Monday, June 09, 2008

Find Out How To Select The Right New Acoustic Guitar

By Jay Anderson

The main choice you need to make when purchasing a beginner acoustic guitar is deciding what kind of music you're going to play. A nylon-string classical guitar is best for playing classical, Latin and some kinds of folk and pop music. A steel-string guitar works better for playing rock, country, and some pop and folk music. It is your choice to play the various kinds in order to decide the sound you want for your beginner acoustic guitar.

Most instructors will recommend getting nylon guitar strings for the person just learning to play since they will be a bit easier on the fingers. However, this may not be a good idea if the student wants to learn to be a rock star or if they don't care for the classical style music as the nylon string will never have just the right sound.

If you want to learn to play music made by steel strings, then the clear choice is a steel-string guitar. Yes, your fingers are going to hurt for some time, but you'll develop calluses after a few months of regular practice. The same is true if you wish to play classical guitar music. Don't decide to get a steel-string is all you want to play is classical music.

A classic guitar is considered classic because the size and dimensions are similar. So, remember that if that's the type of guitar you are in the market for. Classical guitars have a classical sound, with smaller bodies and wider fingerboards, and they will be different in both feeling and tone. Before deciding which beginner acoustic guitar to purchase, try several different types. A great beginner acoustic guitar for the person just beginning would be the steel six-string dreadnought guitar. These types of guitars differ only a small bit sizewise and will likely have the tone that beginner players will really like.

The type of wood your beginner acoustic guitar is crafted from affects the tone of the guitar. Many beginner acoustic guitars come with a spruce top. Be sure you choose a model made from solid spruce and not one with a two-piece top. A solid top is durable. When it comes to the back and sides, your choices will generally be mahogany, rosewood or spruce. If you want a lighter tone, look for guitars that have back and sides of mahogany. You will get a heavier tone from a guitar that has rosewood back and sides.

When purchasing a beginner acoustic guitar, another feature you want is a fairly low action. The "action" is the term for the area between the neck and the strings. An action that is too high can slow your progress by shifting your focus and causing you to lose your concentration and train of thought.

It is really important to invest in a high quality electronic tuner if you are just beginning to play guitar. The ear takes time to develop and the beginner just doesn't have it yet. If you can tune your beginner acoustic guitar quickly, you will have more time to play, which is really what the beginner wants to do.

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