So you want to learn how to play guitar! Just head to the closest strip mall and...
Woah! Slow down there. True; it is possible to purchase a brand new item labeled as a ‘GUITAR’ at a ‘big box store’ for under $50.00. It’s also possible to purchase a used automobile for a similar price, but would you get behind that steering wheel? Let’s face it - most of these instruments were poorly constructed and mass-produced, made with below-market-grade parts, in factories that produce slippers, dinette sets, or soap dispensers.
You don’t have to spend a ton of money to buy a first guitar; I’d strongly caution against it. There are many well-constructed, very playable instruments that can be purchased for under $500.00. Acoustic guitar prices can vary wildly, with some custom-made instruments going for tens of thousands of dollars - and more!
How To Begin
Do yourself a favor and go to an independent, “brick-and-mortar” store in your area. Don’t know one? Get a recommendation from a musician you know, or the person who owns the local CD/record store, or the manager of a local live music venue - even check Facebook. When I recommend a store to my students, I do so based on the following criteria:
1. A high level of patient service before, during, and after the sale
2. The collective knowledge of the staff
3. The price and quality ranges of instruments in stock
4. They are non-commissioned employees (little pressure on you to buy anything)
5. The reputation of these stores among musicians and teachers
These shops want to build a relationship with you, so they should make your experience a good one. They’ve built their reputations and clientele on providing a level of service that continues to earn them lifetime customers.
[Ed. note: We highly recommend Chuck Levin's Washington Music Center for their outstanding service, huge selection, and location right off the Metro. In Baltimore, our go-to resource is Bill's Music.]
Kicking The Tires
OK...you found a store that seems to have a good selection and some nice folks inside. But what do you do when you walk in? If no one has greeted you yet, walk up to the counter and tell them you’re a beginning guitar student, and need a lot of help to pick the right instrument. Most likely, you’ll get a smile, maybe a pat on the back, as they walk you over to a wall peppered with dangling guitars. Now get comfortable.
An experienced and knowledgeable salesperson (who is most likely a musician as well) should be able to show you at least 2-3 instruments that would be good choices. Are you going to be taking specialized lessons (like classical, jazz, or flamenco?); this information is important to help guide the salesperson’s choices, so let him/her know. Generally, the instrument should be comfortable to hold, you should like the tone it produces, and it should look cool - to you.
While it’s important to give the salesperson an idea of your budget, keep in mind that a well-built, entry-level instrument will most likely cost somewhere between $300 and $500, not including extra sets of strings, a case, some picks… In other words, be realistic when going in (a little pre-shopping on-line research could help).
Speaking of accessories, some guitars come with a bag or case, but many don’t. Often though, the included case is nothing more than thin plastic with a zipper that won’t offer any protection at all. It is a smart investment to purchase a solidly constructed “gig” bag (soft-case) made from heavy-duty padded nylon, solid zippers, handles, and optional shoulder straps. That said, unless it comes with one, don’t feel obligated to purchase a heavy hard case built for travel. It adds weight, it’s cumbersome, and it’s unnecessary.
Set-up
Once you’ve settled on a guitar that you want to buy, inquire about a “set-up” for the new instrument. Some stores will include related services when you purchase a new instrument, but most do not. That said, the cost for this service tends to be reasonable, and helps make the instrument really playable from the beginning. I’ve paid an average of $70-$80 for a good setup.
A “set-up” usually consists of the following things…
1. Strings: You don’t know how long those strings have been on that guitar, and how many people have tried playing it before you arrived. Fresh strings breathe new life into a guitar (a set should cost somewhere in the $5 -$10 range; installation should be included in the setup fee)
2. Adjust the “action”: Running inside the neck of your guitar is a long, metal screw (truss-rod) fastened at both ends. An experienced guitar repair technician will make adjustments to this so the strings are the appropriate distance from the fretboard in order to make it easier to play.
