Anyone can play guitar?
March 23, 2016 9:35 PM Subscribe
Will I be able to learn guitar on a vintage Guild acoustic guitar?
I've inherited a beautiful D30 Guild acoustic guitar. I took lessons as a kid and didn't love it but I'm motivated now to learn as an adult, both as a tribute to the person from whom I inherited it and also as a skill I'd like to have. However, this guitar feels *enormous* to me. I'm a short female with small hands and it just feels weird to me. I guess I'm trying to decide if this is something I'll acclimate to or if it really is just too big. I know my hands will get more dexterous and stronger as I play but just getting my right arm over the top feels nearly impossible. I'd like to set myself up for success!
I've inherited a beautiful D30 Guild acoustic guitar. I took lessons as a kid and didn't love it but I'm motivated now to learn as an adult, both as a tribute to the person from whom I inherited it and also as a skill I'd like to have. However, this guitar feels *enormous* to me. I'm a short female with small hands and it just feels weird to me. I guess I'm trying to decide if this is something I'll acclimate to or if it really is just too big. I know my hands will get more dexterous and stronger as I play but just getting my right arm over the top feels nearly impossible. I'd like to set myself up for success!
Many women play bass, which is a lot bigger. There is no reason you could not learn to play this guitar.
posted by w0mbat at 9:47 PM on March 23, 2016
posted by w0mbat at 9:47 PM on March 23, 2016
Response by poster: I should add that for now, due to a bunch of reasons, I"m not going to take lessons other than online. And from all accounts the Guild is in excellent condition and is this one, which apparently is a dreadnought. If I had the money I'd restore the cute little Harwood parlor guitar I was also given but it's totally unplayable right now and probably not worth the money to rebuild it.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 9:59 PM on March 23, 2016
posted by otherwordlyglow at 9:59 PM on March 23, 2016
If it's physically not comfortable, then that's that, but just as a point of reference, Emmylou Harris is 5'5" and a dreadnought player.
posted by rhizome at 10:11 PM on March 23, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by rhizome at 10:11 PM on March 23, 2016 [4 favorites]
I have seen big people shred on ukeleles, and smaller people tear it up on dreadnaughts and barritone guitars. It's hard for us to say if this guitar is a good fit for you, but there is no reason to think you couldn't bond well with this guitar if you tried. That said...not every player bonds with every instrument they play. You can keep the guild and pick up something smaller (and used) for the time being and flip it for little monetary loss once you are more comfortable with guitars again. The Baby and Big Baby Taylors come to mind - nice guitars, not too expensive, always saleable down the road.
posted by mosk at 10:24 PM on March 23, 2016
posted by mosk at 10:24 PM on March 23, 2016
re: big guitar/small person: watch Tim Reynolds. dude is small...
to the point. the most important issues for a new guitar learner are (a) it stays in tune (b) the action is pretty playable.
contrary to the common approach of start-with-something-cheap-until-your-pretty-sure-you-like-playing-a-alot...cheap, hard, and out-of-tune are ultimately incredibly discouraging for a new player.
what i've advised before is: get the best, most playable guitar you can afford. if that's the d-30, then cool. if not, find a mentor and start shopping around.
posted by j_curiouser at 10:38 PM on March 23, 2016
to the point. the most important issues for a new guitar learner are (a) it stays in tune (b) the action is pretty playable.
contrary to the common approach of start-with-something-cheap-until-your-pretty-sure-you-like-playing-a-alot...cheap, hard, and out-of-tune are ultimately incredibly discouraging for a new player.
what i've advised before is: get the best, most playable guitar you can afford. if that's the d-30, then cool. if not, find a mentor and start shopping around.
posted by j_curiouser at 10:38 PM on March 23, 2016
Best answer: You can learn to play it. It may or may not ultimately be the perfect fit for you, but that’s not the same thing. I was going to suggest a parlor guitar, but especially with acoustic guitars musicians mostly play different types because they sound different, they play the size that has the sound they want more worrying about the size they are.
For everyone starting out playing guitar feels like the most awkward thing in the world until it becomes the most natural thing in the world.
posted by bongo_x at 11:11 PM on March 23, 2016 [3 favorites]
For everyone starting out playing guitar feels like the most awkward thing in the world until it becomes the most natural thing in the world.
posted by bongo_x at 11:11 PM on March 23, 2016 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Just wanted to add that it looks to me like most Harwood parlour guitars were made of Brazilian rosewood which would make it very much worth restoring at some point! Worth having a luthier take a look anyway. Even as a big guy I much prefer smaller guitars. Better for strumming on the couch.
posted by Lorin at 11:43 PM on March 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Lorin at 11:43 PM on March 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I learned to play on that guitar! 5'3" soaking wet and 38DD to boot. The sound is incomparable.
Playing sitting was awkward (big breasts meet big back, it was a stretch to the Guild's neck), I got a wide strap, connected it to the base of the neck (had luthier drill in another strap peg there) and played standing or on a high stool. My left hand was free to dance on those strings.
