GB2607003A

GB2607003A - Combined thumb pick and plectrum

Info

Publication number: GB2607003A
Application number: GB2106818.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Glyde Peter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-05-12
Filing date: 2021-05-12
Publication date: 2022-11-30

Abstract

A thumb pick comprising an elastic sleeve 1 with a slit 2, stress dispersal holes 3 and a string clearance cutaway 4. A plectrum 5 protrudes from the slit, the plectrum being held in position relative to the sleeve by a fastener 6. Preferably the plectrum 5 protrudes from the sleeve 1 at right angles to the thumb. The thumb pick may be made of butyl rubber. Preferably the fastener is a steel staple. The combined thumb pick and plectrum may provide sufficient rigidity to be used as a conventional thumb pick but sufficient flexibility to be used as a plectrum. Preferably when being used as a plectrum the first finger of the playing hand is positioned below the thumb.

Description

Combined Thumb Pick and Plectrum This invention relates to a combined thumb pick and plectrum suitable for playing the guitar.

A plectrum typically is an egg shaped piece of plastic held between the first finger and thumb of the playing hand and is used to strum the strings of the guitar or to pick out notes individually on any of the six strings A thumb pick, typically, is a contoured piece of plastic that slides on to the thumb of the hand that strikes the strings. The thumb pick is used in the style of playing whereby the fingers pluck the treble strings, higher in pitch, and the thumb pick plucks the bass strings, lower in pitch, of the guitar; this is the finger-picking style of playing the guitar. Although conventional thumb picks can be used to strum the strings and to pick out individual strings, as with a plectrum, the degree of control is poor in comparison with use of a conventional plectrum and the two methods of playing usually remain separate requiring the changing over from thumb pick to plectrum and vice versa. The present invention can be used as a thumb pick or plectrum without the need to change over as it provides sufficient rigidity to be used as a thumb pick but adequate flexibility to be used as a plectrum.

According to the present invention there is provided a sleeve made of an elastic material fitted with a slit, stress dispersal holes and a string clearance cutaway, protruding from the slit is a plectrum which is held in position relative to the sleeve by a fastener.

When in use the sleeve of the combined thumb pick and plectrum is slid on to the thumb of the playing hand, the elastic material giving a close but flexible grip, so that the plectrum protrudes from the sleeve at right angles to the line of the thumb. After suitable adjustment to suit the player the combined thumb pick and plectrum can be used as a thumb pick or plectrum; when being used as a plectrum the first fmger of the playing hand is placed under the thumb.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1. shows in perspective the sleeve with slit, stress dispersal holes and string clearance cutaway.

Fig.2. shows in perspective the plectrum.

Fig.3. shows in perspective the sleeve with plectrum fitted by the fastener.

Fig.4. shows in perspective the combined thumb pick and plectrum fitted on to the thumb of the playing hand.

Referring to the drawing, Fig.1, the combined thumb pick and plectrum comprises a sleeve 1 of an elastic material of butyl rubber using for example a section of bicycle inner tube giving a close fit over the thumb into which has been made a slit 2 using for example a razor blade with stress dispersal holes 3 made for example using a cork borer and also a string clearance cutaway 4 made using for example a small pair of scissors. The stress dispersal holes 3 prevent slit 2 propagating when the combined thumb pick and plectrum is fitted on to the thumb of the playing hand. The string clearance cutaway 4 prevents the sleevel contacting the strings of the guitar when in use for strumming the strings. The plectrum 5, as shown in Fig.2, is of a fairly rigid material using for example a polyoxymethylene polymer of 0.88mm uniform thickness and is connected to the sleeve 1 using a fastener 6 of rigid material using for example a steel staple positioned relative to the sleeve 1 and plectrum 5 as shown in Fig.3.

The complete thumb pick and plectrum is fitted on to the thumb of the playing hand as shown in Fig.4.

Claims

Claims 1. A combined thumb pick and plectrum comprising a sleeve made of an elastic material fitted with a slit, stress dispersal holes and string clearance cutaway, protruding from the slit is a plectrum held in position relative to the sleeve by a fastener.
2. A combined thumb pick and plectrum as claimed in claim 1 with the sleeve made of butyl rubber.
3. A combined thumb pick and plectrum as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2 with the plectrum made of polyoxymethylene of uniform thickness of 0.88mm.
4. A combined thumb pick and plectrum as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 or claim3 with the fastener comprising a steel staple.