– Purchasing Your First Guitar

Now that you have an idea about what types of guitars are available to you.  You are ready to go into the music store and buy your first guitar.  It is exciting to be purchasing your first guitar but keep a few things in mind before heading out to the local music store.

First, be patient.  You do not have to purchase the guitar immediately.  Make a minimum of two visits to the music store.  Also, don’t let the salesman intimidate you.  You are the customer and you are the one in charge.  You should also do some research before you buy your first guitar. The internet offers a wealth of information about guitars.  If you are armed with knowledge, you can use that knowledge to your advantage.  Also, remember to recruit help if you need it.  If you have a friend or family member that plays the guitar, take them with you to the music store and it can help you choose the guitar that is right for you.   If you don’t have anyone to come with you, ask the employees at the store questions.  Don’t be shy.  You can get a decent deal on a guitar if you have enough discipline.

If you are a new guitarist, trying out a guitar in the music store may be intimidating.  There may ver y well be other guitarists in the store who think they need to show off their skills.  They have a need to impress others with their great guitar licks and chords.  This can be intimidating; of course you’d like to be able to show off like this as well.  However, stay focused.  Your goal is to find the best instrument for you for the least amount of money.

When you enter the store, look around until you find an instrument to your liking. The store employees should give you a sturdy stool.  They should also give you a pick but it is probably best to bring one of your own.  If you are trying out an electric guitar, it should be plugged into an amplifier that is similar to the one you are going to use.

To hear the sound quality of a guitar, don’t be afraid to strum the strings hard.  Listen to the guitar’s sustain and listen for problems such as buzzing strings.  If you cannot hear the guitar well, ask to be put in another room or to be moved to a part of the store that is quieter.  If you come up against music store owners that frown on you tuning up the guitar or vigorously strumming, politely hand the guitar back to the owner and take your business elsewhere.  It is important to know how a guitar sounds before spending your hard earned money on it.

You should also keep in mind that when trying out a guitar you don’t need to play something complicated.  Play something you are used to playing.  Concentrate on how the guitar sounds and feels.  Do not pay attention to the people who may be listening to you.  Play every fret on the neck of the guitar and be sure that you don’t hear any buzzing.  Be sure that if you are playing an electric guitar try various pick-ups and listen for any pick up noise you don’t want.

Try out many different guitars in the music store.  Ask a lot of questions and take notes on each guitar you tr y out.  You should jot down the make, model and price of the guitar.  Find out what kind of wood the guitar is made from.  Make a note of anything you like or dislike about each guitar you tr y.  After trying out a few guitars head home and consider what you discovered that day.

After  you have played a number of guitars and found some that suit your taste.  Research the companies who make the guitar you are considering purchasing.  There are websites available that can help you familiarize yourself with the companies and their instruments.  The majority of

guitar company websites provide specifications for each of their guitars.  You may also find additional information on the guitar you want to buy.  Check the guitar company website for warranty information as well.  The websites will most likely have contact information so you can e- mail or call them with any other questions.

Of course it goes without saying that a guitar company website will be biased so you will need to discover what other guitarists think of various guitars.  The web has many, many sites that have user reviews of guitars. When looking at these reviews take note of the amount others have paid for their instruments and seriously look at any criticisms.  You should be careful of those who give their own guitar a perfect ten.  A lot of reviewers will not offer constructive criticism.

Look in your yellow pages to find music stores near you.  Think about visiting each store and tr ying the guitars they have for sale.  Call the music stores and inquire to see if they carry the type of guitar you are looking for.  If they do have it in stock, have the store quote you a price. Sometimes you may run into a store employee who does not want to give you a quote over the phone.  If you say that you are about to purchase a guitar somewhere else, they will most likely change their mind.  Note any differences in prices when calling music stores.

If after your initial research you are still not sure of what guitar is right for you, go to FretBoard,

an online bulletin board that helps guitarists.  Someone should be able to assist you.

