All Guitar Lessons

Learning to play the guitar is an investment. Statistically most people quit within the first 2 weeks, because they realize they just don’t have the time needed to practice. One major problem is that there are too many gimmicks out their and most people get scammed. Here are a few helpful suggestions when getting equipped for the guitar. The first thing you need is a guitar. Any guitar will do. It is not wise to spend a lot of money on your first guitar.

Question: What type of guitar should I get?
Answer:  It does not matter if your guitar is an electric or an acoustic. The only issue is self-preference, along with the extra cost of an amplifier and chord.

Added Information: Electric guitars do have a narrower fret board then the Acoustic, so it would be easier to reach the difficult spots of the guitars. But for beginners, it is wise not to spend too much for your first guitar. There is nothing wrong with used guitars. As a matter of fact, many prefer second hand guitars due to the history of that guitar. If you decide to go the way of the electric guitar, expect to spend $100.00 to$170.00 for a fair to good beginner’s guitar.  Fender Guitar makes an electric guitar called a “Squire”. The Squire is a very good beginner’s Guitar. If Acoustic guitars are your preference, then make sure the body is in good shape. No Cracks or loose pieces. Yamaha makes a great beginner’s guitar for roughly $90.00. When you are testing out an acoustic guitar, listen for any extra humming or twang sounds, which may be an indication of a problem in the guitars structure.

Question: What type of Amp should I get?
Answer: Again, if you’re a beginner, try not to over spend on equipment. A fair to good beginner’s amplifiers can be purchased for roughly $75.00.  You will also need cables. A 6-9 foot chord is plenty long enough the average cost is $15.00.

Question: What else will I need before I start?
Answer: You will need guitar picks, they come in styles of soft, medium, or hard. Again it is your preference. A bag of 10 picks, costs roughly $5.00. The guitar will most likely have strings on it, but they will need to be changed when they get discolored from their silver shine, or when they get gritty. Size or thickness of string is not greatly important for beginners. For acoustic guitars, size 10’s or 12’s will be fine Martin makes a good set of guitar strings. For the electric guitar, I recommend size 10. All brands are good for now; try not to spend more then $6.00 per bag. Lastly you will need to buy a tuner. This is a hand held device, which helps you tune the guitar to the right sound. (Hint: you will be tuning your guitar every time you play it. So it is a necessity to buy one.)

Question: How to pick a music teacher?
Answer: Before picking a music teacher, you need to understand how you’re learning style. Are you hands on? Of can you learn on your own with a guide at your side? Private lessons are not cheap. Expect to pay $20.00 to $30.00 dollars for a 30 minute lesson. This does not include the teachers’ lesson books $15.00 to $30.00 dollars per book. Ask yourself, “do I want to learn just enough so that I can teach myself”? Or “do I want to be a professional guitarist”? Most of you choose A over B. So ask the teacher if reading music and music theory is part of his every day lessons. If so, I recommend looking elsewhere. The reason is that reading music and Theories are boring and you will not enjoy nor will you stick with the guitar for too long. You want a teacher that will make learning fun, and will get you playing right away.

Question: What is your opinion of ONLINE GUITAR LESSONS?
Answer: Many guitar sites offer free lessons, but they are trying to make money off of advertising and other ways to create revenue. Many times these sites are not very much interested in teaching you anything.  There are, however those sites that are created by educators, and musicians that truly want to assist you on expanding your love of the guitar. www.playguitarnow.com for one is written by a Master’s Level Educator with over 23 years of experience, and the sites main focus is education.

Written by Jeff Grossi