A Guide To Buying Your First Guitar

Written by Per Cordtz

In this article I will try to answer some of the questions you may have in regard to buying your very first guitar. This article will also be useful if you are a parent whose child wants to get their first guitar.

Right off the bat, let me say this: I understand how daunting this task can seem. I have played guitar for years, and I clearly remember being in the very same position when I started out. The sheer number of different types of guitars can be staggering, and guitars may well be the largest and most varied instrument group of all. There are spanish guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, amplifiers, effects and all sorts of paraphernalia. For the sake of simplicity, we will only look at guitars in this article.

Which Guitar Should I Buy?

The first thing you must do is ask yourself this question: Which type of guitar am I interested in playing? Spanish, acoustic or electric? Perhaps you should take a look at the guitar players who inspire you and see which types of guitar they are playing. If you're still unsure about the different types of guitars, take a look at our explanation in this article.

If you are a parent, take the time to talk to your child about what they want to play. Try to get a sense of the music which interests them. There is a common myth which states that a new guitar player should start with playing either spanish or acoustic guitar before advancing to electric guitar. This is, quite frankly, rubbish. What's truly important is inspiration. Without inspiration there cannot be any music. So if your child wants to play electric guitar, then that's where they should start. They can always switch to an acoustic guitar later on.

Once you know what you want, my best bit of advice would be to try as many guitars as possible. This is the best way to get an impression of the different guitars, and although many guitars may look alike, they can feel wildly different when played, and even sound very different.

How Much Should I Spend On My First Guitar?

This is the question I get asked most frequently by people who are either considering buying their first guitar, or are the parents of a child who wants to buy their first guitar. Honestly, its a very difficult question to answer. Guitars can cost anywhere between £50 and £5,000, which only makes deciding more difficult.

The very best piece of advice I can give on this matter is this: Find a guitar which makes you want to play and improve. I would never recommend purchasing a cheap guitar if it does not inspire YOU to play it. However, if you find an inexpensive guitar which makes you want to play around the clock, then that's perfect! Play on! If the guitar which inspires you has a price tag of £1,000, then that's the guitar I would recommend. I realize that £1,000 is a lot of money, but trust me, having the right instrument is priceless.

There tends to be quite a bit of snobbery around guitar brands, but do not let that affect you. If a Squier or Epiphone guitar inspires you, then that's the right guitar for you.

Where Can I Buy My First Guitar?

I would suggest purchasing your first guitar in a music shop. Not only will you be able to try the instruments in the shop (A luxury which online-only stores have yet to replicate), but the staff are incredibly helpful, and will answer any questions you may have. There are music shops in most cities around the U.K., but if you happen to live in London, we would suggest that you check out this guide to some of the best guitar shops in London.

Want To Learn How To Play Guitar?

Do you want to learn how to play the guitar? Maybe you already know, but you want to improve your abilities? We have lots of talented and experienced teachers all over the country. Find a teacher in your city today!

• Guitar teachers in London
• Guitar teachers in Birmingham
• Guitar teachers in Leeds
• Guitar teachers in Liverpool
• Guitar teachers in Manchester

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