Abstract: An instrument pick is constructed with a finger grip portion and a multiplicity of narrow elongate pick members. Typically, between about 5 and about 30 pick members are used in the instrument pick. The pick members are generally of uniform thickness of between about 0.05 cm and about 0.2 cm. The pick members are generally between about 0.5 cm and about 2.5 cm in length.

Abstract: A guitar pick for more accurately plucking the strings of a musical instrument having generally a main body or support member with cavities embedded therein allowing a player to obtain a more secure grip. A frustoconical section having a base side and a pointed side is affixed to one side of the main body whereby the tip of the cone is used to pluck the strings of the guitar. The frustoconical end is either rigidly affixed or removable affixed to allow different cones to be installed for different style play. Different angled tips of the cones produce different sounds for different styles of play. Grooves running parallel or perpendicular to the lengthwise axis of the cone also can produce different sounds.

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 operator or artificial finger tip for entering commands and data into a personal data device, such as an electronic notebook, by contacting the screen of the personal data device. The operator comprises a partially rigid base which encircles the finger, generally conforming to the finger, and a rigid tip member which projects forwardly from the base to contact the screen. The tip of the tip member is of reduced diameter at the point of contact with the screen. The tip member has a snap fitting connector enabling it to be manually and removably attached to the base. The base is tubular and has a plurality of sockets, and the tip member has an equivalent number of male elements snap fitting to the sockets. Preferably, a plurality of tip members are provided, each differing from the others in diameter such that a selection of tip sizes varying in relative fineness at the point of contact with the screen is available to the user.

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: The ribbon harp is a mouth-blown musical instrument consisting of a thin ribbon-like textile or polymeric object. When held between the thumbs and blown on by mouth, the ribbon harp vibrates in the audible frequency range and produces a musical note. The player may vary the tension in the ribbon in order to vary the fundamental frequency with which the ribbon harp vibrates, thus producing higher or lower pitches. Various methods may be used to provide lengthwise strength. Dampening properties can be tuned by varying properties in the crosswise direction. Aerodynamic surface treatments are provided so that the ribbon harp commences to vibrate immediately on being blown across. A wrist harness or gauntlet and a thumb cot are described as aids to the player.

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 pick to be used by a musician for plucking or strumming the strings of a musical instrument. According to one embodiment of the invention, a finger pick is disclosed having a body to be located against the fingertip and two pairs of flexible wrap-around arms that encircle the finger in spaced alignment with one another for retaining the pick on the musician's finger. The body of the finger pick may be canted relative to the longitudinal axis thereof so that the hand of the musician need not be contorted during play. The body of the finger pick may also contain a relatively large void that is surrounded by a narrow peripheral edge. According to a second embodiment, a thumb pick is disclosed having a flat blade and a flexible wrap-around arm that encircles the thumb for retaining the pick on the musician's thumb. The blade may be made of plastic and the wrap-around arm may be made of metal and contain a relatively large void that is surrounded by a narrow peripheral edge.

Abstract: The device of the present invention is a guitar pick that is useful as a pick for stringed instruments. The device is generally worn between the two joints of middle phalange of a forefinger of a hand that is used to pluck the strings that extend over the aperture to the resonating cavity of the stringed instrument. The device has a pick portion that is attached to a ring portion. Preferably the pick portion projects from the ring portion at an angle from the plane of the ring portion. The angled projection of the pick portion from the ring portion permits a user to quickly and easily switch from picked play to finger picking play. It is conceivable that other fingers of either hand could be adorned similarly to a useful end.

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 pick (10) for use with a stringed musical instrument is disclosed. The pick includes a generally flat body (12) formed of flexible elastomeric material that is adapted to be held between a player's thumb and index finger and a length of metal wire (14) partially embedded in the body. The ends of the metal wire are twisted and embedded in the body to anchor the wire. A mid-portion of the wire extends outwardly from the body to form a string-engaging pick portion having a rounded, polished tip (36) for picking the strings of the musical instrument.

