What is an electric acoustic guitar?

Yes

im getting a new guitar soon, and Im wondering what is an electric acoustic guitar, can u play acoustic tunes and electric tunes, can you finger tap on it, how much does it cost to buy a decent electric acoustic guitar?

Answer
An acoustic electric guitar is really an acoustic guitar with an electronic pickup installed in it. It has all the properties of an acoustic guitar and can be played purely as an acoustic guitar. If you plug it in to an amplifier though, it will amplify the sound of the guitar (it's still an acoustic guitar though). There are different types of pickups, but most use a thin strip (piezo) pickup that's installed under the saddle (the white plastic piece on the bridge that the strings run across). Some more expensive ones will have a combination of piezo and internal microphone which can be blended. The piezo won't pick up your finger tapping, but one with a microphone would. You can get a decent quality acoustic electric guitar for $300-$500, but you probably won't find one with a blended pickup system (you'll likely just get the under-saddle piezo for that price range). Ovation, Takamine, and Ibanez would be some good brands to look at in that range.

Acoustic Guitar Pickup?

Aubie

I own an acoustic guitar. It is a nice guitar, but I also want an electric. But I figured, why have both if I can make my other one an electroacoustic? So here's my question. Is there a pickup that I could buy and install or attach to my acoustic to have it be able to be plugged into an electric amp and I could adjust the bass, treble, and all that good stuff? Is that what the Seymour duncan woody does?

Answer
There are many to choose from. They can get very pricey and I have to warn you that you will not get an electric guitar sound with them. They are designed to reproduce the acoustic sound. Seymour Duncan, Dean Markley, Fishman, Martin all make different models at different price ranges. I use a Dean Markley and a Crate acoustic guitar amp for my Martin D-28. Sounds "OK" but for real use NOTHING beats miking the guitar with a shotgun mike at the soundhole and a omni directional further out from the guitar.

There are a couple of kinds of pickups. One fits into the soundhole and is easily removed when you are not amplified. Kind of a pain in the neck sometimes. But there is one advantage. You do not have to mess around with the setup of your guitar. The other predominiant one is a ribbon pickup that goes under the nut of the bridge on your guitar. Harder to install, and it is a permanent installation. I suggest having a pro do that. Your guitar chord plugs into the strap holder on the back end of your guitar. There are others that stick onto your guitar with some kind of putty. Stay away from those.

Best thing is to try a few at a Guitar Center. You cant try one of the ribbon pickups on your guitar, but you can try one that already has one to give you an idea. Don't be shy about trying them. This is a big decision to make and you should LISTEN to the pickups. Not to people here!

Here's a link to Guitar Center stuff. Good luck.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Search/Default.aspx?internal=1&src=acoustic+pickups

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Beginners acoustic guitar?

Wibb

...that I could buy in the UK (Northern Ireland).

Would it be a bad idea to buy one off the internet?

Thanks =)
http://www.matchettsmusic.com/catalog/66645186-24de-4272-887b-2a091427ba91.aspx

Or here is my local shop if you could tell me which from there is good =)
http://www.belfastguitaremporium.com/catalogue.asp

Or here's another shop
I know this sounds really stupid but I hate the colour of most guitar, they looo kinda ugly lol...Do you think I could get a darker coloured one without having to pay a bunch?

..but it doesn't really matter.

Answer
internet, though it is getting more reliable, is still risky. If there's a pawn shop close to where you live I would go there. Most of them have guitars, they won't be top quality, but they will be cheap. Thats okay because as a beginner you won't need it for anything special, if you get better at guitar then you can go to a guitar shop or online catalog and get a better one.

What Guitar Would Be Best As A First Guitar?

EllieDee

I want to learn how to play the guitar but i don't now if i should get an electric or classic guitar. I like pop and rock music, and only really like the faster songs, but im not sure if an electric guitar would be right as my first one, please can someone help me.
I do like older bands, the beatles, queen, status quo, all are ace. i like them more thn the more recent bands. The song tht made me think to start playin an instrument was a queen song called bohemian rhapsody. Its ace, if you havent heard it yet thn listen to it!!!

