3 ms·

Ignore all the advice about what books and what model of guitar to buy. Get a guitar, whatever you can, then play as much as possible. Play with other people

Ignore all the advice about what books and what model of guitar to buy. Get a guitar, whatever you can, then play as much as possible. Play with other people if you can and often. I'm at my happiest when jamming with other good musicians, I'm pretty sure, once you've got the muscle stuff down, you'll feel the same. A guitar is just a convenient way to express music. It's the music that you make and the enjoyment that you derive from it that truly matters.

itry 14y ago
"muscle stuff"?
- mkl 14y ago
  I'm pretty sure te_chris means this: Once you have the basic movements in muscle memory and can do them without concentrating, then you can really play.
gregsq 14y ago
With I would add the proviso that a good guitar can help you avoid bad habits. Possibilities present themselves with good playable instruments that may not occur to you otherwise. That doesn't necessarily mean paying a lot of money. I have a guitar that I paid about $5000 for, but a favourite Spanish guitar cost $20 in a second hand shop, and is just as useable.
- coldtea 14y ago
  >With I would add the proviso that a good guitar can help you avoid bad habits. Sounds like old wives tales. Besides getting out of tune or sounding a little hollow, is there any _specific_ habit you can get out of a "bad guitar"?
jamesrcole 14y ago
> Get a guitar, whatever you can I'm not qualified to judge this, but I've heard people say the opposite: to get a good guitar, as a poor quality instrument is a big factor that tends to put people off. > Ignore all the advice about what books and what model of guitar to buy... Get a guitar... then play as much as possible What does that mean? randomly mash fret positions and twang strings? Surely you have to learn from something, and you don't say what.
- leviathant 14y ago
  If you're just starting out playing guitar, you can get a perfectly serviceable electric guitar off Craigslist for $100-$200. You can probably find used acoustics for even less money. Cut your teeth on a cheap acoustic guitar, and when you pick up a cheap electric guitar, it'll be so much easier to play. Build up your skill on that, and if you feel comfortable, head to guitar center and try out more expensive instruments. If the difference is notable enough to drop $2,000 on an upgrade, go for it.
  - snorkel 14y ago
    ToysRus sells a First Act acoustic for $80. Plenty adequate for beginners.
    - Afton 14y ago
      I bought a first act acoustic for my daughter to learn on. It was untune-able. I've been learning the uke for a year now, and after a few months, I've been irritated by my uke on some chords. Talked about it with my uke teacher, she pointed out that the string (the E string) isn't quite right (if it's in tune on the open string, then the G on that string is sharp). These things matter more than you might think.
      - wyclif 14y ago
        All true. Like I said, getting a cheap, toy guitar is only going to frustrate you. It might even frustrate a kid, and you'll be tempted to stop playing. What you want are two things: 1. Easy to play all over the fretboard, and 2. Stays in tune.
  - wyclif 14y ago
    Listen to Justin: don't get a cheap acoustic. His reasoning is totally sound. Acoustic guitars are a lot harder to make than electrics and require much more hand craftsmanship, and cheap ones are really hard to play. If you can't afford a good acoustic, take his advice and get a cheap electric. A cheap, unplayable acoustic guitar will just frustrate you, and you'll quit playing. How can you tell a cheapo acoustic from others? The main thing is the action. You should be able to easily play a barre chord at the 12th fret, and open E and the fretted E (on the 12th fret) should be in tune. The neck should have a uniform playability and there shouldn't be any dead spots when you play all over the neck, and no fret buzz. Forget about fancy abalone or mother-of-pearl inlays and elaborate finishes. Pick up the guitar and hold it right up to your face and look in the soundhole at the inside of the guitar. If you see any glue oozing between the joints inside it's sloppy and cheap workmanship, pass on it and get another guitar. The inside should be clean and dry. You shouldn't buy any instrument sight-unseen, before you can play it first or (if you are a beginner) get another player to check out for you. It's a lot easier to find a playable AND cheap electric, like Justin recommends. But if you want an acoustic, spending more money is really, really worth it. There's something at every price point, but once you get around $2k (depends on make/model and YMMV) you start getting into good quality.

itry 14y ago

"muscle stuff"?

mkl 14y ago
I'm pretty sure te_chris means this: Once you have the basic movements in muscle memory and can do them without concentrating, then you can really play.

gregsq 14y ago

With I would add the proviso that a good guitar can help you avoid bad habits. Possibilities present themselves with good playable instruments that may not occur to you otherwise. That doesn't necessarily mean paying a lot of money. I have a guitar that I paid about $5000 for, but a favourite Spanish guitar cost $20 in a second hand shop, and is just as useable.

coldtea 14y ago
>With I would add the proviso that a good guitar can help you avoid bad habits. Sounds like old wives tales. Besides getting out of tune or sounding a little hollow, is there any _specific_ habit you can get out of a "bad guitar"?

jamesrcole 14y ago

> Get a guitar, whatever you can I'm not qualified to judge this, but I've heard people say the opposite: to get a good guitar, as a poor quality instrument is a big factor that tends to put people off. > Ignore all the advice about what books and what model of guitar to buy... Get a guitar... then play as much as possible What does that mean? randomly mash fret positions and twang strings? Surely you have to learn from something, and you don't say what.

leviathant 14y ago
If you're just starting out playing guitar, you can get a perfectly serviceable electric guitar off Craigslist for $100-$200. You can probably find used acoustics for even less money. Cut your teeth on a cheap acoustic guitar, and when you pick up a cheap electric guitar, it'll be so much easier to play. Build up your skill on that, and if you feel comfortable, head to guitar center and try out more expensive instruments. If the difference is notable enough to drop $2,000 on an upgrade, go for it.
- snorkel 14y ago
  ToysRus sells a First Act acoustic for $80. Plenty adequate for beginners.
  - Afton 14y ago
    I bought a first act acoustic for my daughter to learn on. It was untune-able. I've been learning the uke for a year now, and after a few months, I've been irritated by my uke on some chords. Talked about it with my uke teacher, she pointed out that the string (the E string) isn't quite right (if it's in tune on the open string, then the G on that string is sharp). These things matter more than you might think.
    - wyclif 14y ago
      All true. Like I said, getting a cheap, toy guitar is only going to frustrate you. It might even frustrate a kid, and you'll be tempted to stop playing. What you want are two things: 1. Easy to play all over the fretboard, and 2. Stays in tune.
- wyclif 14y ago
  Listen to Justin: don't get a cheap acoustic. His reasoning is totally sound. Acoustic guitars are a lot harder to make than electrics and require much more hand craftsmanship, and cheap ones are really hard to play. If you can't afford a good acoustic, take his advice and get a cheap electric. A cheap, unplayable acoustic guitar will just frustrate you, and you'll quit playing. How can you tell a cheapo acoustic from others? The main thing is the action. You should be able to easily play a barre chord at the 12th fret, and open E and the fretted E (on the 12th fret) should be in tune. The neck should have a uniform playability and there shouldn't be any dead spots when you play all over the neck, and no fret buzz. Forget about fancy abalone or mother-of-pearl inlays and elaborate finishes. Pick up the guitar and hold it right up to your face and look in the soundhole at the inside of the guitar. If you see any glue oozing between the joints inside it's sloppy and cheap workmanship, pass on it and get another guitar. The inside should be clean and dry. You shouldn't buy any instrument sight-unseen, before you can play it first or (if you are a beginner) get another player to check out for you. It's a lot easier to find a playable AND cheap electric, like Justin recommends. But if you want an acoustic, spending more money is really, really worth it. There's something at every price point, but once you get around $2k (depends on make/model and YMMV) you start getting into good quality.