pluck
PLUHK
/plʌk/
To pull off or twitch a single string of an instrument with the fingers or a plectrum to produce a sound.
Plucking focuses on isolating a single string and releasing it sharply to create a clean, distinct, and often percussive note.
The story behind the word. Pluck comes from the Old English 'pluccian,' which originally meant to gather, pull off, or tear out (such as pulling feathers off a bird or picking fruit). Over the centuries, musicians adopted the term to describe the physical act of pulling and releasing a tight musical string.
Word relationships
- pick: Pick often implies using a small tool (a plectrum), whereas pluck is a broader term that frequently refers to using bare fingers or fingernails.
- bow: Bowing produces a continuous, sustained sound using horsehair, whereas plucking produces a short, decaying sound by releasing the string.
Commonly confused with
- strum: Plucking isolates individual strings for single notes, while strumming sweeps across several strings to blend them into a chord.
Word family
- plucker (noun): One who plucks strings.
- plucking (noun): The act of pulling and releasing a string.
Collocations
- pluck a string
- pluck gently
- pluck a melody
Example sentences
- "She would pluck each individual string with delicate precision." Describing a harpist's technique.
Memory hook
Imagine plucking a ripe apple off a tree branch; you pull it quickly until it snaps free. That is exactly how your finger releases a guitar string. Pluck a duck, pluck a string—both require a quick pull to make something happen.
When not to use
Do not use pluck when you are sweeping across all the strings at once to play a full chord.
Fun facts
- In classical violin playing, the instruction to pluck the strings instead of bowing them is called 'pizzicato.'
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