Choosing a guitar for beginners

The guitar is one of the most popular and demanded musical instruments among people of all ages. Music beginners face the first difficulty already at the stage of choosing an instrument.

There are a lot of guitars in the respective shops, information about them is scattered and you need to spend a lot of time collecting and studying it. In this article you will find answers to almost all the questions that arise at the stage of choosing the first guitar for a beginner of any age.

Before you start learning to play, you need to choose a guitar. The first guitar must be selected according to different parameters, both cost and sound are important. The easiest way to start is by choosing the type of instrument, there are officially three of them:

• classic;
• acoustics (in turn, divided into subspecies)
• electric.

Before choosing an option for training, it is worth exploring other differences:

• on the classics are installed strings nylon type, they are suitable for those who are taking their first steps in music;
• vulture the classics are wide and shortened - accordingly, it is easier to learn from them;
• sound timbre the instruments are also different, so their purpose is different.

The listed types are not all of the existing ones, there are guitars with a different number of strings - 12, 7, 4, theoretically you can also learn from them, but experts do not advise starting with them.

• Acoustic... The main difference from the classics is metal strings, which give a deeper and more sonorous timbre.Its sound is more powerful. It is suitable for those people who have set a goal to learn how to accompany songs. Metal strings are ideal for picking and barre reception. The sonorous sound of this variety allows you to play blues, jazz, rock and pop compositions with high quality. This view is considered universal, but there are directions that are beyond its power - flamenco, classics. Accordingly, you should decide on the genre in which you want to develop. In any case, if the hand is not prepared, and you are learning the finger-type technique, then the acoustics can be inconvenient. These are painful sensations, first of all, and the uncomfortableness of the process. Most professionals recommend switching to acoustics after mastering the classics.
• Classic... The neck of this guitar, as mentioned above, is wider, and the strings are softer, since they are made of nylon. This option is perfect for a beginner, as clamping the strings is easy and convenient, it is easier for your fingers to get used to. Traditionally, there were restrictions in terms of performance, on the classics, in addition to the actual classical pieces, romances, lyrics, flamenco are played. But modern possibilities have expanded the potential of the instrument. You can perform rock, jazz, blues pieces. The sound of this instrument is deeper, softer, which is why it is so appreciated by professionals. But there are fewer frets here - 18, and in acoustics - at least 20.
• Electroacoustics... Something in between electric and acoustic, closer to the latter. It's just that a pickup is added to it, you can connect it to a speaker, increase the sound. This option is suitable for those who are already ready to perform or are not learning the basics of music.
• Electric... It is used to play through a sound amplifier, without it there is no point in playing, since it will be inaudible. This variety is suitable primarily for the rock direction in music, as well as for the genres of ethno, folk, pop. It is possible to complement the melodies with all kinds of effects. The choice of such a guitar is a matter of those who already know the principles of playing.
• Hollow electric... This type combines electric guitar and acoustics, visually it is more similar to the latter, but the socket is replaced by f-holes, reminiscent of violin. The case is usually completely hollow or not completely, it is possible to use an amplifier. The tone is soft, suitable for jazz music, rock and roll.

It is not always easy to choose the right instrument for adults or children; you need to answer the question why you are purchasing it. Taking the first guitar you come across without deciding what to play on it is a mistake. The instruments have different sounds, you can use different techniques on them, master the techniques of performance. If a guitar is purchased for a child, it is very important to prioritize his age and data. First of all, it must be comfortable, otherwise the baby can quickly cool down.

The best instrument for a beginner child is considered a classic, because of the softness of the strings in the first place. If your child is under 12, metal strings should not be considered at all. Also important is the size of the guitar, which is determined based on age and height. If this moment is missed, it may be uncomfortable for the child to hold the guitar. You need to focus on the following dimensions:

• from 98 to 116 cm a quarter guitar will do;
• from 116 to 135 cm select the tool two quarters;
• more than 136 to 152 cm - three quarters;
• above 152 approacht full size tool.

The second sign that matters when choosing a guitar is material. Wood is the main raw material for making guitars; MDF and plywood are also used. Wooden ones are lighter and sound better. The more impurities in the instrument, the worse the sound and the type of the instrument is not important here. Electric guitars are made from linden, maple, ash, mahogany.The latter option allows you to extract a sound that is very deep in saturation, the lows in such a guitar are very powerful. This material is used only by well-known companies. Alder guitars are louder, as well as ash guitars, but the latter is more rigid. Linden, maple give a strong sound of notes located in the middle register.

