Basic Guitar Information for the Absolute Beginner

As a performing musician, teacher and sales consultant I've spoken to numerous people who've told me they play the guitar an we speak about how much fun an personally satisfying it is.

I've also spoken to many people who've said that they tried to learn to play the guitar but they just couldn't do it. When speaking with these people, I've often picked up a guitar and purposely raised the strings with my right hand and said, "I bet the strings were high, like this!" They've almost always responded with a "Yes".

Any experienced guitar player would agree that this is basic guitar information. However, the general attitude is that most people don't want to invest too much in a guitar in case they or the person they are buying the guitar for doesn't stick with it.

This is a valid point and I do understand, but if you get a guitar that plays poorly you are virtually guaranteeing that the person will quit.

The most important place to start is to get a guitar that is easy to press the strings and to be sure that the guitar neck is properly aligned.

One of the easiest ways to determine whether the strings are at the proper height is to place two quarters under the thinnest string at the 12th fret (that's where the two dots are). Hold the guitar vertically, the way you would hold it if you were playing. If the quarters fall out, the strings are too high. Ideally they should be approximately the height of one and a half quarters.

There are several models on the market and the best place to look is at your local music store. There you'll get the guidence of experienced guitar players.

You do not need to purchase an expensive guitar but you'll waste your money if you buy the cheapest you can find.

Your best bet is an entry level model from one of the major guitar manufacturers. Squire (Fender), Epiphone (Gibson), Yamaha, Peavey, Art & Lutherie (Godin Guitars), and Oscar Schmidt (Washburn) to name a few.

These companies manufacture very expensive guitars which means they know how to build guitars properly and they are able to pass on better components to there lesser expensive models,

If you prefer to look for a used guitar, please take a friend with you who knows how to play. Much the same as a mechnic would give accurate advise to an apprentice as to what tools they would need in their toolbox, the guitarist with even a few years experience should have enough basic guitar knowledge to correctly advise as to whether the used guitar would be a good instrument to learn on.

Be sure to have the guitar tuned for you, get an assortment of picks and a really good additional investment is a guitar tuner. Even a basic guitar tuner will help you get in tune. Remember that even professional musicians sound "lousy" out of tune.

Guitar is a relatively easy instrument to learn a few chords and have a lifetime of fun.

But, there are so many possibilites and music styles that it would take a number of lifetimes to be a master of them all.