Buying Your First Guitar Part 1
Three Main Guitar Categories
Buying your first guitar can be an exciting and daunting task at the same time. There are so many choices, options, styles, and types to choose from. It is always a lot of fun helping my students pick out their first instrument, something they will have for a long time.
The very first step in buying a new guitar is to find out what type you want. The three main guitar categories are electric, classical, and acoustic. Some acoustic and classical guitars can be plugged into an amplifier, but I will look at the guitars without that option. Then we will weigh out the advantages and disadvantages.
Should Your First Guitar Be an Acoustic
Arguably, the most popular guitar people purchase for their first guitar is an acoustic. These generally have steel strings and a large body that uses the vibration of the string through the wood to create the sound.
Advantages
The advantage of the acoustic is that all you need is the guitar to play. This can save a person some money since it does not require an amp, cables, etc. An acoustic guitar can be ready to play in a classroom or at a campfire in no time. They are so nice to sing with since the warm tones work very well with vocals. Acoustic guitars also tend to sound better as they age. Personally, I prefer the acoustic sound to an electric clean sound, but there are limitations as well.
Disadvantages
The disadvantage of an acoustic guitar is that it is probably the hardest guitar to learn on. Generally, the strings are much tougher to push down than the electric or classical guitar since they are thicker. This can stop young players from continuing to play because it can hurt their fingertips. Acoustic guitars are also much larger in size than both classical and electrics. If you get a cheaper one, it can make playing the guitar miserable because they are harder to play. This can lead to a beginner feeling like they do not have the skills to play.
Finally, an acoustic guitar is built for the sound produced by the types of woods and finishes they use. If you try to use overdrive with an acoustic/electric guitar, chances are it will squeal very loudly.
Thinking on Buying a Classical Guitar for Your First Guitar?
The first guitar I ever played was a classical. Classical guitars have nylon strings which produce a much warmer sound than the acoustic. The guitar has a very distinct shape and used a lot in flamenco and classical music.
Advantages
The advantage of the classical guitar is that the strings are easier to play on. The nylon strings are softer than the steel strings which will not hurt as much. The bottom strings are nylon wrapped in steel which are a bit more comfortable since they have less tension.
Classical guitars are generally a little smaller than the typical acoustic. This can help tremendously with an early teen who is too big for a ¾ size but too small for a full-size acoustic guitar. One more advantage is that the tuners are all facing toward the back which means they turn the same direction when increasing or decreasing pitch. Acoustic guitar tuners reverse directions depending on the string.
Disadvantages
The disadvantage of a classical guitar is that the wide neck makes them difficult to play. The distance the fingers must travel is much further and can make it hard to reach if you have small hands. If you are playing rock or country, the positions used on a classical guitar can make that harder as well. For instance, using the thumb over the top of the neck to create a chord is much more difficult and not intended to be done on a classical guitar.
Buying Your First Electric Guitar
Probable the best way to go, in my opinion, is to start out with an electric guitar. They are incredibly versatile and easy to learn on. My first time plugging into an amp was amazing. I see the same excitement in a lot of my students that I had when they first try the studio amp. The electric guitar really comes to life when we engage the overdrive channel. There is something hypnotizing about the sound the strings make when the gain is turned up.
Advantages
The advantage of an electric guitar is that the strings are a lot lighter and easier to push down than both the acoustic and classical guitars. One of the biggest reasons young people stop playing is because the strings hurt their fingers. If the student cannot produce a note that does not thump or buzz, they tend to get discouraged. When that happens they stop practicing, and before you know it, they stop altogether. Another advantage to an electric guitar is that there are endless sounds it can produce. With today’s technology, electric guitars can create the sound of similar to almost any instrument. Plus, with a small battery powered amplifier, it can even go with you camping.
Disadvantages
The disadvantage of starting with an electric guitar is that it can be more expensive. You will need an amplifier and cables to be able to hear it properly. The amplifiers can run anywhere from $15 for a used starter to as much as you would like to spend. For a decent amp, you would not want to go under $100 though. It is well worth the investment to get something with at least a clean channel and a dirty channel. Effects can be optional, but these days it is very affordable to get an amp with effects.
What type of guitar is best really depends on your personal taste, but for younger students, my vote would be to get them an electric.
If you would like to take lessons and need some more information, please shoot me a message.
