Graphite Pencils.
Graphite pencils come in different forms; there are two main types of graphite pencils: H pencils and B Pencils.
H Pencils
H stands for hard; meaning H pencils are harder. This means that they do not erase very well. The harder the pencil, the lighter the pencil is. They also do not blend very well. So, these pencils are used for fine detailing.
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B Pencils
B stands for black; meaning B pencils are darker. They are the opposite of H pencils; they are soft lead, meaning they blend easily. They tend to have darker led. They are good for dark areas, large areas, and shading.
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Types of H and B Pencils
H pencils and B pencils are farther divided. There are different types of H pencils, numbered 1-9; 9 being the lightest and most difficult to blend. The same goes for B pencils; on a 1-9 range, 9 is the darkest and easiest to blend. There are also in between leads found between H and B, known as F and HB (writing pencil). F isn't as popular.
Range
Below is a good visual of what each graphite lead will look like when drawn with:
My Suggestion
If you are a beginner and have never drawn with graphite other than HB before, this is what I suggest you buy: definitely keep an HB, and also get a 2H, 4B, 6B, and 2H. You can find these pencils at places like Hobby Lobby or Micheal's (this is where I got my pencil set). It is best to buy them in sets. Just try to buy a set that includes the pencils I mentioned. They don't cost too much, and are definitely much cheaper than other art mediums. Which is why I love drawing -- beautiful art at a low cost. :D