Answer
hmm i would recommend starting on acoustic
1) they are cheaper for a half decent guitar compared to electrics
2) they toughen your fingers alot quicker, acoustic guitars are harder to make chords etc. but this is good as when you do transfer to electric (if you do) then your fingers will find it lightwork
3) they dont require amps & other various equipments, all you need is the guitar the pick (thing you strum with) is optional.
4) acoustic songs are easier to play (for the most part) you wont be getting too frustrated trying to play your favourite electric tunes

as for a good guitar to get well just anything from about 100 euro up (mind you im from ireland our prices are higher) im sure one of your friends has a guitar that he never uses, everbody seems to have some instrument lying around.
when you go to electric i definitely recommend a Fender Squire, its basically a beginners guitar but has great tone etc off it & is relatively cheap.
unless of course you are in love with playing guitar and know that if you bought a guitar for more money that you would get your money worth out of it and play it alot.

as for how to play. i recommend a teacher alongside your own works, a teacher is invaluable because not only will you learn proper technique etc which can help yu further down the line. but you will progress alot quicker & you have to go to class therefore you are more aware of practicing and not making mistakes infront of others.
a good site to use would be www.ultimateguitar.com its easy to use and alot of people use it.
as for reading music:
tab is the most common form that guitarists seem to use (although learning music is a + it isnt a necessity unless you plan to study music)
just google how to read tab its easy enough to pick up on.
any of the guitar for dummies books are definitely a help too.

MUSIC;
fair enough that you like pop and rock music, but i suggest listening to alot more older bands & guitarists. you will start to like them (its liek wine it takes time to enjoy) any bands you listen to nowdays have been hugely influenced by older bands.
by watching older guitarists you will not only pick up some BRILLIANT tunes that have lasted the test of time, but you will also start to try and mimick some of the things they do (i wont start using guitar slang such as hammer ons, licks etc cos you dont know what they are) basically it will just help you improve.

alot of guitarists though neglect proper technique and ''claim'' to be able to play stairway to heaven, or sweet child of mine etc etc.
but in reality they are s*ite because they dont have good technique, you can train anybody to play the basics of the song & make it recognisable. but to actually get the song with OOMPH behind it requires alot of dedication, pracitce & proper technique.
you can easily tell a person who is good on guitar when placed next to somebody who just knows the basics.

EQUIPMENT:
acoustic is basic all you need is the guitar, a pick, a tuner, metronome (basically its like a clock that ticks it teaches you rhythm and how to play fluidly), capo (eh its a tight kind of plastic object that you put on the neck of the guitar, basically it makes the strings shorter giving it a higher sound and you play higher up on the neck IE closer to your body)

electric: leads, amp, guitar, tuner, metronome (thats all i got off the top of my head)
they can be quite annoying to lug around hence why i suggest acoustic first.

eh here is a site its for bass guitars but the general music theory and how to keep yourself motivated and practice blah blah is the same www.studybass.com (it might be .net)

here are some links of some great guitarists and some songs you might be interested in.
now of course these guitarists are just underrated ones there are hundreds of good guitarists (email me if you want more)
Roy Buchanan-Hey Joe (a must BLUES)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z55XF9HlVrk

Rory Gallagher-Million Miles Away (from irish tour74 recognised as a landmark in live albums BLUES)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxiEMpcI83E

Rory Gallagher- Cradle Rock (just incase his blues song was to slow ROCK)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k4iocWURPk

Elbow- Forget Myself (they should have been famous years ago, i found them there like 4 years ago they are brilliant)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDddtQN7Fdg

Ash-Burn Baby Burn (very underrated irish band Alt Rock)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW8mEMqiNhc

ANY ramones songs they were so influential

a funny one now The BEatles- Octopus Garden
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgPqmRNjoTE

Avett Bros- Murder In The City (acoustic)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aE7rkSELM3I

Seasick Steve (legend hobo guy Rock/Blues)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNoPNC3ebYQ

SOURCES: irish (music is huge in our culture), was a guitar player for 3 years i now play bass (i've always wanted to play bass), loves music & is always up for helping a fellow musician

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cheap acoustic guitars?

squid

I want cheap but decent acoustic guitar for £80 to £150

Answer
Go on ebay and buy one there. You will get a good deal for taht money.