After  you have acquired enough knowledge about the guitar you want to buy, make another trip to the music store.  Wait until the next day because your head will be clearer and you will have a better perspective.

Once you return to the music store and know what guitar you want to purchase, you will want to get the guitar at a good price.  Many individuals assume that if a guitar costs $600, they will have to buy it for that amount.  This is not true.  Those who own music stores make a profit on what they sell in their store so they are able to drop the price of the item.  You just have to get them to do that.

You will have to be savvy if you want a bargain.  The music store employees want you to spend your money and you want to hold on to as much of your money as possible.  As mentioned earlier, you are the one that is in control.  Since the music store wants your business there is nothing wrong with making them earn it.

Keep a few things in mind when you go back to the music store.  Like in any sales transaction, do not let the salesperson know just how much you want the product their selling.  Do not let the sales person know just how badly you want a particular guitar.  If they approach you and want to assist you, just tell them that you have noticed some nice guitars as you have been shopping around.

Before you get down to bargaining for the guitar you should ask if a guitar case is included.  Ask if  the guitar case is softshell or hardshell.  A softshell guitar case costs less than a hardshell guitar case.

Try a few guitars when you return to the music store.  If you feel like it, pretend you want to buy a cheaper guitar than the one you are really interested in.  If a salesperson sells you a cheap guitar, they will get a small commission.  Because of this, they will be more eager to give you a bargain on a guitar that is more expensive.

Don’t make it seem that you are in a rush.  Take your time and think about whether the guitar you researched is really the guitar you want.

Remember to never pay the list price for the guitar you want.  In general, list prices are inflated. A lot of people find it difficult to bargain with a salesperson for a discount.  It is not as difficult as it may seem.  You can start by asking for the entire price, including the guitar, tax and the case.  When they tell you, think for a moment and ask them what they can do to make the price a little cheaper.  Have in mind, a price that you want to pay.  It may be a good idea to try and get a 15 percent discount.  If you know of a store where you know they are offering a lower price on the same guitar you want, let the salesperson know this.  You may have to apply pressure to get your bargain but you can get used to doing this.

If the guitar you want is on sale or if it is already a low priced instrument, it will be hard to convince the salesperson to drop the price even more.  If this is the case, you might want to ask if they could throw in some guitar accessories at no charge or at a steep discount.  This may include items such as guitar strings, guitar polish, picks, or string winders.  This may not be the discount that you want but it will be good to know you bargained successfully.

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Before You Buy Your First Guitar

When you are just beginning to learn the guitar you may wonder which is a better learning guitar, an acoustic guitar or an electric guitar.  It is best to consider a variety of things when making your decision.

Maybe one of the most important things to consider when picking a guitar is the type of music you want to play on it.  If you like rock music and want to play like the great rock guitar heroes, you should obviously pick an electric guitar.  However, if you enjoy acoustic music you should choose an acoustic guitar.  It is important to consider these things because if you purchase a guitar that is not right for you, then you will not be motivated to play it on a regular basis.

Your personality may be a factor in choosing what guitar to start with or it might not matter at all.  There are some people who want to see results right away but if they don’t they get frustrated; lose interest and stop playing the guitar.  If you think you are this type of person, consider an electric guitar.  These are smaller than acoustic guitars and have smaller necks.  It is much easier to press the strings so you will have the ability to play your guitar basics faster and easier.  Even so, there are some buttons on an electric guitar that may make playing music more complicated.

Be sure to consider your budget when purchasing your first guitar.  Of course you do not want to pay a lot of money on your ver y first guitar.  It is also unwise to pay a lot if you don’t think you will continue to play it over time.  Because of the expense, acoustic guitars are the preferred first instrument.  An electric guitar is more expensive because you need to buy an amplifier and a guitar cable along with the guitar.  If you still feel like you want to buy an electric guitar, check your local music store to see if they offer start-up guitar and amplifier packages at a price you can handle.

