When you are choosing your first guitar, it can be an exciting, heady time. But you want to "keep your head", for choosing your first guitar seems very easy, since it's probably the most popular instrument in the Western world and there are very affordable models to be found all over the place; but this is something to be done with great care.
One mistake you absolutely do not want to make as a beginner guitar player is to get a "beginner guitar". These acoustic guitars exist and they are designed to be a little smaller than a standard acoustic guitar on the theory that this makes them easier to handle (especially for the very young). But they aren't worth the price you pay--they're cheap in price because cheap is precisely what they are in quality. Their action is quite high (making them harder to fret--a very bad thing for a beginner), their sound is dull, and worst of all they very, very easily go out of tune.
Spend the money on a quality inexpensive acoustic guitar (do not spend less than $250 new, and do not get your first guitar from a pawn shop or an auction unless you are with an experienced player). And, yes, another common beginner mistake when buying one's first guitar is the beginner is convinced that he wants to play electric guitar and thus should go out looking for one of those and an amp, cords, foot pedals...But this doesn't matter and it's not what you want for a first guitar, regardless of what you think you want to play (and you're likely to change your mind at least somewhat as you gain experience).
ALWAYS begin on an acoustic guitar. Acoustic guitar practicing is significantly more difficult than electric guitar practice because the acoustic is much more demanding on the player's hand strength and technique, and any needs for improvement here cannot be disguised by a loud amp, distortion, or the extremely easy action of the electric. Even if you do want to play the electric guitar, anyone who can play good acoustic guitar can quickly and easily come to sound like a wizard on electric.
If your heart is really set on an electric guitar as a beginner, you can buy an acoustic-electric guitar, simply an acoustic that comes with amplification technology within its body. Keep in mind that you'll need an amplifier (just a 25 to 50 watt amp) and a cord to use its "electric" mode.
If you have relatively small hands or you would feel more comfortable with a smaller instrument at least at first, you can buy a travel guitar for your first guitar. Travel guitars are designed, as their name implies, for people who are on the road a lot but don't have a tour bus in which to store their instruments. They're a little smaller and lighter and some of them can be taken apart and easily re-assembled.
Ideally, you should start off learning fingerstyle guitar or (even better) classical guitar. If the latter, you'll need to buy a nylon-string acoustic guitar. This has a smaller body but a wider neck than the standard acoustic (usually called a "steel string").
Top names to look for in first guitars are: Martin; Fender; Carvin; Guild; Washburn; and Takamine.
There are several guitars available on the market and the type you choose will depend largely on what kind of music you intend to play. You also need to be physically comfortable with your guitar and this, of course, will be governed by your size. The weight of your guitar is important especially if you will be playing the instrument quite regularly so make sure you do not choose one which is too heavy for you as this will only weigh you down.
The look and the sound of the guitar have to appeal to you too. There are so many shapes, colors and finishes and all guitars produce a slightly different sound, the best quality usually being the most expensive.
Having taken all these factors into consideration your choice of guitar still rests with the type of music you will be playing. If, for example you are into classical music a guitar with gut or nylon strings will be ideal. The back and sides should be made of rosewood with either cedar or spruce for the top. It is quite similar to the type of guitar used for flamenco playing but the flamenco guitar is thinner, and the body is more shallow and made of cypress with cedar on top.
The classic guitar with the hollow body and nylon strings and the electric steel guitar with its solid wood body and bolted on neck and steel strings, such as the famous Fender Stratocaster are probably the two most popular kinds of guitar overall. Within these two types of guitar there are many variations, semi-acoustic and semi-solid being an example of these. The next most popular is the bass guitar but you will find when purchasing your first guitar that the main options open to you will be to choose between the acoustic and the electric models.
If you have not played before then you really should consider an acoustic guitar to start with. It is easier to play and you do not need anything else to get started except a case, a strap, some picks and, of course, your sheet music all of which are reasonably priced. If you opt for an electric guitar, you will need an amplifier and a minimum of one effects box. This increases the price quite considerably and also makes the choice more difficult for you.
Although you do not need to pay a fortune for your first guitar, you should not go for a cheap and nasty model on the basis that you don't know whether or not you will keep on playing after the initial interest. If you go for one which looks dreadful and feels and sounds even worse, you will probably put it to one side before long, not wanting to play it at all. Ask your guitar playing friends, and friends of friends, if you can have a go with their instruments to get the feel of things before paying a visit to the music shops. When you are browsing there is no need for you to buy a top brand name as there are loads of great guitars available on the market without well known brand names.
Check that your guitar is well made by running your fingers around the seams of the instrument. If any part of the guitar feels rough or as if it is literally coming apart at the seams, then this is one guitar to avoid. Make sure the frets are even and that the top is not made of plywood. Above all, don't dash off out and buy the first guitar you try - there is really no need as you can be certain with a little patience you will find the one which is out there, just waiting for you.
Kevin Sinclair has sinced written about articles on various topics from self improvement and motivation, Personal Development Plan and Ezines And Newsletters. Kevin Sinclair is the publisher and editor of , a site that provides information and articles for musicians at all stages of their development.. Kevin Sinclair's top article generates over 450000 views. to your Favourites.