How to choose a guitar for a beginner? What to choose - electric guitar or acoustic?
The first guitars on which you are going to learn or to learn should be comfortable - the sound quality here is in second place. Of course, the choice is better to stop on the classical model. Such guitars come in different sizes: half( ½ of the standard size), ¾( string length on such guitars is 650 mm) and standard size. The first ones are designed for ages up to 8 years, and the second ones are for children from 8 to 12. Nylon strings spare the fingers of young guitarists and allow spending less time to overcome the first chords and scales.
On the classical guitar it is convenient to perform solo parts that require the guitarist to prepare music - it will be useful to learn the beginning performer. Nylon strings can not give a bright sound, and on the street such a guitar will require a "sound".On the contrary, its soft, deep sound and soft timbre, it will be beneficial to "look" in a room with good acoustics.
What are the types of guitars
The arrangement of guitars is diverse and corresponds to the rich history of this noble instrument.
Classical guitar
The first in the historical list of guitars is a classical guitar model. Her ancestors were plucked instruments with four and five strings. At the beginning of the XIX century.the guitar was able to, if not supersede, then gain great popularity, Accompaniment to dances and songs - the original purpose of "classics", but the classical compositions are not performed easily as well.
The first success of classical guitar is associated with the flamenco - popular dance of Latin America. Of these southern countries, the success of the guitar also migrated to the old Europe, where for a long time it was a very popular instrument.
The first tree used to make guitars was cypress. This wood is lighter than similar breeds, but it gives an excellent sound. Modern masters use more solid wood, and thin cypress plates in the design of the guitar can now be seen not often.
The wide neck of the classical guitar is suitable for performing popular and classical pieces. To install the pins, two holes are made in the head of the neck. They adjust the tension of the strings, which, most often, are made of nylon. The use of synthetics is due to the fact that the tension of the strings directly affects the neck, and it is not so strong in the classical guitar. With strong tension, the neck may be deformed.
Acoustic guitar
This guitar has no less popularity than classical guitar. The design features of the instrument allow him to create a sound more saturated and loud. This is due to the large drum, the material of which can serve not only wood, but also plastic. Our site does not recommend choosing a plastic drum. Its main drawback is the sound: it is not so lively and much deaf, the sound is given out by the tree. Although, it must be admitted, practicality and practicality are the strengths of such a guitar. If these are important to you, then the best option will be a drum of high-quality plywood.
Folk, country, blues - these directions in music are directly related to the acoustic guitar. The ringing, bright sound is due to the fact that the metal strings standing on them get full opening, thanks to the large acoustic volume.
You can play with your fingers and a mediator plate. Use - as a musical accompaniment of solo compositions and improvisations. The acoustic guitar has its own story and its masters, which made it famous - James Taylor, John Renbourn, Leo Kottke.
Jazz guitar
Between the electro and acoustic guitar is a guitar designed for jazz. In its design there are signs and elements of an acoustic guitar, but at concerts, sound amplifiers join it. They play this guitar mainly with a mediator.
Initially, jazz guitars were used as a complement and the basis of the rhythm section - their loud, recognizable sound was well audible, even without an amplifier, but over time the potential of the instrument was revealed by such masters as Django Reinhardt. His solo parts allowed many artists to take a fresh look at jazz guitar.
A characteristic feature in the design of jazz guitar is another kind of holes for resonating. It is executed, as well as a violin, in the form of the Latin letter "f".No less affects the sound and shape of the drum: initially, with jazz guitars, it was larger, like the instruments themselves. Tone volume controls, pickups - a modern jazz guitar has many features.
Electric guitar
From all listed types, the electric guitar differs in the most principled way. The fact is that its case is solid and the sound is produced not by the instrument itself, but by a whole complex of special devices, among which there are pickups and amplifiers. Without an amplifier, this instrument is difficult to imagine.
Pickups work on the basis of electromagnets, which allow you to convert string vibrations into serial signals. On the guitar panel there are adjusting volume and tone controls. The sound transferred to the "digital" format is processed by various effects, which make it possible to achieve unusual sound. Each electric guitarist has his own settings and each of them can be learned not only by technique.
