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05/15/2011 06:52:08 AM · #1 |
| I'm thinking of taking up a new hobby. I had acoustic guitars given to me, used cheap ones, but never bothered to play and gave them away. When I did try they were out of tune and I had no idea or motivation to figure it out. Now, years later, I wish I had. I understand electric guitars are easier on the fingers. My hands are big and I'm a kids level musician. Anyone good enough at the guitar to give advice on which one to buy, which ones to stay away from, amps to get etc...?? |
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05/15/2011 08:59:20 AM · #2 |
Yes, it is `easier on the fingers` to learn on electric guitar. However, the pain and difficulty associated with the early days of learning to play acoustic are very short lived, the callouses will build up very quickly on the tips of your fingers - also, I would say its beneficial to learn on acoustic as your finger `muscles` will strengthen a lot quicker and you will find that you will become a more precise player as a result, as you will not be able to cover up mistakes with lashings of overdrive or distortion. Also, unless your electric is permanently plugged in, an acoustic is ideal for just picking up for 5 mins at a time, practice a few chords shapes or scales, and put it down.
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05/15/2011 09:07:39 AM · #3 |
Originally posted by Simms:
Yes, it is `easier on the fingers` to learn on electric guitar. However, the pain and difficulty associated with the early days of learning to play acoustic are very short lived, the callouses will build up very quickly on the tips of your fingers - also, I would say its beneficial to learn on acoustic as your finger `muscles` will strengthen a lot quicker and you will find that you will become a more precise player as a result, as you will not be able to cover up mistakes with lashings of overdrive or distortion. Also, unless your electric is permanently plugged in, an acoustic is ideal for just picking up for 5 mins at a time, practice a few chords shapes or scales, and put it down. |
I agree completely with Mark. Unless you are planning on playing in a band, starting on acoustic is the way to go - much more flexible for playing rhythm strumming etc. The best bet to build up your fingers is to play 15-20 minutes two times a day for a week or so. You will not hurt yourself and you will get some quality practice in. Another trick to 'harden' your fingers is to soak your finger tips in hot salted water after playing for a couple of minutes - an old string players trick.... |
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05/15/2011 11:22:41 AM · #4 |
Originally posted by bassbone:
Another trick to 'harden' your fingers is to soak your finger tips in hot salted water after playing for a couple of minutes - an old string players trick.... |
I hadn't heard of that trick, but another method for toughening the fingertips is to periodically rub them back and forth a few times on the leg of your jeans every day -- the friction will encourage callus formation.
I'd say the main thing is to buy an acoustic guitar a low enough action to be comfortable to play for a few minutes at a time; it will cost more than the cheapest models, but it will be worth it. The strings will make a difference as well ... I use the D'Addario Extra-Light Phosphor Bronze set -- the extra-light gauges make it easier to play, and the PB string formulation lets them hold both their tone and tuning for a long time. I got an electronic tuner -- $15-30 should be enough to get a decent one (or get an app if you have a smart-phone).
Also, don't shy away from practicing barre chords (e.g. F, Bm) as you get started -- it will take some time to build up the strength to play them well, but it will be worth it in the long run. If you like to sing and need to change keys frequently, get a good capo -- I use one from Shubb.
If you really want an electric, your choice should largely be determined by the type of music you want to play. Mainly there will be a difference in the pickup technology and internal electronics -- I think there's less difference in playing action between different electric guitars than with acoustic models. You can also get both transducing and magnetic pickups to add to an acoustic guitar if you want the option of amplification.
Another option is to get a nylon-string ("classical" or "folk") guitar; especially if you are more interested in finger-picking styles rather than just strumming. Be aware though that these have a markedly wider fretboard, to the extent you need to buy a special, longer capo, but the strings won't hurt your fingers nearly as much as steel strings. They have a wonderful tone (if you like that sort of thing, and you can add a pickup/amplifier to get special effects just like with a steel-string. |
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05/15/2011 11:41:36 AM · #5 |
My advice....get the best guitar you can afford. Go to a local shop and play for a few hours. Yes a few hours. Guitar Center is very good with letting this go on. Play the chords you know and then decide which was the easiest to play. Sometimes the easiest to play may not be the best sounding. However, IMO, good sound can come later. As long as you pick a guitar that CAN be tuned up and stays tuned for more than 50 strums !
My first guitar was a $550. 00 Ibanez Destroyer II. I put it on layaway and it took about 1 1/2 years to purchase. I was 17. I did not know a single chord when I bought it. I played hour upon hour until my fingers could not take it. Didn't take long for the fingers to harden up. I sold that guitar about 5 years later when I needed money to finish college. I still check Ebay to see if I see it !
Oh well...get an easy to play acoustic (you'll play an acoustic more) and play.
On another not....when learning, kids and adults have a much easier time. With youtube and the other websites, the songs and lessons are everywhere......hell...you can even get something called the Amazing SlowDowner.
Good Luck.
Oh...I currently have a Fender Strat, a Seagull Acoustic and an Ibanez Bass. When people ask me if I'm good, I say, "If you listen to me play for 20 minutes you would think I was good. If you listen to me for 30 minutes, you would think I only knew 20 minutes of music". |
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05/15/2011 12:18:58 PM · #6 |
There are guitar tuners free on line for your computer. Some are just tone, and others require a mic or jack into the computer.
Since you have big hands, look for guitars with broad necks, like Epiphone or Gibson. Another "big hand" trick is to get a 12 string, and just put 6 strings on it.
My first guitar was a Gibson 125, single pickup "f" hole. I paid $8 for it from an old one eyed guy who had become too strung out to play it any longer. It eventually got stolen while I was playing at a club. That was about 1972.
ETA; If you stick a plastic cup on the tuner end of the neck, you can hear your electric guitar enough to practice where it's quiet.
