusting the truss rod
- flying and traveling with your instrument safely
- how to store and display your guitar safely
- caring for the fretboard
- what to learn first on guitar (fingerpicking? flatpicking? etc)
- where to learn it
- the best ways and resources to teach yourself guitar for FREE
- 30 secret hacks to unleash unstoppable guitar motivation
- how to stay in love with the instrument for the rest of your life
- much more
So if you’re ready to rocket past your competition…
And learn how to choose, maintain, care for, and fall in love with your instrument for a lifetime to come…
Then you can pick up my Ultimate Buyer’s and Maintenance Guide.