Learning Acoustic Guitar Basics

11
Mar/100

what should i have in mind to get a guitar and learn?

i always been pasionate about music so im thinking on getting a acoustic guitar, like to play here and there, but i never had one before so i will need to learn just about all, but what is some good advice from buying(price, brand Fender?, is ebay a good place to get one?) one to learning basics to play it.

Glad you want to play guitar! I’ve played since high school – guitar and electric bass – and it has been a defining part of my life. Playing guitar is great therapy, stress relief, a challenge, gives a sense of accomplishment, and is just plain FUN! (once you build-up some callouses and get past the sore-fingers-from-practicing stage)!

What kind to buy – well that depends on your budget and what kind of music you like best. You said acoustic, so I won’t even go into electrics. For your first instrument I’d stay away from Ebay. Not that it isn’t possible to find a good guitar there, but if you’re just starting you need to actually play and experience different models – hear the tone, pick them up, hit a few notes and chords & get the feel. The guitar that you might initially think is da bomb appearance-wise, may not sound the best or feel the best to you.

Having said that, one of mine is a Fender steel string acoustic that I bought from a pawn shop for just under $200. New, it would have cost at least twice that. I chose it over a Sigma (Martin’s low-cost line) that I had originally gone-in to try out. Fender is noted more for their electrics and Martin for acoustics (considered by many the finest acoustic maker), so it just goes to show that you don’t always know until you actually play the guitar.

If you like classical, folk or soft jazz, you might consider a nylon-string model. These usually have a more mellow sound than a steel-strung and are easier on the fingers. Their necks are wider, and in case you have larger hands it will be easier to form chords. The drawback is that they usually have less volume, sustain, and versatility than steel-string acoustics – which though not ideal, CAN be used for classical as well as being very well-adapted to rock, country, or jazz.

Used Gibsons, Martins, Fenders, & Taylors are often good buys. If you can find a used model which sounds and feels good and seems easy to play, and is not too expensive – then you will probably have made a very good investment. Some of these vintage guitars can bring really high prices, though, often costing much more than when they were new. Another thing to look for, is a solid spruce or cedar top rather than plywood. Yamaha, Takamine and other Japanese brands often sound very well, but if they have plywood tops (usually on the cheapest models) they will never sound any better. Solid top guitars mellow with age if given reasonable care, and their sound will actually improve through the years.

A good inexpensive new guitar line to look at is “Art & Lutherie”, made in Canada. Many music stores carry them. This just barely gets started on the subject, but hope it helps at least a little. Expect to spend at least $200 for a decent quality instrument, whether new or used. You can spend hundreds and thousands more, but for a first-instrument you don’t need to go to the extreme. You might find something for less, but I’d be very cautious of ultra-cheapies. Get yourself a basic chord book, and enjoy!

P.S. For maximum volume from an acoustic, choose a “Dreadnaught” style. Otherwise, some acoustics with factory-fitted pickups and EQ’s (acoustic-electrics) are OK. Stay away from after-market, owner-rigged acoustics with pickups, especially piezo types. They will make your mellow acoustic sound like a tinny, junky electric when plugged in. Best just to play into a mic if you need it louder, but that’s a whole other topic in itself!

Learning to Play Acoustic Guitar – Start With the Basics

Guitar Works Volume 1 – Learning The Basics

$24.95

Whether your dream is to become a rock star or just be able to play a few tunes at home, you’ve found your starting point! New Knack’s latest release, the Guitar Works DVD Volume 1, provides you with all the tools necessary to get started on the path towards becoming a guitar player. Using fully illustrated instructions, a thorough curriculum and a proven learning system, you will be well on y…