How To Pick the Right Guitar for You
Learning to play the guitar can be a fun and exciting activity, but before you can begin your journey to eventual music stardom, you need an instrument. Settling on the guitar that suits you best can be much trickier than it may seem. Guitars come in a myriad of shapes, sizes, and styles, and what works for one person may not work for you. In order to narrow down your choices and pick the right guitar, here are a few things to consider.
1. Musical Style
If you’re looking to start playing the guitar, chances are, you have an interest in music. However, the style of music you’re most interested in playing is a huge factor in determining what guitar is right for you. Pay attention to the types of guitars the musicians in your chosen style play. They will point you in the right direction.
2. Guitar Style
Once you have your musical style picked out, it’s time to choose a guitar style. The three primary types of guitar are classical, acoustic, and electric. Classical guitars have nylon strings and slightly thicker necks than the other varieties. As the name would suggest, they are ideal for classical music. Acoustic guitars use steel strings and tend to have the largest bodies of all three types. These are musically versatile, but people often use them for genres like folk and country. Electric guitars also use a type of steel string, but they resonate through the use of electric “pick-ups” that relay the sound to an amplifier. This type of guitar is most closely associated with rock music and jazz.
3. Brand
The wide world of guitars is enormous, to say the least. Go to an instrument shop, and you will see more brands than you can imagine. Don’t be overwhelmed. Ask more experienced players what they recommend for beginning guitarists. Whether you go with B&G Guitars or some other manufacturer, picking a quality brand will ensure a more positive playing experience and encourage you to practice more often.
4. Size
In a literal sense, guitars are not one size fits all. While guitars for adults are all generally similar in size, manufacturers do make smaller instruments for children who are learning to play. Go to a guitar retailer and try out multiple sizes. If you’re under five feet tall, there’s a good chance the ideal guitar for you won’t be full-size.
Picking the right guitar is one of the most important decisions in a beginner’s musical journey. With these tips, hopefully, that decision will be a little bit simpler.