3. Check/tune-up the hardware: The tech will also look at the tuning machines, the bridge, the individual string saddles, the nut - everything - to make certain they are all in fine shape and working properly.
4. Overall clean and polish: Your instrument should look better than when you brought it in!
Ask for a couple of sets of appropriate strings; your guitar teacher should spend at least one lesson demonstrating how to tune your guitar, and how to change strings. Everyone breaks a string at some point; be a good scout and be prepared - buy more.
Some new guitars will come with a polishing cloth, as it’s really important to wipe down the instrument when you have finished playing it for the day. Overtime, oils and dirt from your hands can age the strings more quickly, and in extreme cases hurt the finish of your instrument. A wipe down after playing can help prolong the life of your instrument. If your model does not come with one, grab one from your linen closet at home and keep it in the guitar case (an old concert shirt works fine too).
If you’ll be learning to use a pick make sure to have the salesperson include a few medium or heavy gauge picks. You’ll develop a preference for certain types of picks and strings as you become a more experienced player.
Make sure to invest in a decent electric tuner. There are battery-powered models, many under $20, built to clip right onto the headstock of your guitar with a brightly lit screen that will guide you to keeping your instrument in tune. Have the salesperson show you a few models, and demonstrate how they operate.
One item I always recommend to my students, is a string winder. When you replace a string on your guitar, it takes quite a few turns of the tuning peg to first undo the old string, and then to tune up the new one. A string winder fits right on to the tuning machine; you turn the handle, and it provides non-stop motion, tuning your string up or down much more quickly, without hand strain!
Some string winders have a built-in pair of wire-cutters, which are necessary to trim strings to the proper length. If the store does not stock that model, purchase a small pair of wire cutters from a hardware store to keep in your case.
Take care of your guitar and it’ll take care of you. If you maintain your instrument it will feel easier and more comfortable to play, which will make practicing and lessons fun. At the very least, if you’re still playing in a few years, and want to “trade up” to a more luxurious model, the sale of your well-maintained instrument could provide a healthy down-payment. Yes, there is a lot to learn, but remember: your teacher and your guitar shop are there to help. As I often tell my own students, “The only stupid question is the one you don’t ask.” Good luck, and keep on strumming!
Woah! Slow down there. True; it is possible to purchase a brand new item labeled as a ‘GUITAR’ at a ‘big box store’ for under $50.00. It’s also possible to purchase a used automobile for a similar price, but would you get behind that steering wheel? Let’s face it - most of these instruments were poorly constructed and mass-produced, made with below-market-grade parts, in factories that produce slippers, dinette sets, or soap dispensers.
You don’t have to spend a ton of money to buy a first guitar; I’d strongly caution against it. There are many well-constructed, very playable instruments that can be purchased for under $500.00. Acoustic guitar prices can vary wildly, with some custom-made instruments going for tens of thousands of dollars - and more!
Do yourself a favor and go to an independent, “brick-and-mortar” store in your area. Don’t know one? Get a recommendation from a musician you know, or the person who owns the local CD/record store, or the manager of a local live music venue - even check Facebook. When I recommend a store to my students, I do so based on the following criteria:
1. A high level of patient service before, during, and after the sale
2. The collective knowledge of the staff
3. The price and quality ranges of instruments in stock
4. They are non-commissioned employees (little pressure on you to buy anything)
5. The reputation of these stores among musicians and teachers
These shops want to build a relationship with you, so they should make your experience a good one. They’ve built their reputations and clientele on providing a level of service that continues to earn them lifetime customers.
[Ed. note: We highly recommend Chuck Levin's Washington Music Center for their outstanding service, huge selection, and location right off the Metro. In Baltimore, our go-to resource is Bill's Music.]
Kicking The Tires
OK...you found a store that seems to have a good selection and some nice folks inside. But what do you do when you walk in? If no one has greeted you yet, walk up to the counter and tell them you’re a beginning guitar student, and need a lot of help to pick the right instrument. Most likely, you’ll get a smile, maybe a pat on the back, as they walk you over to a wall peppered with dangling guitars. Now get comfortable.
