# How many guitar picks do you have? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 12, 2020, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-guitar-picks-do-you-have/847833 "2020-02-12T19:53:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-guitar-picks-do-you-have/847833/41 "2020-02-14T02:12:01Z")
I use my Cymbolic picks when I play bass too. I can’t get the hang of fingerpicking on either instrument. I’m very happy with my facility with a pick tho. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-guitar-picks-do-you-have/847833/42 "2020-02-14T02:51:18Z")
I remember the last time I acquired guitar picks. I got them at the House of Musical Traditions in Maryland in 2004. I remember the year because they had custom printed on some picks “Let’s not elect him in '04 either.” Another one said “Ukes not nukes.” I think I still have one from then. I’ve played only nylon string classical for over 10 years now and have forgotten about picks altogether. I think the first year I used a guitar pick must have been 1976. That was the year Eric Clapton released _No Reason to Cry_. On the cover a guitar pick reading “E.C.” with the tip broken off, and it was tactile-ly raised-embossed as was done to album covers in those days. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-guitar-picks-do-you-have/847833/43 "2020-02-14T03:57:37Z")
I usually only buy a little pack of the ones I like at a time. At the moment I have three that I know where they are (on top of my living room amp) and probably a hundred strewn about in junk drawers, boxes, under couches, behind bookcases, in the bottom of gig bags, etc. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-guitar-picks-do-you-have/847833/44 "2020-02-14T08:42:10Z")
Only several dozen and I primarily stick to a plastic thumbpick with metal National fingerpicks, or a couple of bison-horn flatpicks. For quiet practice there’s Grandpa’s felt mandolin pick. For noise, use big coins. Or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-guitar-picks-do-you-have/847833/45 "2020-02-14T11:53:58Z")
I caught two thrown by Dada. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-guitar-picks-do-you-have/847833/46 "2020-02-14T12:48:07Z")
When I first started playing guitar (ca. 1967) I’d have at most half a dozen, but usually 2 or 3. When I switched from steel to nylon strings and did more picking than strumming, I stopped using them. So I have none. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-guitar-picks-do-you-have/847833/47 "2020-02-14T23:08:41Z")
I haven’t played in years, and my hands are way out of shape. There were eight Fender Thins and one heart shaped Gibson Thin in my guitar case when I checked a few minutes ago. I can’t remember the last time I took my guitar out of the case. I tuned it up and ran through a few chords. I am on the edge of retirement, and thanks to this thread, I have just added to my post retirement plans Thanks all! ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-guitar-picks-do-you-have/847833/48 "2020-02-15T00:23:19Z")
Just one. It came in a kit of plastic tools for opening electronics (like cell phones). It’s handy for sliding under a clipped-on plastic lid without damaging it. I could use a bunch more, really, since sometimes it’s handy to prevent one side from snapping closed again while I’m prying open the other side. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-guitar-picks-do-you-have/847833/49 "2020-02-15T01:17:35Z")
> [@campp](#): > > I caught two thrown by Dada. I like that band! I only have one of their CDs but it got a lot of play. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-guitar-picks-do-you-have/847833.md?page=2)