When I started out I tuned my strings a full note low to reduce tension. Later a luthier installed a new nut and saddle and the strings were much easier to play.
posted by Jesse the K at 4:45 AM on March 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
Playing sitting was awkward (big breasts meet big back, it was a stretch to the Guild's neck), I got a wide strap, connected it to the base of the neck (had luthier drill in another strap peg there) and played standing or on a high stool. My left hand was free to dance on those strings.
When I started out I tuned my strings a full note low to reduce tension. Later a luthier installed a new nut and saddle and the strings were much easier to play.
posted by Jesse the K at 4:45 AM on March 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thank you for the encouragement. I'll try to persevere with the Guild and will take it in to make sure it's set up correctly. It's definitely more annoying when sitting. As for the Harwood, yes, it's Brazilian rosewood but rather poor quality wood. I had a guitar repairman look at it and he was appreciative of the instrument but warned me that the work required would be solely for sentimental reasons since the value of the finished project would be less than what I spent. I am planning on getting a second opinion and may still do it anyway. In the mean time, I'm excited about the callouses I'm getting on my left hand!
posted by otherwordlyglow at 6:54 AM on March 24, 2016
posted by otherwordlyglow at 6:54 AM on March 24, 2016
Best answer: I'll offer another data point: I am a smallish woman and I just cannot play dreadnoughts with any comfort, both for right-shoulder and left-hand reasons. (Assuming you are right-handed.) My solution has been not a small a guitar as a parlor guitar, but still smaller than a dreadnought: a Martin 0-18. (We got it for a song off eBay, but that might not be possible anymore.) A friend has a smallish Taylor and that works for her. By all means give your guitar a go, but if discomfort is stopping you from playing, spend some time in a guitar store and try out a bunch of different smaller sizes.
posted by pipti at 7:44 AM on March 24, 2016
posted by pipti at 7:44 AM on March 24, 2016
On Scale length - see the section on "Comfort and Playability"
I have found this to be absolutely true - I bought an expensive guitar but do not play it because the scale length of nearly 26" is wrong for me. The neck is also wider than most.
Most people also don't realize how important is the setting of the action (string height) to playability.
posted by canoehead at 9:19 AM on March 24, 2016
I have found this to be absolutely true - I bought an expensive guitar but do not play it because the scale length of nearly 26" is wrong for me. The neck is also wider than most.
Most people also don't realize how important is the setting of the action (string height) to playability.
posted by canoehead at 9:19 AM on March 24, 2016
Has anyone shown you other sitting positions, like correct classical style? People do that for a reason. The more casual styles aren’t necessarily more comfortable or efficient, it depends on your shape and what you’re doing.
posted by bongo_x at 9:54 AM on March 24, 2016
posted by bongo_x at 9:54 AM on March 24, 2016
I would suggest that before you ever start learning, take the D-30 to a guitar shop / good luthier and get it properly set up. This will save you tons of frustration in the first few months you are developing your muscle memory. High action makes the awkward fingering and shear hand strength about 4000% worse. I initially learned on a guitar with terrible action and it did nothing but frustrate and discourage me.
Also, anyone can learn guitar! It is a rewarding skill and relaxing hobby. I treat it like meditation these days.
posted by Benway at 11:43 AM on March 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
Also, anyone can learn guitar! It is a rewarding skill and relaxing hobby. I treat it like meditation these days.
posted by Benway at 11:43 AM on March 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
Seconding Benway's comment about getting a set up done by a pro. It's not expensive and (especially if you're not taking in-person lessons) can save you from a lot of non-obvious, frustrating problems that you'll think are your fault but aren't.
A set up won't change the length or width of the neck. However, it will fix things like the height and uniformity of the action, incorrect neck tension / neck not straight, intonation problems, f'-ed up frets and dead macrofauna in the guitar body.
posted by sourcequench at 2:19 PM on March 24, 2016
A set up won't change the length or width of the neck. However, it will fix things like the height and uniformity of the action, incorrect neck tension / neck not straight, intonation problems, f'-ed up frets and dead macrofauna in the guitar body.
posted by sourcequench at 2:19 PM on March 24, 2016
Intuition is important. With any instrument, and with acoustic string instruments in particular, you really have to "feel the love". Strum a little bit, are you feeling an emotional connection, can you make the musical relationship work even if it's a bit funny? But if it doesn't really feel right, the music won't really sing for you.
You might want to buy yourself a modest small scale guitar for personal playing, and keep the Guild dreadnaught as a sentimental buddy to play on occasion, or eventually sell to someone that you know will appreciate it.
(I prefer small guitars because I like how they feel, but I also have a beat-up old Ibanez dread that I strum once in awhile for sentimental reasons, long story;)
posted by ovvl at 5:51 PM on March 24, 2016
You might want to buy yourself a modest small scale guitar for personal playing, and keep the Guild dreadnaught as a sentimental buddy to play on occasion, or eventually sell to someone that you know will appreciate it.
