Posts tagged acoustic starter guitar

An Acoustic Starter Guitar is a vital choice for a number of reasons and there are many ways to get it wrong. I’ve made bad choices when buying guitars and I might like to help if you’re considering a starter acoustic guitar for the first time. My Father got me my original acoustic starter guitar when I was a young man. It was a giant body, no name acoustic guitar with an electric pickup that he’d purchased from a man he worked with. I don’t know why he thought it could be a good idea as I’d not asked for one and hadn’t shown any curiosity in any type of instrument previously. He had no way of understanding the massive and life long adjustments it would make for me when he purchased it.

I am 50 now and looking back on a love affair with guitars that has lasted all my adult life. I did not have a clue the right way to tune or play it at first. All I knew was that I REALLY liked it. Strumming some random strings and enjoying the way in which it sounded was an introduction to a world of music. I played for a few hours every evening to begin with or until my fingers bled whichever came soonest. I had chosen the world’s worst guitar tutor - me! If only I had known a bit of of what I know now when I started with my acoustic guitar. For a start I would not have got the music guide I did. It was old fashioned and stuffed with outdated songs that did nothing for me emotionally. Tip no 1 - concentrate on what you enjoy. Learn to play the type of songs that you take pleasure in. If in case you have a favourite band play their music. It should make the experience a joy instead of a chore. There is a huge amount of fine music in the stores or downloaded from the web free of charge that you’ll never have an opportunity to play more than a tiny fraction of it.

Once I had a few of the fundamentals underneath my belt I fancied attempting a different guitar and set off to my local second hand store with a hard-earned £25 in my excited little hands. I bought the biggest, reddest guitar they had just because it looked so damn sexy! The action on the guitar (the distance between the strings and the fretboard) was huge. It made it very tough to play and everything was much harder due to it. Tip no 2 - get a guitar that sounds as good as it looks. Buying a guitar is very like buying a car in that we purchase it emotionally. We fall in love with the way it looks before we ever drive it. If you don’t know enough about guitars to decide on one which ‘feels’ right as well as sounding good take somebody with you who does. If you do not know anyone like that do a little homework before you buy. There are many guitar magazines and review web site on-line that ought to offer you a good idea about the varied manufacturers and models available.

Some Guitarists will let you know that you could play any tune with only 3 chords and there’s some truth in that. Learning just a few easy chords to get you started could be very important. Do not forget that horrible music book I purchased? It held me back for years. Tip no 3 - get some tuition. If you already know someone with a guitar get them to spend just a little time with you. Study some basic chords and strumming. It will move you forward much better and quicker than attempting to learn on your own. I’d recommend guitar classes except you should find the correct teacher. A bad instructor can put you off music for life. A good trainer will be able to recognise the place you need help and how best to practise.

Tip no four - and perhaps the most important is purchase the very best guitar you can afford. Learning to play is tough enough without having to struggle with a cheap no-name guitar as well. Too many people decide to buy a cheap guitar not knowing if they will keep it up and afraid that they’ll waste the money. A good quality guitar will get you off to the correct start. It will be much easier to play, sound a lot better and keep in tune longer. Bear a few of these suggestions in mind when buying a starter acoustic guitar and you’ll stand a much better likelihood of learning the instrument and it will give you a lifetime of enjoyment in return.