Guitar suggestions for a newbie...

cmalak

cmalak

Active member
Joined
Apr 10, 2013
Messages
2,307
For all you guitar players out there, I am considering buying a starter guitar. I used to play the piano when I was a kid (took lessons for 4 years but quit at age 13 like an idiot...one of my biggest regrets that I did not continue with it!). I want to get back into playing a musical instrument. Anyhow, I would ideally get back into piano at this point, but finding space for a piano in my current living situation is going to be tough. So I figured the guitar would be a fun instrument to learn (at the tender age of 46! :D).

So a couple of questions:

1) Any recos for a beginner's acoustic guitar (up to $400...don't want to put too much money into it in case I lose motivation and it ends up being a decorative ornament :D)? I would prefer a guitar with a warm tonal signature.

2) Should I consider an Acoustic-Electric guitar to give flexibility of adding a guitar amp (more options to play with tubes :D) down the road? If so, what would be a good starter guitar in the Acoustic-Electric category (with same $400 budget)?

3) what is the consensus on taking lessons with a private instructor vs. trying to learn via various on-line instruction courses? Or even more generically, what are folks' recommendations on how best to learn the instrument (here looking for suggested books, online course recos, or types of instructors to look for, etc...)?

Looking forward to all your suggestions,

Thanks,

Cyril

PS: Admin...can you please fix my typo from "syggestions" to "suggestions" in the title of the thread...thx
 
Cyril-I'm the last guy that should give you advice. I have 3 guitars and can't play any of them!
 
Depending on your needs, these are great starter guitars. Blueridge. All price ranges. http://www.maurysmusic.com/blueridge_guitars
Or Guitar Center, Musicians Friend

I recommend get yourself a few months of lessons, this way you start off correctly with no built in issues. Depending on your goals and the type of music you want to play, taking lessons is a great way to start. Find a teacher that will teach you how to play the the music you want to play. Nothing worst that starting with lessons on a classical technique when along you wanted to play rock and roll. Remember we go to teachers to get learn and to get better. You can use a teacher for an extended period or just to pick up some specific skills.
 
What frustrated me was my teacher would never keep at a song until you knew it from beginning to end. Once you could play a couple of chords from the song, it was time to move on. I never felt like I could play a single song from beginning to end.
 
Oh, and I could never play bar chords to save my ass. I "got" switching from one open chord to another quick enough to keep time, but never with bar chords as I was just way too damn slow.
 
Cyril - I got back to playing guitar over a year ago and take 1 hour weekly lessons. I think I still suck, but my teacher says otherwise. You need to work on strengthening your hands and practicing. There are lots of great guitars from lesser known companies for a good price. Acoustic-Electric is a good way to go, but personally, I mostly play acoustic. Lots of Neil Young, Eagles, etc.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Not to hijack this thread, but since guitar guys are looking, this is something new to me. I played a Fretless Rickenbacker Bass years ago which was difficult to learn. But, I never saw a Fretless Guitar or anyone master it.

Check this out, Guthrie Govan from The Aristocrats and other bands.
 
mep said:
What frustrated me was my teacher would never keep at a song until you knew it from beginning to end. Once you could play a couple of chords from the song, it was time to move on. I never felt like I could play a single song from beginning to end.
Click to expand...

I always told my teacher back in the early 60's hey I'm paying you, right so lets complete the song. :trouble:, after a while he got it.
 
CPP said:
I always told my teacher back in the early 60's hey I'm paying you, right so lets complete the song. :trouble:, after a while he got it.
Click to expand...

I think they figured out that some people have a natural ability to play guitar and that I had an unnatural ability to play guitar.
 
Cyril..Check out Yamaha. You should find something in your price range. The most important thing for a beginner is playability. If it is hard to play, it will be frustrating and easy to give up.
 
Hey gents...I thought I would update everyone on what I ended up getting. After reading a lot of reviews, ended going with a Yamaha FG730S. A couple of notches up from their entry level FG700S. Has Spruce Sitka solid top and Rosewood sides and back. Some nice mother-of-pearl in-lay tastefully done around the sound hole and few other parts. Sounds quite nice (perhaps not as warm as a mahogany solid guitar would) but still has some warmth to it. At $299 (which is price for guitar only), I got the folks at Guitar Center to match an Amazon bundle which included a hard-body guitar case, guitar stand/tripod, electronic tuner, extra strings, a set of picks and an introductory book/cd/dvd on how to learn to play guitar for an extra $30. So all in all a good deal.

Here's a pic:

HLY250734-angle-large.jpg


And here's a link to the guitar at Sweetwater.com which has some nice views of the guitar: Yamaha FG730S - Natural | Sweetwater.com

Thanks for all the help and advice. Now the hard part of learning how to play the instrument :D
 
Congrats Cyril!! Enjoy!! I've been taking lessons for over a year. Even though we work on songs like Old Man, Stairway to Heaven and the like, I still suck, but I enjoy it. Lack of practice time is my issue. I finally have rock hard calluses on my finger tips, so it doesn't bother me too much to play.

Work on finger strengthening exercises - like chromatic scales - that helps build up the right muscles.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Mike said:
Congrats Cyril!! Enjoy!! I've been taking lessons for over a year. Even though we work on songs like Old Man, Stairway to Heaven and the like, I still suck, but I enjoy it. Lack of practice time is my issue. I finally have rock hard calluses on my finger tips, so it doesn't bother me too much to play.

Work on finger strengthening exercises - like chromatic scales - that helps build up the right muscles.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Thanks Mike...will do. And I hear you about developing the calluses as I have started futzing around with it and doing various left hand exercises and the finger tips start hurting 10-20 minutes into it :D

I am going to do some online courses to start off with to go over basics and then will look into private lessons with an instructor. Thanks again :thumbsup:
 
Congrats Cyril, have fun with it!

Sounds like you're approaching things right by gaining an understanding of the elementary pieces before you dive into paid-for lessons.
 
CPP said:
That' s awesome Cyril. Congrats. Now its lessons and practice, practice PRACTICE.
Click to expand...

Yes, yes, and YES

Thanks for the encouragement Chris and as you say now it's all about practice :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top