I made a battery-free guitar pick that lights up when you pick

Introduction

While working with piezoelectric elements during the production of items like the clamp-on piezo pickup introduced in a previous article, I had a sudden idea and decided to make a battery-free guitar pick that lights up when you pick.

Once completed, it was more interesting than I imagined and was well-received by friends and family, so I would like to introduce the production process this time.

The structure of what I made this time is very simple, so it is relatively easy for beginners in electronics to try. If you are interested, please try making one.

First, please watch the video to see what it is like.

*Videos of other colors lighting up are also posted at the end of the article. Also, since the reference video was shot at night, I am using a muted playing style, but it will light up the same way even if you play normally.

Why I decided to make it

As I introduced in a previous article, I feel that piezo pickups and piezoelectric elements have great potential, and I have produced items such as clamp-on piezo pickups so far.

While prototyping these, I realized that

I noticed this.

It is a phenomenon that has little to do with sound creation, but the thought that "If I incorporate this into a pick, wouldn't it light up only at the moment of picking?" was the beginning of this project.

When I actually tried it, although the brightness of the LED was not very strong, I was able to make a pick that lights up only at the moment of picking as intended.

Thinking that there might already be similar products, I looked into commercially available light-up picks, and many were types that contain button batteries and light up constantly or blink in a fixed pattern.

As far as I could find,

• battery-free

• self-powered by piezoelectric elements

• lights up naturally in sync with the performance

I couldn't find anything that works on this principle.

Of course, I'm not necessarily the first person in the world to think of this, but I think it's an interesting idea that isn't commonly seen in commercial products.

Points of trial and error

The structure itself is very simple: just attach a piezoelectric element to the pick and connect an LED to its electrodes.

However, when I actually tried making it, several areas for improvement became apparent, such as appearance, playability, and durability.

So, while making several prototypes, I refined the following points:

• Minimizing the impact on playability

• Creating a design that looks good even when it's not lit up

• Ensuring enough durability so the piezoelectric element doesn't peel off during play

I made several prototypes, each with minor improvements, and eventually settled on the current design.

I tried stacking two piezoelectric elements and using that as the pick itself. However, it was too hard and ended up scratching the pickguard.

I also tried using a small LED that wasn't the bullet type.

How to make it

I have summarized the process from preparing materials to completion for a light-up pick that uses a bullet-type LED mounted facing upward.

Materials

• Piezoelectric element (piezo element)

• LED

• Adhesive

• Commercial guitar pick
  

1. Drill a hole in the pick to insert the LED

Drill a 5mm hole to match the diameter of the LED.

2. Attach the piezoelectric element to the pick

Using LOCTITE Pin Pointer (gel type), attach the piezoelectric element to the center of the pick with the wiring side facing up.

3. Insert the LED into the hole and cut the lead wires to a length that reaches the + and - terminals of the piezoelectric element

Cut the LED legs short to make the wiring part as simple as possible.

4. Solder the piezoelectric element and the LED legs

After soldering, lightly vibrate the pick to check if the LED lights up properly.

5. Coat the soldered parts and the LED area with silicone bond

To increase durability, secure the solder and LED parts with silicone bond.

6. Complete!

I made a pick that glows red.

Impressions after actually using it

Because a piezoelectric element is attached, it is slightly thicker than a standard pick, but when playing, it didn't feel very strange and I was able to use it with a sensation close to my usual pick.

Also, in dark live houses or on stage, the way it lights up every time you strum will likely look very striking.

It is not too flashy, yet it lights up naturally in sync with your playing, giving it a different kind of appeal compared to standard LED accessories.

I tried a few colors other than blue, so I have posted a video for your reference.

Yellow

The light appears weaker than the blue one, but I believe this is due to the difference in how the LED is mounted. In the blue one, the light reflects off the guitar body due to the orientation of the LED, making it appear brighter than it actually is. On the other hand, this one looks neater when turned off.

Red

Like the yellow one, this is a version with a bullet-type LED attached to the surface (the one completed in the production guide).

Summary

This time, I created a "battery-free pick that lights up when you strum" based on an idea I came up with by chance while experimenting with various piezoelectric elements.

While it doesn't directly affect sound creation, I think it has become a very interesting item that can make the act of playing itself more fun.

If a pick with this kind of mechanism were to be commercialized and used by many guitarists, that would also be interesting.

Recently, I have been absorbed in making audio equipment and effect pedals, but being able to create something that makes my family and friends laugh and say "That's interesting!" was also a very happy event.

I hope to continue giving shape to various ideas that not only make playing more convenient but also make "the act of playing itself a little more fun."