Guitar Lessons Article 4 : Tips on Buying a Guitar

As a beginning guitarist, you want to pay close attention to certain factors before you buy a guitar. When choosing a guitar as a beginner, things can become quite tricky because at this point you have no idea exactly what kind of guitar you want or what sound you are looking for. Chances are you really don't know that much about guitars in the first place and can end up making a bad decision.

The first thing you should decide upon when buying a guitar is whether you want to start learning how to play guitar on an accoustic guitar or an electric guitar. The choice is yours ofcourse but I first started learning how to play guitar on an accoustic because it had nylon strings which were easier on my fingers and the frets were far apart from each other which helped me develop a good stretch from my fingers. However, it is totally up to you whether you want to invest in an accoustic guitar or an electric guitar.

The Pros of an accoustic guitar are that they do not require any cables or amplifiers in order for you to play it. You can simply pick it up and start playing guitar at your leisure anywhere you want. The cons are simply that accoustic guitars are a little harder to play than electric, but this is really a good thing. As I mentioned above, I became a really good guitar player because I started on an accoustic, and once I bought my first electric guitar, I was flying on that baby.

Now, as far as the electric guitar, the pros are ofcourse that they are easier to play than accoustic guitars. You will probably notice improvements faster on an electric, especially if you are playing rock or a style of music where electric guitars are fundamental for the sound they produce. The cons are that electric guitars are typically more expensive not only because it is an electronic device, but you need to also invest in cables and an amplifier inorder for you to hear yourself playing the guitar.

Finally, it is most important that you do not get ripped off when buying a guitar. I understand that when choosing a guitar as a beginner you may tend to be interested in the guitar that your favorite guitarist uses. You will see him in posters and magazines sponsoring a certain brand of guitar and you will want to buy the same one he has, but what you will have to realize is that most of the time, these famous guitarists are being paid by the guitar companies to play 'their' guitars. In fact, the majority of the times, these guitars have been modified and customized by the company so much to a point that the one YOU will buy at the store is 99% different than the one you favorite guitarist is actually using on stage.

So try not to let the media and marketing confuse you when buying a guitar. Chooose your guitar wisely and remember, you are only a beginner. As you progress and become a better guitar player, you will end up buying a new guitar in the future. So do not waste your life savings on your very first beginners guitar.