What is a guitar pick and which one is better to buy?

People who play guitar professionally often have to use guitar picks. They are well versed in the question of which instrument suits which plectrum better. But novice guitarists often find it difficult whether they need this "gadget" at all, and if so, which kind of pick is better to buy.

What is a mediator?

A guitar pick is a small triangular (most often) shaped plate with rounded, streamlined edges, designed for plucking strings or playing with a fight. The role of the plectrum (the second name of the object) is to extract a better sound from the instrument and protect the fingers of the player. Guitar picks are made from various materials – plastic (the cheapest copies), wood, bone and metal.

Types of plates by thickness

When choosing a guitar pick, a beginner musician should focus primarily on its thickness. It affects the strength of the sounds produced by the instrument, their volume and other parameters. Guitar pick can be thin, medium, thick and very thick.

1. Hitting the strings with a thin plate, the musician gets soft sounds. This is also applicable for acoustic instruments when the player needs to keep a set rhythm. However, for the leading parts, solo, it is not suitable precisely because of its softness. This guitar pick has a thickness of 0.4 mm. Of course, musicians working in bands need to have it in their collection.
2. The average plectrum has a slightly larger thickness - from 0.6 to 0.8 mm. This is the so-called mixed or universal type, as it is equally suitable for rhythm guitars and solos.
3. The guitar pick is thick. Its parameters range from 0.8 to 1.20 mm. It is addressed to rock musicians and solo parties. Bass guitars are also suitable for such a record. Musicians of all genres, from heavy music to jazz, enjoy using them, since the sound when hitting the strings turns out to be very rich, expressive, beautiful, bright. However, to play with thick plectrums, you need thorough skill and considerable experience. This is especially true for rhythm parts and solos - the slightest mistake or falsehood will be clearly audible.
4. A very thick pick is for acoustic guitar, for bass playing in a harsh, aggressive manner. It is produced with a thickness of 1.20 mm or more and is designed, by and large, for amateurs.

Types of plectrums by shape

1. The standard shape (a streamlined triangle). These were the first mediators, which appeared in the first quarter of the last, twentieth century, and were made of tortoiseshell shells. They were expensive, by the way!
2. The "jazz" (or "droplet") shape is with a pointed bottom of small size. The sound extracted with the help of such a mediator is most close to ideal.
3. The rhythm guitar plectrum is a large triangle (experts call it the Relief triangle).
4. A plate, one side of which has a toothed shape specifically for capturing more than one string. Nicknamed "shark's tooth".
5. The "claw" mediator. It is put on the finger.

Types of plates by material

1. Plastic (made of celluloid, nylon, acetal, acrylic, etc.) Acrylic and acetal are more durable and have proven themselves well. This is the most affordable guitar pick, its price is quite low compared to others.
2. Metal ones. They give a good, clear sound, but they spoil the strings too much.
3. Wooden, made of precious woods – rosewood, ebony.
4. Glass – give a good multi-tone sound.

Some tips

It is better to buy rough picks, they will not slip and fall out, especially if your fingers are sweating. By size, take those that are comfortable to hold. But if you need to play at a fast pace, it's better when you have a small plectrum in your hand.