As for the classic and acoustic options, they are made from other types of wood:

• Mahogany gives muffling in the upper registers and expresses the middle notes brighter;
• walnut guitar allows you to produce a surface-sonorous sound;
• cedar increases the depth and softness of the sound;
• spruce enhances sonority and harshness;
• rosewood gives a deep viscosity.

An instrument made entirely of wood is usually quite expensive. Therefore, beginners are advised to try on semi-wooden models, where there are additions from MDF inserts. The sound will be an order of magnitude weaker, but at the very beginning this is not a fundamental point.

The concept of a brand when choosing a guitar is an ambiguous question, even professionals disagree, each company has its own fans. But there is a certain top of the tools, in which brands with an impeccable reputation are represented. An overview of popular manufacturers is as follows.

• Yamaha (Japan) - long-term leader of most ratings of musical instruments, a wide selection of different price categories, good quality;
• Crafter (Korea) - specializes in acoustics for professionals, the price range varies;
• Martinez (China) - produces acoustics for those who take their first steps, and for those who already play well, models of top brands are copied and quite well;
• Ibanez (Japan) - specializes in electric and bass, most often mahogany is used, all top-level instruments;
• Gibson (USA) - the weight of the acoustic guitars of this company is small, now the company is not functioning, but the instruments are invariably popular with music connoisseurs;
• Fender (USA) - produces acoustics, electrical, but the former are less in demand, high-quality expensive materials are used, the sound of the instruments is velvety and effective.

It's important not to get hung up on brands when choosing your first tool. The difference in sound becomes noticeable to those who already have a certain musical background and the corresponding skills. Beginners who decide to learn how to play the electric guitar should pay attention to the following models:

• Fender Squier Bullet strat;
• Ibanez GRG 150, as well as the Gio line;
• Epiphone LP 100;
• Yamaha Pacifica 112.

Before purchasing a power tool, please note that the complete set consists not only of a guitar, but also of a number of additional elements. Accessories will be needed:

• case;
• tuner;
• belt;
• combo.

Those who have decided to follow the traditional path and buy a classic guitar should pay attention to the options that combine the best match between quality and price:

• Ibanez GA3;
• Yamaha C 40, C 70;
• ProArt.

All of them are approximately in a similar price category, the quality is very decent, as well as the depth, sound, timbre.

Acoustic guitars for beginners have an excellent assortment. Among the budget options, you should take a closer look at the following models:

• Ibanez v50;
• Takamine Jasmine JD36;
• Yamaha F310;
• Fender CD60.

The choice of a tool from the review of models and brands sooner or later turns into a practical plan. You need to buy a guitar carefully, slowly, so as not to run into a marriage... The thing must be touched, examined, checked the frets, the evenness of the neck, the absence of distortions. As a rule, a beginner is not able to do this on his own, therefore, it is optimal to involve a music teacher or musician in the procedure. The specialist will pay attention to all the nuances and minimize the purchase of a low-quality, unreliable option.

There are several ways to purchase a guitar.

• A music shop. This is the best option to avoid a lot of trouble. It is advisable to go to several shops, salons, try the instrument, hold it, play it, compare it with others. The most important thing here is not to rush, not to take the first one that comes across, to take into account everything that is stated in the article above. It is preferable to take a break, think over all the questions well, consult with experts, find out additional information. A guitar is bought not for a month or a year, but for many years.
• With hands. This option should not be discarded, because the probability of buying a quality instrument at a reduced price is high. But here it is very important to avoid marriage, flaws that are not visible upon a cursory examination. It is best to have an expert evaluate a used guitar.
• Internet platforms. But this option is categorically not suitable, since it is very dangerous to rely on the opinion of a stranger. The tool is selected only offline, live. But Internet platforms cannot be dismissed, they are useful for obtaining reference information.

If you can't attract a specialist, you need to pay attention to the following nuances:

• absence of chips, cracks, scratches, other visual damage;
• there should be no bursting varnish, it should not swell;
• lack of joints without gluing;
• evenness and straightness of the neck are incredibly important - to determine the guitar is taken according to the type of a gun, while the line is examined from the side, if it is straight along the entire neck, everything is fine;
• a thorough examination of the strings is carried out, whether the side strings go beyond the width of the neck, if they do, refuse the purchase;
• you need to twist the tuning pegs, evaluate how smoothly they move, how noisy they are in operation, noiselessness and smoothness are a sign of quality;
• another important point is the sound of the strings, check that the sound is at approximately the same interval.

The price of the instrument is also an important nuance. Expensive guitars will certainly be a good purchase, but for novice musicians this criterion is not always dominant. Buying a top-end tool for the first steps is irrational and does not always make sense.