Choice of Beginner Guitars

I always receive emails and questions in the guitar forums from beginners asking for advice on getting their first guitar. I hope to address this common headache that bugs alot of beginner guitarists here by writing this article.

When you are purchasing your first guitar, it is best to consider a variety of things when making your decision. In my opinion, one of the most important things to consider when picking a guitar is the type of music you want to play on it.

If you like rock music ( I love rock too~...)  and want to play like the great rock guitar heroes, you should obviously pick an electric guitar. However, if you enjoy acoustic music you should choose an acoustic guitar. Personally, i think it is important to consider these things because if you purchase a guitar that is not right for you, then you will not be motivated to play it on a regular basis.

Your personality may be a factor in choosing what guitar to start with or it might not matter at all. There are some people who want to see results right away but if they don’t they get frustrated; lose interest and stop playing the guitar. If you think you are this type of person, consider an electric guitar. These are smaller than acoustic guitars and have smaller necks. It is much easier to press the strings so you will have the ability to play your guitar basics faster and easier. Even so, there are some buttons on an electric guitar that may make playing music more complicated.

Be sure to consider your budget when purchasing your first guitar. Of course you do not want to pay a lot of money on your very first guitar. It is also unwise to pay a lot if you don’t think you will continue to play it over time. Because of the expense, acoustic guitars are the preferred first instrument. An electric guitar is more generally more expensive because you need to buy an amplifier and a guitar cable along with the guitar.

If you still feel like you want to buy an electric guitar, check your local music store to see if they offer start-up guitar and amplifier packages at a price you can handle.

Something else to consider is purchasing a guitar stand. This is a wise investment because if you have your guitar on the stand at all times, you will probably find yourself practicing and playing on it a lot more. There are various guitars that are recommended for the beginning guitarist. If you have an electric guitar you may want to keep it plugged into the amplifier, that way when it’s time to practice all you need to do is turn the amplifier on and get started.

If you want to sing along with your guitar and have the flexibility to carry your guitar around, you may want to purchase an acoustic guitar. There are a few acoustic guitars that are great for beginners.

Recommended Acoustic Guitars For Beginners

The Seagull S6 is an instrument made in Canada and is highly recommended by
guitarists. The Seagull produces beautiful sound and has a lot of value. This guitar has a cedar top and mahogany on the sides and on the back. The price of the Seagull is about $350. This may be a little more than what you want to spend on a first guitar but it is a good investment. It is not easy to find the Seagull S6 but if you call around or search the internet you may be able to find one.

The Takamine G-340 is a beginner model that has a spruce top that is laminated. In general, it is not as good as some of the higher end models of the Takamine but you still get good value for your money.

The Fender CD110E is cheaper than other models of the fender. The CD110E has a nato back, sides and neck along with a spruce top. The cheaper model may not always have the best workmanship but the price makes it attractive to beginner guitarists.

The Epiphone DR-100 is a good starter guitar. The DR-100 has mahogany sides and back and a spruce top. You can buy this guitar cheaply. Most individuals consider this an instrument for beginners only so you may quickly want to buy a better guitar.

Recommended Electric Guitars For Beginners

There are a number of good guitars available if you want to start with an electric guitar.

The Squier Fat Stratocaster is one of many Squier models available at a good and low price. You may need to be wary of the hardware and pickups but this really depends on how the guitar is made. This is a great beginner guitar. The appearance is appealing.

The Epiphone G-312 SG is not expensive and a decent choice for beginners. The
G-312 SG is built with cheaper hardware and pickups of low quality. The body of the instrument is alder. The neck is mahogany and the fingerboard is rosewood. It is a good value according to experts.

The Yamaha Pacifica 112 has a rosewood fret board, maple neck and alder body along with two coil pick-ups. The guitar is well made and the craftsmanship is high. It is a great value and those who want to become serious guitarists may want to upgrade the electronics of this guitar.

The Danelectro 56-U2 is a low cost and cheap instrument but guitarists like its distinct look and sound. It is a guitar with a hollow body and feature dual stacked volume controls and lipstick pickups.

The Epiphone Les Paul Special II is modeled after one of the most famous guitars known, the Les Paul. This low cost guitar has a mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, and a laminated alder/maple body. The guitar is marketed toward those that are just beginning to learn the guitar.

Hope this helps....