Abstract:
A hand-held guitar pick includes a distal end which is twisted at a compound angle with respect to the body of the pick so as to align the tip of the pick with the guitar strings. The compound angle comprises a rotation component in relation to a longitudinal axis and a bent component in relation to a lateral axis. The bend and rotation properly align the distal end of the hand-held pick to better engage a string on a guitar when used in a typical manner. One embodiment resembles a traditional triangular pick. Another embodiment includes a cylindrical, hollow body configured to be worn over a user&#39;s fingertip. The distal end comprises an arced bridge spanning edges of the cylindrical body.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to guitar picks. More particularly, the present invention relates to a guitar pick with a bent and rotated distal end. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A plectrum is a small flat tool used to pluck or strum a stringed instrument. For hand-held instruments such as guitars and mandolins, the plectrum is often called a pick, and is a separate tool held in the player&#39;s hand. In harpsichords, the plectra are attached to the jack mechanism. A plectrum (pick) for electric guitars, acoustic guitars, bass guitars and mandolins is typically a thin piece of plastic or other material shaped like a pointed teardrop or triangle. The size, shape and width may vary considerably. Thin items such as small coins, bread clips or broken compact discs and credit cards can be used as substitute plectra. Banjo and guitar players may wear a metal or plastic thumb pick mounted on a ring, and bluegrass banjo players often wear metal or plastic fingerpicks on their fingertips. Guitarists also use fingerpicks. 
     Guitar picks are made of a variety of materials, including celluloid, metal, and rarely other exotic materials such as turtle shell, but today delrin is the most common material. For other instruments in the modern day most players use plastic plectra but a variety of other materials, including wood and felt (for use with the ukulele) are common. Guitarists in the rock, blues, jazz and bluegrass genres tend to use a plectrum, partly because the use of steel strings tends to wear out the fingernails quickly, and also because a plectrum provides a more ‘focused’ and ‘aggressive’ sound. Many guitarists also use the pick and the remaining right-hand fingers simultaneously to combine some advantages of flat picking and finger picking. This technique is called hybrid picking. 
     Playing a guitar with a pick produces a bright sound compared to plucking with the fingertip. Picks also offer a greater contrast in tone across different plucking locations. For example, the difference in brightness between plucking close to the bridge and close to the neck is much greater when using a pick compared to a fingertip. Conversely, the many playing techniques that involve the fingers, such as those found in fingerstyle guitar, slapping, classical guitar, and flamenco guitar, can also yield an extremely broad variety of tones. 
     Guitar picks vary in thickness to accommodate different playing styles and kinds of strings. Thinner picks are more flexible and tend to offer a wider range of sounds, from soft to loud, and produce a “click” that emphasizes the attack of the picking. However, heavier picks usually produce a brighter tone. In rock and heavy metal, while playing electric guitar with hi-gain amplification or distortion, thinner picks produce muddier, heavier, less controllable sound and thicker picks produce more delicate, more controlled and well-shaped tone. Thinner picks also tend to rip or tear more often if used too forcefully, whereas a thicker one is less likely to wear down. Thicker picks are generally used in more discrete genres, such as heavy metal or power metal. However, there are many exceptions to these stereotypes, especially as there is an element of guitarist preference involved in selecting pick thickness. 
     Many death metal musicians only use picks thicker than 1.5 mm, because it allows more control over heavy gauge strings. Thinner picks tend to give less attack and do not give as much control when doing fast tremolo picking. Also, they tend to wear much faster when used with heavier gauge strings. Jazz guitar players tend to use quite heavy picks, as they also tend to favor heavy gauge flat-wound strings. Bass players tend to prefer thick picks because their strings are far thicker and farther apart than those of guitarists. 
     With all the variations in pick designs over the years, the basic design of flat pick has remained the same. The guitarist typically holds the pick in his right hand between the thumb and index finger while he plucks the string. Due to the orientation of the guitar relative the plucking hand, the distal end of the pick which actually engages with the string is not aligned. It would be unnatural and uncomfortable for the guitarist to contort his hand such that the distal end of the pick is then aligned with the string. This means that the distal end of the pick actually engages the string at an angle. Engaging with the string at an angle can produce a different noise or sound as compared to engaging the string in alignment. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a guitar pick that engages the string in alignment. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a pick for a musical instrument having strings. The pick has a body with a tip at one end—the tip designed to engage and pluck the strings. The tip is oriented at a compound angle with respect to the body such that the compound angle aligns the tip with the strings when the pick is used on the musical instrument. The compound angle includes a rotation angle measured between the tip and a longitudinal axis of the body, and a bend angle measured between the tip and a lateral axis of the body. Preferably, the rotation angle measures from zero to ninety degrees and the bend angle measures from zero to ninety degrees, keeping in mind that the rotation angle and the bend angle are not both zero degrees. 
