| Gauge | Feel | Try for |
|---|
| .46-.60mm (thin) | Flexy, forgiving, bright strumming wash | Beginner acoustic strumming |
| .60-.73mm (medium-light) | Strums and picks cleanly | Most beginners end up here |
| .73-.88mm (medium) | Control for riffs and mixed playing | Electric rhythm + first lead |
| .88-1.14mm+ (heavy) | Little flex, precise attack, darker | Lead, jazz (Jazz III is 1.38mm), heavy styles |
Shapes: standard 351 for most hands; small sharp Jazz III for precision; thumbpicks and fingerpicks are for fingerstyle/country/bluegrass - buy a couple and expect a learning curve.
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StarterJim Dunlop LT/MD Variety Pack PVP101 (12 picks)
Start here: one pack answers the thickness question by feel
No list price listed here - we only publish prices we verified on a manufacturer/retailer page. Check the maker and Amazon for current pricing.
Mixed materials and gauges incl. Tortex .60/.73 - find your thickness in one pack
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Step-upDunlop Jazz III Picks, Red Nylon 1.38mm
Fast, precise picking and lead work once strumming is solid
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Small sharp-tip nylon pick1.38mmquick release edge (per Dunlop listings)
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StarterFender 351 Shape Celluloid Picks
Traditional warm celluloid feel in the most common shape
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Classic 351 celluloid shape in thin/medium/heavy gauges (per Fender pick guides)
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StarterDunlop Tortex Standard Picks (.50/.60/.73/.88/1.0)
Buy single gauges once the variety pack tells you your thickness
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Delrin (acetal) matte grippy pickscolour-coded by gauge (per Dunlop)
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