Abstract: A pick assembly for use in plucking or strumming the strings of a stringed musical instrument is provided with a relatively inflexible plectrum element and a relatively flexible and short molded tether body element bonded at one end to the plectrum element and having a finger loop at the other end. A preferred tether body element cross-section, in combination with friction engagement of the pick assembly with the user's forefinger, significantly restricts rotation of the assembly about the axis of the user's forefinger.

Abstract: An instrument pick and finger attachment includes a finger ring for wearing upon a user's finger together with a generally planar pick for strumming a stringed instrument. The pick is joined to the finger ring by a flexible chain via a pair of separable couplers at each end. The separable couplers facilitate the replacement or substitution of different components within the combination.

Abstract: Slide bars are used by musicians when playing string instruments to achieve different effects and sounds to stylize their musical compositions Existing slide bars, when not use, are usually removed, or rotate with difficulty around the finger, to continue play thereby interrupting play for a short, but discernible, period of time The slide bar devices and assemblies of this invention are easy to use and reduce down time to a non-discernible degree The slide bar device has a slide member with a longitudinal axis and an outer surface for contacting all of the strings of the string instrument. A ring member is attached to the slide member and adaptable for wear around any of the musician's fingers. The axis of the ring member is parallel to, and spaced away from, the axis of the slide member The center of gravity of the slide member is spaced away from, and radially outward of, the ring member.

Abstract: An ergonomic musician's pick or pick holder for use with string instruments, such as a guitar, mandolin, bass guitar, or ukelele, has a curved finger grip portion on one side adapted to form a finger cradle for either the thumb or index finger of a user and has a flat generally planar area on another side against which the other fingers of a user may be pressed to allow the user to securely and comfortably grasp the pick for playing. The grip portion positively locates the fingers in a generally predetermined angular relationship to the string engaging pick tip. Different individual picks of the invention may have different angular relationships. The pick functions in the same way to bring the same advantages of the invention to any conventional and some non-standard or custom picks. Holder provides the added advantage that various picks may be used and the angular relationship may be more easily varied through various arrangements for attaching the pick to the holder.

Abstract: A guitar pick, substantially thin and tear drop shaped, having a gripping portion, a picking portion, and two sides. Hook closure material is attached onto one of the sides of the pick to provide superior gripping characteristics when a musician grasps the pick between their thumb and forefinger. The pick is generally used with a guitar, having strings and a guitar body. The guitar body is provided with loop closure material, so that the guitar pick may be temporarily adhered to the guitar body by bringing the hook closure material on the pick into contact with the loop closure material on the guitar body. To use the pick, the pick is simply peeled off the guitar body to free the hook closure material from the loop closure material.

Abstract: A guitar pick having a body terminating at an edge, with a tip defined along a portion of the edge, includes first and second faces with first and second wear indicators disposed thereon adjacent the edge and spaced inwardly therefrom. The wear indicators provide a fixed reference against which the wear experienced by the tip can be ascertained. The wear indicators can be either lines imprinted on the first and second faces or can be raised ridges extending outwardly therefrom.

Abstract: A plectrum for stringed musical instruments includes a plurality of resilient brush bristles or fibers arranged in a brush-like manner and mounted on the tip of the plectrum. The brush bristles cause multiple, low intensity impacts upon the strings of the instrument with each stroke of the brush plectrum, creating a different and unique harmonic quality than conventional plectrums or those having multiple pick arrays.

Abstract: A pick holder that temporarily stores, protects and dispenses a pick that is used for plucking strings of a stringed musical instrument such as a guitar. The pick holder includes a first piece and a second piece that are coupled to cooperatively form a pocket for storing and dispensing one or more picks. The second piece is formed so that when the second piece is coupled to the first piece, the perimeter of the second piece provides access to the stored picks. The first piece forms a means of attaching the pick holder to a shoulder strap peg that is fixably coupled to the base of a musical instrument such as a guitar. The attachment means, formed by the first piece, enables the pick holder to be removably coupled to the shoulder strap peg.

Abstract: A musical stringed instrument including a control circuit that provides a means for playing with one hand. The control circuit is either integral with or external to the musical stringed instrument. One hand operation is accomplished by selectively bringing one or more of the strings into electrical contact with any one or more electrical contacts or frets or by depressing any one or more switches corresponding to each string. A striker pad impacts the chosen string causing it to vibrate. Variation in the notes is accomplished in a manner consistent with two handed operation of the musical stringed instrument.

Abstract: A musical device comprises a guitar with a neck and a plurality of strings. A pick-up produces electrical output signals related to the frequency and amplitude of vibration of at least one of the strings. An electronic musical effect generator is receptive of the electronic output signal for altering the frequency and amplitude to produce a musical effect. A strain gauge assembly for plurality of axes is disposed on the guitar neck to sense a plurality of axes of strain in that position during use of the instrument. A pick is actuatable by a user for initiating a note on the guitar. A second sensor senses the manual actuation pressure on the pick and another strain gauge assembly for a plurality of axes is disposed on the pick and generates a plurality of control signals corresponding to structural deflections generated during the use of the pick.