Abstract: A musical device controller and system that includes an electric guitar having strings and a pick-up that produces an electrical music signal from vibrations of the strings, a musical effect generator that receives the electrical music signal from the guitar and alters the musical signal to produce a musical effect, a guitar pick for striking the strings to cause the vibrations, and a force sensing device mounted on the guitar pick. The force sensing device has a pair of electrical leads connected to the musical effect generator, and a pressure sensitive material that is formed of a semiconductor material having microprotrusions or a pressure sensitive ink. The electrical leads are in contact with the pressure sensitive material such that electrical resistance between the pair of leads incrementally and repeatably decreases as a force applied to the force sensing device incrementally increases.

Abstract: A pick to be used by a musician for plucking or strumming the strings of a musical instrument. According to one embodiment of the invention, a finger pick is disclosed having a body to be located against the fingertip and two pairs of flexible wrap-around arms that encircle the finger in spaced alignment with one another for retaining the pick on the musician's finger. The body of the finger pick may be canted relative to the longitudinal axis thereof so that the hand of the musician need not be contorted during play. The body of the finger pick may also contain a relatively large void that is surrounded by a narrow peripheral edge. According to a second embodiment, a thumb pick is disclosed having a flat blade and a flexible wrap-around arm that encircles the thumb for retaining the pick on the musician's thumb. The blade may be made of plastic and the wrap-around arm may be made of metal and contain a relatively large void that is surrounded by a narrow peripheral edge.

Abstract: A pick for a stringed musical instrument includes a first and a second surface. At least one of the first and the second surface has a replica of a fingertip impression for achieving enhanced pick gripability. A process for forming a stringed musical instrument pick includes the steps of forming the pick having first and second gripping surfaces. At least one of the first and second gripping surfaces has a replica of a fingertip impression therein for enhancing gripability of the pick. A pick holder for use in holding a standard pick used for playing a stringed musical instrument is also disclosed. The pick holder includes a first side and a second side connected with and spaced from the first side. A pocket is formed between the first and second sides and includes means for engaging the pick. At least one of the first surface of the first side and the second surface of the second side includes a replica of a fingertip impression for achieving enhanced pick gripability.

Abstract: A thumb mounted striking device is for use on stringed musical instruments, particularly electric bass guitars, whereby the striking mechanism is attached to and rendered integral with said ring element which is placed upon the thumb. The striking mechanism projects outwardly and is nominally flat, with the planar striking surface having an axis parallel to the axis of the thumb and an axis tangential to and normal to the axis of the thumb. Its attachment to the ring element is at the outward portion of the ring when said ring is placed upon the thumb.

Abstract: A pick of plectrum for a stringed musical instrument is characterized by an intermediate portion having a greater degree of flexibility than the top and bottom portions of a generally triangularly shaped body. The portions of the pick are gripped by the player between the thumb and index finger and the bottom portion is used to pluck the strings of the instrument. The player can alter the amount of flexibility of the pick by moving the thumb and index finger to grip a selected portion of the intermediate portion.

Abstract: An improved pick for playing stringed musical instruments such as guitars, banjos and the like comprising a generally flat pick body sized and configured to be grasped between the thumb and forefinger of a player and including a first end, a second end and surrounding sidewalls that define a tear drop shape, and further including picking means comprising an enlarged, substantially bullet nose shaped portion at the first pick body end for plucking the strings of the musical instrument. The improved pick of this invention further comprises gripping means disposed along the pick body's upper and lower surfaces which preferably comprise a plurality of small, cone shaped members arranged in rows. In a most preferred embodiment, the pick body of the invention will have a wedge or aerodynamic shape.

Abstract: A tripoint plectrum for string instruments according to the present invention is formed as a single piece unit having a body portion from which three equally spaced, parallel arranged pick members extend. The central pick member extends further from the body portion than do the outer two pick members and is provided with a peripheral edge which extends beyond a sidewall of the base portion. The one piece construction of the tripoint plectrum permits the central pick and one of the other outer picks to displace the string on both the downstroke and the upstroke while reducing unwanted vibration and resonance.

