Ukulele Accessories: Picks And Plectrums

Plectrum is just the formal name for a guitar pick. In either case, the word refers to any device used to provide the percussive force that causes a stringed instrument to resonate. Picks have a unique sound that actually varies depending upon what type of pick is employed. They also have certain limitations versus finger-picking styles. If one happens to be a beginner, remember that it is entirely possible to use both one's fingers and a pick simultaneously to play the instrument and one shouldn't get caught up thinking of themselves as dedicated to one technique or another.

Picks come in different thicknesses. Sometimes this is expressed in millimeters and sometimes more subjectively as hard, medium or soft. Soft picks are very flexible and bend a bit when pressed on the string, imparting a gentle, "plucky" sound. Hard picks are very rigid and hardly bend at all when brought in contact with the string. They transfer more energy from the stroke to the string and, thus, produce a heavier, more articulated sound. These differences in sound are easily added to or mitigated by skillful use of the right hand, however, and most players simply choose a pick thickness based on comfort.

The advantages of a pick include the fact that it allows for excellent articulation of a note more easily than is possible with the fingers. They also allow for loud volumes to be attained without battering the hands on the strings. Their drawbacks include their limitation to sounding one voice at a time. Unless other fingers are employed, a pick is only capable of plucking a single string at once or voicing a chord from top to bottom or vice versa. Picks are very inexpensive and one should endeavor to experiment with different types.

By: Kainoa Louis

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