Abstract: A device is provided for playing a stringed instrument such as a guitar through use of one hand. Two foot pedals are provided with cables attached to a structure mounted on the stringed instrument. One pedal controls the pick movement across the strings of the instrument while the other pedal engages and disengages the pick as well as controls the intensity of strum. The device allows a person having use of only one hand to strum or pluck a stringed instrument with versatility and quality sound. The device is light in weight and may be set up in a short period of time because such device is simple but reliable and may be used with a variety of instruments having from one through twelve strings. The device is designed primarily for a disabled individual, but could also be used by a talented musician who wishes to play more than one instrument at a time.

Abstract: The disclosed plectrum is a relatively non-resilient planar member composed of a soft metal such as aircraft aluminum or other like material. The string-engaging tip of the plectrum is rounded and bevelled for optimum harmonic attack of metallic strings of electrical guitars and other like instruments. The surface of the plectrum may be anodized with metallic oxide coatings of a variety of colors.

Abstract: An improvement in the action for a harpsichord type of keyboard musical instrument which uses a pneumatic piston to provide a variable pluck loudness. The improvement comprises a new pick-body design which allows several strings to be plucked at once for any single note or key, thus increasing the loudness of the instrument. The invention involves the use of a crank arm which, being restrained by a pneumatic piston, tilts the pick-body and the picks into the strings, the loudness resulting therefrom being proportional to the key-lever velocity.

Abstract: A combined pick and stringed instrument tuning device includes a relatively flat, substantially rectangularly shaped housing having a pick attached thereto and is small enough to be easily held in one's hand. A momentary contact push-button switch mounted on top of the housing controls an electronic tuning circuit by selecting one of several predetermined frequencies from a frequency generator. In one embodiment, the tuning circuit is mounted in the housing so that the tuning device is totally self-contained. Alternatively, the tuning circuit is remotely located and is controlled by a cable connected to the housing or by radio signals. The frequency selected is displayed on the housing and the frequency generator drives a strobe light located near the pick. In another embodiment, a microphone mounted on the housing converts sounds from the string being tuned to a signal which is compared to the preselected frequency.

Abstract: A combined pick and stringed instrument tuning device includes a relatively flat, substantially rectangularly shaped housing having a pick attached thereto and is small enough to be easily held in one's hand. A momentary contact push-button switch mounted on top of the housing controls an electronic tuning circuit by selecting one of several predetermined frequencies from a frequency generator. In one embodiment, the tuning circuit is mounted in the housing so that the tuning device is totally self-contained. Alternatively, the tuning circuit is remotely located and is controlled by a cable connected to the housing or by radio signals. The frequency selected is displayed on the housing and the frequency generator drives a strobe light located near the pick. In another embodiment, a microphone mounted on the housing converts sounds from the string being tuned to a signal which is compared to the preselected frequency.

Abstract: An improvement in the action for that type of plectrum piano which uses a pneumatic piston to provide a variable pluck loudness. The pneumatic piston is joined by a connecting rod to a crank arm on a rotatable pick body, the latter being driven vertically past a vibratable element when the instrument is played. The plectrum is mounted below the center of rotation of the pick body and describes both a lateral and a vertical motion during the pluck stroke, the pluck loudness being proportional to stroke velocity. The improvement includes the use of a gravity acting ball valve joint between the connecting rod and the piston to provide the repeat function.

Abstract: A musical instrument comprising a keyboard and related controls (i.e., foot pedals, stops or equivalent controls), which through electronic circuitry remotely direct the mechanical manipulation of taut strings of guitar gauge, enabling the keyboard musician to create the many sounds characteristic of the electric guitar. Apart from the mechanical apparatus engaged with the strings, this invention relates, to a large extent, to the employment and design of the controlling electronic circuitry.

Abstract: A multiple string guitar-like instrument has a plurality of plucking means mounted to confront playing strings. Each plucking means comprises a housing having a carriage guide, a carriage disposed for movement transverse to the string, a finger pivotally mounted to the carriage, a cam pivotally mounted to the housing, and a follower pin extending laterally from the finger for tracking the contour of the cam to direct the finger to move in an eccentric path. The plucking mechanism is disposed at a distance from the string so that the head of the moving finger plucks the string at an oblique angle during only a driven portion of a keying stroke.

Abstract: A power operated device that is mounted on a musical stringed instrument such as a guitar to selectively bring one or a desired group of rotating members into light pressure contact with strings of the instrument to cause one or a desired group of strings to vibrate at least so long as the rotatable members are in rotating contact therewith to emit musical tones. The device permits unusual and novel musical effects to be obtained from an instrument due to the strings being subjected to vibration for any desired period of time, in contrast to the short period of time a string vibrates to emit a musical tone when the string is plucked by a finger or with a pick.