Acoustic Guitar Advice

[RaoulDuke79]

My daughter just started playing the violin at school and I thought it would be cool if we could learn music together. I've always enjoyed music, but never really tried playing anything. I'd like to get an acoustic guitar for Christmas and was hoping to get some advice on a good guitar to start out on. Cheers.

[row_33]

what hand do you lean towards playing with?

 

[RaoulDuke79]

4 minutes ago, row_33 said:

what hand do you lean towards playing with?

 

I'm right handed for everything.

[row_33]

i'm a lefty but for the few times i've tried i got a good sound out of it playing right handed

 

i've thought of learning to play as a lefty

 

or going back to Chopin studies on piano....  but time slips by

 

go for it,  it's a great way to bond and solidifies good memories.

 

 

 

 

[John Adams]

27 minutes ago, RaoulDuke79 said:

My daughter just started playing the violin at school and I thought it would be cool if we could learn music together. I've always enjoyed music, but never really tried playing anything. I'd like to get an acoustic guitar for Christmas and was hoping to get some advice on a good guitar to start out on. Cheers.

 

Better guitars sound better and as a better player, that matters a lot. 

 

As a beginner, the best thing to do is go to the store and literally get the one you like and that you can afford. There's no need to break the bank with your first guitar. 

 

James Taylor could play the hell out of a $150 Ibanez and you'd sound like crap on a $5000 Martin. 

[row_33]

12 minutes ago, John Adams said:

 

Better guitars sound better and as a better player, that matters a lot. 

 

As a beginner, the best thing to do is go to the store and literally get the one you like and that you can afford. There's no need to break the bank with your first guitar. 

 

James Taylor could play the hell out of a $150 Ibanez and you'd sound like crap on a $5000 Martin. 

 

oh yes, I've seen a few demos by stars and not-quite in Toronto shops

 

just tell them honestly what you are seeking and they will be glad to help you out.

 

 

 

[WhoTom]

Seagulls are nice guitars for the money, and if you can find one used, even better. I have an S6 Original and an S12+. Both were used when I bought them - I paid about $400 for the 12-string and $220 for the 6-string.

 

Edited September 27, 2019 by WhoTom

[Alaska Darin]

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/thehub/choosing-an-acoustic-guitar

 

My advice is go to a decent music store and spend some time there.  Don't be afraid to ask questions.

 

The biggest thing is finding a guitar that's comfortable for you physically.  For new players, the most important thing is finding an instrument that easy for YOU to play.  I would ask to see guitars with the lowest possible action (distance from the strings to the fretboard) because the higher the strings are, the harder the guitar is to play.  Maybe look at travel guitars, which are smaller, generally cheaper and easier to play.

[Gugny]

1 hour ago, John Adams said:

 

Better guitars sound better and as a better player, that matters a lot. 

 

As a beginner, the best thing to do is go to the store and literally get the one you like and that you can afford. There's no need to break the bank with your first guitar. 

 

James Taylor could play the hell out of a $150 Ibanez and you'd sound like crap on a $5000 Martin. 

 

This is excellent advice.

 

Don't get too hung up on brand names - but stay away from "Stagg" or "Rogue" guitars.

 

Fender, Ibanez, Oscar Schmidt ... all make quality, affordable models.

 

[Nextmanup]

1 hour ago, RaoulDuke79 said:

My daughter just started playing the violin at school and I thought it would be cool if we could learn music together. I've always enjoyed music, but never really tried playing anything. I'd like to get an acoustic guitar for Christmas and was hoping to get some advice on a good guitar to start out on. Cheers.

There are 2 schools of thought on this, both have merit.

 

The first approach is to buy your "second guitar" FIRST.  Meaning a better, more expensive instrument will be easier to play, more fun to play, will sound better, and will encourage you to play more than a cheaper instrument.  But it comes at the cost of higher price and you have to weigh that against your own anticipation of how long you are going to play.

 

Are you the kind of person to try new things for a week and then forget about them forever?  Are you a perfectionist who conquers all that you explore in life?  Do you think you will still be playing this guitar 5 or 10 years from now?  This should weigh into your decision.  If you think you will stick at it, you might want to skip the "beginner guitar" and get something of quality up front.  

