How to Get a Guitar Pick Out of an Acoustic Guitar Sound Hole

Using Centrifugal Force to Get a Guitar Pick Out of the Sound Hole

As a guitarist, having your pick fall into the sound hole of your acoustic guitar can be incredibly frustrating. That small piece of plastic or nylon is such an important tool for playing, and fishing around inside your instrument trying to get it out can damage the guitar. Luckily there's an easy fix using physics!

Why Picks Fall Into the Sound Hole

When you're strumming or picking with gusto, it's common for your pick to slip out of your fingers. On an electric guitar this usually means it falls to the floor. But with an acoustic, that sound hole sits right below the strings like a gaping mouth ready to swallow lost picks. Even careful guitarists eventually lose a pick or two down the sound hole abyss.

Using Gravity and Centrifugal Force

The most common solution is to turn your acoustic guitar upside down and shake it, hoping the pick falls out of the sound hole. But there's an easier way by harnessing centrifugal force and gravity to your advantage. The method uses two scientific principles:

1. Centrifugal force pushes the pick to the edges
2. Gravity pulls the pick out once it's near the rim

By combining these two forces you can usually get your pick to pop right out! Let's look at how to execute this handy guitar trick.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Getting a lost guitar pick out of the sound hole is easy once you understand the physics behind the method. Follow these steps:

1. Angle the Guitar

Hold your acoustic guitar with the sound hole facing slightly upward at a 45 degree angle. Gravity will pull the pick toward the rim of the hole.

2. Rotate in Large Circles

Now quickly rotate your arm in wide circles so the guitar spins around the axis of the neck. This centrifugal motion pushes the pick to the edges while gravity still pulls it to one side.

3. Go Slow Once You See the Pick

When you catch a glimpse of the pick through the sound hole, slow your motion so you can track its location. Once it reaches the rim, stop spinning. The pick should fall out with gravity's final pull.

Be Patient!

This technique may take a few tries depending on the shape of your guitar body and sound hole. The centrifugal force has to overcome the picks tendency to bounce around chaotically inside the instrument. With patience you can usually coerce it out in under a minute.

Troubleshooting Problems

In most cases the physics technique works perfectly. But nothing's foolproof, so here are some troubleshooting tips if you can't seem to shake that pick free.

Issue - Pick Stuck in Bracing

Acoustic guitars have bracing glued below the top soundboard. If unlucky, your pick can wedge between two braces. Solve this by tilting your guitar neck slightly farther forward to use gravity. Slowly rotate back and forth instead of fully spinning to gently wiggle it free.

Issue - Heavy Pick

If you use a very heavy pick it may not respond as well to spinning. In this case, do the opposite...tilt the guitar almost completely upside down. Gravity pulls the heavy pick straight down through the air pocket in the body toward the sound hole opening.

Issue - Oddly Shaped Sound Hole

Some acoustic guitars like Taylor's have an elongated teardrop shaped sound hole instead of a circle. This can prevent the pick from reaching the rim. Compensate by tilting that side upward so gravity moves it toward the narrow tip of the hole.

When to Seek Professional Help

In very rare cases, a pick can become so firmly stuck or lodged that centrifugal force and gravity fail to dislodge it. If you've tried repeatedly without success, it makes sense to take your acoustic guitar to a luthier or repair person. They have tools and tiny cameras to peer inside the body and safely retrieve the pick without damaging anything.

Seeking professional help also makes sense if you drop something larger than a pick into your acoustic guitar. Things like tuning keys, bridge pins, hex wrenches, or other foreign objects generally require disassembly to retrieve safely. Don't let them rattle around inside - get an expert involved right away.

Never Shake an Electric Guitar!

A final word of caution: although effective for acoustics, you should NEVER shake an electric guitar violently upside down trying to lose something inside! The electronics, wiring, and components can be damaged or broken by excessive force.

Electric guitars should only be turned upside down briefly and gently shaken to locate a lost pick or item. And seek professional assistance as soon as possible if anything becomes lodged in the body cavity to prevent greater harm.

Understanding the balance of centrifugal motion and gravity makes retrieving a lost guitar pick from an acoustic instrument quite simple. Just remember to go slowly and be patient once the pick reaches the rim. With some finesse you'll have it safely in your hand again and ready to start playing tunes in no time!

FAQs

Why does my pick always fall into the sound hole?

Picks fall into the acoustic guitar's sound hole because of basic physics - when you strum over the hole, a dropped pick falls right in. The location under the strings makes it a natural trap.

What if my pick gets stuck in the guitar bracing?

Tilt the guitar neck forward so gravity pulls the pick free. Gently rotate back and forth instead of spinning to carefully dislodge it without forcing.

Will shaking damage my electric guitar?

Yes! Never violently shake an electric guitar to retrieve a lost item. The components could be damaged. Instead, gently turn it upside down before seeking professional assistance.

When should I take my guitar to a repair person?

If a pick or item becomes firmly stuck or lodged inside your acoustic guitar, seek help from a luthier. Also get help right away if you drop a larger object like a tuning key into the body.