Pick

The plectrum held between thumb and fingers to strike the strings, whose material, thickness and shape decide much of the attack.

Thin picks flex as they pass the string, giving a softer attack and a slightly indistinct sound that suits strumming; thick picks hold their shape, producing a firm, loud attack with more high-frequency content and better control for fast single-note playing. Material matters too, with common plastics, nylon, polycarbonate, wood, metal and bone all producing different tones and different amounts of wear. The bevel and tip shape then decide how the pick releases the string.

Example: switching from a thin pick to a stiff one of the same shape immediately makes a lead line sound more defined and louder.

Pick

See also