Adolescents and young people today are very fond of music and the guitar is one of the favorite instruments to play. And of all guitars, acoustic ones are the most demanding.
They are best for beginners and also for music lovers. Produces smooth sound without using any type of amplified device.
The main part of a guitar is the string. It vibrates at different frequencies and creates various harmonics at different frequencies.
However, choosing a guitar can be a huge hurdle and you should be very careful about some of the factors I mentioned below. Remember the budget and the goal especially before buying a guitar.
Next, in this article, I mentioned the top 5 guitars for beginners in India. There is a shopping guide for all of you to gain insight and then make an informed decision.
Our Top Pick
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10 Best Best Guitar for Beginners Review
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CHOOSE THE RIGHT GUITAR FOR A BEGINNER
One of the questions we get most often at School of Rock is which guitar parents should buy for their child who wants to start learning to play. Here are a couple of pointers to help you find out how to buy a guitar for a beginning musician. Once you’ve put a sweet guitar into your kid’s hands, come to School of Rock for a tour and free trial lesson, and we’ll help them love playing it.
There are a few general categories of guitar that are very popular. These styles have very different sound and playability characteristics. Deciding the style of which guitar to buy in advance will help narrow down your choices considerably.
One of the most important concepts behind the success of School of Rock is that if students are inspired by their instrument they’ll get better that much faster. Your kid’s favorite bands and styles of music will be a good indicator of the best beginner guitar to buy for capturing their attention.
BUYING AN ELECTRIC GUITAR FOR A BEGINNER
Out of all the types of guitars, electric guitars are by far the most popular style used in modern music. Electrics produce only the faintest of sound on their own, but once connected to an amplifier they open up a world of potential for a variety of sounds. These guitars are primarily used in rock, metal, pop, blues, jazz, country, and R&B.
ADVANTAGES OF AN ELECTRIC GUITAR
- Easier to play than acoustic or classical
- Available in many sizes, making them perfect for young players
- Versatile and capable of of producing a variety of tones
- Used frequently in most popular styles of music
- With the amplifier, can be set to be as loud or soft as desired
DISADVANTAGES OF AN ELECTRIC GUITAR
• Require some additional accessories, such as an amplifier and connector cable, in order to achieve a full sound.
BUYING AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR FOR A BEGINNER
Acoustic guitars are built to produce a rich sound with no electric amplification. Out of all types of guitars, they are most commonly used in genres like folk, singer-songwriter, country, and bluegrass, but are occasionally used in rock, blues, and R&B as well.
A lot of parents ask about the difference between starting on acoustic guitar versus electric guitar. At the core, they are the same instrument, and concepts learned on one are immediately transferable to the other. However, an electric guitar may be the best beginner guitar for learning, as it is usually a little easier to play since the neck is narrower and the strings are easier to press down.
ADVANTAGES OF AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR
- Does not require additional amplification
- Can be amplified with a removable pickup
- Bright sound that is great for playing chords
- Get a better first instrument using money saved by not needing an amp
DISADVANTAGES OF AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR
- Many models require additional equipment installed to plug into an amp or sound system, making it tougher to be heard while playing with a band
- Limited range of sounds and tones
- Requires thicker strings, making it harder to play for a beginner
- Some short scale and beginner models are poorly made
WHAT IS AN ACOUSTIC-ELECTRIC GUITAR?
If you feel like you need a guitar that combines the advantages of electric and acoustic, you may want to consider an acoustic-electric guitar. Since performers often use acoustic guitars in large venues, acoustic guitar makers produce models that have built-in microphones, or pickups. The advantage is that these guitars function and sound exactly like an acoustic guitar, but when needed, they can be plugged in and amplified through an amp or house sound system.
Most acoustic-electric guitars have some level of tone control in the form of an on-board equalizer. The drawback is that because these guitars have electronic hardware not found in acoustic guitars, you can expect to pay more. But the cost may be comparable to an electric guitar, so depending on the style of music you want to play, an acoustic-electric may be an option.
WHAT ARE SOME GUITAR ACCESSORIES YOU WILL NEED?
When it comes to deciding how to buy a guitar, it’s important to look at guitar accessories to get you playing in no time.
