If you’re just getting started playing guitar, hopefully this course will help put you on the right path FOR YOU.
You’ll also notice that this course isn’t just generic junk – this is good info! So take advantage of it 
You’ll receive several more installments over the next few weeks. I sincerely hope is helps you get your playing off the ground!
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“A Crash Course in Rock Guitar!”
I – Choosing a Guitar
The first thing most potential guitarists fret over (no pun intended…OK..slightly intended!) is choosing that first axe. If you’ve already got your guitar – GREAT! If not, here are some tips to help you select one:
1. Who is your favorite guitarist? Who do you idolize or at least admire? What kind of guitar do THEY play? Granted..this may be a $5,000 Les Paul or even a $25,000 EVH Frankenstein. If you can’t afford a big time, big name axe right from the start, that’s fine. Many people (particularly parents purchasing for their children) will go the conservative route at first, to see if the hobby is going to stick, or if it will fall by the wayside. Absolutely nothing wrong with this approach. The good news is that there are usually low-cost alternatives to those high-price boutique guitars that will play and sound good enough – sometimes great actually – so you’ll be inspired and start you off on the right path. Epiphone makes great low-cost Les Paul Style guitars for only a few hundred bucks. There are low cost Strats as well. Ibanez makes some great low-price models as well. Whatever you do – don’t buy junk just to get “something..anything.” I say this, because a really inferior instrument may discourage the beginning student from sticking with it.
2. Once you find a guitar you think you might like..play it. Does it feel comfortable? Is the neck straight (if you are not familiar with sighting a neck, take someone with you who IS, or ask the person at the music store (if you feel they are trustworthy). Plug the guitar into an amp (preferably like one you already own or one you PLAN to own). Your sound WILL vary from guitar to guitar, and from amp to amp. Don’t be shy. If you can’t play a note, ask someone else to play it for you, just so you can hear how it sounds. Ask questions!
3. If you’re looking to save money on a guitar, check your local music shops for used models. I often see great 80’s style guitars – old Charvels, B.C. Rich, Ibanez and Kramers..for a steal. Also check Ebay – just make sure the seller is a reputable one with an exemplory feedback rating. I’d try the music store route first, as it could be quite daunting to buy your first guitar without holding it in your hands first. Seasoned guitarists have no problem buying guitars on the internet, as they know what they are looking for already, and have most likely previously played the model they are looking to buy. If you’ve played a guitar and find the same model online, be warned that it may NOT feel exactly like the one you might have played. Sometimes, this can be remedied by a good, professional setup from your local music shop.
One more thing – some feel that the best choice for a first guitar is an acoustic. This may be fine for other styles, but if you want to Rock out, an acoustic is not the best choice for your first guitar. I’ve seen more people quit because their acoustic was too hard to play, and moreover, did not sound cool, thus it did not retain their interest. Don’t make this beginner mistake. An electric is the way to go for rock playing. Electric may be a bit more expensive (and confusing) at first, but it will pay off for you. If you want to add an acoustic later, definitely do it! By then, you will have been rocking for some time, and will understand what to expect from an acoustic. I got my first guitar early on – it was an acoustic. It got played for about a week, then sat around for three years…until I got my first electric!
Watch for my next installment – Coming Soon!
Rich
