Mistakes When Buying A Guitar
Common mistakes when buying your first guitar
People often get inspired to play guitar and jump straight to purchasing something that might not suit them. Here are some common mistakes people make when buying their first guitar.
Mistake #1 – Getting the wrong sound
You have three choices of sound when you buy a guitar: nylon string classical, steel string acoustic or electric. A lot of people believe that the best choice is to start on an acoustic guitar and build up to an electric guitar. Your first guitar should be appropriate to the style of music you enjoy listening to. If you aren’t sure what type of guitar is best for you, then think about the music that you like to listen to.
Mistake #2 – Getting the wrong size
Electric guitars are much smaller than steel-string acoustic guitars and nylon string classical guitars. Most people can use them but you do need to consider the weight. An electric guitar is much heavier than an acoustic.
Mistake #3 – Buying a guitar with strings that are too high and play too hard
String action is one of the critical things for getting an easy to play guitar. The easiest way to understand action is that it’s just the measurement of the gap from the bottom of the string, to the top of the fret and it’s measure at the 12th fret.
Mistake #4 – Choosing a popular brand name because you think you’re getting a superior product
Most popular brand name guitars are indeed very good quality at the higher levels but their entry level guitars are not such a great deal. In the entry-level market, brand-name guitar companies are usually forced to make their guitars with cheaper materials. Most major brand-name companies have a brand owner and that company buys from a factory in China. It’s pretty easy to see why they can be forced to use cheaper materials.
Mistake #5 – Buying a guitar without any support materials
When most people buy their first guitar, they can be a little confused about what to do. A guitar can be a confusing purchase and most guitars don’t even come with a manual explaining how to use them. That becomes a problem because most people then have to search for the information.
Mistake #6 – Paying for features you don’t need
At the beginner level you need a good quality instrument but having a more expensive one generally doesn’t make your playing any easier. Higher level instruments are designed for high-level players who want the ultimate in sound. As a beginner most people are not very sure of the sound, style or type of guitar that they would ultimately like to play, but after playing for six months or so you will know a lot more about guitars and when it comes time to choose your next one, it will be an easier choice to make.
Most people find that during the process of learning you will figure out your own sound. You will naturally be drawn to music that features guitar in it, and great guitars. Your own musical tastes will change and with this change, the type of instrument that suits your sound will also change. When you’re ready to take the next step, you will have a much better idea of what you really want. If you are just learning, try not to focus too much on the kind of guitar you are getting but what will fit with your style of music.