The fastest places to find guitar picks today
Guitar picks are sold at music stores, big-box retailers, and online marketplaces within reach of almost every location. A local music shop is usually your fastest option if you need them the same day — staff can show you different thicknesses and materials on the spot. If no music store is nearby, drugstores, supermarkets, and general retailers like Target or Walmart stock basic picks in their music sections. For the widest selection and lowest prices, online retailers ship within days and often cost less per pick than brick-and-mortar stores.
The choice depends on what you need: speed, variety, price, or the ability to feel the pick before buying. Each route has real trade-offs worth understanding before you search.
Key Takeaways
- Local music shops carry multiple brands and thicknesses and let you test picks before buying, but usually cost more per unit than online retailers.
- Drugstores and supermarkets stock basic picks in their music aisles and are open late, but selection is limited to a few common brands.
- Big-box retailers like Target and Walmart have picks in their music sections at mid-range prices, with moderate selection and convenient locations.
- Online retailers offer the lowest per-pick prices and the widest choice of brands and gauges, but require waiting several days for delivery.
- Bulk packs from online sources cost significantly less per pick than single packs, which matters if you lose or wear through picks regularly.
Music stores: selection and when ready availability
Independent music shops and chains like Guitar Center, Sam Ash, and Sweetwater carry dozens of pick brands and thicknesses. Staff can explain the difference between materials — nylon, celluloid, tortoiseshell, metal, and stone — and show you how thickness affects tone and durability. You can hold and test picks before buying, which matters because feel is personal and hard to judge from a photo.
The trade-off is price. A single pick at a music store costs 50 cents to $2 depending on the brand and material. A bulk pack of 12 identical picks from the same brand online might cost $3 to $5 total. If you play regularly and lose picks, the per-unit cost adds up. Music stores make sense when you need picks today, want to try a new brand or thickness, or prefer talking to someone who plays.
To find a music store near you, search "guitar store near me" or "music shop near me" in Google Maps. Call ahead to confirm they stock picks — smaller shops sometimes order them rather than keeping inventory on hand.
Drugstores and supermarkets: convenience and limited choice
CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, and supermarket chains like Kroger and Safeway stock guitar picks in their music sections, usually near the strings. Selection is narrow — typically three to five brands in common thicknesses like medium and heavy — but they are open late and located throughout most neighborhoods. A pack of picks at a drugstore costs $2 to $4.
This route works if you need picks today and a music store is not nearby, or if you are already shopping there. The downside is that you cannot test the picks and cannot choose from specialty materials or unusual thicknesses. If you play a specific style or have strong preferences about pick gauge, a drugstore may not have what you want.
Search "CVS near me" or "Walgreens near me" to find the closest location, then call the music section to confirm they have picks in stock before you go.
Target and Walmart: mid-range selection and pricing
Both retailers stock guitar picks in their music departments at prices between music stores and online bulk packs — usually $2 to $3 per pack. Selection is moderate: you will find several common brands and thicknesses, but not the full range a music shop carries. Both stores are widely available and have extended hours.
Target and Walmart make sense if you want more choice than a drugstore offers but do not want to pay music-store prices. You still cannot test the picks, and staff may not know the difference between gauges or materials. If you know exactly what you want — a specific brand and thickness — this is a reliable middle ground.
Use the Target or Walmart website to check whether your nearest location has picks in stock before you visit. Search "Target near me" or "Walmart near me" in Google Maps.
Online retailers: lowest cost and widest selection
Amazon, Sweetwater, Thomann, and specialized retailers like Dunlop and Fender's direct sites sell picks in bulk at the lowest per-unit cost. A pack of 12 picks costs $3 to $8 depending on the brand and material, which works out to 25 cents to 65 cents per pick. Selection is enormous: you can find rare materials, custom thicknesses, and brands that music stores do not stock.
The trade-off is delivery time. Standard shipping takes three to seven days; express shipping costs extra. You cannot feel the picks before buying, so if you are trying a new brand or thickness, you are taking a risk. If you order the wrong gauge, you have to return it or absorb the loss.
Online buying makes sense if you already know what you want, play regularly enough that bulk packs are worth it, or are willing to wait a few days. Bulk packs are especially cost-effective: a 100-pack of standard picks costs $10 to $15 online, or 10 to 15 cents per pick.
Comparing cost across all routes
| Retailer Type | Cost Per Pick | Selection | Availability | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Music store | 50¢–$2 | Excellent | Same day | Testing before buying, specialty materials |
| Drugstore | 40¢–$1 | Limited | Same day | Quick replacement, late-night shopping |
| Target/Walmart | 35¢–$1 | Moderate | Same day | Balance of price and selection |
| Online bulk | 10¢–65¢ | Excellent | 3–7 days | Regular players, known preferences |
What to know before you buy
Pick thickness, measured in millimeters, affects how the pick feels and sounds. Thin picks (0.46–0.60 mm) are flexible and good for strumming; medium picks (0.71–0.85 mm) are the standard for most players; thick picks (0.96–1.5 mm) are stiff and good for lead playing and fast picking. Material also matters: celluloid is standard and affordable, nylon is durable, and specialty materials like stone or metal change tone significantly.
If you do not know your preference yet, buy a variety pack from a music store or online retailer. A variety pack includes several thicknesses and sometimes materials, so you can test what feels right. Once you know what you like, bulk packs of that specific pick become cost-effective.
Keep a few picks in your gig bag, on your music stand, and at home. Picks get lost easily, so buying in bulk and storing extras prevents you from being stuck without one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a coin or other object instead of a pick?
Yes, many players use coins, credit cards, or fingernails, and some styles like classical guitar use fingernails exclusively. The tone and feel are different — coins are harder and brighter, fingernails are warmer — so it depends on the sound you want. Picks are inexpensive enough that most players keep a few on hand even if they do not always use them.
What is the difference between a standard pick and a specialty pick?
Standard picks are celluloid or nylon in common thicknesses. Specialty picks use materials like stone, metal, glass, or wood, which change the tone and durability. Metal picks are bright and aggressive; stone picks are warm and smooth. Specialty picks cost more and wear differently, so they are worth trying only after you understand your basic preferences.
How long does a pick last?
A standard pick lasts weeks to months depending on how often you play and how hard you pick. Metal and stone picks last longer than celluloid. If you play daily, you will wear through picks regularly, which is why bulk packs from online retailers are cost-effective for serious players.
Do I need to buy the same brand my guitar came with?
No. The pick that comes with a guitar is usually a generic standard pick. Once you play for a while, you will develop a preference for thickness and material that may be different. Trying picks from different brands and materials is normal and encouraged.
What if I cannot find a specific brand locally?
Order online from Amazon, Sweetwater, or the manufacturer's website. Most brands ship within a few days, and bulk packs are cheaper than buying single packs at retail. If you have a favorite brand that is hard to find locally, ordering in bulk online saves money over time.