Why are Gibson Acoustic Guitars so cheap on ebay?

Bear McBea

I was looking for an acoustic and I've seeing some guitars as low as $75, with no bids. Why do you think that is?

Answer
2 reasons, one its a Maestro, and not worth crap. or 2 its one of the Chinese counterfeits that come up on Ebay every so often, Normally Ebay shuts them down pretty quick but they come right back with a new account, this is why you really need to check the sellers credentials and rating when buying guitars on Ebay, and if you don't already know this you shouldn't be buying guitars on Ebay anyway.

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Question about acoustic/electric guitars.?

CutiePie:)

I know nothing about guitars... I'm new to all of this, but I really want to learn how to play.

But I found this really pretty and cheap guitar (like 200 dollars), but it's acoustic/electric. I just want to play acoustic... is it the same thing? or does it sound different? and what is the battery for it for?

please help, I'm so confused haha

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Ibanez-V-Series-V70CE-Dreadnought-Cutaway-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar-102567492-i1150613.gc#customer-reviews

would it sound the same as this one?
http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Acoustic-Instruments/Round-Shoulder/Epiphone/AJ-100.aspx

I just want a cut-away shape though, which is why i was thinking about that acoustic electric guitar.

I sound so lame.

Answer
An acoustic-electric guitar is an acoustic guitar with a pickup built in so you can play it like a regular acoustic guitar, but if you want you can also plug it into an amplifier and rattle the windows. (Some musicians, like some motorcyclists, just think louder is better). If you don't plug it into an amp, then it's exactly the same as an acoustic guitar.

These guitars look very similar, except for the cutouts. The brands are very good, but the prices make me suspicious. The thing is, a lot of 'starter' guitars are almost impossible to play, because beginners buy them based on price. They can't play anyway so a really good guitar and a really crappy one look about the same to them. But if you got a really bad one, really unplayable, you'd think it was -you-!

If I was buying a guitar and I didn't play, I would want to bring someone along who could play to evaluate the 'playability'. I don't understand how someone could buy a guitar over the Internet or mail order. I'd be very wary. If you go to a guitar store and pick up half a dozen guitars that are all the same price, you find that they all feel and sound different (Well, YOU might not notice, but a guitar player would.) It's the feel and sound that makes the difference, not the look or name or model number.

Anyway I don't mean to discourage you.

Best type of guitar pickup?

hope

I have a BlueRidge acoustic guitar and need a recommendation on what type of pickup to purchase.

Answer
Fishman, LR Baggs, Shadow and K&K are probably the best brands for acoustic guitar pickups. I have a Guild D4 guitar and got an LR Baggs Element piezo pickup put in under the saddle for about $125 and it works great and sounds great. It has a volume wheel that attaches inside the sound hole. I plugged into a K&K Pure Preamp and it was great. But you can get much better ones if you pay more.

If you want something quick, easy, and cheap that still sounds good though, I highly recommend the Fishman Rare Earth humbucking soundhole pickups (or the NeoD if you can't afford the Rare Earth). I had one of those before I got the LR Baggs installed. LR Baggs and Shadow also make good sound hole pickups, but I'd avoid the Dean Markley ones. I tried one of those and it hummed a lot and really didn't sound very good.

Since you didn't mention anything about price limits though, there are much better systems such as the Fisman Aura and Expression systems, which combine and blend various inputs such as piezos under the saddle, transducers on the soundboard, and internal microphones to allow you to get more realistic reproduction of the acoustic sound. You could spend several hundred dollars on some of those and the system is not just the pickups, but the internal preamp and electronics as well.

The best thing to do would be to try out some guitars that have the type of electronics you're thinking about. Granted they won't be exactly the same as your guitar, but it will give you an idea. Once you have a few in mind (there are hundreds to choose from), then do some research and read reviews on those specific ones.

