guitars for beginners

[neci]

this christmas the big present for the boy under the rosemary bush christmas tree is going to be a guitar. i am looking for an acoustic, full sized guitar at a very reasonable price. not being musical at all, i would like to know a bit of what to look for when shopping ebay and the pawn shop. i figure people buy their kids guitars all the time, never to use them, so they get sold. if he (or i) really get into it, i'll splurge later. for now i want something solid and decent. any recommendations or tips on what to look for would be helpful.

i've also been looking for good books on guitar playing for beginners, so recs on books are also greatly appreciated. i'm looking at spending less than $150 on the whole package, so that's my budget. thank you in advance. my not-so-midget, growing up way too fast, boy is going to be so excited about this. he hasn't a clue it's coming and has been swooning over guitars for some time now.

 

[cjh]

electric guitars are easier to learn because they are easier to fret. and it's easier to find a decent electric in that price range than an acoustic.

look for a used squire http://www.ebay.com/itm/Squier-Affi...9-/321610294424?pt=Guitar&hash=item4ae177a498

 

[neci]

electric guitars are easier to learn because they are easier to fret. and it's easier to find a decent electric in that price range than an acoustic.

look for a used squire http://www.ebay.com/itm/Squier-Affi...9-/321610294424?pt=Guitar&hash=item4ae177a498

what does fret mean, and does this mean i would have to get him a speaker/amp?

 

[cjh]

what does fret mean, and does this mean i would have to get him a speaker?

you have to press the strings against the neck to get a particular note. the little perpendicular pieces of wire are frets. pressing a string against them is difficult at first, so your notes or chords sound funky, which is discouraging as a beginner.

on a friends advice who teaches and plays, i bought an electric for my son. he learned on it, sold it for about what we paid for it, and turned that into a nice acoustic.

if he's just learning, he can use something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Danelectro-Ho...B0027M30Z6/ref=pd_cp_MI_3/180-7378526-5391158

 

[Not Normal]

I sold gear for years. There are decent new guitars in that range, or you might find something better used. Any beginner book should work, and you should also consider lessons. Its quite easy to develop bad habits without the watchful eye of someone experienced.

Look at known brands, Like Fender, Epiphone, etc. If you have a friend who plays, bring them with you when shopping.

 

[PoppingTom]

what does fret mean, and does this mean i would have to get him a speaker?

A ghettoblaster with MIC or AUX IN do it, too.

 

[warrior queen]

Two Xmases ago, I bought my then 15-yr old a mid-price acoustic guitar. Around $150 if I remember correctly.
The store I bought from offered 6 lessons free, and recommended several online tutorials.
Now, a couple of years later, he's playing flamenco-style music as well as some light rock (he's not into the heavier stuff).
Excellent gift!

 

[phrodeau]

what does fret mean, and does this mean i would have to get him a speaker?

Frets are the finger positions, and the strings are held down by the fingers over the frets on the guitar neck. If the strings are tight and spaced too far from the neck, they'll cause sore fingers. The other name for ease of fingering is "action".

An electric guitar needs an amplifier or "amp", which has a speaker and electronics to connect to the guitar.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Your kid will go thru hell building callus on his fingertips, then its a piece of cake.

I wouldn't spend much on his first guitar till he gets past the sore fingers and enthusiasm for practice hurdles.

Guitar books are everywhere. Get a chord book first.

Used starter acoustic guitars cost $35-$100

 

[phrodeau]

Good brands for acoustic guitars are Gibson, Martin and Ovation. Prices vary all over the place.

 

[neci]

you have to press the strings against the neck to get a particular note. the little perpendicular pieces of wire are frets. pressing a string against them is difficult at first, so your notes or chords sound funky, which is discouraging as a beginner.

on a friends advice who teaches and plays, i bought an electric for my son. he learned on it, sold it for about what we paid for it, and turned that into a nice acoustic.

if he's just learning, he can use something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Danelectro-Ho...B0027M30Z6/ref=pd_cp_MI_3/180-7378526-5391158

thank you. this is good to know.

