How Long Does A Guitar Pick Last? In modern times, a lot of variations and designs have come around especially when it comes to guitar picks. Everything including shapes, size, playability, and materials can affect your guitar tone. It has evolved ever since it came out but what about durability? It’s an ongoing debate on whether a certain plectrum can last longer than others.

A Must-Read: How Do I Stop My Guitar Picks From Dropping?

The lifespan of a guitar pick depends on so many different factors and variables involved.  Conventional guitar picks are made from strong plastic materials but through time, they can be easily worn out depending on the usage. Playing techniques can also be a huge factor that can wear away edges. Over some time, the tip of the plectrum can also become more rounded affecting picking accuracy.

Here are some factors that go into the lifespan of a guitar pick and some criteria to take into account the specific elements that will leave a huge impact on the life span of your guitar plectrums.

The Longevity Of The Materials

One of the main factors to consider in figuring out how long do guitar picks last is by looking at the material of the plectrum. Each guitar picks are made differently and therefore the materials involved in every pick will be the underlying factor of its longevity.

For instance, celluloid plectrum is prone to breakage due to the nature of the celluloid material. While other plectrum materials such as Ultex will last longer and it normally wears down less. Just take note that guitar picks are prone to being worn down and breaking,  it’s just the reality of plectrums.

How Often You Use The Guitar Pick

Oftentimes, most guitarists tend to play around and practice using a guitar pick, this adds up to the factor why guitar pick wouldn’t last long. It will affect how long it lasts. It is common knowledge that the more you use the plectrums, the less time it has to last.

The Gauge Plays A Big Role

Thicker guitar picks gauges will last longer than the thinner ones. The same common knowledge on how often you used it, the idea of having thinner plectrums the less lifespan you can get from it and the thicker plectrums give you more time as the thickness gives more hold and the worn-out level is far high.

Guitar Pick Playing Technique

Depending on every artist and musician, they have their unique style of playing, either in a solo performance or in a band. It varies on how you play the guitar, but using a guitar pick will essentially be a big factor once you strike those strings using the plectrum. Either you play on the rough and hard side, or in the mellow and soft side, this will affect the life of a guitar pick.

Conclusion

Most standard spectrums can handle heavy picking and strumming for a long time, it is designed to be that way without much wear. However, it will always depend on usage and how hard you are on your plectrums, over time you can see that there will be changes in its shape and the sound it produces, so you need to be aware of that.