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Yet another guitar thread.
Cheezy
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I want to learn how to play the guitar, however I first need to purchase a guitar. As I've heard that it's better to learn on an acoustic first before moving onto electric guitars, I want to purchase an inexpensive acoustic guitar. I'm willing to drop around $100-$150 on this endeavor, and I figure people here are knowledgeable about these kinds of things. So, uh, any recommendations?
Cheezy on
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Learn on the model that will keep you interested and let you get the sound you like to listen to
keep an eye on your local craigslist for used stuff. look up rondo music for new (knock offs that tend to get really favorable reviews.)
the only real advantage to an electric is that you don;t need an amp. but if you pick up a used POD and a decent set of headphones you can practice almost silently.
Not to play devil's advocate, but I think electrics are much easier to play than most acoustics. A cheap Strat knockoff, for example, will have a super-thin body (less cumbersome for your right arm), cutouts (you can reach the high frets without contorting your left hand), and the strings will typically sit closer to the fretboard (it's easier to do stuff like barre chords, and you can play longer without your fingertips feeling like they've been dipped in acid). My first guitar was an acoustic, and I had fun with it, but I didn't really get into it until I picked up a used strat-style Squier for $175 (I realize now that I'd been ripped off; you should be able to find a used Squier in the $100 range). Yeah, you'll need an amp, but IMO electrics are both more fun and easier to play than most acoustics.
Starting on an acoustic means that you jump right in, get used to playing an acoustic (harder on your fingers, slightly more cumbersome for your strumming arm while starting), and can project your music without any amplification. In other words, if you start on an acoustic you can pick up an electric easier. At least, that's been my experience.
It's been mine as well. Leaving electric for a while and picking up acoustic, then coming back to my electric later, was the best thing I ever did. But the argument could also be made that I may have gotten too frustrated with acoustic at first, and given up, whereas an electric gave me a bit more incentive to keep plugging away.
To be honest, no matter which you start off with, you'll be ok. They both have their advantages and disadvantages. Just remember that if you start on Acoustic, you'll need a bit more persistence at first, but it will pay off later. If you start on Electric, you'll have to put more effort into it if you ever want to pick up Acoustic. Simple as that.
As for starting prices and guitars, I always regret buying a new guitar as my first. It ended up working out ok, but you don't really know what you want, and if you end up dropping the attempt to learn anyway, you're out a lot of money. Problem is, buying used is a shot in the dark, and if you get a half-broken guitar that sounds like shit, you'll never want to play. The best possibility is finding a friend who plays who can either look over a used instrument beforehand, or loan you an old crappy one he or she has. Once you've played for a few months, and know your likes/dislikes (and that you'll stick it out), then invest in something decent for a few hundred bucks.
It's probably better to build up your strength and dexterity on an acoustic and then soar on the electric.
However, I would advise against buying a cheap acoustic, as others have said. A cheap acoustic will have strings that are very hard to press down - I know, acoustics are generally harder than electrics, but the cheaper ones usually have an even higher gap between the strings and the fretboard (in my experience).
You'll also be up against the problem that with a cheap acoustic, no matter what you play it may have a "twangy" tin sound, which will probably do a pretty good job in discouraging you to play anymore. You might think it'd be fine for learning, but trust me, it's a pain when you're trying to learn and all you can think is "Why does nothing that I play sound like anything they're playing?"
I'd say go to a musical store nearby and start talking to the employees there about a good place for you to start. You don't have to sink a ton of money, but you won't something that's going to be good for something beyond the initial "figuring out where my fingers go"
You can learn to play without lessons, it just requires greater concentration and committment. Buy the book "Mel Bay's Guitar Chords". It's been around forever, and it's the standard, IMO.
You can learn sheet music or tabs, or both. You might want to start on tabs. It's easier to read, but it doesn't show rhythm or beat, so be careful. There's a lot of good online lessons, I reccoment ultimate guitar (just google it so I don't look like a site whore).
