If you’re struggling to choose an electric guitar for a beginner – be it for yourself or a gift for someone else, this post aims to help you decide by looking at some fundamental aspects when considering what to go for. As a newcomer to the electric guitar, it can seem overwhelming with the vast amount of choices and styles of guitar to consider.
There are various aspects to look at when choosing your first guitar, however before you split your hard-earned cash, it’s a good idea to consider what style of guitar will suit your needs (and wallet!).
This will minimize the risk of an impulse purchase when hitting the shops which could result in overspending, regretting your choice, or even worse – not wanting to play all together!
Ask yourself this simple question: ‘Why do I want to learn to play guitar?’ Think about some of your favorite guitarists that have inspired you to learn, do you have a sound or tone in particular that you like?
Maybe you’re into the crisp twang of a country guitar or the thick, rich sound of classic rock? Whatever the style you decide, your future guitar is waiting out there ready for you to own and play it!
If you are planning on jamming with friends or gigging, It is important to remember that within your budget you will want to have enough left over for a small practice amplifier.
Other essentials include an instrument cable, a comfortable strap and strap locks, plectrums as well as some spare string sets, a tuner and a music stand too.
What if I don’t want to stick to one genre of music?
That’s great news if you have influences from a range of genres and styles of guitar music. Of course it is very common to have a wide range of musical tastes, listening to a vast range of music as and when the mood takes you is one of the great pleasures of music.
As a beginner to the guitar, it is beneficial to have an interest in more than one style of music as over time you will progress and take influence from different styles of playing to create your own signature sound.
The key point to remember is every standard electric guitar, no matter what shape, size or style, will all have a body, a neck and six strings tuned to standard tuning. They will all need an amplifier to project their sound and no matter what you choose, chords, scales and techniques will be transferable to any future guitar you may own.
I have a limited budget, what should I do?
If you are strapped for cash but are striving to own your first electric, you many want to consider looking at guitar starter packages. These are a great way to save money and because they contain everything you need to start playing electric guitar you won’t have to worry about buying anything else for a while.
Also think about buying after seasonal breaks as many music stores slash prices on guitars and there are some real bargains to be had if you keep an eye out.
Have you considered picking up a secondhand guitar from eBay or your local music store? If you are still lucky enough to be at school age, you can ask to borrow a guitar over weekends or perhaps you know someone with a guitar they no longer play?
Ultimately, as long as the guitar is in a good playable condition there’s no need to spend a fortune to begin with – unless you want to of course!
Conclusion
One of the most overlooked aspects that makes a great difference to your first experience with the instrument is ensuring it’s properly set up and comfortable for you to play.
The majority of beginner guitars are adequate when you’re starting out and many negative comments you see online can be resolved with a simple setup by your local guitar technician and a set of new strings.
The higher your budget, the higher quality instrument you will see generally. There are many great starter instruments that don’t cost the earth and it’s a great idea to try out as many as you can before deciding on one.
If you are buying for someone else, especially a child you must have their input! The more they love their new guitar, the more they will play. This, along with a great guitar teacher will give them the best possible chance of developing into a great players.