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Any cheap, good guitars for sale?

Maxe

ok so im going to try out for the talent show at my school and auditions are in a few days. im in an act where i play guitar. ive had my guitar for a few years. when one of my strings broke, i changed all of them. for some reason i now have to tune my guitar every time i play. i think its tie for me to get a new one but theyre so expensive and i dont have that much money. does anyone know where i can get a cheap but good quality guitar in San Marcos CA? or anywhere near there?

Answer
try this:
take your strings off
with a SMALL file, widen the string grooves on your guitar nut a little. not much, but a little.
then mark in the grooves with a pencil. the powdered graphite acts as a lubricant.
put strings back on, tune, everything should be about 80% better. we cant really give you a good answer because we dont know what kind of guitar you have. but get one only if you want it, most guitars will tune a lot better if you do a little work on the nut.
if you want an acoustic, try a fender. guitar center, sam ash, and smaller music stores should have one. my fander villager sounds great for a chinese guitar.
if you want an electric, try a fender made in japan. not CRAFTED IN JAPAN. about a thousand bucks for any mij fender, these are great value guitars. i have one also.

Average price of an acoustic guitar?

HarryPotte

I want to buy an acoustic guitar for 200 dollars, which also comes with picks, a tuner, and others. My mom says that costs too much but I argued with her that they usually cost $300-$500. She wants me to buy a guitar that is the cheapest, which is $100. But wouldn't it be better if I bought the pack with the guitar, tuner, and others?

Answer
The Epiphone DR-100 is a surprisingly good guitar at a very modest price. The MSRP is $182, but right now musician's friend has them on sale for $99. The Epiphone DR-100 Acoustic Guitar is a nicely crafted acoustic guitar that sports a select spruce top and mahogany body and neck. This guitar epitomizes Epiphone's focus on affordable quality. Epiphone builds the DR-100 Acoustic Guitar with chrome hardware, precision construction, and rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays.

Buy your picks and tuner separately. The stuff that comes in packs are junk.

This guitar is great value for the money and it's solid enough that if you stick with playing and move up to a better guitar, you''ll have the DR-100 for a great couch guitar.

http://backstage.musiciansfriend.com/Guitars/Acoustic-Guitars/6-String-Acoustic-Guitars/DR-100-Acoustic-Guitar.site1prod518569.product

xx

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What kind of guitar is recommended for beginners?

simply me

I'm starting college next month, so it'd be nice to attain a new hobby during stressful nights and dull days.
I want to start learning how to play a guitar, but im not sure what to get!
I'm a beginner, i want an acoustic guitar thats not too costly (below 200$).
The nearest place that sells musical instruments to my residence is guitar center.

Answer
The first thing you have to do is to decide how you plan to play
the guitar. Playing just chords or primarily melodies?

Melody lines are mostly played one note at a time with very
few chord fingering involved in the playing.
Players that only use chords prefer the steel-string acoustic guitar
since it is set up with a slimmer neck than the nylon string guitars
where the neck is approx.2 inches wide and the string a little
more separated. The closer strings are easier for "chord" playing.

The nylon string guitar is also called the "classical" guitar.
This is the preferred instrument for guitarist that play classical
guitar music. Both types of acoustic guitars - nylon or steel strings -
can play any kind of musical style.

Steel(metal)strings are much harder in the fingers than
nylon strings and the majority of steel string players use a
"pick" to play instead of the bare finger/nail tips.
Nylon string players very rarely use a "pick" to play.
The strings are much easier to respond to finger-picking
without any 'soreness" to the fingers.

Steel-string bring out a brighter "metal-like" sound while
the nylon strings bring out a more "mellower" sound.

You should try both types and decide which will be the best for YOU
Don't go by other "players" opinion on this matter.
You will be the one playing the strings of your guitar not them.

