A playful argument...
plectrum (n.)
something used to pluck the strings of a musical instrument, 1620s, from Latin plectrum, from Greek plektron "thing to strike with" (pick for a lyre, cock's spur, spear point, etc.), from plek-, root of plessein "to strike" (see plague (n.)).
1. guitar pick - a plectrum used to pluck a guitar
plectron, plectrum, pick - a small thin device (of metal or plastic or ivory) used to pluck a stringed instrument
guitar pick - a type of plectrum designed for use on a guitar... suggesting that plectrum is more of a general term used in reference to all stringed instruments while ‘pick’ is solely used with guitars.
plectrum: A small thin piece of metal, plastic, bone, or similar material, used to pluck the strings of certain instruments, such as the guitar or lute.
pick: Music. A plectrum.
Well... it's all word games... until somebody pokes an "I" out...
But I just started with the El Bastardo's of Toronto, playing the surf sounds of Los Straitjackets. I'm now using the plectrum for almost every song, so I would say I am playing "Plectrum Bass"... Picking sounds so different from plucking that it's like a whole different instrument for me. I also play Plectrum Banjo, so I borrowed the name...
I call myself a "bass player", not a "bassist", based on the music I play. If I were in a classical orchestra, I'd say bassist, but for popular dance and vocal music such as funk, soul, rock, jazz, rockabilly... I see myself more as a bass player. Like "pianist" vs "piano player".
It may be bookish, but I prefer "plectrum" to "pick" as I can say that I play "Plectrum Bass" along the lines of bass greats Carol Kaye or Ladi Geisler (he played "knackbass" for the great German orchestra of Bert Kaempfert!). But I also say "pluck" or "pizzicato" rather than "fingerstyle". So I bow with a bow, pluck with thumb or fingers, or pluck with a plectrum.
The word pick does not always do justice to the plectrum. It's not evident where "picking" comes into it, unless one means they are "selecting" strings with the "pick". Throughout Europe history it has been called a "plectrum" and also has a history in Ancient Greece where "plek" meant "to strike" the string. The pizzicato is a plucking more than a striking of the strings. The French call it a "plectre" or "mediator". In German it is a plektrum.
I surfed a bit and found that others are also querying the word "plectrum". Now, maybe it's just a BE-AE difference which may change as "plectrum" crosses the Atlantic to re-join words like 'soccer' and 'boobs'... In the US, you earn funny looks if you say plectrum. They think you're talkin' dirty... Have you seen my plectrum? It glows in the dark! Arhhk! Security...!! Or it might be something you could catch... like a bad case of Plectra... However, an American Scrabble fanatic or wordologist like my uncle might like the challenge...
The "plectrum" idea originated from naming the harpsichord mechanism that plucks the strings, originally the pointed end of a feather... for a light touch. Now it is used more in BE, British English, whereas "pick" is used more in AE, American English. Brit guitarists call them "plecs"... "Hey, Rodger... Loan me a plec...!"
In the fashion of the Latin words "stadium" and "podium", plectrum is pluralized by the word "plectra". However, like marriage, one plectrum is usually plenty, but don't let me string you along...
But, the real question should be, "Where do all the plectra go...?" Very suddenly they just leave and you have to buy more.
And the salesman showed me a Fender and a Ric and then told me to take my pick... so I did and I left! I guess when it comes to "pick" or "plectrum", you can take your pick...
plectrum (n.)
something used to pluck the strings of a musical instrument, 1620s, from Latin plectrum, from Greek plektron "thing to strike with" (pick for a lyre, cock's spur, spear point, etc.), from plek-, root of plessein "to strike" (see plague (n.)).
1. guitar pick - a plectrum used to pluck a guitar
plectron, plectrum, pick - a small thin device (of metal or plastic or ivory) used to pluck a stringed instrument
guitar pick - a type of plectrum designed for use on a guitar... suggesting that plectrum is more of a general term used in reference to all stringed instruments while ‘pick’ is solely used with guitars.
plectrum: A small thin piece of metal, plastic, bone, or similar material, used to pluck the strings of certain instruments, such as the guitar or lute.
pick: Music. A plectrum.
Well... it's all word games... until somebody pokes an "I" out...
But I just started with the El Bastardo's of Toronto, playing the surf sounds of Los Straitjackets. I'm now using the plectrum for almost every song, so I would say I am playing "Plectrum Bass"... Picking sounds so different from plucking that it's like a whole different instrument for me. I also play Plectrum Banjo, so I borrowed the name...
I call myself a "bass player", not a "bassist", based on the music I play. If I were in a classical orchestra, I'd say bassist, but for popular dance and vocal music such as funk, soul, rock, jazz, rockabilly... I see myself more as a bass player. Like "pianist" vs "piano player".
It may be bookish, but I prefer "plectrum" to "pick" as I can say that I play "Plectrum Bass" along the lines of bass greats Carol Kaye or Ladi Geisler (he played "knackbass" for the great German orchestra of Bert Kaempfert!). But I also say "pluck" or "pizzicato" rather than "fingerstyle". So I bow with a bow, pluck with thumb or fingers, or pluck with a plectrum.
The word pick does not always do justice to the plectrum. It's not evident where "picking" comes into it, unless one means they are "selecting" strings with the "pick". Throughout Europe history it has been called a "plectrum" and also has a history in Ancient Greece where "plek" meant "to strike" the string. The pizzicato is a plucking more than a striking of the strings. The French call it a "plectre" or "mediator". In German it is a plektrum.
I surfed a bit and found that others are also querying the word "plectrum". Now, maybe it's just a BE-AE difference which may change as "plectrum" crosses the Atlantic to re-join words like 'soccer' and 'boobs'... In the US, you earn funny looks if you say plectrum. They think you're talkin' dirty... Have you seen my plectrum? It glows in the dark! Arhhk! Security...!! Or it might be something you could catch... like a bad case of Plectra... However, an American Scrabble fanatic or wordologist like my uncle might like the challenge...
The "plectrum" idea originated from naming the harpsichord mechanism that plucks the strings, originally the pointed end of a feather... for a light touch. Now it is used more in BE, British English, whereas "pick" is used more in AE, American English. Brit guitarists call them "plecs"... "Hey, Rodger... Loan me a plec...!"
In the fashion of the Latin words "stadium" and "podium", plectrum is pluralized by the word "plectra". However, like marriage, one plectrum is usually plenty, but don't let me string you along...
But, the real question should be, "Where do all the plectra go...?" Very suddenly they just leave and you have to buy more.
And the salesman showed me a Fender and a Ric and then told me to take my pick... so I did and I left! I guess when it comes to "pick" or "plectrum", you can take your pick...
