A guitar pick necklace can be made by melting a small hole near the top of the pick with a heated needle.
You probably have a guitar pick lying around that means something to you. Maybe it was your first pick, one from a memorable lesson, or a souvenir from a favorite concert. Turning it into a simple necklace keeps that memory close and gives the pick a second life as everyday jewelry.
Making one yourself is straightforward, even if you don’t own a drill or jewelry tools. The key steps involve piercing the plastic cleanly, selecting the right cord and connector, and avoiding common mistakes like melted plastic drips or a hole that’s too small. Here’s how to make an actual, wearable necklace without frustration.
What You’ll Need For The Project
The supplies are minimal and most can be scrounged from around the house. You need a guitar pick, a necklace cord or chain, a jump ring, and a tool to create the hole.
A standard plastic guitar pick works perfectly for the heated-needle approach. If the pick has sentimental value, it’s a strong candidate to become the pendant. For the cord, you can use a leather or nylon cord that slips over your head or a metal chain with a clasp.
Jump rings are small metal circles used to connect the pierced pick to the cord. Pick a jump ring with an inner diameter just slightly wider than the hole you plan to make. You can find jump rings at any craft store or online for a few dollars for a pack of fifty.
Why A Simple Craft Appeals To Musicians
Musicians tend to collect small items that carry personal significance. A guitar pick is small, durable, and directly connected to the act of playing music. Turning it into a necklace feels like a natural extension of that attachment.
- Sentimental pick choice: According to craft tutorials, using a pick from a first guitar, a memorable concert, or a gift from a teacher makes the necklace more meaningful.
- DIY vs store-bought cost: Pre-made guitar pick necklaces on retail sites typically sell for $10 to $20. Making your own costs essentially just the cord and a jump ring, which can be under $5 total.
- Engraving the pick: For a personalized touch, you can stamp or engrave a name or date into the pick before attaching the cord, using a small metal stamp or engraving tool.
- Fashion pick necklace: The craft can also be dressed up using picks made of sterling silver, bronze, or other metals for a more elegant look, though these require a drill rather than a heated needle.
The appeal isn’t just about saving money. It’s about wearing a tangible object tied to your experience with music, rather than buying something mass-produced.
Two Methods For Piercing The Hole
There are two main approaches for creating the hole in the pick, and the best one depends on the pick’s material. According to the guitar pick necklace definition from Stringsandbeyond, both a heated needle and a drill can work effectively.
The heat method is best for standard plastic picks. You hold the tip of a sharp pin or needle over a lighter flame for about 5 seconds until it’s hot, then press and twist it through the plastic. The heat melts a clean hole without cracking the pick, and you can smooth the edges with a small file or sandpaper afterward to prevent the cord from fraying.
The drill method produces a cleaner, more consistent hole and is necessary for picks made of harder materials like metal or stone. A 2mm drill bit is the typical size. This method is a bit more involved because you need a drill and a steady hand, but the result is a perfectly round hole.
| Method | Best For | Tools Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Heated needle | Standard plastic picks | Lighter, needle or pin, pliers to hold needle |
| Drill with 2mm bit | Metal, stone, or thick picks | Hand drill or Dremel, 2mm bit, clamp |
| Pre-made hole (pick punch) | Any material | No tools needed — pick comes with hole |
| Glue-on bail (no hole) | Fragile or decorative picks | Jewelry glue, small bail finding |
| Awl and hammer | Thicker plastic picks | Awl, hammer, scrap wood backing |
After creating a hole approximately 1–2mm in diameter, open the jump ring slightly with pliers, slide it through the hole, then attach it to the necklace cord and close the ring. Test the cord length before closing the clasp if you’re using a chain.
Step-By-Step Assembly
Once the hole is pierced, the assembly is quick. You need to connect the pick to the cord and make sure everything stays in place.
- Prepare the cord: Cut your cord or chain to your desired length. An 18-inch length is standard for a necklace that sits near the collarbone. Add a clasp if the cord requires one, or tie a loop knot for a slip-over style.
- Attach the jump ring: Use two pairs of small pliers (or your fingers if the ring is large enough) to pry the jump ring open sideways. Slide it through the pick’s hole, then thread the necklace cord through the jump ring and close the ring fully.
- Smooth the hole edges: If the pierced hole feels rough or sharp, pass a small file or piece of sandpaper through the hole a few times. This prevents the metal jump ring or cord from wearing out prematurely.
If the pick still spins or flips over on the cord, you can add a second jump ring or a small bead between the pick and the cord to act as a stabilizer. This is a common trick for making the pick hang flat.
Common Mistakes And How To Fix Them
Beginners often run into a few predictable problems. The most frequent is the hole being too small for the jump ring to pass through cleanly. If this happens, the heat needle to pierce tutorial from Wikihow suggests reheating the needle and gently widening the hole from the opposite side.
Another common issue is the plastic melting unevenly or dripping. This happens when the needle is too hot or held in place too long. Pull the needle out as soon as it passes through and let the plastic cool before handling. If drips form, you can trim them off with a hobby knife once they harden.
The cord or chain may also fray over time, especially leather cords. Common DIY recommendations suggest using a metal chain for a more durable necklace, since leather can weaken with daily wear.
| Problem | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Hole too small | Needle too thin or not hot enough | Reheat and gently widen from the back |
| Plastic drips | Needle too hot or held too long | Trim drips with hobby knife after cooling |
| Pick flips over | Single jump ring, no stabilizer | Add a small bead or second ring |
| Cord fraying | Leather cord worn by jump ring | Switch to metal chain or use a thicker cord |
For a no-hole alternative, you can glue a small jewelry bail to the back of the pick using a strong epoxy. This method avoids any drilling or melting and works well for picks that are thin, fragile, or made of non-plastic material.
The Bottom Line
Making a guitar pick necklace is a simple one-evening project that turns a small musical keepsake into something you can wear. The two main techniques — a heated needle for plastic picks or a drill for harder materials — each take about the same amount of time. A jump ring and a cord finish the piece.
If you are adapting a pick with a unique shape or texture and aren’t sure which method will work best, a local jewelry repair shop or craft store can advise on compatible cords and findings for your specific pick material.
References & Sources
- Stringsandbeyond. “How to Make a Stylish Guitar Pick Necklace” A guitar pick necklace is a piece of jewelry that uses a standard guitar pick as the pendant, often made from a used or sentimental pick.
- Wikihow. “Make a Guitar Pick Necklace” To pierce a hole in a plastic pick, you can heat a sharp pin or needle over a lighter flame for about 5 seconds, then press and poke it through the plastic to melt a hole.