 

The second approach is to simply go buy any sort of cheap, serviceable guitar for $100 or something like this.  See if you like playing it and how it goes...if things go well and you want to advance, dump it on Ebay when the time comes and buy a better guitar.

 

You have to decide which route you want to go and only you can decide which is better.

 

 

[Mark80]

Get a cheap first one.  When your fingers are killing you and you are aren't seeing much progress it will be an easier pill to swallow if you give up.  I've tried learning at least 5 times.  Can't stick with it though and can't get more than 4 or 5 chords down each time.  Good luck though!

[Nextmanup]

2 minutes ago, Mark80 said:

Get a cheap first one.  When your fingers are killing you and you are aren't seeing much progress it will be an easier pill to swallow if you give up.  I've tried learning at least 5 times.  Can't stick with it though and can't get more than 4 or 5 chords down each time.  Good luck though!

See my comments above; this can be a valid approach.

 

If you do go the cheap route, take a look at these Esteban guitars.  I once watched an informercial with this guy selling these things for a half hour.  Of course, he could play a ham sandwich and it would sound good...but he went out of his way to put some level of quality into these things for a ridiculously low price so as to make guitars accessible to kids coming from families that can't afford very much.

 

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Esteban/AL100-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar-115781406.gc

[Nextmanup]

1 hour ago, RaoulDuke79 said:

My daughter just started playing the violin at school and I thought it would be cool if we could learn music together. I've always enjoyed music, but never really tried playing anything. I'd like to get an acoustic guitar for Christmas and was hoping to get some advice on a good guitar to start out on. Cheers.

Another thing to consider here:  why are you targeting an acoustic guitar specifically?  Does that translate to the sort of music you like to listen to and want to play?  Is it because you think that will better accompany the violin?
 

Would you have any interest in an electric guitar and playing electric music?  

 

I ask because you can get a little amp and an electric guitar for not much $$$ at all, and an electric guitar will be MUCH easier to play off the bat than an acoustic guitar.  You can also make it sound very clean and "acoustic" in nature and play it at low volume if that is what you like, and you can also play the electric guitar acoustically, meaning, don't plug it in and just play it.  Or you can turn up the volume now and again, add some distortion, and try to play Hendrix and Zeppelin.  

 

The electric guitar can do a lot more than the acoustic guitar and it is much easier to play....so I thought I'd bring this up.

 

However, if all you want to do is play Simon and Garfunkel music (so to speak), an acoustic guitar still makes sense.

 

 

[RaoulDuke79]

19 minutes ago, Nextmanup said:

There are 2 schools of thought on this, both have merit.

 

The first approach is to buy your "second guitar" FIRST.  Meaning a better, more expensive instrument will be easier to play, more fun to play, will sound better, and will encourage you to play more than a cheaper instrument.  But it comes at the cost of higher price and you have to weigh that against your own anticipation of how long you are going to play.

 

Are you the kind of person to try new things for a week and then forget about them forever?  Are you a perfectionist who conquers all that you explore in life?  Do you think you will still be playing this guitar 5 or 10 years from now?  This should weigh into your decision.  If you think you will stick at it, you might want to skip the "beginner guitar" and get something of quality up front.  

 

The second approach is to simply go buy any sort of cheap, serviceable guitar for $100 or something like this.  See if you like playing it and how it goes...if things go well and you want to advance, dump it on Ebay when the time comes and buy a better guitar.

 

You have to decide which route you want to go and only you can decide which is better.

 

 

A little from each group. Whatever I do or try intend to go all in right out of the gate. However,  I tend to lose interest in most things after a while. I'm definently going to go the cheaper route to start out.

6 minutes ago, Nextmanup said:

Another thing to consider here:  why are you targeting an acoustic guitar specifically?  Does that translate to the sort of music you like to listen to and want to play?  Is it because you think that will better accompany the violin?
 

Would you have any interest in an electric guitar and playing electric music?  

 

I ask because you can get a little amp and an electric guitar for not much $$$ at all, and an electric guitar will be MUCH easier to play off the bat than an acoustic guitar.  You can also make it sound very clean and "acoustic" in nature and play it at low volume if that is what you like, and you can also play the electric guitar acoustically, meaning, don't plug it in and just play it.  Or you can turn up the volume now and again, add some distortion, and try to play Hendrix and Zeppelin.  

