| 摘要 |
A practice device (10) that allows a musician to practice the specific skills of picking and plucking strings without producing any significant level of sound, such that the user can practice his or her playing technique without being distracted or concerned with the sound produced. The device (10) generally includes a solid, nonresonant body (12) having a front surface (14), an oppositely-disposed rear surface (16), and a short handle (38) that enables the device (10) to be firmly held and stabilized with one hand while being picked with the other hand. A pair of blocks (18, 20), roughly equivalent to a guitar bridge and headstock, are spaced apart on the front surface (14) of the device (10), and strings (28) extend in parallel between the blocks (18, 20) across the body (12) of the device (10). The strings (28) are spaced apart and securely held above the front surface (14) of the device (10) substantially identically to a conventional guitar. However, the blocks (18, 20) secure the strings (28) in a manner that damps vibration in the strings (28) when plucked, so as to absorb sound that would otherwise be produced when the strings (28) are plucked. A sound-damping material (44) is preferably disposed between the strings (28) and at least one of the blocks (18, 20) in order to further promote damping of vibration and absorption of sound. The level of sound produced by the device (10) is sufficiently low so as not to disturb others nearby, thereby drastically increasing the opportunities for practice.
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