Choosing a Guitar Guitar Lesson

Chapter 1: (7:16) Choosing a Guitar This lesson is an absolute must-see for anyone who is interested in beginning to play the guitar. This lesson is also highly recommended for parents who may be shelling out the cash for a child’s first instrument.

Acoustic Vs Electric

Around the early 60's it became a popular notion that every beginning guitar student should first learn on an acoustic. Parents with little or no musical experience spread this idea. Although the logic behind this argument is understandable, the argument bears little truth. This false argument gained popularity for several reasons. Starting a child on an acoustic guitar cuts out the expense of equipment such as an amplifier and a patch cable. However, since the electric guitar is far more popular than its acoustic counterpart, the price of a typical entry level electric is more affordable than the typical entry-level acoustic. In addition, many companies such as Fender sell a combination package that includes the guitar, amplifier, patch cable, and electronic tuner at a very affordable price. Many parents prefer to buy their child an acoustic because it is a quieter instrument. Parents in the 60's associated the sound of the electric guitar with the eardrum busting tones of Pete Townsend and Jimi Hendrix. These parents failed to realize that an electric guitar's volume level is controllable. Also, most practice amps are outfitted with a 1/4" headphone jack for silent practice. Finally, many parents believe that it is much easier to learn the basics on an acoustic guitar. This could not be farther from the truth. Due to lower tension and action of the strings, it is far easier to learn solid fundamental technique on an electric guitar.

There is only one good reason to choose an acoustic guitar for your child's first instrument. A child should start on an acoustic guitar ONLY if the music that he/she desires to play is primarily performed on an acoustic. If you are planning to buy your child his/her first guitar, work together with your child to conduct thorough research. As a result, you will both sleep soundly knowing the best possible selection was made.

Buying a guitar is a lot like buying a car. Regardless of whether it’s the first or fifth car you’ve bought, you still have to do your homework. Before you hit the streets to find a new guitar, there are some necessary preliminary steps that must be taken.
1. First, you must determine a price range.

Roughly all guitars (with the exception of classical guitars) fall into three price range categories. However, price is not always an accurate indicator of quality.

A. $0-450: Beginner Quality
B. $450-950 Intermediate Quality
C. $950+ Professional Quality

2. Narrow the field.

You must form a general idea of the ideal instrument. Jim gives you some great tips to get this process started.

A. Observe Your Heroes

This is the single best piece of advice for anyone looking for a new axe. Whose guitar sound do you admire most? What guitar does he/she play? Do many of your favorite guitarist play the same guitar or a similar type of guitar? When choosing your first guitar, you most likely won’t want to shell out the cash to get the same guitar your heroes play. However, it’s a great idea to take some notes regarding the features that these guitars have. This way, you can look for a less expensive model that resembles the ideal sound you are looking for.

B. Set Some Preliminary Goals

Do you want to perform publicly or just play for your own personal enjoyment? This has a large bearing on which guitar you should eventually choose.

C. Don’t Stress Out!

Choosing a guitar should be an enjoyable process. Regardless of your price range, there is a great guitar out there for you. For example, Matt Brown owns several professional quality guitars. He owns a PRS Custom, a Gibson Les Paul Standard, and a G&L ASAT Special. However, his no. 1 guitar is a beat up Mexican Strat he purchased for only $200. Keep in mind that the price tag is not always an accurate indicator of quality.

D. Philosophical Points on Music Education

Many parents believe that music education is a mandatory part of every child’s educational development. As Jim mentions, if a child does not have the guitar in his/her heart, music lessons will become a constant battle from start to finish. Many teachers (Matt Brown is one example) outright refuse to teach students who are forced into lessons by their parents. These students typically put in the minimum amount of practice necessary for the first few weeks of lessons. Then, once a parent grows tired of enforcing adequate practice time, the child withdraws and ceases to learn anything. Many of these parents choose a very inexpensive instrument for a child knowing that he/she will not play it for very long. If a child is playing an instrument that is of slightly higher quality, he or she may stand a better chance of sticking with music longer.

On the other hand, if a student is really driven to master the guitar, no obstacle can stand in his or her way. Jim Deeming is a perfect example. His first guitar was of extremely low quality. Regardless of the quality of the guitar, Jim played could not put it down during his first few years of practice.

3. Where to Shop

Over the past few decades the retail industry has undergone some drastic changes. The retail music industry is no exception. Gigantic chain retail stores have replaced multiple small businesses across the globe. Although giant stores such as Guitar Center or Sam Ash sell equipment at lower prices, the customer receives less quality per dollar spent. Instruments at these stores are not cared for at all. Once an order is received into inventory guitars are simply taken out of their cases and thrown on the walls. From this point they are handled daily by numerous customers who typically have no interest in buying the instrument they are test-driving. As a result, guitars diminish in quality the longer they hang on Guitar Center’s walls. Also, the sales representatives in these stores are rarely knowledgeable. Lastly, customer service and satisfaction is not a high priority, because the sheer volume of customers is simply unmanageable.

We recommend that you shop for your first instrument at a store that is not part of a large retail chain. Ask a respected professional in your area where he or she shops. For example, the Drinking Gourd Music Store in Dayton, Ohio is a long standing favorite among professionals living in the Midwest. When a guitar arrives at a store of this quality, professionals carefully inspect the guitar for any possible defects. A full professional set-up is then performed. Key issues such as the quality of fret installation are also addressed before the guitar is hung on the wall. From the moment a customer walks in the store, he or she receives excellent customer service throughout the entire sales process. This excellent service continues after the guitar has been purchased. The salespeople at these stores are often professional players themselves. Their superior knowledge of the instrument enables them to help each customer find the perfect guitar.

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