Guitar Thumbpick

A guitar has 6 strings. When playing finger-style, you use your thumb (1) for the thickest 3 strings, and the next three fingers (2=index, 3=middle, 4=ring) for picking the next three, thinner strings. When picking the strings with a guitar pick, or plectrum, (which produces much clearer sounds), you hold the pick between your thumb and your index, so your index finger becomes unavailable for finger-style playing.

The thumbpick is basicly a pick that you can wear on your thumb, like a ring. It's a great invention, since it allows you to play both styles at the same time, giving you more creative freedom.

Because I didn't find one at my local music store, I thought why not make one myself back home? So, after playing with paper templates, I came up with a final vector template which, when cut out of a piece of plastic and properly assembled, works out just fine. I attached the vector template in the tutorial, either for printing and cutting the shape out with scissors and an xacto knife, or for CNC laser cutting.

Materials needed:

1. CD case cover - I found out this plastic has many desirable qualities: ideal thickness, plasticity and elasticity. plus, it's nicer when transparent ;)
2a. For printing-cutting: printer, scissors, xacto knife/cutter, scotch tape
2b. For CNC: well, a CNC laser cutter

Since I don't have (yet) a CNC machine, I will take you through the steps I took: printing and cutting out.

Step 1: Print and fit the template to the plastic

Open up whatever file format you can use from the ones supplied at the end of the instructable, and print it - just keep in mind that it should be printed at 100% scale. Then cut it roughly around and stick it with scotch tape to the inside-curve of a piece of CD-case cover.

Comments

[DR. Bacon]

This was great , but the Frame Keeps on falling apart but it could be easily fixed with tape, so besides that it was great and thanks for making this instructinabble

[enicolau]

:) You welcome, Peter

[Peter Fnord]

That`s it. Thnx a lot.

[mg9990]

I saw a video which gave me a good idea. The guy made it out of an old pill bottle. He cut out the shape of his thumb and then taped it to his finger. I tried and it worked Really well! Its easier than this template however less permanent obviously.

[Kiteman]

This is nice - good that you supplied templates for editing as well.

[enicolau]

Thanks, man. Well, how else? Of course I supplied the template, otherwise what's the point? :)

[Kiteman]

I meant in an editable format - that's unusual.

[enicolau]

mmm I thought this would be normal, and that everybody does that

[gigin]

Nice, great idea...

[enicolau]

thanks man!