Need advice for getting into guitar
November 17, 2006 8:25 PM
Calling all guitar geeks: I've got an x0 birthday coming up and with that I've got a hankering to get into music, and guitar seems like something I can geek into...
I've netflixed and watched 4 beginner DVDs so far, ordered the likely home-study suspects from Amazon, plus a guitar tuner. I want to noodle and learn how to play some of my favorite pop songs, Bach and stuff, and hopefully get my head into music theory, so I think I'll go classical to start, the solo fingerpicking style appeals to me.
But now I need a guitar! Was initially attracted to Takamine's midrange acoustic-electrics (the 132SCs and the Hirades), but reports on the net are kinda middling on this brand. I don't want to blow a lot of $, but I want something that won't get in my way when learning.
I plan on seeing how far self-study can take me . . . I've got plenty to learn, haven't read music since 4th grade. Any and all advice appreciated!
I've netflixed and watched 4 beginner DVDs so far, ordered the likely home-study suspects from Amazon, plus a guitar tuner. I want to noodle and learn how to play some of my favorite pop songs, Bach and stuff, and hopefully get my head into music theory, so I think I'll go classical to start, the solo fingerpicking style appeals to me.
But now I need a guitar! Was initially attracted to Takamine's midrange acoustic-electrics (the 132SCs and the Hirades), but reports on the net are kinda middling on this brand. I don't want to blow a lot of $, but I want something that won't get in my way when learning.
I plan on seeing how far self-study can take me . . . I've got plenty to learn, haven't read music since 4th grade. Any and all advice appreciated!
The Yamaha F-335 is steel strung rather than classical. Have you looked at the Aria range - they're very underated beginner/mid-range guitars.
You can see some here.
posted by oh pollo! at 1:28 AM on November 18, 2006
You can see some here.
posted by oh pollo! at 1:28 AM on November 18, 2006
Those Arias do look nice. On Usenet I've been directed away from Takamines to Pavan CGs, which look pretty similar in concept, and might be a better value than the Arias.
posted by Heywood Mogroot at 3:00 AM on November 18, 2006
posted by Heywood Mogroot at 3:00 AM on November 18, 2006
I don't pay close attention to classicals, but you can certainly, certainly get a perfectly good model for less than the grand or so the 132Cs seem to street at. I'd be shocked if you couldn't find a guitar well-built enough that it won't, as you say, "get in your way", for less than $4-500, if budget is a serious factor.
Then, in a year, when you're addicted and want something really kicking, you can go and drop that 1-2K on a beauty.
posted by cortex at 6:47 AM on November 18, 2006
Then, in a year, when you're addicted and want something really kicking, you can go and drop that 1-2K on a beauty.
posted by cortex at 6:47 AM on November 18, 2006
Encore guitars are pretty cheap and durable. I started on a nylon string 4 years ago and i have a 1500 dollar guitar now but its still fun playing on the encore, which cost me around 70 dollars.
The point is, you dont need anything fancy to start learning and you wont need to invest much into it if you decide to quit.
If youre completely serious about starting id reccommend getting a mid range guitar. the taylor big baby is my personal favourite. Its a lightweight guitar, very easy to play, steel strung and has a typical taylor sound you'd expect from a guitar in the 1000+ price range and it's the best guitar youll get under 500$.
Seriously, i wouldnt buy beginner dvds. If you google around youll find plenty of websites with videos and tutorials how to start playing.
posted by freddymetz at 7:33 AM on November 18, 2006
The point is, you dont need anything fancy to start learning and you wont need to invest much into it if you decide to quit.
If youre completely serious about starting id reccommend getting a mid range guitar. the taylor big baby is my personal favourite. Its a lightweight guitar, very easy to play, steel strung and has a typical taylor sound you'd expect from a guitar in the 1000+ price range and it's the best guitar youll get under 500$.
Seriously, i wouldnt buy beginner dvds. If you google around youll find plenty of websites with videos and tutorials how to start playing.
posted by freddymetz at 7:33 AM on November 18, 2006
OK, the plan is to get a cheaper one now and take my birthday-in-June trip to Spain to get a better one. Thanks all.
posted by Heywood Mogroot at 9:50 AM on November 18, 2006
posted by Heywood Mogroot at 9:50 AM on November 18, 2006
hey, just a suggestion, but I think the best guitar I ever bought was this $100 epiphone acoustic steel string piece of crap. I own plenty of nice guitars, (gibson blueshawk & flying v, strat) but this is the last guitar I've needed for years. (According to the soundhole it is an AJ 15 EB)
This guitar is totally money for a lot of reasons. Firstly, it is a guitar that is seemingly immune to damage. I can beat it down jamming, worrying more about rocking out, rather than the costs of refinish. Also, I can leave it around the house, and jam whenever I want; I do not have to sequester it somewhere to avoid traffic and pets. If you chill woth a lot of indie/punk folks, singalongs etc will help your performance skills greatly. You might feel like a cheeseball, or a hot topic style "wee sing" tape, but you get to rock out more.
Secondly, it sounds good, but not TOO good. if it sounds TOO good, you start to fetishize the damn thing, thinking it has more value as an object than an instrument. Get a guitar you are going to play and love, not just admire for its "mellow sound". Once you are past all this is when I'd start nitpicking about the sound, etc.
Just my two cents. It just follows my regrets of learning guitar the way I did for eleven years. Damn, I babied that blueshawk.
posted by wuzandfuzz at 2:00 PM on November 18, 2006
This guitar is totally money for a lot of reasons. Firstly, it is a guitar that is seemingly immune to damage. I can beat it down jamming, worrying more about rocking out, rather than the costs of refinish. Also, I can leave it around the house, and jam whenever I want; I do not have to sequester it somewhere to avoid traffic and pets. If you chill woth a lot of indie/punk folks, singalongs etc will help your performance skills greatly. You might feel like a cheeseball, or a hot topic style "wee sing" tape, but you get to rock out more.
Secondly, it sounds good, but not TOO good. if it sounds TOO good, you start to fetishize the damn thing, thinking it has more value as an object than an instrument. Get a guitar you are going to play and love, not just admire for its "mellow sound". Once you are past all this is when I'd start nitpicking about the sound, etc.
Just my two cents. It just follows my regrets of learning guitar the way I did for eleven years. Damn, I babied that blueshawk.
posted by wuzandfuzz at 2:00 PM on November 18, 2006
Alvarez is my brand of choice. Go to a local music store. You are likely to pay more, but Guitar Center sucks. The locals will get you the right guitar for you, not the right guitar for the salesman to sell. Whatever you do, do not buy online! Guitars can only be figured out in your hands.
posted by Ironmouth at 2:41 PM on November 18, 2006
posted by Ironmouth at 2:41 PM on November 18, 2006
My brother has a Takamine acoustic-electric. It is a beautiful guitar, both in looks and sound. My advice would be to go to your local music shop and play around on as many of the guitars in your price range that you can get your hands on. Buy the one that feels the best to YOU.
posted by cholly at 8:09 PM on November 18, 2006
posted by cholly at 8:09 PM on November 18, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
Check out the reviews online.
posted by hutta at 9:09 PM on November 17, 2006