So, you or your child is thinking about learning to play guitar? Great!
This is not a guitar lesson, but some information you need to keep in mind while you are considering investing in an instrument, whether for a hobby or what can eventually be a rewarding career.
You should do your research before investing in any instrument. These are some guidelines to add to your checklist while deciding on purchasing a guitar.
Price Versus Value: How Much Should I Spend on My First Guitar?
The first thing you need to consider is your budget. How much can you afford to spend and what should you buy?
For your first guitar, you should not buy the least expensive guitar in the thrift shop, because it is probably worth less than the $25 price tag. Most likely, it is a piece of junk that is hard to play and sounds terrible. It is a cheap price, but a poor value.
Conversely, you should not spend $3000 for a concert-grade classical guitar either. Why? Suppose you decide that playing guitar just is not for you. The expensive guitar will sit and collect dust. You may be able to resell it, but you will not get a one hundred percent refund on your investment. So, this is another poor value decision.
You should consider getting a moderately priced, brand-name, acoustic-electric hybrid guitar somewhere in the $200-$500 range that has good “action.” What is action? More on that later.
An acoustic-electric hybrid guitar gives you the flexibility to play your instrument anywhere. Also, you do not need to buy an amplifier when you get a hybrid guitar. You can buy it later. So, you already saved some money on your first guitar purchase.
There are many acoustic-electric hybrids on the market. It is difficult to recommend a specific make or model. You have to go to music stores to try them out and find one that is right for you. If you have small hands and buy a guitar with a large, wide neck, it will be difficult for you to learn to play correctly. If you have large hands and wide fingers, a small, thin neck will pose fingering problems too. Your music store professional can help you select an instrument that is right for you and within your budget.
Dean, Fender, Gibson, Ibanez, Martin, Ovation, and many other guitar companies produce many styles of good and affordable hybrid guitars.
Guitar Playability: Look for "Good Action"
"Good action" is what guitar players refer to when you can press down on the string to the fret board easily and the note is clear without any buzzing sound. If you hear a buzzing sound, the guitar may need to be “set up.” The neck may be curved too much or twisted, which is causing the poor note.
A “set up” is done by a luthier (professional instrument maker or repair guru) to make adjustments to the guitar neck, frets, nut, bridge, and/or saddle to optimize the playability of the instrument. Do not try to make any adjustments yourself.
I did it once and messed up my acoustic-electric hybrid neck badly. I had to take it in for a professional set-up to fix my mistake. The luthier scolded me because the neck was too “tight.” I put a big curve in the neck, which made the strings buzz even worse than before I had adjusted the neck.
When the guitar has good action, it is much easier to learn. You will not get discouraged easily if you can not get that chord formed just right. It takes a while to learn to form and play chords properly. Everyone learns at a different pace. So, do not get discouraged if your friends learn a bit faster than you do.
Guitar Styles: Are Looks Important?
Is it important to buy a flashy looking guitar? In short, not really.
Sure, the guitar with a body shaped like a skull and a neck that looks like a dragon breathing fire looks cool. But looks will not help you learn or become a better player. Flashy guitars are purely for stage presence or wall ornaments.
The standard and traditional shapes of the Fender Stratocaster and Telecaster and Gibson Les Paul electric guitars have been around since the 1950s. Why so long? Simple. They are great guitars that can be used to play many different styles of music, whether country, jazz, rockabilly, blues, or hard rock. These three guitars each have very distinct sounds that in time you will come to recognize.
Depending on the specific model of these guitars you consider purchasing, the prices vary greatly. Many companies make guitars that imitate these standard shapes and legendary styles.
The basic, standard acoustic guitar shape has not changed much since the Spanish guitars of the Middle Ages.
When you buy a standard and traditional style instrument, it is almost guaranteed that you will not outgrow the instrument. Rather, you will grow into it and discover new and innovative ways to play it. You will come to learn and appreciate every nuance of your guitar.
Strings? Why Are They Important?