The creator of the electric guitar had an engineering education, but also studied music: Les Paul is known as the man who gave this instrument life with his multi-channel recordings.
Which guitar should I choose for a beginner?
If the irresistible craving for this beautiful instrument makes you take up the training, but you never held the guitar itself, the question of choice will arise first. Electric and bass guitars, acoustics and classics - the choice is huge, and after all before us the question of the price, or the manufacturer can open also. Do not look for an answer on the Internet or ask advice from friends - just try. Quality education is possible only in the case when the student is interested in what he does. If you plan to play the guitar, then learn everything about it, including variations of designs, the nuances of the sound of strings, etc.
Listen to the music performed on different types of guitars. Your character and musical preferences will guide you in a vast variety of modern instruments. Find music and style that you really like.
If you have decided on the type of guitar, then the question arises of choosing an option. Some can compare a guitar with a girl and prove to be romantics, which is more suitable for quiet acoustics. The main tips for choosing a guitar are few:
- Identify a genre that you like.
Just listen to music and watch your emotions. Some people find it difficult to be honest with themselves and our attachments do not always rely on real feelings. Do not chase after-the-moment impressions. Listen to the Spanish or solo parts, performed on an electric guitar. Determine the type of emotions: neutral, negative, positive. Let's play the composition yourself. Answers to simple questions will, in the future, become the basis for correct decisions.
- Evaluate the financial possibilities.
Buying an ordinary guitar can not be called costly, but if you are going to buy a tool not only for the duration of training, but for the entire initial period, then it will not be superfluous to calculate the budget. Compare prices in the nearest shops and average prices on the Internet. Honestly answer your question: do you have the opportunity to buy the instrument that you have chosen. The rule here is iron: the less you can invest in the guitar, the more concessions will be required as a sound. A good way is to ask the guitar from friends, in order to practice and understand what you want from the instrument, what can be sacrificed, and what to donate are not ready.
- Decide on the characteristics of the tool.
If your budget allows you to count on variations, then a necessary step will be to decide on the specific characteristics of the guitar. It is necessary to do this before the final trip to the store, because your own opinion is decisive. Choose the material( most often it's different for the neck and the drum), color, country of the manufacturer, make and shape. The information on the Internet will help you to decide on the manufacturer, but the advice of friends is no less valuable. Some parameters may seem important to you, and some are not so important. In any case - be prepared to learn about guitars a lot of new things.
- Choose between acoustic and electric guitar.
This moment is fundamental and is the starting point for a lot of long and successful creative careers and no less serious disappointments. If you are really well acquainted with the sound of both types, then the choice for you for sure will be difficult. Advantages and disadvantages are in each side. On the Internet, you can find a lot of articles on this topic, although the main points can be guessed without studying additional information. For a beginner, it may seem important that the electric guitar does not have to put much pressure on the strings, which means that your fingers will be much less sick. From the initial habituation, this does not get rid of, and you will still have to earn "labor corns" - it is in no way worth using such "features".You should not be stopped by any difficulties, features of design and extraction of sound - the basis should be only your desire to play your favorite music. If you have difficulties - go to the first item and try to understand the nuances of sounding again.
In order to choose a guitar, a beginner will not just have to learn new information, sort out his addictions and ambitions. In fact, you will have to stop being a beginner and learn a lot, try different guitars and strings. Not to mention to make money. Do not despair, this choice is not at all tedious, and at the same time you can achieve intermediate results and do not waste time in vain,
If there is an opportunity, then it is worth considering the related products. We advise you to take a tuner for a guitar( or, at worst, a tuning fork) and a cover. With the help of a tuning fork, the musicians set up the instrument. Find it easily, thanks to the characteristic appearance - it looks like a fork.
Now all the secrets of this difficult matter are revealed to you. As you can see, the choice of guitars is huge, but we have voiced the main aspects and principles that need to be guided in the fitting process. Now you can safely proceed to the process itself, although, probably, you realized that much depends on you. Good luck in the passage of the basics and comprehension of skill.