A spare piece of plastic can be used to make a homemade guitar pick.Credit cards, plastic rulers, and CDs can all be turned into homemade picks.Pick punchers are the easiest way to make your own picks.You can cut a pick with scissors.If you don't have time to cut anything up, you can use a coin, memory card, or uncut credit card to play the guitar.
Step 1: Pick punches can be purchased from a music shop.
If you want to mass-produce your own guitar picks, a pick punch is the easiest way to do it.The hole puncher has a template that cuts plastic into a guitar pick.It is easy to use and looks like a stapler.Pick punches can be purchased at your local music shop.If you find yourself constantly losing and rebuying your picks, you will make your money back.You can make money by selling excess picks.
Step 2: You can get a gift card, ruler, or plastic sheet.
Hard plastic is the best material for guitar picks, even though a pick punch will turn any material into a cutout.Credit cards, rulers, and other hard plastic can be used as picks.Get a piece of plastic that you don't want to ruin to make your picks.You can check the balance on a gift card by visiting the website printed on the back of the card.Enter the card's number to pull up the remaining balance.If you are going to use a credit card, make sure that it is no longer needed.If you are going to use a gift card, make sure there is no remaining balance.
Step 3: At the end of the punch, put the plastic item in the slot.
The 4–2 in slot on the end of the punch is where the 2 handles meet.The slot has a plastic item in it.It will not go in any further if you push it all the way in.
Step 4: To adjust the image on the pick, look through the viewfinder.
You can see what your guitar pick will look like after it has been punched out with the pick punch.When you are happy with the look of your pick, look at the open end of the punch and adjust your card.If you have an old gift card with a picture of Santa on it, adjust it so that his face is in the center of the pick.
Step 5: You can pop your guitar pick out by squeezing the handles together.
Push the handles towards one another once you are happy with the look of your pick.Until you hear a click, squeeze hard.If you hear the click, squeeze as hard as you can.The pick will leave the outline.To avoid shooting the pick into your eye, look away from the punch as you squeeze the handles.You can do this with one hand by wrapping your fingers around one handle and the base of your palm around the other.
Step 6: If you want, you can smooth the edges with your guitar pick.
The pick should be turned around in your hand.If it is smooth and there are no loose shards of plastic, you can use your pick.If it is sharp, you may damage your hands or strings.Take a sheet of 200 to 400grit sandpaper and fold it around the pick.Remove any sharp edges by rubbing the sandpaper back and forth.If you want the art on the plastic to stay, use a fine-grit sandpaper.Sand brick or a nail file can be used to smooth the pick out.You can wear the pick down a little by rubbing it against the concrete.Since you are going to be playing an instrument with the pick, it is not a good idea to paint or decorate it.The paint on your hands and strings will oxidize over time.
Step 7: You can get an old credit card, ruler, CD or plastic sheet.
An old piece of plastic can be used to make a guitar pick.You can use a plastic ruler for a thicker pick if you have a credit card or gift card.CDs are prone to cracking when you cut them, and it can be hard to file them down to make them soft.A scrap sheet of plastic will work.The harder your plastic is, the harder it will be to cut and you want a little flexibility in a guitar pick.
Step 8: The outline of your pick is on the plastic.
Take a pencil.Draw the outline of your guitar pick on a piece of plastic.A guitar pick is just a triangle with rounded edges, so feel free to draw it freehand.You can use a commercially-produced pick to outline it.If you can, put your drawing near the edge of the plastic.It will be easier to cut out.
Step 9: Attach the pick to the plastic with scissors.
The pick should be in your nondominant hand.Place the scissor blades around the edge of the plastic with a pair of non-serrated scissors.To cut into the plastic, squeeze the handles together.Keep your nondominant hand at least 3 inches away from the blades.As you cut the plastic, make sure you carve around the edges of your outline.It might take a little bit of effort to cut through thicker plastic.If you prefer, you can use a utility knife to cut the plastic.It might be easier to just use the scissors.
Step 10: Sand the pick down with a nail file.
Some sharp edges will result from cutting out plastic with scissors.To smooth them down, you need a nail file or sheet of sandpaper.For 30-60 seconds on each side, scraper the file or sandpaper along the edge of the pick.You are finished once your pick is smoothed down.If you are sanding the edges of a CD, be careful.CDs are prone to cracking if you apply too much pressure.They are fine as guitar picks since you hold them tightly.Clear tape can be used to cover your CD pick.
Step 11: You can use a coin to make a guitar pick.
If you don't have a guitar pick, you can use a thin coin.You can use an American quarter, British 2 pence or Chinese yuan coin.If the coin is at least 1 in, you can use the round edges to play your instrument.Coins are the best replacement for a guitar pick.They don't wear down easily and are only slightly thicker than a pick.
Step 12: You can use an old memory card to play your instrument.
A large sim card can be used to play a stringed instrument.The plastic cards have at least one edge that is rounded or slanted.That edge can be used to play your bass or guitar.If you ever want to access the information on the memory card, don't use it as a guitar pick.Using a memory card will destroy it.
Step 13: If you are in a rush, choose an uncut gift card or credit card.
If you don't have time to make a pick, you can use an uncut gift card or credit card.You can plucking your strings with the rounded corner if you hold the card at an angle.You will be able to play even if it is a little awkward to hold.The same thickness as a pick is why gift cards and credit cards are so popular.