In the USA steel-strings acoustic outsell nylon string guitars
by a large number. In Europe and South America nylon strings
guitars sells more.
Be aware that the vast majority of the guitars sold in USA with
a price tag under $900. are manufactured overseas.
They may carry well-known USA brands but they are not
"Made in USA".Similar instruments may carry a different "brand"
but very likely were made by the same machinery overseas.
Example:Takamine-Jasmine-Montana are made for the same
company with different labels-
Jasmine and Montana are identical instruments and carry
different price tags. Difference is Advertisement.

What then to do? Go by sound and overall playability not by
brand name. One last advice: Pick a guitar size like you buy a
pair of shoes. Not One-Size Fits All.
I know of many first time guitar buyers that "give-up" trying to
learn to play because the size of the guitar is either to large
(in scale length) or too big (in overall size in relation to their
physical body and arm size).
Scale-length is the distance between the Nut of the guitar
and the top of the saddle -little white piece inserted into the
bridge of the guitar- Simply this is the length of the part of the
strings that you will pluck when you play. Not the entire length
of the string. The longer the size the more separation
between the frets.
Pleople with a finger spread (form pinky to thumb)
of less than 9 inches should benefit from a short-scale-length.

Many companies describe their instrument is sizes such as 4/4 ,
7/8,3/4, 5/8/ 1/2 but except for the 4/4 that almost always have
a 25.6"scale length the other figures don't mean much until
you try two 3/4 size guitars as an example.
Their scale length will be shorter than "standard "25.6" but one
could be 24.0" and the other 24.5" inches.
Hope this information will be of help in choosing your 1st guitar.

SImple and easy guitar (acoustic) melody for beginner? 10 Pts to best answer?

Jacques

SOme simple tune i cant play that many notes yet. Preferably without chords just the note.

Answer
Try Green Day's Good Riddance as an easy song.

Wild Thing is also very easy to play with a couple of easy chords. (You have to learn chords sooner or later)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1224569391699185492#


Also try "Smoke on the water"
http://www.heartwoodguitar.com/blog/2009/02/03/easy-guitar-songs-for-kids/

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What is the best acoustic guitar for a beginner which is kinda cheap and available in India?

Elina

As the question says (:

Answer
Ibanez Artcore Jazz.

Acoustic-electric guitars?

Q. I want a cheap acoustic-electric guitar which can use an amplifier.Where can I find it in India??

Answer
get a used one on Ebay and have it shipped.

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guitar lessons for beginners?

Q. hey, i'm teaching myself the guitar, im BROKE so i cant get a tutor :(.. and i dont know anyone who plays guitar... so what should i do now? :/ lol.. thanks

Answer
look up "guitar lessons" on youtube, go to http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/ and http://www.guitare-tab.com/

ultimate guitar has lessons in particular styles the basics etc.

The string in tab (uppercase) is the low E, and lowercase one is the high E.

Youll need to learn to read tab.

a number corresponds to the fret:

D-------------
A--2----------
E-------------

this means you play the second fret on the A string: a B.

3h4 mean to hammer on fromt he third fret to the fourth: i assume you know what this means.

3/4 means slide from the third fret to the fourth: play the note, then, while still maintaining pressure, slide your finger down to the next indicated fret

you will pick it up very quickly.
G------------0------------------
D---------0---------------------
A------2--------3h4/6-----------
E---3---------------------------

for instance the above is a G chord arpeggio, and then a hammer on, moving straight into a slide: playing a C hammering on to a C# without picking it, and then sliding down to a D# still without playing it

heres some beginner songs

Beg.

Green Day - Time Of Your Life
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Jhonny cash - Hurt
Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah
Papa Roach - Last Resort
Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin
System of a Down - Chop suey (Drop C)
The Good, The Bad, The Ugly Theme
Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street
Jhonny Cash - Ring of Fire
Secondhand Serenade - Your Call (One Step Down: Eb,Ab,Db,Gb,Bb,Eb)
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
TRJA - Your Guardian Angel
Sum 41 - Peices
Guns 'n' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama
Eagles - Hotel California
Mazzy Star - Into Dust
Oasis - Wonderwall
U2 - Sunday Bloody Sunday
Don McLean - American Pie
Fleetwood Mac - Albatross
Scars on Broadway - They Say (Drop D)
Scott McKenzie - San Francisco
Serj Tankian - Empty Walls (Acoustic Version)

Acoustic guitar lessons for beginners?