(I prefer small guitars because I like how they feel, but I also have a beat-up old Ibanez dread that I strum once in awhile for sentimental reasons, long story;)
posted by ovvl at 5:51 PM on March 24, 2016
Learning to play over the internet is certainly possible. I learned basic licks out of a book, way back in the dark ages, when phone lines were attached to the wall, and you didn't have a way of recording anything off your TV. My learning curve was sharp at first, but quickly leveled out. I learned a two-chord song. Then I learned a three chord song. Then I learned that rock and roll riff--I vi IV V, and several variations. Each plateau seemed like magic, but the normal process was engrossing, even if music theory remained a mystery. Once you begin to grasp chords and keys, as a guitar player, you'll have an inductive understanding of key theory that a lot of musicians spend years obtaining.
My first guitars were lousy and hard to play. I won't begin to describe their faults. What I learned is what someone has already suggested: get the best instrument you can afford, because it will shape your learning process. Sounds like, once you have the Guild set up it will serve you well. Some fine musicians have played that same model of guitar, Tommy Smothers, for one. Later on, when your ear gets more flexible and your fingers get smarter, you could probably prowl the guitar shops and look for the dream guitar. I love those rare, vintage instruments as well as the next person, but please allow me to caution you about relying too much on dollar value. Although it would be a fluke to pick up an excellent instrument for pennies, you needn't spend thousands to find one that rings your bell. This is in your future, though, so love your Guild for now, and see what you can do to coax the sweetness out of the wood.
Although certain features are helpful, maybe necessary--neck shape, accurate fretting, string height--it may be some time before the tone quality of your instrument is important to your style. In general parlor guitars and dreadnaughts differ in that the dreadnaught has a more robust lower end, and maybe better volume than the parlor guitar. You'll hear the terms bright and mellow to describe the tone. Those terms apply as well to strings. Strings have a significant impact on the tone. Take your time and experiment with different strings. Most guitars are constructed to use medium gauge strings, but many players prefer use light gauges. Each guitar will have it's own preference in strings. Maybe you can have this discussion with the luthier who sets your instrument up.
At some point I hope you'll find a way to jam with other new players. A guitar shop near me sponsors a weekly jam, an informal gathering, in one of their back rooms. It's free, and I have gained a lot from intermittent meetings with these folks--besides that, it's fun.
posted by mule98J at 6:42 PM on March 24, 2016
My first guitars were lousy and hard to play. I won't begin to describe their faults. What I learned is what someone has already suggested: get the best instrument you can afford, because it will shape your learning process. Sounds like, once you have the Guild set up it will serve you well. Some fine musicians have played that same model of guitar, Tommy Smothers, for one. Later on, when your ear gets more flexible and your fingers get smarter, you could probably prowl the guitar shops and look for the dream guitar. I love those rare, vintage instruments as well as the next person, but please allow me to caution you about relying too much on dollar value. Although it would be a fluke to pick up an excellent instrument for pennies, you needn't spend thousands to find one that rings your bell. This is in your future, though, so love your Guild for now, and see what you can do to coax the sweetness out of the wood.
Although certain features are helpful, maybe necessary--neck shape, accurate fretting, string height--it may be some time before the tone quality of your instrument is important to your style. In general parlor guitars and dreadnaughts differ in that the dreadnaught has a more robust lower end, and maybe better volume than the parlor guitar. You'll hear the terms bright and mellow to describe the tone. Those terms apply as well to strings. Strings have a significant impact on the tone. Take your time and experiment with different strings. Most guitars are constructed to use medium gauge strings, but many players prefer use light gauges. Each guitar will have it's own preference in strings. Maybe you can have this discussion with the luthier who sets your instrument up.
At some point I hope you'll find a way to jam with other new players. A guitar shop near me sponsors a weekly jam, an informal gathering, in one of their back rooms. It's free, and I have gained a lot from intermittent meetings with these folks--besides that, it's fun.
posted by mule98J at 6:42 PM on March 24, 2016
Response by poster: So, um where do I take the Guild to have it "set up"? I'm in San Francisco. I've been to Guitar Works to have them look at the Harwood but are they the ones that would figure out the Guild setup, too? Elsewhere? Any place that sells guitars? (I'm hoping for lenience in adding on a question here but there's been so many helpful participants....)
posted by otherwordlyglow at 9:24 PM on March 24, 2016
posted by otherwordlyglow at 9:24 PM on March 24, 2016
You might like to drive over to Tiburon to Schoenberg Guitars.
Beautiful shop, tons of wooden guitars, nice people to chat with.
posted by artdrectr at 1:03 AM on March 25, 2016
Beautiful shop, tons of wooden guitars, nice people to chat with.
posted by artdrectr at 1:03 AM on March 25, 2016
Pretty much anywhere that works on acoustic guitars can deal with yours. It's a pretty common task.
posted by rhizome at 2:03 AM on March 25, 2016
posted by rhizome at 2:03 AM on March 25, 2016
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by strangecargo at 9:44 PM on March 23, 2016