If you don’t know anyone who can play in order to ask for advice, or you are simply not completely clued up on the genre, then buying your first guitar can be a very difficult task. When it comes to learning to play the guitar, probably the most difficult task you will face is often the first: buying one to begin with.
Many people, when it comes to buying their first guitar, make the mistake of getting a nice economical purchase which, when got home, turns out to be completely useless for the needs that you had in mind. The shop assistant is often a factor in this – their advice can often turn out to be misinformed, and driven by a desire to make a sale rather than getting the best instrument for you.
If you are in this situation, and are looking seriously into the possibility of buying a guitar in order to learn, then the following are all questions that you really need to know the answers to before you step foot into a guitar shop. There are a few things that you should be considering before you depart with your hard-earned cash.
1. What style of music do you want to play?
You will know what you want to play, and what you want to learn. Make sure you keep this in mind so that you don’t get pressured into buying something that will not be suitable for your needs. It may sound quite obvious to say that an electric guitar is more suited to rock music whereas an acoustic guitar is better for strumming and singing along. However, many people make this mistake.
2. What sort of budget do you have?
If you have never played guitar before, then spending thousands of dollars on a top quality instrument is probably not the way to go. Realistically, to begin with, you should be looking at paying somewhere in the region of $250-$300 (US) for a decent electric guitar, and around $150 (US) for an acoustic. What you are doing when you buy your first guitar is investing – you are investing in yourself and your own musical development. This should be considered as you set about finalizing exactly how much you want to spend.
When you decided on the style of music that you want to play, and the budget that you can afford, then it’s time to make the decision on which guitar you buy. Bear in mind your answers to the questions above, and consider the following. This is often a fraught step, and will take a little time to get it right, but the time is well invested to make sure that you get the right instrument.
· Try before you buy. Try as many guitars as you want! Buying your first guitar is a little like buying a new car – you wouldn’t just take the first one you see, right? There’s also no reason why, at this stage, you shouldn’t be looking at guitars that might be outside of your budget – by doing this you will be getting a good idea of the range available to you, and the big differences that exist from one guitar to another.
· Pay special attention to the playability of the frets. Look at the condition of the frets – are they worn out? Do they show signs of excessive usage? Take a look at each fret, and play a note on each. If you listen to the sound that this produces, you may find that there is a small buzzing sound – if this is the case, then it means that the action of the guitar is not set properly. It could even point to a case of poor workmanship on the instrument.
· A quick and easy way to purchase your first guitar can be online. If you do decide to go down this route, then make sure you check out as many user reviews as you can in order to find out whether this particular guitar is right for your needs. . Online guitars can often be a lot cheaper than the store on the high street, with the added advantage that it will often arrive straight to your door.
· Be comfortable! Make sure you select a guitar that you like and that you feel comfortable with. Try and find one that fits like a glove and plays a sound that you personally find pleasing! Do this and there is a much higher chance of you staying with that guitar for a longer time.
Don’t get pressured into spending more than you can afford, as this will only produce resentment on your part, and you are therefore much less likely to continue. If you are a beginner, and are trying to learn to play a guitar for the first time, then you should seriously consider all of the above before you even start. Playing the guitar can be a wonderful pastime, full of reward and great fun.
Copyright 2009 Liam Gibson (Pro Guitarist)
