Every year thousands of people get guitars with the hopes of learning to play. But truthfully, not all guitars are suitable to learn on. If you are serious about learning to play yourself or if you’re buying the guitar for someone else to learn on, the following information is what you must know to properly select a guitar.
Playability
The most important aspect of any guitar is that it must have a good playable action. What this means is, the strings must be close to the fretboard to make them easy to press. When the strings are too high the person attempting to learn to play usually quits in frustration. They find it too hard. The saddest part is they think that it is something wrong with them. As a sales consultant at a music store I've heard so many adults say, “Yeah, I tried to learn when I was a kid, but I just couldn't do it.” I then put my right hand fingers under the strings at the sound hole and lift the strings away from the fretboard. I’d say to them, “I'd bet the strings were up like this.” They almost always say, “Yes!” I am emphasizing the playability of the guitar so strongly because strings that are too high is the #1 reason why a person quits.
A Simple Test for String Height
The quickest and easiest way to check for the proper string height is to stack two quarters (25¢) and place them under the 1st string (the thinnest string) at the 12th fret (two dots). Ideally the distance should be the equivalent spacing of 1½ quarters. Two quarters that just fit without lifting up the strings is the maximum acceptable height. Anything above this is too high.
Tuning
The next thing that is crucial is getting the guitar in tune and it playing in tune. A clear indicator of cheap tuners is seeing the tuning gear exposed. Better quality tuners are die-cast which are completely encased. Also, if the strings are too high at the nut (near the guitar tuners), the guitar will sound out of tune even when it is played properly. This is common when the guitar is very inexpensive.
Should You Buy Acoustic or Electric?
When it comes to purchasing a guitar, you have two immediate choices; whether to buy an acoustic guitar or an electric. They may look somewhat different, but the finger positions for chording, picking and strumming are identical. If you can play an acoustic then you can play an electric and vice versa. It is identical in the way that if you can drive a car you can drive a van. The differences are in the body of the guitar.
An acoustic guitar has a hollow body and doesn’t need an amplifier. The topboard if it is laminated (plywood) must have each layer made of solid strips of wood. The “toy store” variety has particle board for the middle layer. This does not provide the proper support for the strings so in no time the strings will become too high and the guitar will become unplayable.
Electric guitars normally have a body that should be solid wood. Electric guitars are designed to be used with an amplifier.
There are people who will tell you that it is better to learn on an acoustic guitar first. This is simply not true. You can begin on either one. If a person wants an electric, buy an electric. If they prefer an acoustic, buy an acoustic. If a person “loves” their guitar they will practice more.
Guitar Sizes and Finishes
When you select a guitar there are a few different sizes to choose from. A three-quarter size acoustic has a smaller body so it is ideal for younger people ages 8 - 12. The folk or parlor size is an adult guitar that is marginally smaller than a full size and is well suited for young teenagers and preferred by many women. The full size dreadnought is comfortable for anyone who is an adult or young people who are adult size.
At the entry level stage of beginning to play the guitar, the woods and finish of the guitar are the least important providing they meet the previous criteria. Of course, I wouldn’t buy a guitar that I didn’t like the sound or the look of but that determination only comes after the playability and tuneability have been assessed.
Where to Buy a Guitar
If you truly want to learn to play the guitar, your best bet is to buy from a music store. They are staffed with musicians who are qualified to help you select a good beginners instrument. They know what you’ll need to get started.
If you are buying a used guitar from a second-hand store, pawn shop or privately, it would be to your benefit to take a guitar-playing friend with you to access the guitar. If your friend has even a couple of years of playing experience, they will know if the guitar has a playable action, if the guitar tuning heads seem to be working fine and if the guitars "nut" and "bridge" are OK. Their experience will tell them if the guitar is generally OK.
How Much Should You Pay
You would be wise to purchase a guitar from a company who makes guitars that are used by professional musicians. These companies know what a beginner needs for an instrument in order to succeed.
For a good quality beginner guitar the retail price is generally between $175.00 and $375.00. In that price range you'll get a playable guitar action as well as all of the other necessary components. Naturally the closer to $375.00 the better the guitar will sound. Guitars above the $375.00 range are entering the intermediate level and are not necessary at this point. As well, you can get complete electric guitar packages (guitar, amp and accessories) within this price range.
For buying used, the rule of thumb is to pay around half of the guitar's new retail purchase price. This includes everything. The guitar, the case, the strap and the tuner etc.
Buy the best instrument your budget can afford. Select the kind of instrument the person learning wants to play and get some good instruction.
Buy a Guitar Tuner
It is important that your guitar is in tune. Tuning is a process that is learned. Nobody automatically knows how to tune a guitar. Fortunately, there is a small battery operated device called a “guitar tuner” which by picking a string and watching the meter you’ll get your guitar in tune easily and quickly. They are relatively inexpensive, starting at around $20.00. Remember that even professional musicians sound lousy out of tune. Using a tuner and always being in tune helps to train your ear and you will sound better.
Conclusion and More Help
Guitar is a great instrument. You can learn a few chords and have a lifetime of fun or you can spend your lifetime becoming a master.
At the website [http://www.5-easy-guitar-lessons.com/guitar-how-to-get-started.html], there is access to various pages and other information for beginning guitarist. Pamphlet #2 will give you the chords you need to know to get started and Pamphlet #3 tells you how to take care of your guitar.
Go ahead, get started and have fun.
Brian Hawthorn has been a professional musician for more than 35 years. He has also taught hundreds of people to play the guitar, some of whom have become professional musicians and teachers themselves. Brian is also a sales consultant for a music store chain in Eastern Canada. His focus is on helping beginners get a solid start at learning to play the guitar. He has written guitar books for beginners such as: "Guitar - How to Get Started - 5 Easy Lessons" which is found at http://www.5-easy-guitar-lessons.com and "The Easiest Way Guitar Method" at http://www.easiestwayguitar.com
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