Every guitarist has at least one strange piece of gear in their collection. For me, it’s this: a coconut shell guitar pick.
It’s not my daily driver, and it’s definitely not for everyone, but if you’re curious about unusual tones and textures, this little oddball is worth a look. Let’s break down what it’s like to actually play with a pick made from coconut shell.
Overview / First Impressions
The coconut shell pick is exactly what it sounds like: a guitar pick cut from a piece of coconut shell.
- It’s hard and rigid, like you’d expect.
- It feels more like a novelty or specialty tool than an everyday pick.
- It actually sounds surprisingly good—more musical than you might assume from something made out of a fruit shell.
If you’re used to standard nylon or celluloid picks, this will feel very different in the hand and under the strings.
For context, my go-to picks are Dunlop Jazz III–style picks: small, sharp, and precise. The coconut pick doesn’t replace those for me, but it’s a fun alternative when I want something different.
Build Quality & Design
Because it’s made from a natural material, the shape and feel are a bit irregular:
- Curved surface: The most noticeable thing is that it’s slightly curved. That’s pretty much inevitable with coconut shell and affects how it sits between your fingers.
- Hard and smooth: The surface is quite hard with a smooth feel. There’s not a lot of flex, so it behaves more like a thick, rigid pick.
- Edges: Depending on how it’s cut and finished, the edges can feel a bit sharper or more “clicky” than a plastic pick.
It’s not as ergonomically refined as a purpose-built boutique pick, but that’s part of its charm. It feels organic and a bit raw.
Features & Functional Characteristics
You don’t get “features” in the electronic sense, but there are some functional characteristics worth noting:
- Material: Natural coconut shell—very hard, very stiff.
- Grip: The curve can either help or hurt your grip depending on how you hold your pick. Some players might find it sits naturally in the fingers; others might find it awkward.
- Attack: The stiffness gives a strong, immediate attack with very little give.
You can make a pick out of almost any hard surface—metal, wood, stone, bone, and in this case, coconut. Each material gives you a slightly different feel and tone, and this one definitely has its own personality.
How It Sounds / Use Cases
Here’s where things get interesting: the coconut pick actually sounds pretty good.
From a guitarist’s perspective:
- Attack: The hard material gives you a clear, defined attack. Notes pop out nicely.
- Tone: Compared to a standard plastic pick, it can sound a bit brighter and more percussive, with a more pronounced “click” on the string.
- Articulation: Great for lines where you want every note to be clearly separated and articulate.
Where it might shine:
- Acoustic guitar when you want a crisp, cutting strum or lead line.
- Electric guitar for precise, articulate picking and unusual tonal character.
- Recording situations where you’re experimenting with different pick tones to see what sits best in a mix.
It’s not a subtle difference—if you’re used to regular picks, you’ll feel and hear the change immediately.
Limitations / Things to Know
As cool as it is, there are some drawbacks:
- Curved shape: The curvature is the biggest issue. It doesn’t feel as natural or consistent as a flat, purpose-made pick. Depending on your picking technique, this can be annoying.
- Not ideal as a main pick: For most players, this is more of a special-effect or novelty pick than a primary tool. If you need comfort and predictability for long sessions, a standard pick will likely serve you better.
- Consistency: Being a natural material, each pick can vary slightly in shape, thickness, and feel. Don’t expect factory-level uniformity.
If you’re picky (no pun intended) about your pick shape and feel, this probably won’t replace your usual favorites.
Final Thoughts
The coconut shell guitar pick is one of those fun, quirky pieces of gear that reminds you how much small changes—like pick material—can affect your tone and feel.
- Is it going to replace a Jazz III for precision and comfort? Probably not.
- Is it a cool way to explore a different attack, tone, and playing feel? Absolutely.
If you like experimenting and you’re curious about how different materials change your sound, it’s worth grabbing one and giving it a spin. At worst, it’s a neat conversation piece in your gig bag. At best, it might become your secret weapon for a particular tone or recording situation.
Resources & Further Study
If you’re looking for something more substantial to work on than just pick experiments, there are a couple of useful resources:
Fretboard Memorization Cheat Sheet – TravelingGuitarist.com
A practical guide to memorizing the fretboard using:
- Major and minor triads in every key
- An octave-mapping approach
- Methods that help you not only learn the notes, but also improvise in different keys by understanding triads—the foundation of chords and harmony.
Traveling Guitarist Forum – forum.travelingguitarist.com
A place to talk about guitar, music, gear (including weird picks like this), and anything else guitar-related with other players.
Try the coconut pick for fun—but pair it with serious fretboard work and community interaction, and you’ve got a great combo for growing as a guitarist.