Two acoustic guitars stand out in the high end beginner guitar category. The Seagull S6 makes a fine acoustic beginner guitar of high quality, that plays well enough to take a novice guitar player well into advanced technique. It is priced in the $400-500 range. Also in this price range is the Washburn D10S. This instrument was ranked as #1 by Acoustic Guitar Magazine in a comparison of guitars under $500. While both guitars represent a significant investment for the starting guitarist, they are both very playable instruments of a quality that is capable of keeping pace with the new player's ability as it grows for many years.
The Yamaha F310, Takamine G-240 and Fender DG7 are all good choices for the beginner. But in terms of price, the most affordable for the beginner is the Epiphone DR-100. Once you gain more experience you will want to trade up, but it's a great acoustic beginner guitar at $120-$150.
When you are looking for your first guitar, avoid the very cheap ones. These are actually harder to play and can be hard for even an experienced player. A cheaper made acoustic beginner guitar is just not made well and usually have really high action, meaning there is more space between the strings and the fingerboard than the more expensive guitars. This can make a beginner just give up.
If your budget is less than $100, you are better off with a second-hand acoustic beginner guitar. If you see two of the same guitar, try playing both of them. Doing this will tell you the personality of the guitar, which might also tell you a little about the personality of the previous owner.
Ever hear the saying, "never buy a guitar from a jerk"? Whether a guitar picks up a "personality" from it's owner is a point to be debated, however most guitar owners treat their instruments like people. So when you look for your first acoustic beginner guitar keep this in mind. Pay attention to the guitar's "vibe", and even if it sounds great, but doesn't feel right somehow, pass on it.
When you are buying your first acoustic beginner guitar you should ask the salesperson to play it for you. The person selling the guitar shoud understand you can not yet play the instrument but want to hear what it will sound like when you can. You never know, maybe they are helping the next great guitar player to buy their first instrument.
Tired of getting tips on how to learn to play the guitar only to find out it is not free in the end? Some online lessons that come with a fee tend to be very boring and the student will end up dropping the course. Discouragement leads future artists to lose interest and just never want to try again. Well, here are more ways to learn how to play - just follow these ten easy steps.
1. Have jamming sessions with someone who can really play the guitar. It really does not matter what the other musician is playing - it can be drums, saxophone, piano, etc. as long as they are willing to play and learn as well.
2. Listen to other types of music. Don't just concentrate on one particular type; there is no harm in listening and trying out metal music if the main interest is jazz, etc. This develops your sense of discovery and talent.
3. Take lessons online. There are hundreds of online sites dedicated to developing young artists who provide free guitar instructions. New ideas and tips will help an achiever grow.
4. Use different chords and scales when playing. Experiment by playing the same song in a different key, tempo, etc.
5. When listeners start noticing that the same key and type of music is being played over and over, start learning new styles. A classic piece or a country song is a nice change from the conventional songs.
6. Aside from the guitar, listen to other kinds of musical instruments. It does not necessarily mean listening to them live. Try some pop and listen to a few CDs like Miles Davis'. How about a new classic artist like MAXINE?
7. Record the Music that you listen to. Listen to it again and be a critic of that music before trying to play it. Never concentrate on the mistakes by fretting, use them as guides and try to perfect the piece the next time.
8. Be open to self-challenge. Pick out your most hated music material then study it and try to play it. There is nothing that makes you feel better than being able to play what you thought to be impossible.
9. It is not bad to give yourself a break once in a while. Do not listen to music for a day or two. Try a going to a movie or find a good book to read... 10. Practice, practice, and practice by heart. Practicing new strokes for only about 30 minutes a day will not be sufficient. Practicing for about 2 to 4 hours a day is effective enough.
Anyone wants to learn must always have patience and discipline ? that's what counts. Be creative and learn from your mistakes and have fun while playing.
Both Pamela Johnson & Ian Williamson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Pamela Johnson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Guide Guitar. All I want is to learn , so visit