Ok, so you want to learn to play the guitar, or you want your kids to learn to play. The problem is that you don’t have a guitar, so you will have to buy one. The following will tell you what to look for in a good quality guitar without breaking the bank.
So how to buy a guitar? Well, there’s a right way and a wrong way. The wrong way is to just buy the first guitar you see when you are inexperienced and don’t know what to look for. Let’s say you’re buying a guitar for your 5-year-old son because you want him to become a rock star; Good? Good luck with that!
If you go and buy a 5 year old a full size guitar, that would be the same as giving him a double bass or about 6 foot tall bass. In other words, you would need a chair to be able to play. Even a full size guitar would dwarf it as it is still being developed. A better choice would be a concert size or mid-size guitar. These small guitars are specially designed for children from 3 to 6 years old. For children ages 6 to 10, a ¾ size guitar would be appropriate. Ages 10 and up, choose the full-size guitar. These are just some guidelines. There are many other factors to consider.
Will your 4 or 5 year old son or daughter want to play the guitar? Remember that there are many other activities in their lives, such as playing sports, playing with friends, video games, etc. Will they still want to play the guitar once their fingertips start to ache from pushing down on the steel strings on the guitar fingerboard? This is one of the main reasons why children and beginning guitarists stop playing so early. It’s a great guitar wail… “My fingers hurt!” This is probably the #1 complaint on the list of the top 10 reasons to give up guitar soon after starting out. But fear not, as there are ways around this problem.
Generally, when a beginner is learning, there is always going to be a certain amount of finger discomfort no matter what type of guitar you buy. It’s just the nature of the beast.
A good solution to this problem is to buy a classical guitar. The strings are made of nylon and the tension on the strings is less than the typical tension of steel-string acoustic guitars. Less tension and softer strings equals less finger pain.
The downside, of course, is that kids tend to think that classical guitars aren’t as cool as electric ones. However, manufacturers are making very interesting cutaway nylon acoustics. These guitars have “cutaway” body parts so you can easily play higher up the neck. Other guitar models come with built-in pickups and equalizers. How cool is that? Another advantage is that they also come in ½ sizes, which solves the problem of finger pain.
You may have a young daughter who wants to learn to play the guitar, but doesn’t like the look or style of all the masculine electric guitars out there. Don’t worry as there is a guitar manufacturing company called “Daisy Guitars”. They specialize in making guitars specifically for the female gender. They have a wide range of tones, more subtle colors, and body shapes in their selection of guitars. Look at them!
Good action on a guitar means it plays very easy and well. The strings are nice and low above the frets and there is no string buzz anywhere on the neck when you press the strings down. A cheap guitar will not stay in tune, as a result of low-quality machine heads that will be difficult to turn. The strings can be set so high up on the fingerboard that you almost have to stand on them to play them. Obviously this is not what we want.
A word of warning:
If you buy a solid body electric guitar, you have to buy a guitar amp, since you won’t be able to hear it very well without amplification. Guitar companies like Fender and Peavey package electric guitars and amps for beginners, so you don’t have to decide which amp goes with the guitar you bought, they do it for you.
If you buy a hollow body acoustic guitar, you’ll be able to hear it, but if you want to amplify it, you’ll need to buy a guitar amp and an external pickup that fits your acoustic guitar.
Keep in mind that there are many quality guitar manufacturers such as Paul Reed Smith, Gibson, Fender, Martin, etc. However, high-quality guitars can cost a lot of money.
Most reasonable low end guitar brands like Yamaha, Jackson, Cort, Seagull and Simon Patrick etc. it has models aimed at beginners and budget-conscious guitar buyers. Professional music stores will absolutely amaze you with the variety of options and selections they will have on the floor for you to try. Sales staff tend to be knowledgeable and, if not too busy, helpful.
The choice is up to you. Do you want a kid to blow your mind practicing on an electric guitar and an amp? (Trust me on this… I guarantee your child will want to see how loud the amp can go, so plan a special soundproof room, or buy a good pair of earplugs.) The alternative is to get him/her a classical guitar. It’s your decision.
Finally, if music stores seem a bit intimidating to you, you can always buy guitars online.
Most of the big reputable guitar companies already mentioned in the article sell guitars on the internet. It’s worth checking out.
If you’re not an expert in this field, be sure to bring along a guitar-playing musician friend who knows about guitars. Don’t know any guitarist? Ask around and find out where the reputable guitar shops are. The experts there will be able to help you with all of his concerns, answer any questions he may have, and put the right tool in his or his child’s hands. Happy guitar shopping!