Buy The Right Guitar For YOU
Many options are available when it comes to buying a guitar. There are acoustic guitars and electric guitars. They also come in all kinds of different styles and shapes. This article will help you decide how to buy the right guitar for YOU.
First, let’s get past a popular misconception about which type of guitar is best for beginners (regardless of age). This misconception being that an acoustic guitar, either a Steel String or Nylon String guitar, is the easiest and best choice. Many also will claim that learning guitar on a Nylon String instrument is easier than on Steel String guitars.
This is incorrect. Yes, this is a myth. Fact of the matter is acoustic guitars in general (steel string and nylon strings) require a good deal of hand strength to play. Mostly for the fretting hand in particular.
Steel String Acoustics are very common. These guitars are used traditionally in Country, Folk, Delta Blues and Bluegrass music. One of these would be a good choice if you ONLY want to play traditional acoustic guitar in one/any of those styles.
Nylon Stringed (Classical Guitars) are the traditional standard for playing Classical music. Time and time again, I have heard many people say that they have been told these guitars (and particularly Nylon String guitars) are the easiest to play. No, they are not easier to play. and furthermore, no,they are not the “easiest” to learn on. You are still going to get sore fingers and you will still experience the full spectrum of other issues as well including left and right hand coordination, developing enough fretting hand strength to play chords and scales, etc… Hey, it’s all part of learning how to play. There is no way around it.
Now let’s look at the other available options: Electric Guitars.
Electric Guitars are common in many different styles of music ranging from Rock, Funk, R&B to Jazz, Electric Blues and Fusion. The most important question to ask yourself is “What type of Music do I want to play”?
Perhaps you like and want to play Electric Blues (Albert, Freddy and BB King, Buddy Guy and so on). Maybe you’re into Classic Rock (Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Richie Blackmoore. etc…). Well, if this is the case, an Electric Guitar is going to be a very good choice for you.
Who are you’re favorite guitar players? What type of guitars do they play? If you really dig people like Jimi Hendrix, Robin Trower and Stevie Ray Vaughan, a Stratocaster (or Strat/S Style guitar) would be a good choice. Perhaps you’re really into Jimmy Page, Dicky Betts or Warren Haynes. Well then, a Les Paul (or LP style guitar) is going to be a good choice. Or perhaps you’re into all of these people. If so, go with whichever one of these guitar styles is more attractive to you. There is no rule that says you can’t play Hendrix on a Les Paul or that you can’t play Zeppelin on a Stratocaster because… you can. When it comes down to it the most important thing is that YOU like the guitar and that it’s appropriate for the styles of music you want to play. You want for the instrument to connect with you in some kind of a personal way. That you’re comfortable with it and the guitar yells out… “This is Me!” is what’s important.
In conclusion, you need to be happy with the guitar you are going to be playing. It MUST be something that YOU connect with in a very personal way. The guitar also needs to be suitable for the types of music you want to play. Long story short, if you’re into music that’s played on Electric Guitars then get an Electric Guitar! Get the type of guitar that is meant for the type(s) of music you want to play and Go For It!
Alright then, are you ready to start playing guitar or becoming a better guitar player? Feeling ready to take your playing up to the next level and make your musical dreams a reality? Contact Five Star Guitar Lessons
I Look Forward to Hearing from you!
Musically Yours,
Brian Kloby – Guitar Teacher, Music Instructor – Five Star Guitar Lessons, Clearwater, Fl
Five Star Guitar Lessons provides professional guitar instruction for adults. In person guitar lessons are available at the studio in Clearwater, Fl or online internet guitar lessons on your computer.