What is a mediator for a guitar and which one to buy better?

People who professionally play the guitar often have to use mediators. They are well versed in the question of which tool is best for a plectrum. But beginning guitarists often find it difficult to know if they need this "gadget" at all, and if so, which mediator is better to buy.

Mediator is what?

The guitar mediator is a small plate triangular (most often) shaped with rounded streamlined edges, designed to string or fight. The role of the plectra (the second name of the subject) is to extract a better sound from the instrument and protect the fingers of the player. Produce a mediator for the guitar from various materials - plastic (the cheapest specimens), wood, bone and metal.

Types of thickness plectrums

Picking up the mediator plate, the beginning musician should be guided, first of all, by its thickness. It affects the strength of the sounds produced by the instrument, their volume and other parameters. The mediator for a guitar can be thin, medium, thick and very thick.

1. Striking the strings with a thin plate, the musician receives soft sounds. This is applicable for acoustic instruments, and when the player needs to keep a given rhythm. However, for leading parties, solo, it is not suitable precisely because of the softness. Such a mediator for a guitar has a thickness of 0.4 mm. Of course, it should be in the collection of musicians working in groups.
2. The average plectrums have a thickness somewhat larger - from 0.6 to 0.8 mm. This is the so-called mixed or universal type, as it equally suits both rhythm guitars and solo.
3. The mediator for the guitar is thick. Its parameters are from 0.8 to 1.20 mm. Addressed to rock musicians and solo parts. Bass guitars are also suitable for such a plate. Musicians from all directions, from heavy music to jazz, enjoy using them, as the sound when striking the strings turns out to be very rich, expressive, beautiful, bright. True, to play with thick plectrum, you need a thorough skill and considerable experience. This is especially true for rhythm parts and solo - the slightest mistake or falsity will be clearly heard.
4. Very thick mediator - for acoustic guitar, for bass playing in a tough, aggressive manner. It is made of a thickness of 1.20 mm and more and is calculated, by and large, for amateurs.

Types of plecters in form

1. Standard form (streamlined triangle). These were the first mediators that appeared in the first quarter of the past, the twentieth century, and were made from tortoiseshell shells. Dear were, by the way!
2. The form of "jazz" (or "droplet") - with a pointed bottom of small dimensions. The sound produced by such a mediator is closest to the ideal.
3. The rhythm guitar plectrum is a large triangle (its specialists call the Relay triangle).
4. A plate, one side of which has a jagged shape especially for capturing more than one string. It is called "shark tooth".
5. Mediator "claw". He puts it on his finger.

Types of plectrums by material

1. Plastic (from celluloid, nylon, acetal, acrylic, etc.) Acrylic and acetal - more durable and well-established. This is the most affordable mediator for the guitar, its price is quite low compared to others.
2. Metal. They give a good, clean sound, but they too spoil the strings.
3. Wooden, from valuable breeds - rosewood, ebony.
4. Glass - give a good multi-tone sound.

A few tips

Better buy mediators rough, they will not slip and fall out, especially if your fingers sweat. In size, take those that are comfortable to hold. But if you need to play at a fast pace, it's best when you have a small plectrum in your hand.