I sold gear for years. There are decent new guitars in that range, or you might find something better used. Any beginner book should work, and you should also consider lessons. Its quite easy to develop bad habits without the watchful eye of someone experienced.

Look at known brands, Like Fender, Epiphone, etc. If you have a friend who plays, bring them with you when shopping.

i want him to get lessons, and the local coffee shop has a jam night i can take him to. they're a group of good, friendly people. they all play on acoustic guitars, but i'm sure they would help show him some ropes, or help with lessons. i think that's where he's getting the idea of wanting to play.

i figure i'll hit up the pawn shops around here first, once i have a better idea of things to look for. i found a beginner drum set for my sister one year, and when she only played it three times, it was not a big loss at all. looking at amazon, there were quite a few "beginner sets" for both electric and acoustic in that range, but if electric is easier to learn on, i should probably go that route.

A ghettoblaster with MIC or AUX IN do it, too.

okay. i have a feeling it may not be so quit around here anymore.

 

[neci]

Two Xmases ago, I bought my then 15-yr old a mid-price acoustic guitar. Around $150 if I remember correctly.
The store I bought from offered 6 lessons free, and recommended several online tutorials.
Now, a couple of years later, he's playing flamenco-style music as well as some light rock (he's not into the heavier stuff).
Excellent gift!

mine's pretty good at committing to something, once he decides to learn, so i am excited about it. we've never ventured into the realm of music lessons and learning. it's going to be fun.

Frets are the finger positions, and the strings are held down by the fingers over the frets on the guitar neck. If the strings are tight and spaced too far from the neck, they'll cause sore fingers. The other name for ease of fingering is "action".

An electric guitar needs an amplifier or "amp", which has a speaker and electronics to connect to the guitar.

thank you! this is going to be a learning process all around.

Good brands for acoustic guitars are Gibson, Martin and Ovation. Prices vary all over the place.

i need to take this thread with me to the pawn shop!

Your kid will go thru hell building callus on his fingertips, then its a piece of cake.

I wouldn't spend much on his first guitar till he gets past the sore fingers and enthusiasm for practice hurdles.

Guitar books are everywhere. Get a chord book first.

Used starter acoustic guitars cost $35-$100

i plan on going cheaper for this exact reason. next birthday or next christmas, we can go fancier, if he's still into it.

 

[PoppingTom]

okay. i have a feeling it may not be so quit around here anymore.

http://img.weiku.com//waterpicture/2011/11/16/1/Amplitube_irig_iRig_mobile_guitar_interface_634656806348831006_3.jpg

Yellow = guitar
White = headphones

 

[Not Normal]

electric guitars are easier to learn because they are easier to fret. and it's easier to find a decent electric in that price range than an acoustic.

look for a used squire http://www.ebay.com/itm/Squier-Affi...9-/321610294424?pt=Guitar&hash=item4ae177a498

There are 2 schools of thought on that. Yes an acoustic is easier, but an acoustic builds more muscle. It's much easier to go from acoustic to electric.

what does fret mean, and does this mean i would have to get him a speaker/amp?

Frets are the things the stick up on the neck, to separate the notes.

Good brands for acoustic guitars are Gibson, Martin and Ovation. Prices vary all over the place.

Not for $150 bucks. And Ovations are overprices at ANY price...

 

[eyer]

Or...

...perhaps your young son, because of his maternal genes, might be much more interested in something like this as his Christmas present this year:

150 Dollars That Changed the World – How Orissa Children’s Home Has Started

http://jesusunltd.com/150-dollars-that-changed-the-world/

...the guitar will come freely.

Peace be upon your home.

 

[Disgustipated]

Good brands for acoustic guitars are Gibson, Martin and Ovation. Prices vary all over the place.

Way too much for what she's looking for.

