Maybe I have something to contribute then. The only way I've got anywhere with plucked strings is by using an oud-style plectrum - on oud, cumbus, cobza/koboz or Arabic-tuned mandolin. Easiest to make is the standard cobza plectrum - 1cm wide loop cut round a 1.5 litre PET soft drink bottle, then squash it flat (see my cobza page). To grip it, rest it across the palm of your hand just below the base of your fingers, curl your fingers round it, then bring your thumb over as if making a fist, with a bit of plectrum sticking out. It makes for a much more relaxed grip than holding a normal guitar pick between your fingertips like grim death. See my cumbus page for other materials you might prefer - the cobza is mainly used for chordal or bass line smash-bang where the pick actually hits the soundboard on almost every stroke, and you can go faster with springier materials like fibreglass-reinforced strapping tape. A bass ukulele feels quite a lot like an oud.