Basic guitar accessories include:
- Guitar amps: An amplifier is a necessary accessory for an electric guitar. In most cases, a small “practice amp” will suffice for newer students. Students interested in rock, pop, and blues may desire a “two-channel” amp – that is, one with the capability of both clean tone and distorted tone.
- Instrument cable: The instrument cable connects the electric guitar to the amp. You want to make sure the cable is long enough to reach from the amp to the student’s chair or stool. A 10’ cable or larger should suffice.
- Headphones: Many amps have headphone jacks, which are useful for keeping practice volume inaudible to family members, neighbors, pets, etc.
- Guitar tuner: A tuner is a necessary accessory for any type of guitar. Acoustic guitars will require a tuner with a built-in mic, while electric guitars require a tuner that can be plugged into. Alternatively, headstock tuners work by vibration and are fine for any type of guitar. Most tuner models are relatively inexpensive.
- Guitar picks: Guitar picks are plastic plectrums used to strike the strings. They come in a variety of thicknesses – “medium” pics are good for beginners, until the students develop a preference.
- Guitar straps: All electric guitars and most acoustic guitars are set up for use with a strap. Most straps are adjustable for size, but try it out before you buy to make sure it’s a comfortable fit.
- Extra strings for your guitar: Guitar strings occasionally break through regular use, so an extra set of strings is a good investment. Make sure to buy strings that are compatible with either an electric or acoustic guitar.
- Guitar case: A guitar case is a must for protecting the instrument during travel. Soft cases (“gig bags”) are inexpensive and fine for car rides and general use. Hard cases offer greater protection for more upscale instruments or when taking the guitar on an airplane.
What Size Guitar Should a Woman Get? Things to Consider
Specifications to consider when buying a new guitar will be body type, scale length, neck radius, and tonewood types.
Body Type
A detailed article on the various acoustic guitar body types can be found here What Acoustic Guitar Body Type Should You Buy?, and in our article here Ultimate Beginners Guide To Buying An Acoustic Guitar. Most female beginners will generally find Parlor guitars, Concert size guitars, and Auditorium guitars to be most comfortable. Bonnie Raitt famously played a Guild F-50 jumbo for many years, so there are exceptions.
Scale Length
This typically goes with the guitar’s body type; the smaller the body, the shorter the scale length is the general rule, but there are also exceptions to this. There are smaller bodies with long scale lengths and large bodies with shorter scale lengths. The shorter scale lengths of 23.5” to 24” will be more comfortable for those with shorter arms. A full-size scale length is considered 25+”, and believe me – it’s amazing what a difference even a half-inch makes.
Neck Radius
A more rounded neck with a smaller radius may feel more comfortable for playing chords while a larger radius with less curve will feel “faster” and more comfortable for playing melodies and solos. Older Fender electrics will have the rounded 7.25” radius while classical acoustics will have as much as a 20” radius.
Tonewoods
The woods that make up the body and neck will be of different species and subsequently have varying degrees of density and weight. Basswood will be much lighter than Mahogany and will feel more comfortable when standing. This becomes apparent when comparing a Gibson Les Paul and an Ibanez
Frequently Asked Questions
1) Is acoustic guitar easier to learn than the electric or classical guitar? Anything will seem hard to learn if you are not dedicated or do not have proper guidance. When it comes to different types of guitars, whatever you can play on an acoustic one, you will be able to play it on an electric or classical one too. It goes the other way round also.
2) Does age matter when it comes to learning guitar?
People can tell you otherwise, but the truth is that you are never too young or too old to learn to play an instrument.
3) How is classical guitar different from the acoustic one?
The answer is simple: strings. A classical guitar has nylon strings, whereas an acoustic guitar has steel strings. Classical guitars are lightweight, cheaper, and can be carried easily. An acoustic guitar has a much modern feel to it.
4) How much can an acoustic guitar cost?
For beginners, you can get the best acoustic guitar under 15000. These guitars can last up to several years.
5) What is the purpose of a capo?
Using a capo can raise the whole pitch of a song. When a song is too high or too low for a singer’s voice, they use a capo to adjust the pitch.
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