| Buying the Right Guitar | | | | the new guitars in your price range to the used ones. |
| By Michael Setz | | | | You can often get a decent new acoustic guitar |
| Buying the right guitar can be a lot more difficult than it | | | | worthy of a beginner for right around $100 and no |
| seems. That's because there are a lot of them to | | | | more than $150. I would expect to pay about 10-20% |
| choose from; electric, acoustic, classical, folk, hollow | | | | less for a comparable used instrument. Check out |
| body, semi-hollow body, solid body, 12-string, and 7 | | | | some excellent guitars at my website and you may |
| string just to name the more common ones. Which | | | | also consider some of the package deals for an extra |
| one is right for you? | | | | value. |
| First, it will be important for you to know the type of | | | | Always buy a case! There are two types: Hard-Shell |
| music you are interested in playing. If you are only | | | | and Soft-Shell. You should opt for hard-shell. New |
| interested in screaming solos, you could probably just | | | | cases can run between $50 and $75, and sometimes |
| focus on an electric guitar. If you like playing folk music, | | | | you can get them thrown in the deal, it's always worth |
| a steel string acoustic would be an excellent choice. | | | | asking the salesman. If you do not buy a case you can |
| What about Classical and finger picking? A Classical | | | | rest assured that you will get dings and scratches, and |
| guitar is definitely what you need. In any case, know | | | | it is also more difficult to safely move your guitar from |
| the music you want to play and that will also help you | | | | place to place. |
| choose the right guitar. | | | | Choose a guitar that has the strings close to the |
| When choosing your guitar, there are several factors | | | | fretboard or playing will be difficult. However, if they |
| to consider: | | | | are too close then they will produce a buzz and affect |
| ·Price | | | | the tone produced. Be sure that it produces a clear |
| ·Playability | | | | sound, with no buzzes at any of the frets, and that the |
| ·Sound | | | | guitar is constructed of high quality wood, so the neck |
| ·Looks. | | | | doesn't "warp". |
| Which is the most important? They are ALL important | | | | Woods to look for include hardwoods such as Ash, |
| in their own way! | | | | Mahogany, Cherry, Maple, Rosewood, and Birch. |
| Play Guitar in 7 Days Guaranteed. Go to to learn more! | | | | These are some of the more common, and the key is |
| In no particular order of merit, here are the reasons: | | | | looking for hardwoods. Not only does this help to resist |
| 1. If you are on a budget, then obviously the price you | | | | dings, it also improves tone. |
| intend to pay is important! Most of us have wallets | | | | Generally, my recommendation to beginning guitar |
| with limits! This is self-explanatory. | | | | players is first learn on a nylon string acoustic guitar. |
| 2. The playability of a guitar (how EASY it is to play) is | | | | These are also called Classical Guitars. The reasons I |
| important. Are the strings close to the fret board? Is | | | | recommend nylon acoustics are first, Classical guitars |
| the neck a comfortable fit for your hand size? Is the | | | | use nylon strings, and nylon strings are easier on the |
| body shape comfortable to hold? This will also make a | | | | fingertips than steel strings. After you've played an |
| big impact on your progress as a guitar player. | | | | hour straight you'll know what I'm talking about. Imagine |
| Anything that hinders your progress can be | | | | a thin piece of wire being pressed against your tender |
| disheartening and should be eliminated. | | | | skin and then moved back and forth like a saw. Ouch! |
| 3. Sound; Do the notes ring out on the guitar and | | | | Now imagine a soft nylon string and you can easily |
| sustain (last long before dying out)? Does the guitar | | | | see why I recommend nylon. |
| sound fat and full, or bright and thin? What sort of tone | | | | Don't get me wrong, your fingertips will hurt regardless, |
| do you want? For example - Rock and Metal players | | | | and that's ok. All guitar players need calluses on the |
| often favor fat, full sounding guitars. | | | | fingertips. And you will very quickly develop them if you |
| 4. Are looks important? You bet! You want to look at | | | | persist in your playing. But nylon strings will make a |
| your guitar and think it's cool. Playing something that | | | | significant difference in how painful it can be, and it will |
| looks like a dog will not inspire you! Also, the look of a | | | | ultimately let you practice a little longer before you |
| guitar can be important for the image associated with | | | | can't take anymore. |
| a certain type of music. Like we mentioned earlier, | | | | Second, the neck is wider on classical style guitars. |
| Telecaster shaped guitars are often associated with | | | | Although this may seem to make playing more difficult |
| traditional blues and country playing - Les Paul-shaped | | | | initially, it actually helps with finger placement and the |
| guitars are often associated with classic rock, Flying V | | | | always troublesome issue of fingers touching other |
| guitars are usually associated with heavy metal. | | | | strings and muting them. This is especially true on |
| With that said the first place to start is whether to buy | | | | electric guitars which have a much narrower neck. By |
| new or used. There are advantages and | | | | having more space between strings you have less |
| disadvantages to each, but generally the primary | | | | chance of this occurring. In addition, wider necks will |
| difference would be your budget. Stay flexible here | | | | help build dexterity in your fingers quicker too. |
| and be on the lookout for good deals. It is important to | | | | Finally, when you start with a nylon acoustic guitar you |
| note however, that guitars do tend to hold their value | | | | don't need to buy an amplifier or any other |
| over time as long as they are well cared for and have | | | | accessories to go with it. You can play it anywhere |
| no significant dings, dents or other damage. | | | | and hear it loud and clear, thus saving you money, |
| You can check out some excellent guitars at my | | | | allowing for more mobility, and producing clear sounds |
| website There is also a section for auctions, so go | | | | to hear your true playing style and progress. All these |
| take a look. | | | | add up to my recommendation that beginner guitar |
| Nonetheless, you can usually expect to pay slightly less | | | | players start with a classical style guitar. |
| for a used guitar versus a new and comparable guitar. | | | | If you must buy an electric guitar first time out, and you |
| The downside to buying used is that there will | | | | have no interest in an acoustic, you will be faced with |
| undoubtedly be wear on necks, frets, fingerboards, and | | | | many choices of guitars, amplifiers, and hordes of |
| pick guards, and there could also be hidden or less | | | | other pieces of equipment. While much of the |
| noticeable damage. | | | | gadgetry is fun, the SINGLE most important part of |
| You can find multitudes of places on the Internet as | | | | your setup is still the guitar itself. |
| well as in newspapers, and magazines for used | | | | Regardless of how much money you have to spend, |
| guitars. However, one often overlooked place where | | | | try to get the best guitar you can - even if it means |
| great deals can be found is at pawnshops, flea | | | | not being able to afford an amplifier to begin with! |
| markets, and swap meets. Keep this in mind when you | | | | Unless you are playing in a band, you don't really need |
| begin your shopping. I have found some of the very | | | | an amp to start off with, and the better your guitar is, |
| best deals at the local pawnshop. | | | | the easier and more enjoyable your learning |
| There are many affordable new guitars on the market | | | | experience will be! |
| today as well, and these should not be overlooked. | | | | Remember how it is in most cases - you generally get |
| Despite the slightly higher price, buying new is usually | | | | what you pay for! However, with these few key |
| less risky when it comes to quality. But that is not to | | | | points in mind, you can have confidence that the right |
| say all new guitars are good. One advantage to buying | | | | guitar with the right price and right quality can be found. |
| new is you will get a warranty. So it's worth comparing | | | | |