BlueChip Picks

A BlueChip pick changes the attack before it changes anything else. The composite these are machined from has a naturally low-friction surface, so the pick releases the string instead of grabbing it — less click on the front of the note, more of the instrument behind it. On a mandolin that shows up as a cleaner tremolo. On a dreadnought it is the difference between a percussive chop and a round, woody G-run.

Wear is the other half of the story. These are machined and hand-finished rather than stamped, and a player who goes through a nylon pick every few weeks will often run the same BlueChip for years. At $40 to $45, the math works out in the player's favor inside a single season.

The Acoustic Shoppe carries the full BlueChip line — flatpicks and thumbpicks, in gauges from 35 to 60 thousandths of an inch — including the TAD55-3R, a three-rounded-corner TAD developed with TAS co-owner John Chapman and available nowhere else.

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A precision-machined BlueChip Picks (TPR45) guitar pick from BlueChip rests on wood, featuring "BlueChip TPR 45" engraved in gold and a narrow vertical gap beneath it.
BlueChip TPR45 Pick
Sale price$40.00
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A BlueChip Picks (TD45) teardrop guitar pick by BlueChip comes in a small plastic bag attached to an orange-accented BlueChip card, displayed on a dark, scratched metal surface—ideal for acoustic music enthusiasts.
BlueChip TD45 Pick
Sale price$40.00
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A BlueChip Picks (TD40) by BlueChip, in red and white packaging, rests on a dark scratched surface. The brown teardrop pick with gold lettering is visible inside, with a white logo at the bottom right of the package.
BlueChip TD40 Pick
Sale price$40.00
5.0
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A BlueChip Picks (TAD50) guitar pick by BlueChip, showing gold lettering and packed in branded red and white packaging with a small plastic bag, rests on a dark, worn surface—perfect for acoustic accessories enthusiasts.
BlueChip TAD50 Pick
Sale price$40.00
5.0
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A BlueChip Picks (TAD60-3R), hand beveled for precision, rests in a small plastic bag with a red and white BlueChip label, photographed on a dark textured surface. The Acoustic Shoppe logo appears in the bottom right corner.
BlueChip TAD60-3R Pick
Sale price$40.00
5.0
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A BlueChip Pick (TAD55-3R) by BlueChip is displayed on a dark, scratched surface. The Acoustic Shoppe logo appears in yellow on the pick and is shown smaller in the bottom right corner of the image.
BlueChip Pick (TAD55-3R)
Sale price$40.00
5.0
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A BlueChip Picks (STP40) pick is sealed in clear, branded packaging and placed on a dark, scratched surface. The “Acoustic Shoppe” logo appears in the lower right, showcasing key acoustic music accessories.
BlueChip STP40 Pick
Sale price$40.00
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A BlueChip Picks (SR60) guitar pick by BlueChip is packaged in a clear plastic bag on an orange and white card labeled “BlueChip Picks,” featuring the Acoustic Shoppe logo, and rests on a dark scratched surface.
BlueChip Picks (SR60)
Sale price$45.00
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A BlueChip Picks (BCT-JDM) thumb pick featuring a brown tip and JD engraving rests on a dark, scratched surface. The Acoustic Shoppe logo appears in the corner—a top-choice BlueChip accessory for acoustic guitar players.
BlueChip Picks (BCT-JDM)
Sale price$45.00
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A BlueChip Picks (BCT-JDS) thumb pick by BlueChip, featuring a metal band and brown tip, sits on a textured dark surface. "BlueChip" is printed on the band above two white dots, making it perfect for precise acoustic guitar playing.
BlueChip BCT-JDS Pick
Sale price$45.00

How to choose a BlueChip

Shape decides how the pick enters and leaves the string. Gauge decides how much it gives when you dig in. Get the shape right first — gauge is the fine adjustment.

The flatpick shapes

  • TP — the classic equilateral triangle with three usable playing corners, and the shape most bluegrass flatpickers settle on. The TP50 is the single most common starting point in the line.
  • TPR — the same footprint as the TP with softened corners, for a rounder attack. Doyle Lawson worked with BlueChip on the TPR40 and TPR45.
  • TAD — shaped like the TP but slightly larger, which suits players with bigger hands or a heavier right hand.
  • TD — a standard teardrop with two rounded corners and one sharper playing corner. The closest shape to what most players are already used to.
  • STP — a smaller TP with sharper corners, the same footprint as the Kenny Smith signature.
  • SR — a heavily rounded triangle with an extra-wide bottom radius, for players chasing the warmest attack in the line.
  • CT55 — Chris Thile's own design, close in size and shape to the TAD family at 55 thousandths.

Picking a gauge

35 and 40 thousandths flex enough for strumming and crosspicking. 50 is the bluegrass default and where most players should start. 60 gives almost no flex at all — maximum drive for hard-driving lead work.

Thumbpicks

BlueChip's thumbpicks pair a stainless steel band with a machined blade. The BCT-JD series is JD Crowe's design in small, medium, and large. The BCT-BR series is Russ Carson's, with a talon-shaped blade. The BCT-RESO-JDL uses a thicker blade built for dobro and resonator players.

Related collections

Browse the full range of guitar picks, or go straight to banjo finger and thumb picks and ukulele picks. Mandolin players can pair a pick with an instrument from our mandolin collection.

Why buy from The Acoustic Shoppe

  • A twelve-time NAMM Top 100 Dealer (2015–2026)
  • The #1 worldwide Eastman acoustic guitar dealer
  • Every instrument ships after our 23-Point Professional Inspection

BlueChip on The Acoustic Shoppe

Find Out Which of These Flatpicks Will Bring Your Tone To 11!

John and Jeremy put the BlueChip head-to-head against ToneSlab across both guitar and mandolin. The BlueChip breakdown starts at 4:05.

BLIND Guitar Pick Challenge

Eight picks at eight price points, rated blind. This is the test behind the question every BlueChip buyer asks first.

Guitar Accessories We CAN'T Live Without

John and Marcel run through the flatpicking accessories they actually reach for. Picks come first, at 1:32.

What pick should you be using on a mandolin?

A short, direct answer on shape and gauge for mandolin players.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does a BlueChip pick cost $40?
Each one is machined and hand-finished from a low-friction composite rather than stamped out of celluloid or nylon. The practical return is wear: players who replace a nylon pick every few weeks routinely keep the same BlueChip for years, so the cost per playing hour lands well below a cheaper pick.
What gauge should I start with?
50 thousandths. It is the bluegrass default and the gauge most players settle on. Go to 35 or 40 if you strum or crosspick and want more give, or 60 if you play hard-driving lead and want almost no flex.
What is the difference between the TP, TAD, and TD?
The TP is an equilateral triangle with three usable playing corners. The TAD is the same shape slightly enlarged, which suits bigger hands or a heavier right-hand attack. The TD is a standard teardrop with two rounded corners and one sharper playing corner — the closest to a conventional pick shape.
Do BlueChip picks work for mandolin as well as guitar?
Yes, and the mandolin is where the low-friction surface is easiest to hear — it cleans up tremolo noticeably. The CT55 was designed by mandolinist Chris Thile for his own use, and the smaller shapes in the line are popular with mandolin players.
What is the TAD55-3R?
A three-rounded-corner TAD at 55 thousandths, developed by BlueChip with John Chapman, one of the owners of The Acoustic Shoppe. It is made for us and is not available from any other dealer.
Four people sit around a wooden table with microphones, laughing and talking in a cozy, rustic studio. Musical instruments and vintage decor are visible in the background, including a large sign that reads TAS.