Finally, stay away from the "pack" deals with the amp, guitar, and everything else. Find the guitar you want, then find the amp.
If you want a beginner acoustic, I reccomend a Yamaha. I learned on my dad's old Yamaha model from the 70's, and it still plays well.
For electric, I reccomend a Dean Vendetta series. They run between $120 and $150 depending on where you shop.
Finally, the AMP is what makes the guitar sound good. Spending $30 dollars on an amp is going not going to give you the sound you want, at least initally, so don't get discouraged. Start on a cheap one, that's fine, but my general rule of thumb is to spend equal to twice as much on the amp as you did on the guitar. A good amp is the Spider Line 6 series. It's got some good effects, and the $200 to $300 models have a cat5 ethernet jack to record stuff and input new sounds.
Also, I'm no expert, so take all of this with a grain of salt. I can play a little, and I enjoy it, but for the most part I was self taught initally, and it was a bitch.
doh! yes, acoustics.
but yeah, bad action (space between the strings and the fretboard) on an acoustic is gonna be a whole lot harder to deal with, and a whole lot harder to change.
and i agree with amateurhour, the packs are made to sell to parents. you will never be able to sell the amp that comes with it, so its just a waste of money. buy an guitar, and then watch craigslist for some other schmuck that bout a pack, and buy the amp from him for nothing. or again, look into the line6 stuff. the pods/guitarport can be found fairly cheap and come with a bunch of different sounds. none really useful "professionally" (until you get into the pro line), but good to learn on and screw around with.
and definately something with headphones. you are going to be fairly aweul for a good amount of time. spare your rooommates/parents.
lastly, check youtube for lessons. there is alot on there. also, go over to harmony-central for a shitton of stuff.
heres a thread full of resources:
http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1513446
DON'T learn tab, and then run out and get a capo and try to learn (song x) immediately. You might practice for a month straight every day and actually learn it, but it's going to be all you're able to do, and then you're going to get bored really quick.
Learn the major chords, for example..
Play a "G", then remove your fingers, strum, make a G, then strum, remove, strum, make a G, strum, etc. Until you've learned how to make that chord properly. Then learn the rest of the major chords. Once you have them, learn to switch between them. Start with G,D,C, or G,D,Am, then go to E,Am,C, or E,Am,G. Once you can do this start strumming a simple four beat pattern, or even a two beat, switching chords after every full count, then get into minor chords and do the same.
After about a month you'll be comfortable with this enough that you can start learning panatonic scale, and get into finger picking, slides, hammer ons, etc. That's when you pick up some tab and start learning that green day song you're so desparate to play.. : )
Start with some basics, also. Learn twinkle twinkle, the national anthem, iron man, some old ACDC, buddy holly, and any other easy three note stuff. It goes a lot easier if you learn easy stuff and work your way up to the freebird solo. Plus, you'll have a nice catalog of songs to play when someone asks you.
You'll be suprised how easy it will get to start writing your own stuff once you've mastered a few chords and a trick or two.
Finally, if you get the electric, learn some bar chords. That's where the "heart" of heavy rock lives. You'll get a huge kick out of jamming out seven nation army if you can actually do the middle part of the song and not just the intro on the low e string.
EDIT: Also, should I buy online or in a local music store? I'm in a smallish town that only has a small general music store and a Hastings.
You have to be careful buying instruments online, especially acoustic ones. Sometimes you can get some good stuff, and sometimes you can get some real shit. If at all possible see if you can get something in your range from the music store in town. If not then look online a little.
As for being left handed. I'm a lefty too, but I do a lot of stuff right handed, so that's how I picked up the guitar. Personally I think it's easier, because my left hand is more adept, so it was easier to make chords and switch between them, for me at least. I couldn't strum for shit though, or pick, at first. It took a LOT of practice to even be able to keep rhythm or beat. That's the downside. It will be a lot easier for others to teach you stuff if you go right handed though.
-Terry Pratchett