Guitar playing can be split into two distinct categories, lead and rhythm. 

While most guitarists choose to specialize in one or the other, there’s a large majority of us who like to do a bit of both. 

But since most of the gear out there is tailor-made for either lead or rhythm it can make choosing things like guitar picks a tricky and confusing activity.

That’s why we’re gonna take a look at the best guitar picks for both rhythm and lead guitar, to help you get the most out of both styles of play.

What to Look for in a Guitar Pick for Rhythm and Lead

Rhythm guitar is all about fluidity and movement, while lead guitarists tend to focus on speed and accuracy. 

Finding that sweet spot can be tricky but if you take into consideration these three aspects of the picks design you should be able to make a solid and well-informed decision to get the most out of your plectrum.

Thickness

Rhythm players tend to gravitate towards thin picks, anything between .40 and .60 as these types of plectrums offer great flexibility and movement while also giving you a “flappy” sound when the strings are struck.

If you’re the kind of guy who does a bit of both then a medium pick is the way to go. Anything above a .60 but below a .80 will give you enough control to play lead and still be flexible enough to cut through the strings.

But, when it comes to playing lead, heavy is the way to go. Anything above .80 will give you the control and response you need to accurately pick with speed. The extra thickness also helps give your sound more sustain and body.

Materials

Nylon is a super popular choice for both lead and rhythm because it’s flexible, sturdy and responsive while also producing a warm tone. Most nylon picks also come with a built-in grip which helps, if you’ve got sweaty hands.

Celluloid is another great, all-around choice, because it’s got a warm, well balanced sound with a good mix of flexibility and response.

Delrin has been the industry standard for guitarists for years now because of its bright tone, sharp sound and solid build. It’s considered to be more durable than the other materials and the matte finish makes grip and control easier.

Shape

Pick shape can have a huge impact on a guitarist’s playability so choosing the right one can help get the most out of your playstyle.

A wider shaped pick, like triangle picks, wide teardrop picks, and Shark Fin picks are great for rhythm guitarists as it gives you more surface area to hold on to while you strum.

But for lead, you want something with a sharper end, that’ll help increase your accuracy and speed between strings. We recommend a jazz pick or pointy plectrum, anything with a sharpened end will do the trick.

If you’re after something that does it all, you really can’t fault the standard 351 shape as it gives you enough tip accuracy to accurately riff, while also maintaining a solid surface area to strum with.

The Best Guitar Picks for Both Rhythm and Lead

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1. Dunlop Tortex Standard

There’s a reason you probably already have a bunch of these lying around somewhere… they’re simply the best all-around pick out there.

Made out of Delrin, these plectrums offer a fantastically bright tone that’ll make any lead guitarist swoon. They’re also still flexible and won’t push against the strings enough to make rhythm playing feel like a hassle.

Guitarists also love the matte finish on these picks, as it helps keep them in between your fingers during hot or stressful performances.

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2. Fender 351 Shape Wavelength

The classic celluloid 351 reimagined. Fender’s Shape Wavelength takes iconic pick design and gives it a makeover, incorporating a grip design to help keep things where they should be.

Flexible, warm and with that all important percussive “flap” strummers love, the Fender Wavelength is a great all around choice for guitarists who need a pick that does it all.

We recommend you stick to a medium thickness pick here as too thin will make playing lead an inaccurate nightmare, while too thick and you lose that “flapping” sound we mentioned before.

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3. Ernie Ball Everlast

Although you’re probably more familiar with their strings, Ernie Ball’s Everlast range of picks are a fantastically designed Delrin plectrum perfect for both rhythm and lead players.

Super durable and available in a range of thicknesses, these picks offer a versatile tip shape that sits on the rounder end of the spectrum, but still manages to be accurate enough for regular lead work.

It comes in a matte finish which helps with grip and Ernie Ball has been nice enough to color code the thicknesses to help us differentiate on the fly.

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4. Dava Grip Tips Delrin

We’ve talked about the Dava Grip Tips before and that’s because these picks are amazing. It has a unique design that utilizes Delrin and rubber to give us a truely all in one pick.

The pick’s “thickness” and response changes based on where you grip it. Hold it near the tip and it’ll act like a heavy pick, full or precision and warmth. Hold it more in the middle and it’ll behave like a thin pick with more flexibility and brightness.

It’s worth keeping in mind though that this pick does require a slight change in playstyle. But, it’s totally worth it, to be able to change thickness on the fly and crush both lead and rhythm.

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5. D’Addario Casein Wide 346

Switching it up a bit, the D’Addario Casein 346 is a wide pick with a warm tone, quick attack and mellow sound. 

It’s made out of Casein, the closest man-made material to turtle shell we have and as such is durable and sturdy with limited flexibility. But don’t let that fool you, this pick is great for both rhythm and lead.

Its wide shape gives chord strummers more surface area to hold on to while the right-handed bevel helps it to glide across strings easily and comfortably.

But these picks do have one limitation… they only came in 2mm thickness. Not an issue if you’re playing acoustic or using heavy gauge strings, but if you’re using lighter gauge strings, you might wanna steer clear of this pick.

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Tips for Using the Same Pick for Rhythm and Lead

Ideally, you’d use a different pick depending on your playstyle, but if you’re a bit of a jack of all trades there are a few tips you can remember to get the most out of your playing.

Technique

One thing you’re gonna need to master if you plan on using the same pick for rhythm and lead is your technique.

Since you’re gonna be using a pick that isn’t optimized for what you’re playing 50% of the time, having solid technique is gonna help hide the imperfections in both your rhythm and lead playing. 

Learning how not to dig too deep when you’re strumming, if your pick is a little thicker, will help you keep fluidity and stay on time with the song. 

Inversely, making sure you’re accurate with your single string picking will make using a thinner pick to play lead sound a whole lot better. 

Medium Everything

To be a jack of all trades, you must be a master at none. The same goes for your plectrum. Choosing the middle ground options where you can will help you get the most out of both styles of play.

The best place to start is in the pick thickness. 

Anything above a .60 and below a .90 will give you that sweet spot of tension and flexibility. You don’t lose out on tonal sustain, while still keeping the percussive “flap” rhythm players look for.

In terms of material, you want to pick something neutral. Warm tones are great for strumming, while a brighter, more attacking sound helps a lead guitarist cut through the mix, something like celluloid or nylon works great here for both.

And again, the regular 351 pick size just gets the job done. Big enough to strum with and small enough to be accurate with… there really isn’t too much more I can say.

Conclusion

Compromise. That’s what you’ve got to do if you plan on using the same pick for lead and rhythm. 

Some techniques might be harder, and your imperfections might not be hidden so well, but, with the right pick it’s more than doable. You just have to know what you’re looking for.