Something else to consider is purchasing a guitar stand.  This is a wise investment because if you have your guitar on the stand at all times, you will probably find yourself practicing and playing on it a lot more.  There are various guitars that are recommended for the beginning guitarist.  If you have an electric guitar you may want to keep it plugged into the amplifier, that way when it’s time to practice all you need to do is turn the amplifier on and get started.

If you want to sing along with your guitar and have the patience, you may want to purchase an acoustic guitar.  There are a few acoustic guitars that are great for beginners.

The Seagull S6 is an instrument made in Canada and is highly recommended by guitarists.  The Seagull produces beautiful sound and has a lot of value.  This guitar has a cedar top and mahogany on the sides and on the back.  The price of the

Seagull is about $350.  This may be a little more than what you want to spend on a first guitar but it is a good investment.  It is not easy to find the Seagull S6 but if you call around or search the internet you may be able to find one.

The Yamaha F310 is not as highly regarded as the Seagull but it is still a good instrument for a beginning guitarist.    These guitars normally cost $250 or you can

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find them even cheaper if you look online.  There are other Yamaha acoustic guitars available but they may cost a little more.

The Takamine G-340 is a beginner model that has a spruce top that is laminated.  In general, it is not as good as some of the higher end models of the Takamine but you still get good value for your money.

The Fender CD110E is cheaper than other models of the fender.  The CD110E has a nato back, sides and neck along with a spruce top.  The cheaper model may not always have the best workmanship but the price makes it attractive to beginner guitarists.

The Epiphone DR-100 is a good starter guitar.  The DR-100 has mahogany sides and back and a spruce top.  You can buy this guitar cheaply.  Most individuals consider this an instrument for beginners only so you may quickly want to buy a better guitar.

There are a number of good guitars available if you want to start with an electric guitar.

The Squier Fat Stratocaster is one of many Squier models available at a good and low price.    You may need to be wary of the hardware and pickups but this really depends on how the guitar is made.  This is a great beginner guitar.  The appearance is appealing.

The Epiphone G-312 SG is not expensive and a decent choice for beginners.  The G-312 SG is built with cheaper hardware and pickups of low quality.  The body of the instrument is alder.  The neck is mahogany and the fingerboard is rosewood.  It is a good value according to experts.

The Yamaha Pacifica 112 has a rosewood fret board, maple neck and alder body along with two coil pick-ups.  The guitar is well made and the craftsmanship is high.  It is a great value and those who want to become serious guitarists may want to upgrade the electronics of this guitar.

The Danelectro 56-U2 is a low cost and cheap instrument but guitarists like its distinct look and sound.  It is a guitar with a hollow body and feature dual stacked volume controls and lipstick pickups.

The Epiphone Les Paul Special II is modeled after one of the most famous guitars known, the Les Paul.  This low cost guitar has a mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, and a laminated alder/maple body.  The guitar is marketed toward those that are just beginning to learn the guitar.

Practice

Since you now know the basics on how to play the guitar, it is now your job to get better at everything you have learned.  To perfect your skills you should practice regularly.  Practicing the guitar can be aggravating and tiresome but if you get better at playing the instrument then you will end up having more fun.  You will begin enjoying practice more and more.

To improve your guitar playing, you will have to set aside time to practice.  It is important to set aside time every day to practice.  Spend at least fifteen minutes a day practicing what you have learned.  This will help you a great deal.  In the beginning you will have sore fingers but if you play every day, your fingers will get tougher and after a time they will not hurt anymore.

There are a few things that you can do to get into the habit of practicing your guitar.  Be sure to put aside between fifteen and twenty minutes a day to practice.  Practice in an environment that is quiet and you can put your complete concentration on practicing your guitar.  Be sure to stretch your arms hands and fingers before you begin to play.  If you are playing an electric guitar remember to turn off the distortion so that you can clearly hear your mistakes.  Know what you are going to practice ahead of time because this makes your practice a whole lot easier.

