A plectrum for strumming a stringed instrument has a body having a front face, a rear face, a pick tip, and an outer edge. An ergonomic contour is provided on the front face or the rear face of the body. In one version, the ergonomic contour extends radially from a central region to a position short of the outer edge of the plectrum, wherein the ergonomic contour creates a surface that is contactable by a thumb or other finger of a user to assist the user in using the plectrum and wherein the ergonomic contour does not interfere with using the outer edge during strumming. In another version, the ergonomic contour provides a tactile indication of the position, location, or orientation of a pick tip. The ergonomic contour can be in the form of a ridge and/or a change of thickness of the central region.

The invention is generally directed to a tool formed from a single material including an engagement portion to contact or engage a target material or item; a handle portion; and one or more openings such that a user may maintain skin-to-skin contact between the user's fingers, thumb, and/or hand. In accordance with some embodiments, the invention is directed to a tool that may also include: a pinch portion between the handle portion and the engagement portion, to be gripped or pinched by a user, the pinch portion comprising one or more openings or orifices such that skin-to-skin contact is maintained during use; and one or more protrusions, indents, textures, ridges, or other surface features on the pinch portion or handle portion to assist with a user's grip of the tool.

The invention is generally directed to a tool formed from a single material including an engagement portion to contact or engage a target material or item; a handle portion; and one or more openings such that a user may maintain skin-to-skin contact between the user's fingers, thumb, and/or hand. In accordance with some embodiments, the invention is directed to a tool that may also include: a pinch portion between the handle portion and the engagement portion, to be gripped or pinched by a user, the pinch portion comprising one or more openings or orifices such that skin-to-skin contact is maintained during use; and one or more protrusions, indents, textures, ridges, or other surface features on the pinch portion or handle portion to assist with a user's grip of the tool.

An apparatus for storing, organizing and displaying picks for a stringed musical instrument includes a disc having a top, bottom, center and a circumference, and a plurality of slots extending radially between the center and circumference. Each slot is configured to receive and securely hold a musical instrument pick through the top of the disc, and a protrusion at the center of the top of the disc is configured to be pushed by a finger of a user of the apparatus to retrieve a pick from each of the plurality of slots.

An apparatus for storing, organizing and displaying picks for a stringed musical instrument includes a disc having a top, bottom, center and a circumference, and a plurality of slots extending radially between the center and circumference. Each slot is configured to receive and securely hold a musical instrument pick through the top of the disc, and a protrusion at the center of the top of the disc is configured to be pushed by a finger of a user of the apparatus to retrieve a pick from each of the plurality of slots.

The present invention relates to a novel device and related method for a musician, performer in a band, or an ensemble, to stop, shut-off and/or disengage the signals created by their instrument electronically through grounding or disconnecting the instrument's connection to an audio generation device such as an amplifier, speaker, or other digital interface. The invention is exemplified by reference to an electric guitar connected to an amplifier, with the control device disrupting the electrical connection therebetween and incorporating a guitar pic for the control of the connection disruption. The control device may be implemented either by grounding the connection between the instrument or by disconnecting it completely using an electrical switch.

A storage case for musical accessories includes a compartment comprising a sidewall and a bottom wall, the sidewall defining a top end and a bottom end, the bottom wall coupled to the bottom end of the sidewall, the top end of the sidewall defining a compartment opening; and a substantially cylindrical accessory mount extending from the bottom wall towards the opening, the accessory mount extending substantially parallel to the sidewall, the accessory mount configured to receive a cylindrical musical accessory placed over and around the accessory mount.

Exemplary embodiments described herein are directed at instruments and instrument accessories and their associated designs and methods of manufacture based on contoured surfaces and their acoustic properties. Exemplary embodiments may be used to broaden the basic design of stringed instruments or stringed instrument picks or the associated accessories to include forms in three dimensions or using and optimizing the acoustic and/or strength properties inherent in an infinite variety of shapes and sizes.

Exemplary embodiments described herein are directed at instruments and instrument accessories and their associated designs and methods of manufacture based on contoured surfaces and their acoustic properties. Exemplary embodiments may be used to broaden the basic design of stringed instruments or stringed instrument picks or the associated accessories to include forms in three dimensions or using and optimizing the acoustic and/or strength properties inherent in an infinite variety of shapes and sizes.

A thumb pick for wearing on the thumb of a musician to strum guitar strings includes a pick having a front side, a rear side, a lower side terminating in a rounded point, and an upper side terminating at a pivot mechanism. A retaining ring has an inside surface, an outside surface, an upper side terminating at the pivot mechanism, and a lower side. The pivot mechanism includes two or more knuckles fixed with the upper side of the pick, two or more knuckles fixed with the upper side of the retaining ring, a pin traversing aligned apertures formed through the knuckles, and a coil spring urging the retaining ring towards the pick. In use, the musician wears the thumb pick encircling his thumb, so that he can strum the guitar strings with the pick.