Abstract: A tunable plectrum or pick for guitars and the like, is formed from a suitable material with planar opposed surfaces, an opening extends through the opposed surfaces whereby the skin of the thumb and index fingers of the musician can engage each other to stabilize the pick on the fingers of the musician. The periphery of the opening defines a plurality of angularly spaced inwardly projecting finger engaging material points. The points are sharp enough to pierce the skin of the musician with enough force to further stabilize the pick on the finger. In addition, the periphery of the opening, also defines outwardly projecting tuning openings whose number and shape affects the tune of the pick. Means are provided to modify the shape of the inwardly projecting finger engaging material points, the outwardly projecting tuning openings, and the size of the opening extending through the planar surfaces to tune the pick.

Abstract: The present invention includes a micro smooth surface on a stainless steel guitar slide. The micro smooth finish is achieved by a combination of mechanical polishing and electropolishing techniques applied to the surface of a corrosion resistant and durable stainless steel tubular member.

Abstract: A thumb pick for a stringed instrument is provided. The thumb pick includes a thumb engaging portion for coupling the pick to the user's thumb. The engaging portion comprises a bottom portion and an arcuate portion that extends above the bottom portion. The arcuate portion and bottom portion substantially encircle the thumb when the pick is coupled thereto. The bottom portion comprises a planar surface lying within a thumb plane that extends generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the thumb. A pick portion is adjacent to the bottom portion and lies generally within a pick plane. The pick portion is dimensioned to engage a string of a musical instrument when the pick is coupled to the thumb. An intermediate portion integrally couples the bottom portion to the pick portion. The intermediate portion is located adjacent to the end of the arcuate portion to engage the thumb when the pick is coupled thereto.

Abstract: A pick holder is adapted for temporary storage and protection of a musical pick that is used for plucking strings of a stringed musical instrument such as a guitar. The pick holder comprises a flat body structure that includes a pair of side panels of identical configuration. Each of the side panels has an outer surface and an opposite parallel inner surface with a peripheral margin extending around the inner surface. The peripheral margin has a connecting peripheral margin portion and a free peripheral margin portion whereby the side panels are connected in a facial relationship at respective ones of the connecting peripheral margin portions to form an interior compartment between the inner surfaces of the side panels. Respective ones of the free peripheral margin portions define an opening into the interior compartment.

Abstract: A combination strumming pick and percussion device (10) that consists of a hollow enclosed container (12) into which is inserted a multiplicity of free-flowing particles (14) that may be selected from sand (14A), wooden beads (14B), plastic beads (14C), steel pellets (14D) and lead pellets (14E). On at least one side of the container (12) is embedded a selectable guitar pick (16). The device (10) is designed to be easily and comfortably held in the hand while the pick is oscillated when a stringed instrument such as a guitar is strummed. The device (10) produces a rhythmic sound emitted by the strumming of the guitar strings and a percussion sound produced by the particles (14) impinging on the internal walls of the container. Either sound may be produced individually or the sounds may be combined. The container (12) can be made in several shapes including cylindrical, elliptical, spherical, cubic and conic.

Abstract: A musical instrument pick including a metal bar extending along the top of a conventionally shaped pick body. At one end of the metal bar, there is a rounded bevelled end which is used by holding the pick upside down at an angle of 45.degree.. The bevelled end is used to perform arpeggio sweeps. At the opposite end of the metal bar, a tapered surface terminating in a point is provided for fast picking. On lateral surfaces of the metal bar are provided grooves for receiving the thumb and forefinger, respectively, of the user. The top edge of the metal bar is rounded useful to perform "slide" and "finger tapping" techniques.

Abstract: A pick for a guitar or other string instrument comprises a planar tear shaped pick body of relatively rigid thermoplastic or other similar material having a tapered string contact end and an opposite rounded finger grasp end. The finger grasp end has diagonally extending raised ledges or walls projecting outwardly from each oppositely facing surface of the pick body at acute angles to the longitudinal axis of the pick body at the finger grasp end, such ledges or walls having diagonally extending outer edges, and raised surfaces extending laterally from the respective outer edges of the outwardly projecting ledges or walls to terminate at the respective nearest side edges of the pick body, the raised surfaces lying in planes which are spaced apart outwardly from the respective primary and oppositely facing planar surfaces of the pick body.

