Guitar Picks vs Plectrums
Definition
According to the plectrum page on wikipedia, a plectrum is:
"A plectrum is a small flat tool used to pluck or strum a stringed instrument"
This includes basically any other stringed instrument such as mandolins, lutes, and of course, guitars.
As far as guitars are concerned though, plectrums are nothing new and have been around for even longer than the instrument itself.
In earlier times, "plectrums" or picking tools were used in the form of feathers or quills, made from coconut shells, tortoise shell, and often times even wood or stone.
Modern Guitar Picks
In modern times we continue to use picks for our guitars & some of us are now open to experimenting with various different pick materials.
When it comes to mass produced picks, there's all sorts of material such as nylon & celluloid that are abundant for anyone to use.
There is also a growing number of brands out there that are exploring the ancient ways of crafting guitar picks from more exotic materials.
These materials can include things such as acrylics, carbon fiber & other composites, exotic woods of all sorts, metals such as coins, agate & jasper stones, and even engineering plastics such as UHMWPE.
Overall
We started off with very primitive tplaying tools for our stringed instruments and evolved into more widely available options where you can walk into any guitar store & pick yourself up a dozen picks or more.
However with the developments of handmaking guitar picks, it's as if we are expanding in both directions.
We are going back in time in terms of using all sorts of materials
(some primitive & some advanced)
yet we are also moving forward with exciting new possibilities of what is possible in not only function with our picks but also as an added layer of self expression ith the plectrums we choose to to play with.