For over 22 years of teaching guitar, this is probably one of the most visited subjects. There is nothing more demotivating than thinking you have bought a decent guitar at your local Cash Crusaders only to find out the guitar plays terrible and needs another setup that might cost you an extra R1500 or even more. So below, we are giving some brief pointers that might point you in the right direction.
Should I Choose an Electric or Acoustic Guitar?
It really depends on what style of music you like to play. If you are into Hard Rock or Metal, you can jump straight to an Electric Guitar, just bear in mind you will need to buy lots of extra accessories like an Amp and a cable. Those two extras alone can cost anything from R3500 upwards. If you are a beginner, an Acoustic Guitar might be a better option for you. You can always transition to an Electric Guitar when you have built up enough confidence playing on the Acoustic Guitar.
The other option is a Classical Guitar similar to the Acoustic Guitar, but it comes with nylon strings and will not be that harsh on the fingers when you start out playing. This will bring us to the next topic.
How Much Money Should You Spend?
Buying a guitar is very similar to buying a car, and a lot of it comes down to your budget and personal preference. A few good entry-level brands for Acoustic Guitars like Tanglewood, Cort, Takamine G-Series or Alvarez, just to mention a few, are available. A word of caution, please stay away from a brand called Sanchez. If you look at Electric Guitars, you can start looking at brands like Ibanez, Fender Squier, Cort or something similar. If you are looking at the brands above for Acoustic or Electric guitars, the budget will start anywhere at R3500 -R4000 just to get a good guitar, and usually, that excludes a bag or hard case, which is a must to protect your guitar. Sometimes you can get a good deal with a starter pack that generally have a bag with the guitar.
What Should I Know About My First Guitar?
So you have bought your first guitar, and you are excited to start your guitar lessons at ProJo Guitar lessons, but what happens next? When buying a guitar stock standard at a Music Shop, it has to go for a setup to make sure it plays well. I cannot tell you the numerous times someone bought a new guitar only to tell them that strings are old and rusty on that guitar or the guitar is in dire need of a setup because the intonation is out. Think of it as taking your guitar for a service like your car. You will get so much more pleasure in playing your guitar in the long run. Suppose you need someone who specialises in setting up Guitars and will give you a new perspective on how to care for your guitar. In that case, I can definitely recommend someone who lives close to ProJo Guitar Lessons and is very reasonably priced.
What Guitar Size Should I get?
You get different sizes of guitars, and sometimes it can be very daunting. If you are a kid, you can get a 3/4 size guitar, but it is best to get a full-size guitar if you are an adult. It is essential to sit with the guitar and make sure it feels comfortable to you or your kid. The best advice I can give you is to go to a music shop and try them out until you find something that feels good to you and fits your budget. Once again, I can help point you in the right direction if you need to buy an excellent entry-level electric or acoustic guitar. I truly hope this short introduction has helped you, and know we are always here if you want to take up guitar lessons. Until next time play with passion.