flatpicks

Rigid picking tools

Flatpicks are the rigid, typically triangular picks held between thumb and finger to strike guitar or other stringed instrument strings.

The term distinguishes them from fingerpicks, which attach to individual fingers.

Flatpicks come in various thicknesses and materials, affecting tone and playing feel: I prefer heavy flatpicks for bluegrass.

equipment

plectrum

String-plucking implement

triangleThree-sided plane figure
teardropSingle unit of crying
celluloidTransparent flammable synthetic material

nylon · Dunlop · thickness · gauge · grip · bevel · tip · worn · custom · case

acoustic

guitar

Fretted stringed instrument

dreadnoughtHeavily armored warship type
fingerstylePlucking strings directly
strummingSweeping across guitar strings

fretboard · soundhole · projection · volume · brightness · attack · Martin · Taylor · rosewood · spruce

bluegrass

banjo

Fretted drum-stringed instrument

mandolinPlucked eight-string lute descendant
fiddleAdjust restlessly; folk violin
dobroMetal-coned acoustic guitar

Appalachia · old-time · jam · festival · twang · Americana · roots · hoedown · dreadnought · drive

technique

downstroke

Stroke moving downward

upstrokeUpward movement of pen
speedRate of motion
accuracyDegree of correctness

attack · tone · angle · grip · dynamics · articulation · cleanliness · control · precision · dexterity

Opposites

picking implement type

flatpicksfingerpicks

Digit-worn string pluckers

thumbpicks · finger picks · thumb picks

string articulation method

flatpicksfingerstyle

Plucking strings directly

fingerpicking · clawhammer

Family

flatpicking, flatpick

Familiarity: Top 1,000,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G