by Joseph Pescatello

Created on: August 16, 2008

So you've decided to take up the guitar. Excellent! You're about to undertake a journey that will change your life forever. Really. The two most important decisions you make next will be selecting an instrument and selecting an instructor. This article deals with the former.

The $1,000,000 Question Electric or Acoustic? This choice is largely determined by the type of music you want to play. Some genres, like blues and certain popular styles, are well suited to either instrument. But others are fairly specific to either electric or acoustic. Traditional folk, for example would dictate an acoustic guitar while most jazz and rock styles would warrant an electric. And if you're interest is in classical playing, the choice is clearly an acoustic with nylon strings. So the first step in choosing a guitar is identifying the type of music that you're most interested in playing. Then listen to a few players that you like and see if they're playing electric or acoustic instruments.

Full Size or Student? If you are younger than 10-years old or have exceptionally small hands, consider getting a smaller than standard instrument. It will make learning easier and you'll be more inclined to practice if you aren't struggling with the instrument every time you pick it up. All of the major guitar makers produce student or travel-sized guitars so you shouldn't have any trouble finding one.

New or Used? Your money will go a lot farther on a used instrument than on one that's new. If you can find a well-maintained used guitar that fits your needs, you should consider it seriously. But be sure that it is in good shape and is what it's purported to be. Some unscrupulous individuals sell counterfeit versions of name-brand guitars at ridiculously low prices on the used market. Be wary of any deal that seems too good o be true and consider taking any used guitar to a pro for an inspection before laying down your cash.

How Much to Spend? The low-end guitar market has made great leaps in quality over the past 15 years. There are reasonably well-built instruments, both electric and acoustic, available for under $150 new. But the cheapest isn't always the best bargain. A beginner needs to have a guitar that stays in tune, plays fairly easily and is comfortable to use. When selecting your guitar, make sure that it meets those criteria.

In Conclusion Every instrument is different. The more you try out, the more you'll know what you like and what you don't. Ask your friends who already play what they like or dislike about their guitars. And listen to the advice of those who have been through the process. But in the end, you will be spending countless hours with it, so pick the instrument that appeals to you.

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