Message edited by author 2011-05-15 12:20:51.
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05/15/2011 12:52:24 PM · #7 |
What genres of music do you listen to, and what would you do when you learn guitar? If you love metal and hard rock, you likely wouldn't have the patience to play acoustic for long. If you like to sing and want to accompany yourself, then acoustic is the better choice. I agree with others that acoustic is the ideal instrument if you really want to learn guitar, but realistically - how many years are you willing to devote to become good at it?
Electric guitars are a matter of subjective choice. Neck widths, scale lengths, pickup configurations, body styles, etc are all factors, but the 2 basic styles are Gibson Les Paul and Fender Stratocaster guitars. I would suggest trying these two style guitars and see what feels comfortable. Most other guitars combine different attributes such as a stratocaster style body with a Gibson feel neck. I played Fender Strats and Hamer and Ibanez equivalents for years in a rock band, but played a Gibson ES335 for jazz.
As for amplifiers, you won't need much volume to start, so a smallish practice amp would do, many of which have onboard effects (reverb, chorus, distortion, etc.) Amp modeling allows different sounds with a flip of the switch. A headphone jack allows you to practice at odd hours without disturbing others. Roland, Line-6, Fender are among some good names for small amps. |
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05/15/2011 02:05:09 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:
There are guitar tuners free on line for your computer. Some are just tone, and others require a mic or jack into the computer. |
Good point!! Also, you can get quite usable ones for the iPhone (and I daresay Android) - they just use the built in mic to pic up the strings being played! However I believe there is a self-tuning Gibson guitar now available - you just strum it once and it tunes itself! Incredible! Pricey though.
EDIT - Heres a link - That is mental!!!!
Message edited by author 2011-05-15 14:12:20. |
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05/15/2011 07:56:30 PM · #9 |
Thanks for all the comments.
One of the reasons for the guitar being electric is being able to plug in a pair of headphones. I live in an apartment and I'm not sure how the acoustic guitar will affect neighbors.
Music I'd like to play to start, the Beatles, Coldplay style stuff...
I have the Zoom H4n which I think can act as a tuner. |
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05/15/2011 08:19:30 PM · #10 |
For easy of learning, personally classical style guitars are the easiest as they have a wider neck, allowing you to easily find the note, no metal strings so it doesnt hurt so much (course some feel no pain no gain), overall just easy to learn.
We have classical guitars, standard acoustics, electric acoustics and full electrics. they all have their own sounds and feel, but when the kids all want to learn a song, they fight over the classical as its easier to learn on (just did that this weekend actually).
Now for sound, well my wife plays classical, so for her its great, I prefer a brighter sound.. but anyway, like kenskid said, go to The Guitar Center and play around, as we cant tell you how it will feel to you :)
p.s. there is a tuner program for the iPhone/iPad called Miso Tuner, super accurate (have to be in a very quiet room tho) |
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05/16/2011 12:57:15 AM · #11 |
Another thought and don't any of you kill me, but you might also check the local pawn shops. The two 6-string acoustic guitars we currently have were both picked up at garage sales. One came from Guitar Center w/capo, tuner and learning cd.$75. The other, (worth almost $500) was snagged for $80. (Both Yamaha, but different models.) If you listen to some of the hard rockers, now and then they even throw in some acoustic stuff, so I agree to start acoustic and then go the electric. Regardless, have fun!!!
Message edited by author 2011-05-16 00:58:05. |
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05/16/2011 01:32:36 AM · #12 |
Originally posted by bergiekat:
Another thought and don't any of you kill me, but you might also check the local pawn shops. The two 6-string acoustic guitars we currently have were both picked up at garage sales. One came from Guitar Center w/capo, tuner and learning cd.$75. The other, (worth almost $500) was snagged for $80. (Both Yamaha, but different models.) If you listen to some of the hard rockers, now and then they even throw in some acoustic stuff, so I agree to start acoustic and then go the electric. Regardless, have fun!!! |
I'm with ya.. great idea! Good way to get cheap guitars, dont forget to haggle tho, they pick that stuff up for pretty cheap money. |
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05/16/2011 01:50:18 AM · #13 |
Hey, guitar stuff, something I actually have knowledge about.
There are really two ways of approaching this.
The first is go the acoustic route. This might be the best way to do it. Why? Acoustic is harder to play and is less forgiving when it comes to mistakes. Its a tougher route but pays off in the end.
Or you can do what I did. I got my first guitar and borrowed an amp. I didnt know how to tune my guitar at all or play chords and scales. I just wanted to play. I asked how to put the amp on distortion
and I cranked it up and didn't care what sound it made. I was rockin out. It was just about playing and the joy of it.
I did learn to tune and play scales as well as chords. Learning chords and scales were the last on my mind, I just picked songs I liked and tried to learn them. However, I think I should have gone the
boring route and learn the chords and scales first. It would have been boring but it would have paid off.
Doesnt matter really because I still love to just plug and play the damn thing. The only difference is now a days I can rip and shred like nobody's business... |
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05/16/2011 05:46:31 AM · #14 |
| Being in Japan you could pick up a nice old S.Yairi acoustic in a recycle shop they usually have excellent playing.. pop into HardOff and ask about them. If you are firm about playing an electric then I suggest you once again go into a HardOff store and try to get an old Greco or Tokai if you can find any, these are made from good wood. for an Amp I would suggest an old Fender Champ if you can find one. Older stuff is built better but may cost a bit more these days. |
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05/16/2011 07:05:18 AM · #15 |
I believe that the guitars at HardOff are one of the items they shrink wrap in plastic, though I don't know whether they let you unwrap them to try them out.
Also, I wouldn't worry about playing an acoustic guitar and disturbing your neighbours - unless you were playing after 8p.m. |
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