A huge part of playing guitar is the pick (or lack of) that you use. It can affect your tone, your speed, and your dexterity. After years of playing, both Joe and I have found that Dunlop Tortex .60mm are the best pick for our playing styles. This particular pick strikes the balance between being too thin and too thick. It is a pick that is thin enough to navigate between strings during solos and is thick enough to allow for solid strumming without bending. The Tortex material is synthesized to emulate the original Tortoise-shell picks used prior to 1973, when tortoise-shell trade was banned.  The shell of a Hawksbill turtle had natural properties that allowed the pick to stay in your hand even with heavy sweating, which makes it a natural fit for live playing. The Tortex material also eliminates any “clicking” noise heard when picking.

Where to get them? I highly suggest Sweetwater.  Everyone I know (including me) has had nothing but excellent experiences with the staff at Sweetwater.  Bonus: They include candy with each shipment!

— Jason Abraham