Abstract: An improved easily attachable and easily removable pick to be worn over the end of a finger for the purpose of plucking the strings of a stringed musical instrument. The pick comprises a picking element or artificial nail worn over the natural nail and conforming closely to the size, shape and contour of the natural nail. The artificial nail is held in place over the natural nail by a closely fitting, thin, flexible securement sleeve which extends from the fingertip almost to the first joint of the finger. The close conformity of the artificial nail to the natural nail imparts optimal sensitivity and natural feel to the player of the instrument.

Abstract: A unitary pick for plucking a stringed musical instrument includes a flat blade having a longitudinal axis. The blade has a pointed end for engaging strings of a musical instrument. The blade also includes wide, substantially flat surfaces formed on opposite sides of the blade. The pick further includes fins projecting outward from the flat surfaces across the width of the blade, and a rib that projects outward from the flat surfaces along the length of the blade. An alternative embodiment of the pick also includes a stabilizer that extends outward from the blade and the fins.

Abstract: A unitary pick for plucking a stringed musical instrument includes a flat blade having a longitudinal axis. The blade has a pointed end for engaging strings of a musical instrument. The blade also includes wide, substantially flat surfaces formed on opposite sides of the blade. The pick further includes fins projecting outward from the flat surfaces. An alternative embodiment of the pick also includes a stabilizer that extends outward from the blade and the fins.

Abstract: A combined pick and slide holder for a stringed musical instrument is disclosed which includes a pick and slide holder body formed by first and second parallel major planer surfaces separated a predetermined distance, and establishing first and second pairs of parallel sides. One of the parallel sides of the first pair of parallel edges includes a pick holder compartment disposed inwardly from the side and extending between the first and second major planer surfaces, and including first and second pick holder compartment walls. A resilient pick holder member is disposed in the pick holder compartment and frictionally engages a plurality of stringed musical instrument picks in the compartment until forcibly removed by a user. The pick and slide holder also includes a slide holder member proximate the other parallel side of said first pair of parallel edges.

Abstract: The Soft Attack guitar and bass pick includes hard plastic guitar pick and hard felt bonded by silicone glue.The Soft Attack pick helps produce better picking techniques, an easier grip, and different musical tones.

Abstract: A pick member includes a unitary plate-like construction having an upper convex edge spaced from a lower convex edge, with the upper convex edge including a plurality of finger members directed from the upper convex edge towards the lower convex edge, each of equal predetermined length, and the fingers radially oriented relative to the lower edge to provide for harmonics in use of the pick structure upon striking a musical instrument string.

Abstract: A double plectrum is provided having respective first and second body plates arranged coextensively relative to one another, having a spacer filled with compressible fluid replaceably mounted therebetween to permit varying of spacing between the first and second body plates during use of the organization in striking a stringed instrument.

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: A thin flat piece of plastic that can be repeatedly bent. Two thin soft pieces of rubber are attached to the hard flexible plastic with glue. The soft flexible material is thinly coated with a non-hardening adhesive. The pick is held between the thumb and forefinger when being used.

Abstract: A guitar pick having a serrated or jagged edge for picking a guitar string and capable of producing in a rapid succession a repetitive tone to give a percussive effect and to alternatively pick normally by using the unserrated top portion of the pick. The serrations may be on a beveled surface, may extend along about a 1/2 inch of the length of the guitar pick and be on both sides of the pick.

Abstract: A guitar pick holder including a band removeably fitted around the arm of a guitar player generally at the wrist. A tether line having a first end and a second end opposite the first end is connected to the band at its first end and extends generally downwardly from the band. The length of the tether line extending down from the band substantially corresponds to the distance from the wrist to the fingertips of the guitar player. A guitar pick is connected to the second end of the tether line.

Abstract: A holder for stringed instrument picks is provided in which picks may be temporarily stored by inserting them between adjacent pairs of parallel vanes, which are resiliently displaced to retain the pick. In one embodiment, the vanes may be formed by the coils of a helical spring, and the holder may be attached to the face of a musical instrument or to another convenient flat or curved surface. For more secure or longer term storage, a pick may be inserted in compression between the spring and an underlying pad. A rod may be passed through the spring coils to prevent distortion and movement of the spring.