     The body preferably has a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the tip is disposed on the distal end and the proximal end is configured to be grasped by a user. In one embodiment, the body has a flat, generally triangular-shape configured to be grasped by a user. In another embodiment, the body has a hollow, cylindrical shape that is configured to fit over a fingertip of a user. In this later embodiment, the body includes a flex-relief cut-away to allow the hollow cylinder to expand to accommodate fingertips of different sizes. In addition, the proximal end includes a knuckle relief cut-away so as to avoid interference with or rubbing on the first knuckle of the fingertip. Also in this later embodiment, the distal end has a bridge configured as a partial-ring spanning two-edge portions of the hollow, cylindrical body. The tip is disposed at the peak of this bridge. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a prior art guitar pick; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of an exemplary guitar pick illustrating the design of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the structure of an exemplary guitar pick of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of an exemplary guitar pick of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is an elevated front view of an exemplary guitar pick of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an environmental view of the structure of  FIG. 3  illustrating the guitar pick in use; 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of an exemplary guitar pick of an alternate embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the guitar pick of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of an exemplary guitar pick of another alternate embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the guitar pick of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a lower-rear perspective view of the guitar pick of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 12  is an upper-rear perspective view of the guitar pick of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 13  is an environmental view of the structure of  FIGS. 9-12  illustrating the guitar pick on a finger; and 
         FIG. 14  is an environmental view of the structure of  FIGS. 9-12  illustrating the guitar pick in use. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows a front view of a prior art guitar pick  10 . The pick  10  shown here is generally triangular in shape with rounded corners. Other shapes are possible by one skilled in the art and this disclosure is not meant to be limited to just the precise forms described herein. The pick  10  has a body  12 , with a proximal end  14  that is usually held between the thumb and fingers of the guitar player and a distal end  16  having a tip  16   a  that engages the strings of the guitar. 
       FIGS. 2-5  show an exemplary guitar pick  20  embodying the present invention. This embodiment still has a body  22  with a proximal end  24  and a distal end  26  having a tip  26   a . However, the distal end  26  has been rotated and bent as indicated. As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , rotation and bending of the distal end  26  results in a compound angle  30  having a bend component (α)  32  such that the distal end is bent around a lateral axis  36   a  and a rotation component (β)  34  such that the distal end is rotated about a longitudinal axis  36   b . In this embodiment, the lateral axis  36   a  and the longitudinal axis  36   b  are orthogonal to one another and form a plane in-line with the body  22 . 
     The compound angle  30  may typically have a bend component  32  of about thirty degrees. However, bend components  32  of other angles from zero to ninety degrees are possible. For instance, some guitar players may prefer the bend component  30  to be fifteen, thirty or forty-five degrees. The rotation component  34  may also typically be about thirty degrees. However, rotation components  34  of other angles from zero to ninety degrees are possible. For instance, some guitar players may also prefer the rotation component  34  to be fifteen, thirty or forty-five degrees. Various combinations of angle measurements for the bend  32  and rotation  34  components are possible. It is not necessary that the bend  32  and rotation  34  components have the same angle measurement. 
     The bend  32  and rotation  34  components essentially result in a twisting movement of the distal end  26  relative to the body  22  of the pick. It is to be understood by one skilled in the art that either movement may be described as a bend or a rotation and that either can be performed with or without the other, i.e., zero degrees of bend or rotation. Also, the order of performing either a bend or rotation may be varied. 
       FIG. 6  shows an environmental view illustrating the pick  20  in use. The proximal end  24  of the pick  20  is typically held between the thumb and fingers of the hand  38  of the guitar player. When the prior art pick  10  is held it is natural for the distal end  16  to have an angled alignment with respect to the strings  40 . The compound angle  30  of the inventive pick  20  places the tip  26   a  of the distal end  26  in generally parallel alignment with the strings  40 . The guitar player is now able to contact the string  40  more completely using more surface area of the tip  26   a , i.e., in a more direct manner, resulting in a range of musical benefits. 