MrKnowItAl

Ever since i was small my dream was to play the acoustic guitar and now that im grown i can finnaly acomplish my dreams
i had a friend who taught me a few chords but i have fully masterd
and i dont have money to play for guitar classes
i want to know which is the easiest way to learn to play the guitar
like ive been on youtube but its not the same or maybe i was looking in the wrong place
and i wanna know whats the difference between and acoustic guitar and a eletric-acoustic and which is better?

Answer
There is a sight that might give you some direction as a beginner guitar player.

http://www.all-things-acoustic-guitar.com

It covers a lot of material ranging from different beginner guitars, electric acoustic guitars, learning to play the acoustic, and more.

The difference between an acoustic and an electric acoustic is simply that one can be amplified and the other cannot unless it is mic'd.

You may not think that you can afford a teacher, but if you change your strategy, you might be able to.

You might take one class a month. I know instructors who charge as little as $15 for a half hour lesson.
You could take a lesson, and then save up for the next. This way it is not such a strain on your budget.

You might also check out a church or community center in your area and see if they offer music lessons- some do it for free or just donations.

Hope this helps! Good Luck!

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acoustic guitar for beginners..?

Katie

Hey,
i'm looking to get a cheap acoustic guitar. i'm a beginner. any ideas on where to get one for $100 or less?

Answer
If you are just beginning, you want to make sure you buy a guitar that "calls your name." What I mean is that if you buy a cheap guitar, it will be a real chore to play and you will get tired of playing sooner and your fingers will hurt worse because the action will stink. If you are going to get a guitar, start with a model that costs around $350-400. Fender makes a couple in that price range. Also, Yamaha and Ibanez have some good models in that range. They aren't going to be the best but they are decent enough that they won't cause you to lose interest because of poor quality action. Buying a super cheap guitar is a common mistake that causes a lot of would-be guitar players to give up. If you only have $100 then buy a good used one out of the paper or at a guitar shop.

Additional Info: I found a guitar in the Musiciansfriend catalogue that cost $79.99 and would be less than $100 with shipping. Go online to musiciansfriend.com and search for Rogue guitars, The model is the RA-100D Dreadnought. You can choose black or sunburst finish and they offer a gig bag for another $20. However, I still think you will be happier with a $350 Fender or Yamaha.

Beginner acoustic guitar?

Luke

I'm really wanting to learn guitar. I don't want to spend that much money, but I want a decent guitar. Any ideas on good but cheap guitars? Keep in mind I'm a beginner! Thanks!!

Answer
A decent entry level guitar (avoid things advertised as "beginner guitars"; they're usually junk) will run you about $150-300. You should only buy it from a music store or guitar store after trying it out personally. Take along someone who already plays guitar if you can.

Avoid buying online, especially Ebay. Also avoid discount stores and big box stores. Most guitars under $100 are also to be avoided, although Epiphone and Jasmine have adequate models at $100. I don't recommend buying your first guitar used - used guitars can have issues that are not obvious to the nonplayer and which may be expensive to fix. Pawnshop guitars are notorious for being overpriced and in poor repair.

Yamaha, Jasmine, and Epiphone are some entry level makes that offer good value. In this price range nearly all the guitars you encounter will be all plywood construction. There is nothing wrong with this when you're starting out - at this point you are looking for a guitar that is durable and easy to play, not for wonderful tone, and anyway, some plywood guitars can sound surprisingly decent. Yamaha does offer a few models with solid spruce tops in this price range and they are highly recommended - check out the FG-700S. Note that if the ad doesn't say SOLID spruce, it's plywood.

Hope this helps.

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Would an acoustic or a classical guitar would be more suitable for self-learning beginner?

songfreak

For an acoustic guitar, would the yamaha f310p be a reasonably good package to start of with or should I get something else? And could someone please explain to me what the difference is between an acoustic and a classical guitar? THANKS!!!! :D

Answer
An acoustic guitar is just that acoustic, it doesn't matter whether it's setup with wound steel strings, or nylon strings, or even has an electric pickup mounted on it. The general classification is, it's still an acoustic model.

