Pick Slides
What is a pick slide (also called a “pick scrape”)?...
It is when you drag the edge of your guitar pick along the wound strings....
This creates a grinding, rising, or falling noise that adds energy and character to your playing....
They are fun to do and sound cool....if it's your thing...
Pick slides are one of the quickest ways to add grit, excitement, and attitude to your rhythm guitar playing. If you’ve ever heard that classic “shhhhhhkkk” sound sliding into a riff, you already know how powerful and dramatic it can be. Today, we’re breaking down exactly how pick slides work — and how thickness, angle, and location all change the tone.
Pick slides are one of the quickest ways to add grit, excitement, and attitude to your rhythm guitar playing. If you’ve ever heard that classic “shhhhhhkkk” sound sliding into a riff, you already know how powerful and dramatic it can be. Today, we’re breaking down exactly how pick slides work — and how thickness, angle, and location all change the tone.
Thinner Picks
- Create a sharper, hissier, more abrasive scrape
- The attack is brighter and more aggressive
- Even if you don’t normally use thin picks (I don’t either), they’re great for recording when you want maximum sizzle
The Angle of the Pick Matters
The angle you hold the pick at completely transforms the tone of your pick slide.
Try these three angles:
- Flat against the string → smoothest, warmest slide
- Slightly tilted → moderate grit
- Heavily angled → highest abrasion & brightness
You’ll hear a noticeable difference between all three.
Where You Slide Makes a Difference
Just like pick angle changes the sound, so does the location on the string.
Sliding near the neck
- Darker
- Rounder
- More low-mid body
Sliding near the bridge
- Brighter
- Sharper
- More metallic and intense
You can literally “travel” the pick slide from neck to bridge and hear the tone morph as you go.
Pick slides are an easy, expressive way to add personality to your rhythm guitar tone. Try experimenting with:
- Pick thickness
- Pick angle
- Where on the strings you slide
Tiny adjustments produce huge tonal differences — and once you learn how to control them, you’ll be able to match the exact sound you want in recordings or live playing.
Remember to always have fun with your guitar and I’ll see you next time…
If you are looking to learn another excellent rhythm guitar skill, you can check out my FREE lesson on how to weave lead guitar melody lines to your rhythm guitar playing here: https://rhythmguitarlessons.net/Pro
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About Mark Turko: Mark Turko is a professional guitar player and instructor with over 30 years of experience and teaches guitar lessons online.