If you are a budding musician and want to learn the guitar, then the first thing that you need to do is to buy one. One of the biggest mistakes that you can make as a first-time guitar buyer is to buy one that’s not suited to the genre or type of music that you want to play. Amateur guitarists regularly buy electric models, when they need acoustics (and vice versa). There are some other things that you also need to consider, such as size.
This post will offer a few tips on buying a guitar:
Type of Guitar
There are three main styles of guitar, acoustic, electric, and classical. Acoustic and classical guitars have heavy bodies and thicker necks when compared to electric guitars, which have lighter strings and thinner bodies. Acoustic and classical guitars produce sound through vibrations, while electric guitars produce sound with the aid of electricity. The type of playing that you want to do should influence your guitar purchase, like fingerstyle for example. A common misconception is that you can only play fingerstyle on acoustic guitars, but that’s wrong, you can play it on electric guitars too. You can find a great selection of fingerstyle guitars here, for you to check out. The genre of music you want to play should also be factored into your decision. If you want to play rock ‘n’ roll, then you will want an electric guitar. If you want to play the blues, then you will want an acoustic guitar. Â
Guitar Shape
Your guitar’s appearance should also factor into your decision-making process. Ideally, you want to buy a guitar that suits you, in style and shape. There are lots of different styles and shapes of guitars available for purchase. If there is a musician that inspires you, then you could find out what type of guitar they play, and then buy one of those. Something else you need to consider is your own personal appearance and the way that you dress, especially if you are going to be performing live. Your guitar needs to fit in with your aesthetic.
Set a Budget
Guitars aren’t cheap, so you need to work out a budget before you start looking for one. Many guitar retailers offer financing programs, which are best suited to people that don’t have a lot of disposable income. If you want to buy a top of the line guitar but can’t find the cash, then you could utilize one of these programs. They are credit agreements, so you will need to first make sure that your credit rating’s high enough. You also need to be confident that you will be able to make repayments, otherwise, you could default and ruin your credit score for several years.
Trying In Person
Before you buy a guitar, it’s always a good idea to try it out in person first. This is so that you can get a feel for the instrument. Not all guitars are easy to use, especially if you are a beginner. With that said, due to internet shopping, it’s not always possible to try guitars out before you buy them. One thing to consider, however, is ordering a guitar from an online retailer and then going into a physical guitar manufacturer’s shop and trying out their instruments in person. Most guitar shops allow people to try instruments before they buy them.
Buying Accessories
Are you going to accessorize your guitar? If you are, then it’s probably a good idea to buy them from the guitar’s retailer, so that you can get a deal. Most retailers will give you a discount if you purchase a large number of things. Guitar accessories aren’t usually very expensive, anyway. If you do purchase them from the same place that you are buying your guitar, then they will all arrive at the same time and you will be able to get started playing immediately.
Careful Handling
One last thing to remember is that you need to handle your guitar carefully. Guitars can be very expensive. If poor handling results in your guitar being broken, you might not be able to claim back compensation or get a replacement under your instrument’s warranty. Warranties usually only cover instruments if there is a fault with the instrument itself, not the handler. It might also be a good idea to get insurance for your instrument, just in case it does become broken because of improper handling.
If you want to play the guitar like your favourite pop star, then the first step is to buy a guitar! Make sure that you consider all of this post’s guidance so that you can buy the instrument that’s perfect for you. Â