Plectrum

A plectrum is a small flat tool used for plucking or strumming of a stringed instrument. For hand-held instruments such as guitars and mandolins, the plectrum is often called a pick and is held as a separate tool in the player's hand. In harpsichords, the plectra are attached to the jack mechanism.

A traditional hand crafted coconut shell sarod plectrum, also known as a Javva

Alcaeus and Sappho holding their lyres and plectra. Attic red-figure calathus, ca. 470 BC, Staatliche Antikensammlungen (Inv. 2416)

Bachi, or plectra for use with shamisen

Biwa plectra

Risha for Oud

Etymology and usage[edit]

First attested in English 15th century,^[9] the word "plectrum" comes from Latin plectrum, itself derived from Greek πλῆκτρον^[10] (plēktron), "anything to strike with, an instrument for striking the lyre, a spear point".^[11]^[12]

"Plectrum" has both a Latin-based plural, plectra and a native English plural, plectrums. Plectra is used in formal writing, particularly in discussing the harpsichord as an instrument of classical music,^[13] while plectrums is more common in ordinary speech.

Crosspicking

Fingerpick

Flatpicking

Guitar pick

Hybrid picking

Mezrab (plectrum)

String instrument

Hubbard, Frank (1967) Three Centuries of Harpsichord Making. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

Jensen, David P. (1998) "A Florentine Harpsichord: Revealing a Transitional Technology" Early Music, February issue, pp. 71–85.

Kottick, Edward L. (1987) The Harpsichord Owner's Guide. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press.

The discovery of delrin as a harpsichord plectrum material; a collaboration between builders and technologists. Harpsichord, vol 4, no. 2 (1971), pp. 18–19. On line at .