Strings are important because they are the guitar component that actually produces the notes and sound. They come in a variety of different gauges (thickness), materials (steel, nickel, bronze, and nylon), and windings (round, flat, and plain). Steel strings are the most common and have good playability.
Nickel strings are a bit “softer” than steel and have more flexibility. Bronze strings are usually heavier gauge strings for acoustic guitars and have a bright and loud sound. Nylon strings are usually reserved for classical acoustic guitars. There are some nylon strings that can be put on standard acoustic guitars. Nylon strings are very easy to learn on and play leads and riffs. But you may sacrifice volume and tonal quality when playing chords. It is recommended that you learn to play with metal strings.
Wound strings come in two types: round and flat. Wound strings are made from two pieces of wire, a plain core wire and a "wrapper". The wound strings produce the lower-end (bass) notes on the guitar.
They are thicker, so they produce lower tones. Electric guitars typically have wound strings on the 4th (D), 5th (A), and 6th (low E) strings. Acoustic guitars typically have wound strings on the 3rd (G), 4th (D), 5th (A), and 6th (low E) strings. The higher strings: 1st (high E), 2nd (B), and 3rd (G) (electric) strings are plain, single wire strings.
Round-wound strings have kind of a rough feel and produce much brighter tones than flat-wound strings. Round-wounds are used for every music style. Flat-wound strings are smooth and generally used only when playing jazz. These strings produce a warm and relaxed sound.
Each type of string produces different tones and nuances of the notes. When you purchase your first new guitar, it will be set-up with strings that the manufacturer recommends for that particular model. Learn to play with the recommended set-up. Afterwards, you can experiment with string types to suit your playing style.
Acoustic guitars are set-up with larger gauge strings than electric guitars. The reason for this is because all the notes are generated and amplified in the body (soundbox) of the guitar. Thick strings produce a louder volume.
Electric guitars use thinner strings since they do not rely on a soundbox to produce audible tones. Electric guitars have electromagnetic pickups for this purpose. The vibrating string in the magnetic field of the pickup produces the sound. The vibrations are converted to electric impulses and sent to the amplifier to produce sound.
Picks / Plectrums? Are They Important?
Guitar picks (or plectrums) are a tool to help you play your instrument in different ways. Picks come in a large variety of shapes, sizes, colors, materials, and thickness. Pick selection is a very personalized choice. It ultimately depends on your playing style and what feels right to you.
In general, thinner picks are better for rhythm guitarists because the have a lot of flexibility when you are strumming chords. Thinner picks will not get hung up on the strings when you are strumming.
Thicker picks are rigid and better for playing lead guitar because you can get a better “attack” on the notes. Thicker picks will not flop around like a thin pick.
In time, you will find a pick that is best for you. So, when you start out, get a variety of picks to decide which one feels right to you.
Practice: How Much Time Do I Need To Spend?
The best advice any musician will tell you is to practice a little each day rather than try to do just one long practice per week.
Why? If you practice about 30 – 60 minutes each day, you will retain much more of what you learned in the previous practice the day before. If you try to put a week’s worth of practice in one day…that is 3½ - 7 hrs of practice in one day, you will get discouraged and you may not retain much of what you learned in the previous week.
Philosophy: Music Comes From Your Soul
Remember, your first guitar purchase should be an investment in a good quality and affordable instrument. More importantly, it is an investment in yourself. When you purchase an instrument, you are making a commitment and investing in yourself and the satisfaction that soon you will be making music.
You are also committing to spend thousands of hours with your instrument to learn how to use it properly. In time, you and your guitar will be one. Many great guitarists have bonded so well with their instrument that they can turn their emotions into notes. You can understand what they are saying without them saying a word. And that is the power of music!
Good luck and get ready bare your soul to the world.
Final thought - Music is meant to be fun, relaxing, and chilling with your peeps. It is not a competition, despite what the current barrage of talent shows tell you.
Reference:
Mike Brandolino - Mike is a Research Biologist and Environmental Professional. His writing topic interests are wide and varied.
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