Material affects grip, durability, and tone colour. From the warm flex of nylon to the bright snap of Ultem.
| Material | Tone | Grip | Durability | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delrin / Acetal | Balanced | Good (matte) | High | All-round |
| Nylon | Warm, mellow | Fair (smooth) | Medium | Strumming |
| Ultem / PEI | Bright, snappy | Smooth | Very High | Fast picking |
| Celluloid | Vintage warm | Fair | Low | Classic rock |
| Tortex | Bright, chalky | Excellent (matte) | High | Rock & metal |
| Metal | Very bright | Slippery | Extreme | Slide effects |
| Wood | Warm, organic | Good (natural) | Low | Acoustic folk |
| Stone / Agate | Rich, detailed | Smooth | Extreme | Boutique tone |
Durable and grippy with a matte feel. Delrin-based picks are a go-to for many players because they balance control and flex, with a slightly "chirpy" release that some love and others barely notice. Great all-rounder material across many brands.
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Flexible and warm. Nylon picks bend more than Delrin, which softens the attack and rounds out the highs. Great for acoustic strumming and players who want a "give" in their pick. Some find them slippery—look for textured grip versions.
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A softer, more pliable variant of Delrin/Tortex designed to add give without switching to nylon. You keep Delrin's grip and snap but with a more forgiving flex on contact.
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Bright and articulate. Ultem (PEI) and Ultex are stiff thermoplastics with a slick surface that glides smoothly over strings. The rigid feel takes adjustment if you're used to flexible picks, but many players prefer them for clarity, speed, and precise control. Ultex is Dunlop's proprietary variant known for extreme durability.
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Classic and warm. Celluloid is one of the oldest pick materials—the original "guitar pick" material. It produces a warm, vintage tone with a smooth attack. Many players love the traditional feel and the variety of colors/patterns available. The trade-off: it wears faster than modern plastics.
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Maximum brightness and attack. Metal picks deliver a cutting, articulate tone that slices through a mix. Great for slide guitar, acoustic leads, and anyone who wants a unique percussive edge. The extreme stiffness takes adjustment—there's zero flex—and they can accelerate string wear.
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Delrin (often marketed under brand names like Tortex) strikes a balance between stiffness and grip. The matte texture keeps the pick from slipping, and the material wears slowly—you'll lose these picks before they wear out. Tonally, Delrin sits in the middle: not too bright, not too warm, with a slight "chirp" that some players love and others EQ out.
Nylon is one of the oldest pick materials. It's lighter and more flexible than Delrin, which translates to a softer attack and warmer tone. Nylon picks are forgiving on aggressive strumming—the flex absorbs some of the impact. The downside? They wear faster and can feel slippery without a textured grip surface.
Flex materials are designed as a blend concept—aiming for a middle ground between Delrin/Tortex and Nylon. You typically get some of the grip and snap of Delrin with a touch more give and warmth. If you're torn between Delrin and Nylon, Flex is a great "best of both" starting point.
Ultem / PEI is often chosen as a modern alternative to tortoiseshell (now banned). It's stiffer than Nylon but has a slick surface that glides off strings. The result is a bright, articulate tone with fast release. Many jazz and fusion players prefer it for clarity and precision.
Celluloid is the original pick material—what guitars picks were made from before modern plastics. It has a warm, vintage tone with a smooth attack. Many players love the classic feel and the wide variety of colors and patterns available. The downside is that celluloid wears faster than Delrin or Ultem, and it's more brittle.
Material preference is personal. If you're unsure, start with Delrin—it's one of the most versatile. If you want a little more give without going fully Nylon, try Flex. Then experiment with Nylon or Celluloid for warmth, or Ultem/PEI for brightness.
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There's no 'best' material—it depends on the tone you want. Delrin/Tortex is balanced and versatile. Nylon is warm and flexible. Ultem/PEI is bright and articulate. Celluloid has a classic, warm sound. Try different materials to find your preference.
Tortex is Dunlop's brand name for their Delrin-based picks. Delrin is the base material (acetal resin), while Tortex adds specific textures and formulations. Other brands use Delrin with their own variations.
Neither is objectively better—they're different tools. Ultem/PEI picks are stiffer and brighter with fast release, ideal for precision and clarity. Nylon picks are more flexible and warmer, better for strumming and a softer attack.
Ultex is Dunlop's proprietary material known for extreme durability and a bright, horn-like feel. Ultem (also called PEI) is a different thermoplastic that's also bright and stiff but with a slicker surface. Both are high-performance materials, but they feel and sound slightly different.
Metal picks (brass, steel, nickel silver) deliver a bright, cutting tone with maximum attack. They're great for slide guitar, acoustic leads, and players who want a unique percussive edge. The zero-flex feel takes adjustment, and they can wear strings faster than plastic picks.