 

[girlsmiley]

Your kid will go thru hell building callus on his fingertips, then its a piece of cake.

I wouldn't spend much on his first guitar till he gets past the sore fingers and enthusiasm for practice hurdles.

Guitar books are everywhere. Get a chord book first.

Used starter acoustic guitars cost $35-$100

This. Funnily enough.

Any guitar would do. I learnt on an acoustic. Classical. It's important to learn chords etc. Depends on what he likes to play I guess. Is he into classical, or is he into rock or metal? A first guitar isn't about what brand or anything, it's about learning chords and having fun. Stretching and the basics.

 

[Disgustipated]

If you're going to a pawn shop, take someone from the coffee shop with you.

 

[BotanyBoy]

Forget the books, just get a subscription to Tab Pro....a Fender Squire is a cheap, good good guitar perfect for beginners. If it fizzles as he explores what he likes it's no major loss, if he rocks it, he's got a few good years of thrashing it before he starts bucking for something moar.

OHHHH!!!


Also unless he's a real classical guitar kinda kid he will more than likely love the electric far more as it will suit his taste better.

Well wishes and rock on.
http://24.media.tumblr.com/5b0a122589a521f209effbfc279a9a5f/tumblr_mhnv2tg3ng1qhwblqo1_500.gif

 

[neci]

Or...

...perhaps your young son, because of his maternal genes, might be much more interested in something like this as his Christmas present this year:



...the guitar will come freely.

Peace be upon your home.

we give back as well this time of year, and around the year. the gift of music from me to him is something i hope he will be able to build upon for his own future.

This. Funnily enough.

Any guitar would do. I learnt on an acoustic. Classical. It's important to learn chords etc. Depends on what he likes to play I guess. Is he into classical, or is he into rock or metal? A first guitar isn't about what brand or anything, it's about learning chords and having fun. Stretching and the basics.

he's still learning what he's into, and will listen to just about anything.

 

[cjh]

Forget the books, just get a subscription to Tab Pro....a Fender Squire is a cheap, good good guitar perfect for beginners. If it fizzles as he explores what he likes it's no major loss, if he rocks it, he's got a few good years of thrashing it before he starts bucking for something moar.

OHHHH!!!


Also unless he's a real classical guitar kinda kid he will more than likely love the electric far more as it will suit his taste better.

Well wishes and rock on.
http://24.media.tumblr.com/5b0a122589a521f209effbfc279a9a5f/tumblr_mhnv2tg3ng1qhwblqo1_500.gif

that's a heavy-metal 8-string tenor?



damn, you change the pic. what was that?

 

[Disgustipated]

that's a heavy-metal 8-string tenor?

That would be welcomed in an acoustic coffee shop setting.

 

[cjh]

That would be welcomed in an acoustic coffee shop setting.

heh.

i'm trying to picture that in my neighborhood coffee shop.

 

[neci]

If you're going to a pawn shop, take someone from the coffee shop with you.

i can do that. i the pawn shop. they're just down the street from each other.

Forget the books, just get a subscription to Tab Pro....a Fender Squire is a cheap, good good guitar perfect for beginners. If it fizzles as he explores what he likes it's no major loss, if he rocks it, he's got a few good years of thrashing it before he starts bucking for something moar.

OHHHH!!!


Also unless he's a real classical guitar kinda kid he will more than likely love the electric far more as it will suit his taste better.

Well wishes and rock on.
http://24.media.tumblr.com/5b0a122589a521f209effbfc279a9a5f/tumblr_mhnv2tg3ng1qhwblqo1_500.gif

tab pro. i will check it out. magazines are the gift that keeps on giving! he has mentioned before that he likes the classical look. i don't know if that was an educated comment or random comment. i think he would take the guitar around to places, and for that, acoustic would be easier, as no electricity is required.

 

[Disgustipated]

heh.

i'm trying to picture that in my neighborhood coffee shop.

When we had little shops, it was artsy but the music sucked.