A Pick Slide (pɪ́k sláyd) is also known as a “pick scrape,” which is a guitar playing technique where the guitar player holds the very edge of the guitar pick against the desired strings, usually three or four, and then rapidly running the pick along the strings’ length, effectively “scraping” the strings. If done correctly, the pick slide will create a grating, scratchy note that rises in pitch as the pick nears the bridge or lowers in pitch if performed in the opposite direction.

Typically used in rock, metal and punk, this technique is used most frequently with electric guitars with distortion, since its sound may be confused with normal fret noise in acoustic and non-distortion scenarios. Though a pick slide sounds like it may be tough on the strings, any damage done is very minor, and can be minimized or even eliminated by using thinner picks.