Questions for guitar players!!!?? I need your help.....????

Question

I'm a complete beginner in guitar...I just got an acoustic guitar from my brother (who by the way knows nothing about guitars!) just three days ago and already broke a string!!! And I also used my tuner for the first time and it still sounds out of tune......with every string I pluck the meter just keeps vibrating back and forth.....is there something wrong with the string or something? How can I fix it? I was wondering if I could maybe bring my guitar back to the Guitar Center and have them restring and retune the whole thing.......can I do this or do they not provide that service?? and if they do, how much does it cost and how long would it take?? As I mentioned before, I am an absolute beginner and there's not really anyone I can turn to for assistance with my guitar........Thanks in advance......!

Answer 1

I asked my hubby, who's a great guitarist, to answer this one. Here's what he said:

If you take your guitar back to the music store, they will (should) happily re-tune it for you. It only takes a minute for an experienced guitarist, and it's a service they should be happy to perform free for a customer whom they hope to have back. You also can buy individual strings at most music stores, as opposed to a whole pack. A full new pack of strings might cost around $10. Regarding the tuner, the meter will often bounce all over the place if you're not close to the proper pitch. It is good to have a little experience and important to use your ears to know when it's near the pitch it's supposed to be. Having a tuned or electronic piano can help you identify the proper notes (E, A, D, G, B and E, lowest to highest) on the guitar by comparing with the keyboard. But for now, the guy at the music store should have mercy on you. Get him or her to tune the guitar, (they will probably also be willing to replace the broken string), and then use your tuner to stay tuned, but try not to turn the knobs too much. Just a little.

Then find a friend who plays guitar. It'll help a lot.

Answer 2

Most tuners have a setting for acoustic or electric and a switch to move to pick each string you are tuning. Once it's on the right setting and set to the right string, when you pluck the string the meter should go to the exact center or what ever mark is on it to show it's in tune. Then go onto the next string and don't forget to move the dial to the next string setting.
Yes most if not all music stores will re-string and tune your guitar for free with the purchase of the new strings. Or better yet bring your guitar and tuner in with you and get them to show you how to do it.
Good luck you have alot of work ahead of you, stick with it and have fun. You'll be playing like Clapton in no time. Stay way from Electric until you get alittle better. The neck and bridges are smaller and harder to move from string to string. also then you have to buy an amp and it's more money. If you want to you can buy a portable pick-up for your acoustic so you can plug it into an amp and get a similar sound to an electric.

Answer 3

Almost anyone that plays will be glad to help you out.
We all went through this.
You really need someone to physically show you.
Almost any guitar place will get you there and show you how to read your tuner and fix your strings..etc...
Prolly not more than 5 min for that....

Think about it... They will prolly get to sell you your next guitar!
I sure bought enough over the years.
I do recommend some beginner lessons BTW.
And nylon strings are much easier on the beginner (Can hurt if you practice a lot... and you have to keep practicing)
But those ould need a classical guitar. But they are pretty inexpensive.
Some of the electrics are also good for beginers with small hands as the necks are narrower.

Answer 4

Good question and you will get a variety of answers for sure. I'll answer the second question 1st, I'm 34. The biggest things are songwriting and ability to play. Speed is great but if they don't have the ability to stay in time with the drummer, what good is playing fast. Guitar tone doesn't play much into my decision to like or dislike a guitarist. I prefer hardcore and metal, but I won't dog a guy that has a Coldplay or Radiohead sound if he can write songs and play them well. Originality plays a big part of it. My favorite bands are Shadows Fall and All that Remains. They sound very similar to each other and other metalcore bands of this era. Not very original, but the songs sound good to me. Here's a short list of guitarists that scream "I'm original and I know my way around a guitar" Eddie Van Halen, Billy Gibbons, Jimi Hendrix, and Zakk Wylde I have much respect for all 4 of those guys, even though its not my favorite genre. I haven't seen anyone list Steve Vai or Joe Satriani yet. And although I have respect for them also, much of their music sounds the same. I can't listen to a full album without getting bored. The 4 guys I listed, I can listen to for the duration of the album. That's my take.

Answer 5

Guitar is not as easy as many people think. Get Gary Turners acoustic guitar for beginners with the CD/DVD. Re stringing your guitar isn't that hard.purchase a single string or a set and inst. the one you broke,(high E right?)pop the pin out slip the end with the loop in the hole and push the pin back in with the groove facing up the string length along the body of the guitar. Slip the other end through the tuner post and leaving some slack so that when you tighten the string there are a few wraps before you get tension. Good luck and God Bless.

Answer 6

Depending where you are, Guitar Center may charge you as much as $55 to restring your guitar PLUS strings.

If you are taking lessons your teacher will most certainly show you how to do this, and there are numerous places on the web that show how to restring a guitar.

Your tuner is going wacky because either a) you have the guitar tuned way too high b) you have the guitar tuned way too low or c) you are trying to tune it wrong.

Remember that, from the thickest to thinnest, the strings are numbered 6,5,4,3,2,1 (1 being the thinnest string) and the corresponding notes are E A D G B E. Your tuner should have either or both notations when you tune.

Answer 7

You should start playing bass before you start playing guitar.
I did just that and the transition was so easy.
You should get a simple Fender Percision Bass which is great for beginers, it stays in tune longer and they are reliable at a low cost.
If you want to continue to play the guitar, the you should get a new guitar. A Fender Telecaser would probably work.
Or you should just get the strings replaced the bulk of the cost is the strings that you buy and it takes about 15-30 minutes

Answer 8

I would not take it back to the store, they would probably charge you to do something that you could do on you re own, browse the Internet there are plenty of articles to walk you through changing a string, its surprisingly easy to do. As for tuning, you re best bet is to learn to tune by ear, that way you don't have to rely on a machine to let you know. but in the mean time, pluck you re string, and let it ring lowering or raising the pitch as needed, pluck the string again if the sound gets weak, you should be able to get a pretty accurate tune on you re guitar this way

Answer 9

id take it to a local guitar shop, theyll likely help you right there and may not even charge you if you explain. guitar centers are like the walmarts of guitar shops, and they usually just have a bunch of idiot kids running the place.

Answer 10

u can get it done at the shop but they will charge way to much and it is very e-z to do your self go to a guitar shop buy some new strings and it should say on the pack what to tune each string to