Flatpicking

Playing with a flat pick rather than with the fingers, especially the single-note lead and rhythm style of American acoustic guitar.

Flatpicking is the acoustic counterpart of electric lead playing and grew out of country, bluegrass and old-time music, where the guitar had to be heard over banjos and fiddles without amplification. It depends on a stiff pick, a strong downstroke and a right hand that can move between boom-chuck rhythm and single-line melody in the same tune. A large part of the style is the ability to imply chords and melody at once using double stops and open strings.

Example: A bluegrass guitarist taking a solo break on an acoustic dreadnought with a heavy pick is flatpicking.

Flatpicking

See also