When it comes to picks from the early days, heck, even ancient days, until these modern days going into exotics, there are Plant Based Picks such as Wood:

We simply cannot talk about instrument picks without recognizing that, historically, even before animal-based striking tools, plants were used. Plant Based Picks such as Wood come from plants that have existed before the dinosaurs and have been in use for the entire history of humankind. Going back to ancient history, we see ancient Arabic instruments, such as drums and even stringed instruments dating back centuries…

… Some picks used are almost simply like a stick, just like drumsticks. In fact, there ARE sticks of a type for tapping strings:

Check out the Pick type thing that isn’t a pick, but, well, it is a “Guitar Triller“.

And in time, I will try and look at some of them.

However, for now, we focus on simply fashioned picks, many are made of materials like wood. As many kinds of wood as exist, there are almost as many types of picks. With Plant Based Picks such as Wood you will see Maple, Walnut, Ebony, Rosewood, heck, it wouldn’t surprise me if someone used MDF to make picks. And, remember, some plastics use Cellulose. Cellulose comes from plant materials, even wood.

Some music pundits with a measure of knowledge and expertise will assert that, at least on electric guitars, the type of wood matters none. Others, like me, feel that there is a difference even with solid body instruments but that it is difficult or impossible to assess it with current technology.

The harder the wood, the brighter and sharper the tone, but the variance is limited.

Here is a link with a list of woods and hardnesses. Plant Based Picks (such as Wood) vary wildly, Pine is soft-toned, and Maple has a firm tone. A pine pick would be pretty soft, and so would a cork pick, and they’d produce a somewhat muffled attack and low-like decay/finish. Rosewood and Ebony are among some hardwoods that would be a little brighter (though not really “bright” compared to stone, glass, or even some plastics), with a pleasant finish tone.

There is Tiger Wood and Leopard Wood and all sorts, and the range of hardnesses and tones can be overwhelming.

Moreover, there are woods so hard that steamships and hydro plants used them and some are still in service today. Lignum Vitae is a rarer wood, it can’t be obtained everywhere. It is in bearings and gears. Surf Picks has the real thing, but there is also the Lignum Vitae that is Argentinan, which is slightly softer (but extremely hard, and can sound raspy, my review soon).

Some very hard picks of wood are very different from softer woods, and because of that, it is almost justified for a picky picker to try several types.

On Etsy, there are at least a dozen folks offering wooden picks:

So the site is a great source for wooden picks, and it’s even greater knowing that there are makers of a great many materials besides wood on the site. I highly suggest trying the vendors there (it’s up to you), and not just buying from those mega dealers out there. You can give your business to personal, even sometimes local, people, that aren’t big giant corporations.

In future reviews, I’ll examine some of the custom maker’s picks and provide links if they are active. Most sellers on Etsy do a great job.

Some woods used in Plant Based Picks such as Wood:

Olive, Maple, Brazilian/Indonesian woods including Rosewood and Ebony, Lignum Vitae, Walnut, Cherry, Sandalwood, Cedar, and many ply or matrix woods.

Beware of sellers that claim a pick is made of exotic materials because sometimes they are not. Also, be mindful that the trade of many kinds of wood is restricted due to endangered types and import/export restrictions. The trade of Lignum Vitae is restricted, for instance, though there is a version that is more freely available.

I would say that unless you sniff corks a lot (see what I did there?) you don’t need every wood out there, 3 types, soft, medium, and hard, unless you are a deep core collector, are going to get you where you need to go.

There IS, however, another important consideration: A wider and taller pick might not feel great for some buyers, whereas smaller wooden picks are harder to find, ask sellers for info and know your pick sizes. If a thick stick (wood) pick is too big, you might not even want to use it…

…And then again, some folks go to town, literally, with a larger pick. A player I know well has huge hands and only likes large, wide picks. The bigger the better for him.

It is my belief that, while some of the earliest picks were feather tips, reeds were in use in a similar fashion. Then wood became a choice.

Here is an absolutely wonderful and highly informative website for pick collectors with many wood picks (and a great many other types):

While you spend time here, consider also visiting sites such as Tina’s Picks

Tina is amazing, she has quite a collection, she focuses, like I do, on functional picks. Most collectors focus on brand/band/artist picks, this sets her, and me, apart. As I get new picks I’ll review them as fast as I can! In the mean time, check out our reviews and tina’s picks also!

YOUR MILEAGE MAY – or WILL – VARY so I don’t represent to recommend any dealer on this site (my disclaimer) but my goal is to save you some legwork on harder-to-find information.

These harder woods have oils in them that help them be more slippery with your strings. They (Plant Based Picks such as Wood:) last, and have a good feel.

You might be completely happy with a simple Rosewood or Ebony, after all, many trees are no longer plentiful due to over-harvesting and/or diseases. Woods such as Chestnut or Elm are disappearing. The wildly popular Swamp Ash is in big trouble. (There is a boring insect killing it off, and the Mississippi where it is native has been receding.) It might be better to just shop for plentiful wood. That is your decision to make, personally, I just want the plants to survive for many generations to come.

So when your spouse hollers at you and exclaims “put a cork in it” you can smile, get out your cork pick (if you can get one or make one), and really get in trouble! (“SORRY, 2 DAD JOKES IN ONE PLACE! TOO MUCH, LIKE MY PLAYING, SORRY, WIFEY!”)

Next up: Horn and Bone.