Yes, there's also the (incorrect) assumption that decent gear costs bucket loads of money. In fact, you can get used decent gear (not great, but playable) for a

Yes, there's also the (incorrect) assumption that decent gear costs bucket loads of money. In fact, you can get used decent gear (not great, but playable) for about the same cost as a new junk starter kit. When you are just starting, it's really difficult to tell why you sound bad. It is really discouraging that even when you are doing it right, it still sounds terrible. My rules of thumb: 1. Start with a decent guitar. Good tuners, action, and intonation are much more important than pick-ups, pedals or amps. A lot of times a used $80 guitar with brand new quality tuners is good enough. 2. Before you even learn to play, learn basic maintenance. E.g., how to change strings, how to tune. 3. Buy a tuner. It takes time to learn to tune by ear. Help yourself out by doing this tool assisted. Also, learn to tune all the time. Many beginners make the mistake of only tuning at the beginning of practice. The act of playing detunes your guitar--especially on cheaper instruments. Re-tune frequently.