How to Choose a Guitar and Equipment for the Beginner
Want to have your own guitar so you can learn how to play, but don’t know where to start?
This guide will tell you in four simple steps how to go about choosing one, yourself. It can be quite daunting, knowing that you are investing in an equipment that is pricey and your skill levels in it are not good.
Asking avid guitar players for their suggestions isn’t always the best solution either. Advanced players will suggest guitars that are usually practical for experienced users, with elements in them that you may not learn for a long time, and that can make learning the basics tougher on you.
Picking a guitar based on your personal budget, skill level, and interest is a far better way to go about buying the instrument.
Instructions
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1
Set your budget
As with all investments, decide before hand how much you are able to spend. Guitars can range from anywhere between fifty to thousands of dollars - used or new. A used guitar is not a bad option, as sound quality does not deteriorate with guitars themselves, and individual strings can be replaced and retuned. Because you are a beginner, and don’t know for how long you will be playing, a rough estimate for a reasonable guitar is around $150. -
2
Select type of guitar
Once you have your budget decided, think about what kind of guitar you want to learn to play, an acoustic guitar, an electric guitar or a classical guitar. Doing some research at this stage is essential, as each guitar has its own distinct sound.
A classical guitar is difficult to play, but if you plan on playing only that, then it is smart to start off with one. The transition from an acoustic guitar to an electric one at a later stage is not as complex. -
3
Identify your personal needs
You have a budget; you know your type, now we get down to specifics.
Are you right or left handed?
There are different types of guitars for people with different playing hands.
If you are a young player, you may need a specialized, smaller guitar.
Additionally, where do you intend to play?
While choosing an acoustic guitar it is important to keep this in mind as you have to decide if you want one with a cut-out (the whole in the centre that amplifies the sound organically) or one with an amplifier outlet. -
4
Hear the sound
Make sure you get to handle the guitar and hear the sound it creates before you buy it. While lots of tips can be given by shop owners or other sellers about what is the best sound, the only way to know for sure is to test it for yourself. If the fit is right, and the strum sounds pleasant to your ears, you are set