Be sure your guitar is in tune.  Be sure that you are sitting properly, holding the guitar properly and using the pick in the right way.  Then play the chromatic scales a couple of times.  After that, play the chords you have learned.  Be sure that every note is correct.  If the sound is not correct discover why and try to fix the problem.

Practice your chords and try to switch chords.  If you have a picture in your  mind of how your fingers are to be placed, this will assist you in switching chords fast.

Remember to be patient.  Playing the guitar is difficult in the beginning and you may feel like you want to give up and that there is no way you can learn to play.  This couldn’t be further from the truth.  Everyone has problems when they learn an instrument for the first time.  Just put in daily practice and don’t concern yourself with how you did until you have another practice session.  Be sure to remember that playing the guitar should be enjoyable.

Websites that can help you with your practice are:  GuitarNoise.com: The Art of Practice, ehow:

How to Practice Guitar, ezFolk.com: How to Practice, PlayJazzGuitar: Guitar Practicing or

Guitar Playing?, and AccessRock.com: Practice Guitar Rules xml

Scales and Playing Your First Song

If you happen to know anything about playing the piano, you know that a “scale” is a group of notes that are played in succession in ascending or descending order.  There are a number of different scales.  Each scale has unique characteristics, musical qualities, and note patterns.  We will talk a little bit about scales and how to use them to improve your guitar playing.  Practicing and playing scales can be unexciting and tiresome but you can do it.  Scales can help make your fingers stronger, improve your ability to learn advanced techniques such as guitar solos and improve hand-eye coordination.

The most basic scale is the chromatic scale.

To begin playing the chromatic scale:

• Start by playing the sixth string “open”

• Take your index finger on the hand you will fret with and press down the first fret on the

number six string.  Pluck it again.

• Using the middle finger, press down the sixth string at the second fret and play the sixth

string again.

• Utilize the ring finger to press down the third fret and play the sixth string.

• Utilize the pinkie finger to press down the fourth fret and play the sixth string again.

• Continue with these steps with the rest of the strings.

You have now played your first scale.  Of course this may not be the most fascinating experience in your life but with this you are on your way.

Other  scales are the Major Scale and the Minor Pentatonic Scale.  You will learn these scales as you continue practicing the guitar.

After  you have learned notes, scales and chords, you are now ready to play songs.  Many people have their personal favorites whether it is their favorite songs, favorite bands, or favorite pieces of music.    Most everyone knows their favorite songs by heart and they are anxious to play

them.  This is great.  However, it is best to slow down and learn a few basic songs that can assist you in getting the feel for the structure of songs and the feel for timing.  You will also get your first opportunity to sing along with your instrument.   There are a few songs that are good for beginners

• Blowin’ in the Wind by Bob Dylan

• Leaving On A Jet Plane by John Denver

• For What It’s Worth by Buffalo Springfield

These songs can assist you in practicing chords:

• The Gambler by Kenny Rogers

• Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison.

There are resources on the internet where you can find easy beginning guitar.  Three of these are, GuitarNoise.com:  Easy Songs for Beginners, About.com: Easy Song Tabs, and Gitarrero- Beginner:  Easy Guitar Song Collection.

Playing Notes and Chords

Now for the fun part, actually playing the guitar!  It is essential to practice playing the guitar.  It is not that difficult to make sounds on the guitar but if you want to make these sounds pleasing to the ear, you have to practice.

Begin by plucking the sixth string.  Do not use your fretting hand.  You will hear an E note.  If you play a string without using the fret, you are playing the note “open”.

The next thing to do is to move downward and play the strings “open”.  You will hear the A, D, G, B, and E notes, in that order.  Each note will sound higher than the one preceding it.

