I’ve always said, there’s nothing more frustrating than a slippery pick that won’t stay put.
From the stage to the bedroom, sweat can be a guitarist’s worst nightmare. It can make an otherwise tricky riff feel downright impossible, turn a plectrum into a slippery bar of soap and turn those beautiful silver strings a deep muddy brown.
Here at Guitar Fortune, we believe a slippery pick should be the least of your worries and not get in the way of being able to jam out. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the best guitar picks for sweaty hands.
If you’re someone who gets nervous playing, gets hot easily or, you’re just a little sweaty, we’ve got you covered. We’ll help you minimize the impact of sweaty hands on your playing, help you choose the right pick and give you a few tips on how to reduce the amount of sweat you’re putting out.
Our Top Picks
- D’Addario DuraGrip – A mainstay in the guitar pick world, D’Addario plectrums have a long history of excellence. The DuraGrip is no different.
- Dava Rock Control – These picks utilize a unique and innovative design that eliminates the need for different pick thicknesses. Depending on where you grab it, the pick will behave either like a soft thin pick or a thick heavy one.
- Dunlop Nylon Max Grip – A personal favorite of mine, Dunlop knows how to make a solid plectrum. The Nylon Max grip takes their iconic nylon picks and adds an integrated grip to the body.
- Monster Grips – These thin silicone see-through grips stick to your guitar pick and help keep that pesky plastic where it should be, in between your thumb and forefinger.
Contents
What to Look for in a Guitar Pick for Sweaty Hands
Trying to hold a pick when your hands are sweating is like trying to grab a greased pig, you’re gonna end up empty handed and looking like an idiot…
Lucky for you, there are a few things you can look out for that’ll help keep the pick in your hand and not on the floor.
Grip
The first thing you want to look for is a pick with an integrated grip design. Not all picks are designed with a grip so make sure you check before you buy.
Grips can come in a variety of shapes, sizes and patterns. Some are subtle while others change the entire shape of the pick, so experiment and get your hands on a few and see which ones work best for you.
Material
It’s worth keeping in mind that some materials are naturally a lot grippier than others, especially when wet. Materials like celluloid and acrylic are known for being highly slippery if any moisture is added to them, while Delarin stays relatively grippy thanks to its matte finish.
If you’re ok with a change in tone, get yourself a Delarin pick as their matte finish does a much better job at staying in between your fingers when wet.
Size
A small pick is gonna give you less surface area to hold onto, while a larger pick will give you more wiggle room in case you start to slip around. If you’re someone who is prone to dropping their pick, larger picks are a whole lot easier to pick up than small ones.
The Best Guitar Picks for Sweaty Hands
1. D’Addario DuraGrip
A mainstay in the guitar pick world, D’Addario plectrums have a long history of excellence. The DuraGrip is no different.
These high quality picks don’t just sound great, but the stamped grip surface keeps them securely locked in your hand so you don’t have to worry about anything slipping around during your set.
Made from Duralin, these picks are durable and abrasion resistant and come in a variety of different thicknesses and colors.
2. Dava Rock Control
If you’ve never seen a Dava pick then you’re in for a treat.
These picks utilize a unique and innovative design that eliminates the need for different pick thicknesses. Depending on where you grab it, the pick will behave either like a soft thin pick or a thick heavy one.
Made from Delrin, it’s a popular choice by guitarists for its smooth feel and quick action. The Dava Rock Control picks come with a rubberised body that features built in grips to keep the pick firmly in between your fingers during solos and strumming.
It’s worth noting though, the Dava picks unique build also translates to a unique feeling in the hand. It can sometimes take a little bit of time getting used to the feel of the plectrum.
3. Dunlop Nylon Max Grip
A personal favorite of mine, Dunlop knows how to make a solid plectrum. The Nylon Max grip takes their iconic nylon picks and adds an integrated grip to the body.
Nylon can get a little slippery when wet, so the added grip texture really helps to keep everything where it should be. These picks come in a variety of thicknesses and are a great starter set for any beginner guitarist.
4. Monster Grips
Maybe you’ve already got the perfect pick, but those sweaty hands are getting in the way of jamming out with your bandmates so you need a solution…
Monster grips have got you covered.
These thin silicone see-through grips stick to your guitar pick and help keep that pesky plastic where it should be, in between your thumb and forefinger. The best part about monster grips is their customizability. You can put them on just one side or both depending on how much you sweat.
They come in a pack of 16 and promise to help you increase speed, increase articulation and reduce fatigue. I’m not sure about all that, but they’ll definitely stop that pick slipping out of your hand when you’re playing.
Tips for Playing Guitar with Sweaty Hands
Realistically, no amount of fancy pick grips or built in grip designs is gonna stop your hands from sweating. So it’s worth knowing a few ways to get around playing with sweaty hands.
Playstyle
If sweaty hands are an inescapable part of your guitar playing, it might be worth changing your playstyle.
You could ditch the pick all together and dust off those fingerpicking chops, that way no matter how much sweat you’ve got, your playing won’t be affected.
If you want to keep the pick, taking it slow and hitting your strings less hard could be the way to go. Your pick is more likely to move if you hit the strings hard, so slow it down and focus on keeping that pick under control.
Invest in a Fan
This one may seem obvious but can make a huge difference if you suffer from sweaty hands.
Getting yourself a little fan to blow on you while you play can help keep your body cool and your hands dry. I personally have a small desktop fan that blows on my and keeps the sweat at bay.
Wash your hands
Keeping your hands clean isnt going to necessarily stop your hands from sweating, but it will help extend the life of your strings significantly. You see, when you sweat, your hands expel toxins from the body, things like salt, dirt and dead skin cells.
This gets stuck on the strings and turns them brown and gunky. So if you can keep your hands relatively clean, you can minimize the amount of material that’s getting transferred to your strings.
Relax
The most common reason you might be sweating is nerves. You might notice that it gets even worse while playing live or during a recording session. But look, you’ve just got to relax man…
The more nervous you are, the more you’re gonna sweat and therefore become more likely to mess up, so it’s a vicious cycle. But you can stop it all by just taking a deep breath, reducing the tension in your body and trying to relax.
We know it’s easier said than done, but give it a go and you’ll see such a big difference in the amount of sweat your hands are making, I promise.
Conclusion
There’s no escaping sweat, it’s natural. But sweaty hands shouldn’t stop you from jamming out with your friends or acing that recording for your new album. Knowing how to minimize the impact of sweat and using the right gear will make a huge difference and keep you slip free.