 

The electric guitar can do a lot more than the acoustic guitar and it is much easier to play....so I thought I'd bring this up.

 

However, if all you want to do is play Simon and Garfunkel music (so to speak), an acoustic guitar still makes sense.

 

 

I just assumed an acoustic guitar would be less expensive.

[Nextmanup]

2 minutes ago, RaoulDuke79 said:

A little from each group. Whatever I do or try intend to go all in right out of the gate. However,  I tend to lose interest in most things after a while. I'm definently going to go the cheaper route to start out.

Well then it's not complicated.  Go to a music store, and put some acoustic guitars in your hand and see what feels comfortable, and comes at a price you feel comfortable paying.  And then buy it.

 

Once you get it, the key to the entire endeavor is practice.  Initially your hands will be cramping up and your fingers will hurt.  You have to push through that.  

The more you play, you will build up calluses on your fingers and those will make it MUCH easier to play after you have them.

 

There is an infinite supply of tutorial/instructional videos at Youtube, guys showing you how to play chords or your favorite licks, etc...you can learn all you need to for free there.

 

 

 

 

[The Real Buffalo Joe]

Don't buy anything too cheap. My mom bought me a "First Act" guitar when I was a teenager, and I never learned how to play until someone gifted me their old Epiphone. Yamaha, Ibenez, are both good beginner guitars, and you won't be breaking the bank if you decide it isn't for you after a few months. But if you're not planning on spending at least $100-150, don't bother. 

 

Also, I learned the hard way, invest in a good case. 

Edited September 27, 2019 by The Real Buffalo Joe

[RaoulDuke79]

3 minutes ago, The Real Buffalo Joe said:

Don't buy anything too cheap. My mom bought me a "First Act" guitar when I was a teenager, and I never learned how to play until someone gifted me their old Epiphone. Yamaha, Ibenez, are both good beginner guitars, and you won't be breaking the bank if you decide it isn't for you after a few months. But if you're not planning on spending at least $100-150, don't bother. 

 

Also, I learned the hard way, invest in a good case. 

I was going in with the idea of keeping it under $500.

[Gugny]

Let me add that I think learning to play guitar on a piece of crap is not a good experience or idea.

 

Another piece of advice is, if you're going to buy online, be careful.  My son tried out a cheap acoustic at the local store.  They didn't have it in the color he wanted.  I found the same guitar online, in the color he wanted.   When I got it, the frets all had sharp edges that hung over each side of the fretboard (sign of drying out).

 

It's really best to make your purchases in person.

 

Since you are at risk of abandoning the guitar, perhaps something in the $150 range would be wise.

 

Example:  https://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/fender-fa-125-dreadnought-acoustic-guitar/l48534000001000

 

Although it's best to buy in person, musiciansfriend and sweetwater are both pretty risk-free.  I bought a Fender acoustic from MF and it was perfect.

 

Good luck!

 

[Nextmanup]

6 minutes ago, RaoulDuke79 said:

I was going in with the idea of keeping it under $500.

If you are good with a $500 budget, go to a store, find the one that speaks to you, and buy it.  

 

It's not more complicated than that.

 

 

[Chandler#81]

1 hour ago, Alaska Darin said:

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/thehub/choosing-an-acoustic-guitar

 

My advice is go to a decent music store and spend some time there.  Don't be afraid to ask questions.

 

The biggest thing is finding a guitar that's comfortable for you physically.  For new players, the most important thing is finding an instrument that easy for YOU to play.  I would ask to see guitars with the lowest possible action (distance from the strings to the fretboard) because the higher the strings are, the harder the guitar is to play.  Maybe look at travel guitars, which are smaller, generally cheaper and easier to play.

^

Great advice. Don’t buy one sight unseen or without handling it. There are nuances in every guitar. I have fat fingers, so a narrower neck doesn’t work for me, where it may for slender fingers. Yes, the Action, or closer to the neck makes for easier playing. The faster you sound good to yourself, the more likely you’ll continue playing.