After  you have done this, return to the sixth string and take your index finger and place it on the first fret.  The first fret is the space between the nut and the first fret.  You should be using the index finger on your fretting hand.  Now press down the note with the tip of your index finger instead of the joint.  As you hold the index finger down on the initial fret, use the hand with the pick in it and pluck the sixth string.  If you have done this right, the sound that you hear should be a little higher than when you first plucked the string without holding down the fret.

Next move the index finger up to the second fret.  This is the space between the second and first frets.  Pluck the sixth string once more.  You should hear a higher sound than the previous one.

Repeat these steps with every string.  Play the string open, place your finger on the first fret, and then place your finger on the next fret.  If you hear notes that are bad, muffled or off-key, make sure that you are firmly pressing down on the note and that your finger is on the center of the fret.  Continue to practice until you are comfortable making each note.

After  you have practiced playing notes, you can move on to playing chords.  A chord is two notes that are played at the same time.  Chords create a richer sound than what you would hear if you played each note by itself.  Most chords are three notes that are played together.  Some chords include more than three notes.  Chords involved playing multiple strings together.  This is “strumming”.

The most common chords are “Major” chords and these are the chords that beginning guitarists usually learn first.  The major chords are C Major, A Major, G Major, E Major, and D Major. These chords are a combination of different sets of notes.  When theses notes are played together they create a sound that is unique.  Many of your all-time favorite songs are played by using three or more chords.  Let’s discuss fingering positions, exact notes and patterns of strumming that are used in “Major” chords.

To play a C Major chord, place your ring finger on the third fret and fifth string.  Then place your middle finger on the second fret and fourth string.  Last, place your index finger on the first fret, second string.  Now, starting on the fifth string, strum the 3 string quickly.  Don’t play the sixth string.

The C Major chord should look like a staircase.  The index finger forms the lowest step.  It will feel odd when you begin to work on chords in this way but the more you practice chords and as your  fingers become stronger, you will not have a problem forming chord structures with your hands.

Don’t worry if when you begin practicing chords that sound horrible and the notes sound strange. As they say “practice makes perfect.”

To play the A Major chord:

• Put the index finger on the second fret and fourth string.

• Put the middle finger on the second fret and third string.

• Put the ring finger on the second fret and second string.

• Now, beginning with the fifth string, strum the strings quickly.  Don’t play the sixth

string.

The A Major chord is harder to play than the C Major chord because three fingers are crunched together on the second fret. Play the chord a couple of times so you can see how it sounds and feels.  If you continue to have problems or your fingers are big and cannot fit together on the second fret, you may want to

tr y other fingerings.  One solution is to use the middle finger instead of the ring finger to press down the second and third strings together.

To play the G Major Chord:

• Put the middle finger on the third fret, sixth string

• Put the index finger on the second fret, and fifth string

• Put the finger on the third fret and first string.

• Now strum the strings quickly.

To play the G Major chord you can use a number of different fingerings, though the one described above is simplest for beginning guitar players.

To play the C Major chord:

• Put the third finger on the fifth string and the third fret.

• Put the second finger on the fourth string and the second fret.

• Put the first finger on the second string and first fret.  Make sure you do NOT strum the

sixth string and strum the bottom.

To play the E Major Chord:

• Put the middle finger on the second fret and fifth string

• Put the ring finger on the second fret and fourth string

• Put the index finger on the first fret and third string.

• Now strum the string quickly.

E Major is the best known of the chords because it is found in the most memorable rock and blues songs.  Remember not to worry if the notes don’t sound right or if they sound muffled.  If you practice, you will be able to press down the right notes on the

right strings.

To play the D Major chord:

• Put the index finger on the second fret and third string

• Put the ring finger on third fret and second string.

• Put the middle finger on the second fret and first string.

• Begin with the fourth string and play the notes quickly.  You will not play the fifth of

sixth strings.

The D chord is the hardest for beginning guitarists.  This chord is that hardest one to make sound correctly.  But again, with practice

you should not have any problems