Form Factors: The introduction is where we cover the forms of plectra, sizes, and shapes both.

This is the top page of the Form Factors: Introduction wing of this site.

In form factors: Introduction There are so many, such a great many factors in how picks, instruments in their own right, exist. How do they feel? What sound do they yield? Are they even useful? Who plays them and why? Are there shapes still being made or are there shapes long gone (and need to be revisited by manufacturers)?

Contained here are the elements of sizes and pick shapes and related designs.

Note: all hyperlinks lead to subsections with tons of very useful content.

The Form Factors:

• Dimensions are in this section. Dimensions of picks involve their thickness, Width, Height, and any other incidental factors with sizing. There is a very very broad spectrum of sizes all the way from 2mm thick up to and in excess of 8mm, and teardrops as tiny as the pad of your pinky or as big as a wall hanging (which they are). In fact, Celluloid comes in large sheets you can cut yourself.

and The Form Factors of

• Shapes are in this section. There is a wildly broad range of shapes, from basic soft triangles of different forms all the way up to multi-pointed super picks, Rhomboids to Circles. Some are no longer made, but some are coming back. You might have to be a collector in order to get your hands on some of them, but caveat emptor!

In the Dimensions section, we cover thicknesses and sizes. We talk about how dimensions relate to the use and comfort of the picks.

In the Shapes section, we cover a wide range of plectra, so many shapes and designs, some beyond imagination!

There are many aspects to pick form factors, here we delve into them, how they matter, how they work, and most importantly, what is good for you.

To go directly to the 351 shape, go here. For the celluloid pick section go here. To get to home, go here. There are a couple of dozen pages on this site as of this writing, check them all out!

Now if you see something that we’ve failed to cover here, in all our hard efforts, please share it in the comments!