Some recommendations

[Tonberry_Kid]

Ok, I have been very bored recently and I want to teach myself guitar.

I was wondering, should I start out with an acoustic guitar or go straight to an electric guitar?
What are some good brands that aren't God awful expensive?

Any info will help out so I can try and get my parents to get me one for X-mas.

[emccky]

RE: Some recommendations

I've played guitar for a little over 2 years now, and honestly learning on an accoustic/electric doesn't matter. Accoustic guitars have wider fretboards.. so I guess it would be A LITTLE easier for basic learning.. I'd say just get a cheap electric and start playing. Get lessons if you can, or a book or something. I taught myself to play by reading tabs. DO. NOT. DO. THAT. It will fuck up how you play things like chords and you will have wrong finger position on many things. If you have a friend that plays guitar, ask him/her to help you out.

[Tonberry_Kid]

RE: Some recommendations

What about like an amp? Or do most electric guitars come with an amp? And how much would you guess a cheap-o guitar would go for on average?

One of my friends said $200 for an electric and like $300 for a good acoustic.

[emccky]

RE: Some recommendations

uhh accoustic's are for the most part cheaper then electrics. Also, no amps do not come with the guitar. You can get a nice marshall practice amp for ~70 bucks. Get a cheap (I can't believe I'm saying this)Squier or something.. just for now. If you want to get a nice guitar to learn on/have for a while, go with a Fender Strat. It depends on what type of sound you want.. Speed - Ibanez, Power - Jackson, All around - Fender, Cheap starter guitars - Squier, Blues/awesome(what I have) - Epiphone

[BluE_MeaniE]

RE: Some recommendations

Regarding acoustic or electric, it depends on what you want to play in the long run.
Acoustic is harder to play, but it is good to strengthen fingers, I suppose.

I second finding a teacher. Being self taught will only hurt you in the long run.

You can usually get a starter kit that includes an amp and stuff, if you'd like. And you can certainly buy a guitar for $200-300. Not top notch, of course, but not horrible if you find the right one. But since each guitar is different, it's best to try it out, and also, I'm sure the guys at the music store will help you greatly.

And P.S.
Use your pinky finger.

[emccky]

RE: Some recommendations

blue meanie, the pinky finger usage killed me when I was a beginner trying to learn. Also, holding the pick with more then just thumb+index.

[BluE_MeaniE]

RE: Some recommendations

Good technique is incredibly-credbily important.
But you're right, the pinky will hurt a bit in the beginning. Especially if you play on an acoustic. Regardless, though, it'll be harder to catch up if you don't use it.

Plus, I was mostly joking.

And speaking of, holding the pick correctly is also important; don't just try to figure it out.

[Tonberry_Kid]

RE: Some recommendations

So is finger picking not recommended for guitar? Or am I mixing bass and guitar together?

What type of amps would you like recommend?

[BluE_MeaniE]

RE: Some recommendations

It really depends what you want to play.

Finger picking is for classical and folk, mainly. If you're into folk, then it's good to learn, or anything else where you might use it. But using a pick is more often standard for jazz and rock and yada yada.

You could just get a small Fender or Peavey amp, I would suggest.

EDIT:
Or you could get Satan, because I just hit 666 posts.

[ad0gg]

RE: Some recommendations

Playing an acoustic will strengthen your fingers and build caluses (sp?) so that when you go to play electric it will take no effort at all. That's what I did. The best way to find a guitar you like is to go to a music store (like Sam Ash or George's Music), and try the different guitars, and don't forget to get help from the people there (they know a lot). I have an Ibanez and I love it. For the amp (if you are going electric), you probably don't need something big. I have a 15 watt Fender (it's about a foot square) and I never turn the volume past 2, and it goes up to 10. It was 80 bucks. It really depends on what you are going to do with it. If you're just gonna fool around with it, I'd recommend something cheap and small. I think Sam Ash was selling a 5 watt for like 50 bucks. Check out www.samash.com, even if you don't have one around you, it's good because it has reviews.

[Tonberry_Kid]

RE: Some recommendations

Alright thanks.

So you would say a guitar and amp would run from $200-$300 basically? I can't research this myself because I don't have time to wait 20 minutes for a page to load.

[emccky]

RE: Some recommendations

you can get amp+guitar combo starter packs for ~200. I would reccomend that for you.

[JurseyRider734]

RE: Some recommendations

If you end up being really good, don't listen to anyone else on what kind of brand guitar to buy unless they tell you to get a Gibson. In that case they're right.

It's funny, I just thought about you last night and I was like "wow, that Tonberry kid hasn't posted in a while. It's funny how our regulars just come and go."

Now I see you posting again. I'm psychic.

[Tonberry_Kid]

RE: Some recommendations

Alright, thanks for all the info guys. It's helped me alot.

So with that, I bid you all Merry Christmas, Happy Hanakuah, and Happy Kwanza...And if I forgot anyone...Happy Holidays XD!

[FoJaR]

Re: RE: Some recommendations

Regarding acoustic or electric, it depends on what you want to play in the long run.
Acoustic is harder to play, but it is good to strengthen fingers, I suppose.

I second finding a teacher. Being self taught will only hurt you in the long run.

You can usually get a starter kit that includes an amp and stuff, if you'd like. And you can certainly buy a guitar for $200-300. Not top notch, of course, but not horrible if you find the right one. But since each guitar is different, it's best to try it out, and also, I'm sure the guys at the music store will help you greatly.

And P.S.
Use your pinky finger.

stfu, there's nothign wrong with being self taught.