An experienced and knowledgeable salesperson (who is most likely a musician as well) should be able to show you at least 2-3 instruments that would be good choices. Are you going to be taking specialized lessons (like classical, jazz, or flamenco?); this information is important to help guide the salesperson’s choices, so let him/her know. Generally, the instrument should be comfortable to hold, you should like the tone it produces, and it should look cool - to you.
While it’s important to give the salesperson an idea of your budget, keep in mind that a well-built, entry-level instrument will most likely cost somewhere between $300 and $500, not including extra sets of strings, a case, some picks… In other words, be realistic when going in (a little pre-shopping on-line research could help).
Speaking of accessories, some guitars come with a bag or case, but many don’t. Often though, the included case is nothing more than thin plastic with a zipper that won’t offer any protection at all. It is a smart investment to purchase a solidly constructed “gig” bag (soft-case) made from heavy-duty padded nylon, solid zippers, handles, and optional shoulder straps. That said, unless it comes with one, don’t feel obligated to purchase a heavy hard case built for travel. It adds weight, it’s cumbersome, and it’s unnecessary.
Set-up
A “set-up” usually consists of the following things…
1. Strings: You don’t know how long those strings have been on that guitar, and how many people have tried playing it before you arrived. Fresh strings breathe new life into a guitar (a set should cost somewhere in the $5 -$10 range; installation should be included in the setup fee)
2. Adjust the “action”: Running inside the neck of your guitar is a long, metal screw (truss-rod) fastened at both ends. An experienced guitar repair technician will make adjustments to this so the strings are the appropriate distance from the fretboard in order to make it easier to play.
3. Check/tune-up the hardware: The tech will also look at the tuning machines, the bridge, the individual string saddles, the nut - everything - to make certain they are all in fine shape and working properly.
4. Overall clean and polish: Your instrument should look better than when you brought it in!
Ask for a couple of sets of appropriate strings; your guitar teacher should spend at least one lesson demonstrating how to tune your guitar, and how to change strings. Everyone breaks a string at some point; be a good scout and be prepared - buy more.
Some new guitars will come with a polishing cloth, as it’s really important to wipe down the instrument when you have finished playing it for the day. Overtime, oils and dirt from your hands can age the strings more quickly, and in extreme cases hurt the finish of your instrument. A wipe down after playing can help prolong the life of your instrument. If your model does not come with one, grab one from your linen closet at home and keep it in the guitar case (an old concert shirt works fine too).
If you’ll be learning to use a pick make sure to have the salesperson include a few medium or heavy gauge picks. You’ll develop a preference for certain types of picks and strings as you become a more experienced player.
Make sure to invest in a decent electric tuner. There are battery-powered models, many under $20, built to clip right onto the headstock of your guitar with a brightly lit screen that will guide you to keeping your instrument in tune. Have the salesperson show you a few models, and demonstrate how they operate.
One item I always recommend to my students, is a string winder. When you replace a string on your guitar, it takes quite a few turns of the tuning peg to first undo the old string, and then to tune up the new one. A string winder fits right on to the tuning machine; you turn the handle, and it provides non-stop motion, tuning your string up or down much more quickly, without hand strain!
Some string winders have a built-in pair of wire-cutters, which are necessary to trim strings to the proper length. If the store does not stock that model, purchase a small pair of wire cutters from a hardware store to keep in your case.
You’ve Been a Wonderful Audience
Take care of your guitar and it’ll take care of you. If you maintain your instrument it will feel easier and more comfortable to play, which will make practicing and lessons fun. At the very least, if you’re still playing in a few years, and want to “trade up” to a more luxurious model, the sale of your well-maintained instrument could provide a healthy down-payment. Yes, there is a lot to learn, but remember: your teacher and your guitar shop are there to help. As I often tell my own students, “The only stupid question is the one you don’t ask.” Good luck, and keep on strumming!
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