Guitar..? A Good Beginner Choice?

Question

I am considering to get a guitar and I have a bunch of questions.

I know electric guitar strings are easier on the fingers but you have to get a amp and my max price is nothing above 150. Also acoustic is louder and more sing along guitar. I am leaning to an acoustic right now so

First electric or acoustic?

What would be a good cheap Guitar?

Also is it worth learning to read music over Tabs?

Is it worth getting lessons instead of just looking at books and websites?

If you can answer any of these questions it would be great help.

Is it worth getting Acoustic-Electric?

Answer 1

Acoustic would be both cheaper and more useable in the long run; whether performing or just for fun around the campfire.

Tabs are OK; depends what you want to do. Maybe just expanding your knowledge of chords would be good.

You can't beat the value of a good teacher; again - where do you want to go with it?

There are plenty of books, videos, CDs, DVDs that a person can learn from if they understand the basics of the guitar, but either way, it's gonna cost ya something.

You might find a college student who's good at the guitar and could use a few extra bucks - that way, you might both make out.

Answer 2

1. Electric or acoustic? Two different animals. It depends on you and what kind of music you want to play. I know you said $$ was an issue, but down the road you might want to consider that most serious guitarists own both.
2. What would be a good cheap guitar? Price has very little to do with it. If you are just starting out you want an instrument with a straight neck and good intonation. If the action is too high you will kill your fingers trying to learn. A good guitarist can make a $50 guitar sing, and a lousy guitarist can make a $6,000 guitar sound like crap. (It's not the guitar)
3. Is it worth learning to read music over Tabs? Guitar playing, (or any instrument) is about making music. Music is all about the ears; listening, hearing, feeling. You don't need eyes to appreciate and make music. I've known a lot of people who studied music all the way through school, got A's, graduated with degrees, and can't play an instrument worth a crap. I know even more people who couldn't tell you an A from a B, half note from a G cleff, but can play circles around most of their peers.
4. I have given lessons in the past but gave up. If someone wants to learn an instrument they will learn it. There are no short cuts. Just because you're paying someone doesn't mean you will learn any quicker. Lessons are 1% someone else showing or telling you what to do, and then 99% you doing it over, and over, and over again (practicing). With or without lessons, it boils down to you playing - as much as possible. If you don't have the desire to do that, all the money wasted on lessons in the world isn't going to help.

Answer 3

1. Acoustic. Why? Acoustic is easier in my opinion, it's light, you can play practically anything on it without having to fiddle around with funny dials.

2. Cheap guitars tend to sound really bad, and be really bad quality. Use your Acoustic until you have enough money for a decent guitar (like a Fender Stratocaster and an amp). NEVER buy a guitar PACK, they suck a lot, you'll find yourself looking for a new guitar in a month.

3. Yes, learning Music Theory will help you write songs.

4. Well, if you're a good learner, and you find that you can learn by looking at books and on the internet, then you're fine. But if you're struggling, getting lessons would be a good idea.

Answer 4

I recommend an acoustic because you can get a good calus on your fingers before playing an electric and move your fingers better. It also depends on the style of playing. If you want to play more mellow stuff and not hard rock or metal acoustic is always better.

So in this case I say get an acoustic because it is not only cheaper but also suits your style i geuss.

The cheapest acoustics I know of are Yamahas. The cheapest electric guitars are Squiers. They are a part of the Fender company but I personally do not like them.

Some songs are tabbed very good by people while other songs are not accurate. www.ultimateguitar.com has decent tabs but the less listened to a song is the less tabs there will be. As I said most tabs are made by people like you and me who make tabs by ear. It's ok to get tabs but most likely you would have to have a good ear to find out the cords and notes. Books are also good to get tabs from, and they are more accurate.

Lessons are great because that way your instructor could find out your strong points and weak points and see what you can do to fix them. Lessons are of course going to be more expensive as well.

Answer 5

Acoustic- It's harder to play but once you have mastered this then electric will come easier.

Go to the music store ask a professional what would fit you best-Gibson is my personal choice for acoustic- Jackson for electric

Reading music is always better there is allot out there that does not have tab music, and tab is not always right.