     Such musical benefits can include a better tone through a reduction in pick noise. Furthermore, the inventive pick  20  is able to achieve more efficient contact with the strings  40  which helps the musician increase accuracy. 
       FIGS. 7-8  show another exemplary guitar pick  20 ′ embodying the present invention, where the pick  20 ′ is now designed to be placed over a fingertip.  FIG. 7  shows a front view of pick  20 ′ and  FIG. 8  shows a side view of the structure of  FIG. 7 . The pick  20 ′ has a hollow, cylindrical body  22 ′ having a proximal end  24 ′ and a distal end  26 ′. The hollow cylindrical body  22 ′ is configured to be placed over the fingertip of a user, as described more fully below. 
     The hollow, cylindrical body  22 ′ may include a flex-relief cut-away or gap  42 , which allows the body  22 ′ to accommodate fingertips of different sizes. The proximal end  24 ′ includes a knuckle-relief cut-away  44  to accommodate the first knuckle of a user&#39;s fingertip that may protrude when bending the finger. Preferably, the gap  42  is centered so as to accommodate the fingerprint area of a fingertip and is narrowed so as to minimize excessive widening of the body  22 ′. In addition, the knuckle-relief cut-away  44  is preferably centered on the back of the fingertip, but may be shifted to accommodate users with crooked knuckles. 
     The distal end  26 ′ includes a distal loop or bridge  46 , which is configured as an arc or partial ring. The ends of the bridge  46  are connected to distal edges  48  of the body  22 ′. The bridge  46  is preferably centered over the gap  42  although it may be shifted left or right to accommodate varying finger shapes. The ends of the loop or bridge  46  may be attached to the distal edges  48  along a front face of the body  22 ′. Alternatively, the span of the loop or bridge  46  may be wider such that the ends are attached to distal edges  48  of the body  22 ′ across a midsection or at its widest point (not shown). 
       FIGS. 9-12  show another exemplary guitar pick  20 ′ embodying the present invention. The guitar pick of  FIGS. 9-12  is similar to the guitar pick of  FIGS. 7-8 . In this embodiment, the bridge  46  is connected at a compound angle  50  in relation to the orientation of the bridge  46  illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . The compound angle  50  has a bend component (α)  52  and a rotation component (β)  54  as illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 12 . The bend component  52  has the bridge  46  bent around a lateral axis  36   a ′ and the rotation component  54  has the bridge  46  rotated around a longitudinal axis  36   b ′. In this embodiment, the lateral axis  36   a ′ is oriented across the top or distal edges  48  of the body  22 ′ and the longitudinal axis  36   b ′ is oriented through the center of the hollow, cylindrical body  22 ′—orthogonally to the lateral axis  36   a ′—as illustrated in  FIGS. 9-12 . Distinct from the earlier embodiment, the lateral axis  36   a ′ and the longitudinal axis  36   b ′ do not intersect or form a plane. 
     Similar limitations regarding the measurements of the bend component  52  and the rotation component  54 , as discussed above in connection with the earlier embodiment are applicable herein. As with the earlier embodiment, the bend  52  and rotation  54  components essentially result in a twisting movement of the distal end  26 ′ or bridge  46  relative to the body  22 ′ of the pick  20 ′. It is to be understood by one skilled in the art that either movement may be described as a bend or a rotation and that either can be performed with or without the other, i.e., zero degrees of bend or rotation. Also, the order of performing either a bend or rotation may be varied. 
       FIG. 13  shows an environmental view of the pick  20 ′ of  FIGS. 9-12  on a fingertip  56 .  FIG. 14  shows an environmental view of the pick  20 ′ of  FIGS. 9-12 , now illustrating the guitar pick  20 ′ in use with strings  40  of a guitar. The pick  20 ′ is held upon the fingertip  56  of the guitar player. When the prior art version of this pick was held, it was natural for the tip to be angled with respect to the alignment of the strings  40 . In the inventive pick  20 ′, the compound angle  50  of the bridge  46  with respect to the body  22 ′, results in the tip  26   a ′ being in alignment with or parallel to the strings  40 . The guitar player is now able to contact the string  40  more completely using more surface area of the tip  26   a ′, i.e., in a more direct manner, resulting in a range of musical benefits as earlier discussed. 
     The embodiments shown herein are configured for a right-handed guitar player. It is to be understood that the teachings of this disclosure can be applied to a left-handed guitar player just as well. 
     Although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by the appended claims.