By Nicholas Anderson
Buying your first guitar is an exciting experience. But you don’t want to make a mistake. Here are a few tips to help you decide.
Price
Your first guitar does need to and should not be expensive. If you’re buying your first guitar, there’s a good chance you’ve had limited experience playing. Maybe no experience. Don’t waste money on the coolest and best guitar you can find. If it turns out you don’t like playing guitar, you’re not going to be happy that you spent a lot of money buying one. Focus on things more important than “the best.” An amateur does not need the best. An amateur needs an instrument that is serviceable.
Playability
Buy a guitar that is playable. That may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised what’s at your local music store. Some guitars are junk and should be completely avoided. Unfortunately, you probably don’t know how to judge whether a guitar is playable or not, so it’s a very good idea to bring someone with you who can tell help. A friend who has played for a few years should be able to tell if a guitar is going to be good for a beginner.
Size
Your guitar should be fit to your size. If you’re buying a guitar for a 6 year old, do not get a full size guitar. He will not be able to handle a full size guitar until he is much older. If he can’t handle the guitar, he won’t learn and he will give up in frustration. Talk to someone at a local guitar store who can help you find a guitar that is the right size. Make sure you or the person you’re buying for can reach the strings with both hands, that he doesn’t have to stretch far for them, and that the guitar doesn’t look big on him.
Comfort
The guitar should feel comfortable. You should sit down with it in your lap and stand with it strapped on. Again, make sure your hands can reach the strings without much effort. If they can’t, you guitar is probably too big. It should feel comfortable on your body. Some guitars are heavier than others, some are fairly light. You should take that into consideration. Also, all guitars are shaped slightly different from each other. If the shape of the guitar is unusual or feels uncomfortable for some reason, pass on it.
Electric or Acoustic?
It does not matter whether you start on electric or acoustic. There are advantages to both. An electric is easier on your fingers and will make the beginning stages a bit more comfortable, however, there’s more equipment required (an amp and cable, at least). An acoustic, on the other hand, requires no extra gear. However, acoustic guitars are typically a bit harder on the fingers and a poor quality acoustic can be very difficult to play because of this. Acoustic guitars are also quieter, so if you’re a mother reading this and you want to keep your sanity, buy an acoustic 🙂
Where to Buy?
Buy from a local music store that has friendly, helpful salesmen. Do not buy your first guitar online. It should be obvious why that would be a mistake. You may be able to get a good deal online, but you won’t be able to actually feel the instrument in your hands and on your body. Save online shopping for other gear like strings, picks, book, etc., but not for your first guitar.
Conclusion
Buying your first guitar is an exciting experience! I hope these tips have helped you make a more informed decision. Make sure you apply for admission so you get a great start to learning guitar.