Get lessons they will help you understand the instrument better. Teach you the proper way to play it. Help you with musical theory. Finger exercises, and give you the proper feed back correcting mistake etc.. and they can break it down so that it is easier to learn.

Answer 6

Accoustic would probably be easier tolearn on at first. You should be able to find a decent accoustic for sale for around $100. Don't skimp on strings though. A decent set of Martins should only cost you about $10 - $15 bucks. And they are worth it. Take your guitar to a music store and have them put them on and tune it for you to begin with. Some won't charge, some may. Lessons may not be a bad thing to start out with. They can help you with finger stretching exercises and teach you the right forms. Everybody haas their own "style when they play. So learn the basics the right way first and if you keep woith it, you'll automatically develope your own style. Whatever "feels" right, such as holding your pick, holding your guitar, adjusting your strap,etc. Just keep inmind, that to get better you have to play. And PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! If your consistent and try and play for a few hours everyday, by the time your finger tips start getting decent callouses, you should have quite a few basic chords down pat and can play a few songs.
Good Luck. And Have FUN!

Answer 7

You should most definitely start with an acoustic. As a beginner, its good to have a guitar that you can take with you places and just play (unlike buying an electric where you have to lug around the amp). You shouldn't choose which guitar to buy by how bad the strings hurt on your fingers or w/e. if you bought a guitar with strings made of barbed wire you wil get used to it anyway. My point is that you should choose the guitar for what sound you like not the loks or small details like the strings

DONT just go and buy the cheapest guitar you can find. you should ask around (kudos for asking on yahoo answers) and talk to people to see what they say. If you are getting an acoustic, rather than asking for which guitar to get, go to a guitar store and talk to an employee. ask them what they reccomend and have them play something on each of the different guitars in your price range. then depending on the sound you can choose your guitar with the least possible chance of regretting your choice later on. If you are getting an electric, a really good beginner guitar (though its over your budget) is a Fender Strat.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-Standard-Stratocaster-Electric-Guitar?sku=516037

It is easy to learn on, it is very versatile, and you will probably be able to upgrade it and take it with you throughout your guitar playing career.

If you arent completely sure that ou want to pursue guitar playing, and you just want to learn as a side hobby, you can go ahead and get yourself a squire strat (more in your budget)

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Squier-Strat-Electric-Guitar-Pak?sku=519633

or a Epiphone beginners pack

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-Les-Paul-Special-II-Player-Pack?sku=518677

between the two I would chose the squire strat.



Learning to read music over tabs is THE ONLY way to go. I tried to just learn tabs and now I am realizing what a mistake I have made. learning to read the music will not only help you in your guitar career but you will be able to pick up other instruments much quicker.

I suggest that you grab a few books that have somebasic guitar playing stuff and start reading them. This is in no way a subsitute for a teacher but It will give you a big head start. Don't try to learn off the internet or only off a book because it is easy to get discouraged. You should definitely get a teacher.

When choosing a teacher, I dont suggest that you just run to the guitar store by your house and ask for a teacher. You should ask some of your friends if they know people that play guitar and who their teachers are and what they thin about them

good luck and never give up! even though everybody says it and it sort of gets old, it is completely true that

the more you practice (correctly), the better you will get.

have fun!

Answer 8

Well...

It seems you're leaning towards acoustic, and that's a better guitar to start learning on anyways...

I looked at musicansfriend.com, and they have a bunch of good guitars for $150 or under...the best one I saw right offhand was an Epiphone acoustic electric for $149.99, actually...

Here's the link to that guitar http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-AJ100CE-AcousticElectric-Guitar?sku=518364

Yes, it's worth learning to read music...once you learn music, tabs are easy to pick up, and you can do more when you learn to read music.

And, finally, it is worth getting lessons, at least to start out, because a teacher can correct any mistakes you're making so you don't just keep learning the wrong way.

So, hopefully this was of some help, and good luck!

Answer 9

get the yamaha they make the best beginner guitars for anyone my first guitar was a yamaha and it was the best choice i ever made