flat pick

¹ American  

noun

1. a usually triangular plectrum used in plucking or strumming the strings of an instrument, especially a guitar.

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flat-pick ² American  

[flat-pik] / ˈflætˌpɪk /

verb (used with object)

1. to play (an instrument) by plucking its strings with a flat pick.

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verb (used without object)

1. to play a stringed instrument using a flat pick.

Other Word Forms

• flat-picker noun

Etymology

Origin of flat-pick

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

Speaking to the website Bluegrass Situation in 2017, he explained: “Since I always liked fiddle tunes and the mandolin is tuned like a fiddle — and I was good with a flat pick from guitar — I got completely wrapped up playing fiddle tunes with the mandolin.”

From New York Times

Most notable was Mr. McReynolds’s widely imitated cross-picking technique, which employed a flat pick to approximate the three-finger banjo roll of the bluegrass pioneer Earl Scruggs.

From New York Times

I started playing with a flat pick like everyone else, and an older kid turned me on to Chet Atkins when I was working at a music store.

From Washington Post

Mitchell’s advice to the fledging guitarist included telling him to switch from the thumb pick commonly used by country bluesmen to a flat pick favored by many jazz guitarists.

From Washington Post

Then I began to learn the Jimmie Rodgers licks on the guitar, then all at once I began to figure out, ‘Hey, I could play that Carter stuff a lot better with a flat pick.’

From New York Times