fingerpicks
Banjo player's accessories
Fingerpicks are small devices worn on the fingertips to pluck stringed instruments, especially banjos and acoustic guitars.
Made of metal or plastic, they extend the nail's reach and produce a brighter, louder tone than bare fingers.
Bluegrass banjo players typically wear three fingerpicks and a thumbpick: She prefers metal fingerpicks for that classic twang.
Acoustic Appalachian folk music
- clawhammerHammer with nail-pulling fork
- rollsSmall rounded breads
- AppalachianEastern U.S. mountain region
- resonatorFrequency-amplifying device
five-string · open-back · forward roll · backward roll · syncopation · drone · chromatic · old-time
String-plucking technique
- mandolinPlucked eight-string lute descendant
- dulcimerStringed percussion instrument
- autoharpButton-bar chord instrument
- zitherFlat stringed instrument, played horizontally
dobro · lap steel · ukulele · harp · lute · plectrum · string tension · vibration
Plucking strings directly
- acousticRelating to sound
- classicalOf ancient Greece/Rome
- arpeggiosChord notes played individually
- thumbpickDigit-worn string striker
melody · independence · nylon · resonator · tone · sustain · dynamics · open tuning
Digit-worn string striker
- fingerstylePlucking strings directly
- acrylicSynthetic resin or fiber
- tortoiseshellMottled brown-yellow shell material
- brassCopper-zinc metal mixture
celluloid · ergonomic · Dunlop · wraparound · adjustable · tone · attack · volume
Degree of correctness
- dexteritySkillful hand coordination
- controlAuthority to direct
- finesseSubtle, deft handling
- articulationClear vocal expression
attack · dynamics · muting · damping · independence · coordination · precision · speed
bluegrass
Acoustic Appalachian folk music
- clawhammerHammer with nail-pulling fork
- rollsSmall rounded breads
- AppalachianEastern U.S. mountain region
resonator · five-string · open-back · forward roll · backward roll · syncopation · drone · chromatic · old-time · breakdown
pizzicato
String-plucking technique
- mandolinPlucked eight-string lute descendant
- dulcimerStringed percussion instrument
- autoharpButton-bar chord instrument
zither · dobro · lap steel · ukulele · harp · lute · plectrum · string tension · vibration · tone
fingerstyle
Plucking strings directly
thumbpick · melody · independence · nylon · resonator · tone · sustain · dynamics · open tuning
thumbpick
Digit-worn string striker
- fingerstylePlucking strings directly
- acrylicSynthetic resin or fiber
- tortoiseshellMottled brown-yellow shell material
brass · celluloid · ergonomic · Dunlop · wraparound · adjustable · tone · attack · volume
accuracy
Degree of correctness
articulation · attack · dynamics · muting · damping · independence · coordination · precision · speed · clarity
- Banjosbanjo, tenor banjo, five-string, four-string, open-back
- fingerstyle guitarfingerstyle, thumbpick, arpeggio, arpeggios, bass notes
- slide guitarslap steel, resonator, slide guitar, steel guitar, pedal steel guitar
fingerpicksflatpick
Handheld string striker
plectrum · guitar pick · pick · thumbpick