plectrum
Guitarist's strumming tool
A plectrum is a small flat piece of material—typically plastic, but also tortoiseshell, bone, or metal—used to pluck or strum the strings of a guitar, mandolin, banjo, or similar instrument.
The informal term pick is more common in American English: I lost my plectrum somewhere in the couch cushions.
Brush strings rhythmically
- pluckSpirit or yank
- downstrokeStroke moving downward
- upstrokeUpward movement of pen
- tremoloRapid tonal wavering
flatpicking · sweep · arpeggio · skank
Fretted stringed instrument
- banjoFretted drum-stringed instrument
- mandolinPlucked eight-string lute descendant
- ukuleleSmall Hawaiian stringed instrument
- bassDeep pitch or fish
sitar · bouzouki · lute · harp · zither · balalaika · oud · shamisen
Mottled brown-yellow shell material
- celluloidTransparent flammable synthetic material
- nylonSynthetic textile polymer
- acetalGeminal diether from aldehydes
- woodTree-derived building material
bone · horn · stone · metal · felt · leather · coconut · acrylic
Single unit of crying
- triangleThree-sided plane figure
- jazzImprovisational American music genre
- standardLevel of quality accepted
- sharkfinPredator's back projection
rounded · pointed · beveled · sharp · thick · thin · medium · heavy
Short opposable digit
- indexAlphabetical guide to contents
- pinchSqueeze with fingertips
- angleGeometric measure of rotation
- pressureForce upon contact
control · dexterity · positioning · rotation · attack · release · flexibility · slippage
Degree of light emitted
- warmthHeat you feel
- attackAggressive act against another
- sustainKeep something going continuously
- articulationClear vocal expression
clarity · punch · twang · mellowness · definition · resonance · dynamics · projection
strum
Brush strings rhythmically
- pluckSpirit or yank
- downstrokeStroke moving downward
- upstrokeUpward movement of pen
tremolo · flatpicking · sweep · arpeggio · skank
guitar
Fretted stringed instrument
- banjoFretted drum-stringed instrument
- mandolinPlucked eight-string lute descendant
- ukuleleSmall Hawaiian stringed instrument
bass · sitar · bouzouki · lute · harp · zither · balalaika · oud · shamisen · kora
tortoiseshell
Mottled brown-yellow shell material
- celluloidTransparent flammable synthetic material
- nylonSynthetic textile polymer
- acetalGeminal diether from aldehydes
wood · bone · horn · stone · metal · felt · leather · coconut · acrylic · polycarbonate
teardrop
Single unit of crying
- triangleThree-sided plane figure
- jazzImprovisational American music genre
- standardLevel of quality accepted
sharkfin · rounded · pointed · beveled · sharp · thick · thin · medium · heavy · oversized
thumb
Short opposable digit
pressure · control · dexterity · positioning · rotation · attack · release · flexibility · slippage · embossed
brightness
Degree of light emitted
articulation · clarity · punch · twang · mellowness · definition · resonance · dynamics · projection · response
- Apollolyre, Delphi, laurel, sun god, oracle
- instrument accessoriespicks, guitar picks, pick, flatpick, capos
- kotostrings, soundboard, picks, tuning pegs, wooden body
- plectrumsguitar pick, pick, flatpick, fingerpick, thumbpick
- Guitarelectric guitar, acoustic guitar, classical guitar, guitar string, guitar strap
- string instrumentsukulele, mandolin, bass guitar, acoustic guitar, classical guitar
plectrumbow
Respectful forward inclination
violin bow · fingerpicking · fingers · fingerstyle · arco