How to Wear Banjo Picks: A Beginner's Guide

So, you've just picked up a banjo and you're eager to start picking those strings. But before you dive in, let's tackle a common stumbling block for new players: how to wear banjo picks correctly.

It might seem like a silly question to someone who has played the banjo before, but almost every time I give banjo picks to someone who has never played before, they put the picks on backwards. Banjo picks are worn by 5 string banjoists who are playing the 3 finger style. There are some clawhammer players who use a pick as well, but here we will be focusing on 3 finger style 5-string banjo players. In this style, players use a thumbpick and two metal fingerpicks.

Wearing banjo picks the right way is crucial for producing a clear, clean tone. It might seem obvious, but many beginners put their fingerpicks on backward, which can lead to frustration and a less-than-ideal sound.

Which Picks Do You Need?

Most 5-string banjo players use a three-finger style that requires a thumbpick and two fingerpicks. While some clawhammer players also use picks, we'll focus on the three-finger style in this guide.

Thumbpick Basics

• Material: The type of thumbpick used is almost always plastic for the pick part, but the wrap that holds it to your thumb can either be plastic or metal. 
• Placement: Position the pick so it points away from your hand (left for right-handed players). Secure it comfortably between your thumb knuckle and the top of your thumb.

Fingerpicks Fundamentals

The fingerpicks are where more people get it wrong the first time and there are more questions and techniques people use to get the best possible tone out of their banjo. Most people when putting on a fingerpick for the first time put it on as though it is a fingernail. This is incorrect. If you put the pick on like this you will hook the strings every time you try to play as oppose to glance off of the strings. You want to put the pick on to cover the flesh part of your finger and it will curve up towards your nails.

How far down you put the pick onto your finger varies and is personal preference, but I try to push it down so just a little bit of the pick sticks out beyond my finger. It sticks out maybe about 1/8 of an inch. I then bend the part that is sticking out just a bit to curve up a little bit more. I feel this gives me a cleaner tone with a bit less pick noise and allows me to play through the strings easier.

One other thing I do is to very slightly twist the pick to the left (if I am right handed and my hand is facing flat down). This allows me to strike the strings with the pick more straight on because when my hand is in the playing position, it is at an angle and my fingers naturally want to strike the strings at an angle. This causes pick noise and a less clear and full tone. By twisting the picks just a bit it helps to alleviate this. The fingerpick maker ProPik makes a fingerpick that has an angle built into the pick which helps to alleviate this issue as well.

• Common Mistake: Many beginners wear fingerpicks like fingernails, which causes the pick to hook on the strings.
• Correct Placement: Cover the fleshy part of your finger with the pick, curving it upward towards your nail.
• Depth: How far down you wear the pick is personal preference, but generally, a small portion should extend beyond your fingertip.
• Angle: Slightly bend the extended part of the pick upward for a cleaner tone and easier string crossing.
• Twist: For a more direct strike on the strings, consider twisting the pick slightly to the left (for right-handed players).

Experiment and Find Your Style

There is no hard and fast rule as to how exactly to wear your picks (how far down, bent, twisted) as everybody’s hand is slightly different, except for the direction the pick is facing, but this is what I find works for me. Experiment and see what works for you and continue striving towards playing with the best possible tone.

In the video below by ArtistWorks, banjoist Tony Trischka goes through how he wears his fingerpicks.

By following these tips and experimenting with different placements, you'll be well on your way to mastering the art of wearing banjo picks and producing your best sound.

Shop all of our banjo fingerpicks and thumbpicks here!

Be sure to let us know in the comments below what type of picks you prefer using and any tricks you have in wearing your picks to get the best tone!