So, you’ve made the decision to take up learning the guitar. Well done, a world of fun lies waiting before you.
Now, one of the most important things to decide before you begin is what kind of guitar should you get? This is dependent on what type of music you’re looking to play. Are you into Rock or blues, metal, country, funk, etc.? The list goes on and on and usually there’s a guitar to suit each particular style.
So for example, if you enjoy listening to harder rock, like metal, then buying an electric guitar by such companies as Ibanez, Washburn or Jackson would be ideal. Or, if you like softer rock, a guitar by Fender, Gibson or Yamaha would be the better choice.
The best thing to do after having done a little online research is to pay a visit to a guitar store and get a hands on feel of some. This is because your final decision should be based on the look and feel of a guitar, not just the company it’s made by.
Many players stick to one make or model of guitar simply because it’s their favourite in terms of look, feel and sound. Players like Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton primarily played Fender Stratocasters throughout their careers. Slash from Guns n Roses plays a Gibson Les Paul, as does Jimmy Page. I’d suggest looking up all your favourite guitar players online and finding out what type of guitar they typically use, then go and try those out in the store.
Another piece of advice is to look out for and ask the store employees about the ‘action’ of any guitars that interest you. This term refers to the space between the strings and the neck. Basically, the higher the action, the harder you have to press down on the string, and the harder the guitar will be to play.
Unfortunately many guitars are made without the correct care and attention these days and many make it into stores with terribly high action. Should you get one like this, it’s quite possible that playing will hurt your fingers so much that you’ll feel like giving up after a couple of weeks. Simply ask the the assistant in the store to check the action for you and you can’t go far wrong.
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