So you want to learn to play the guitar. Buying a guitar could be fun, choosing well is a bit of a challenge. As a beginner, you need to have a guitar that is easy to handle and play. Your guitar does need to sound good because if you want to be an excellent guitarist, you do not just need to learn how to play chords, you also need to learn how to make the guitar sound great when you play it. You cannot do that with a guitar that sounds tinny or dull. These are but a few of the considerations that you have to bear in mind when buying a guitar for yourself. Here are some more:
Should I buy an acoustic or an electric guitar?
One of the first things to decide is whether you want an acoustic or an electric guitar. I recommend that beginning guitarists buy an acoustic first. The main reason for that is that it's harder than you think to get an electric guitar to sound good. The nicest guitar in the world won't sound good if you plug it into a cheap amplifier. It also won't sound the way you expect it to. Most of the electric guitars you hear in recorded music are being played through an effects box -- or, more likely, a whole rack of them. If you start with an electric guitar, you'll also need to buy effects and an amplifier, and that can get very expensive. If you're just starting out and you're not even sure you're going to keep playing, you shouldn't spend that kind of money.
When you buy an acoustic guitar, you don't have to worry about all those extras. You just have to worry about finding something that feels and sounds good. Keep in mind that you can always buy another guitar later. Once you've been playing for a while, you'll know a lot more about what you want, and you'll be able to choose more wisely.
Lefty or Righty?
If you are left handed then you need to think particularly carefully when choosing a guitar. A lefty guitar will probably feel more natural to you - and could be the right choice. However if you can bring yourself to learn on a right handed instrument you will have a much greater range to choose from, will be able to share guitars with other players and won't have to mentally flip over the chord positions you see or read to match your fretboard. Both hands need to be doing quite precise work after all. You want to avoid choosing one type and then regretting your choice.
Would cheap guitars be good enough?
Don't buy a guitar just because it is cheap. If the guitar you buy doesn't feel good and sound good to you, you will soon get tired of it and it will soon be gathering dust. A lot of people think, "Well, I don't know if I'll stick with this, so I won't buy a really good guitar." They buy the cheapest guitar they can find and think they're being practical. The truth is, that's not being practical at all. A cheap, badly made guitar is no fun to play. If a guitar is no fun to play, you will stop playing it.
This doesn't mean you have to shell out a lot of money. There are a lot of good, inexpensive guitars out there. However, don't make the price your primary consideration when buying a guitar. If you're worried that you won't get your money's worth, remember that if you buy a good guitar and you never play it, you can always sell it and get most of your money back.
Try Out As Many Guitars as You Can
When buying a guitar, you need to find out what features and feel you like. There is no other way to do this but play as many guitars as you can get your hands on. Play your friends' guitars. Go to guitar shops and play everything there. Take notes. There are a lot of factors to consider.
Don't be swayed by popular brand names. Just because a guitar has a name you've heard of on it doesn't mean it's a good guitar. It also doesn't mean it's right for you. It's best not to go shopping with preconceived notions about which guitars are "the best." Every individual guitar is different. Every manufacturer turns out the occasional dud -- and the occasional gem. Don't be a snob and refuse to look at unknown brands. You might miss out on something special.
What Should a Guitar Be Made Of?
Some cheap guitars have tops made of plywood. You don't want that, because over the years the guitar will pull itself apart. (It also won't sound very good, since plywood isn't known for its fine resonant qualities.) For acoustic guitars, a spruce or cedar top is ideal. Most acoustics you see will use one of these two for the top. As long as it's real wood, though, if you like the sound, it's probably fine. The back, sides, and neck can be just about any solid wood; mahogany and curly maple are both popular and attractive.
Electric guitars can be made of almost anything, but again, avoid plywood. Very hard woods are better, both because they're more durable and because they'll improve the guitar's sustain. Good electric guitars are usually heavy as a result. Ash, maple, and walnut are all popular.
The fretboard is usually either rosewood or ebony. (Fender Guitars puts lacquered maple fretboards on many of its models, which seem to hold up well.) Ebony is preferable, because it's extremely hard and won't wear as easily, but rosewood is perfectly fine. If the fretboard has been painted or stained, it's probably bad news.
Is it well-made?
Look carefully. The frets should be even, and none of them should stick out more than the others. Many acoustic guitars have binding around the edges of the body. That's a good sign, but it isn't strictly necessary. Run your hands all around the edges of the body. If it feels like the wood doesn't quite meet properly in some places, don't buy that guitar. Hold the guitar up and sight down the neck. The fretboard may be either flat or slightly curved side-to-side, but if it doesn't look even, the neck may be twisted or warped. (This is something you're more likely to find in used guitars than new ones.) From the side, the neck should look straight. The tuning machines should work smoothly. (That isn't a primary concern, since you can replace them easily, but it gives you a clue about how meticulous the manufacturer is.) On an electric guitar, all the switches and knobs should work smoothly.
Does It Feel Good?
This is the most important consideration. It's even more important than the guitar's sound. A guitar sounds different from behind than it does to your audience anyway. The thing you'll be most aware of is how it feels.
Does the Neck Have a Comfortable Width?
Different guitars have necks of varying widths. Classical guitars have very wide necks. Electric guitars usually have narrow necks. Most steel-string guitars' necks are somewhere in between. If you have thick fingers, a wider neck will make it easier for you to play. If you have small hands, a narrow neck is more comfortable.
Are the Strings at a Comfortable Height from the Frets?
This is called action. Most people prefer a guitar with "low action," meaning the strings are relatively close to the frets. Low action makes a guitar easier to play.
Is the Body a Comfortable Size?
This is something a lot of people overlook. Most steel-string acoustic guitars have what's called dreadnought style bodies. These are big guitars, and if you're a small person they can be quite uncomfortable to play. When you sit down with the guitar in a normal playing position, you should be able to reach the soundhole easily, without having to stretch. If it's even a little uncomfortable, it will affect your playing. People play best when they're relaxed and comfortable. If the dreadnought body is a problem for you, consider a smaller guitar.
Are the Controls in a Convenient Place?
If it's an electric or acoustic/electric guitar, this is one of the things you would have to consider. Some guitar makers put controls in places where you might accidentally hit them while you're playing.
Does It Sound Good?
Have someone else (a salesperson or a friend) play the guitar for you. Just because it sounds good to you when you play it doesn't mean it will sound good to your audience. What "sounds good" means is subjective, of course. If you like the sound, it sounds good.
Some Things You May Want to Buy Aside from a Guitar:
- A case. A flight case or hardshell case is best. Cardboard cases and nylon gig bags don't provide nearly as much protection.
- A strap. Pretty much any strap will do, but it's a good idea to buy a strap lock at the same time.
- Something to tune with. Since you're just starting out, a pitch pipe or electronic tuner will make things easier for you.
- Strings. The strings that are on the guitar when you buy it have been on it too long already. You need to change them. To start out, (for electric or steel string guitars) buy "light gauge." They're reasonably easy to play, but aren't so thin you'll break them right away.
- Picks. Buy a lot. You're going to lose them. To start out, get an assortment of sizes, shapes, and thicknesses, and try them all. Decide what works best for you.
- Music. Unless you're already taking lessons, the best way to start out is to buy a book of songs with simple chord diagrams.
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