Flat-picking

This refers to a playing style in which all the individual notes and chords are articulated using a plectrum (pick) or thumb pick. In flat-picking, the bass note from a chord is picked first, followed by the treble notes. Rhythm guitarists who use this style will often alternate between single-string bass notes and strummed chords, while country flat-pickers can play incredibly fast runs by alternating between upstrokes and downstrokes with their picking hand.