The best way to find out what guitar is the best for you, is by going to a shop, and trying out the different models from the different makers. No two guitars will sound exactly the same, even within same model line. This is due to differences in the density of wood, and the grain of the wood itself, even if it comes from the same tree, and same section of the tree. As to a good guitar, you will want to look at for a new one somewhere above the two hundred twenty five dollar range, anything from one hundred to two hundred fifty dollars is in the decent quality range.

When you try different guitars, one of the most important aspects is the feel and more specifically the neck, and how it feels when you hold it. You can and will find different neck widths, which affect the comfort, of how the feel is. The body will also play a role in comfort, when you sit and hold it, as well as when you're standing, all of that should be taken into consideration, while trying out the different makers, and model lines. Even the body styles vary, and this will also affect the way the guitar feels. This is why each person should handle, and try out different models and styles. Then the sound comes in as a very close second.

A huge do not, is buying from retailers such as Walmart, Target, K-Mart, or any other discount retailer, as those are considered as little more than a child's toy, or a decorative wall hanging. In short a piece of junk, and something a guitar shop, or luthier isn't going to want to work on. The big reason is the parts used to make it with are of the lowest possible grade possible, and assembly line manufactured. The cost to make them both reasonably playable, and semi reliable, would cost as much, or more, as it would to buy one new or even used of a good quality.

Also buying from online should be the last possible resort, as the prices stated, may not be indicative of the quality. Sometimes the manufacturer's price is inflated, to make the guitar seem a better quality, and like a great deal on the instrument, and it's not the deal or the quality it appeared to be. When you buy from a shop, they can also help you get it properly setup, to give you optional ease and comfort, when learning and playing.

Here are some brands to check out, Dean, Eastman, Fender, Gibson (and their Epiphone line), Gretsch, Heritage, Ibanez, Jasmine, Martin, Mitchell, Ovation, Rickenbacker, Seagull, Takamie, Taylor, Washburn, and Yamaha. The makers that I listed, are some of the better quality makers of guitars. Each will have different lines and models to select from, and try out. Selecting a guitar is also very much a personal thing, as each person will look for the aspects, and qualities that they want in the guitar. Anyone can recommend a brand, or model type, but the final choice should be that of the person buying it, based on what they found by testing out different ones.

Some other things to buy are string wipes, an extra set, or two of strings, and a set of picks if you're goiung to be using a pick. However if you go with a pick, then try various hardness's of picks, to find the one(s) you like best. Some other options to consider are a good cleaning cloth, a surface cleaner made for cleaning the guitar, and a small bottle of lemon oil, for the fret board, to use once, but not more than twice a year, to keep the fret board, from drying out, and cracking. Optional would be a tuner for your guitar, until you learn to tune by ear.

However if you go with a classical style guitar, do not replace the nylon strings with steel strings. Doing so will warp the neck, and eventually pull the guitar apart. The reason is the truss rod if there is one, isn't made to handle the tension required for tuning and maintaining the tuning of the steel strings. As to easier, both will b e the same if setup properly. A good shop will help with setup for you usually free if you buy from them as a part of the sale.

Two beginner questions about buying a classical 6-string acoustic guitar and strings?

Peter

First question: As far as styles go for classical 6-string acoustic guitars, are there types that are better suited for strumming and some that are better suited for plucking? Or are you equally equipped to do both no matter what guitar you have?

Second question: could someone compare the effects/sounds of steel and nylon strings for me (on a classical 6-string guitar)? I've heard people say you just plain shouldn't get steel for a classical guitar, but being new, I'd already picked some up to restring a borrowed guitar - and I think it sounds fine, picking anyways. It was murder the first few weeks, but I assumed that was just the callousing/building finger strength period. Although it does, currently, take an inhuman amount of force to hold down multiple strings with one finger - but a couple weeks ago I'd have said the same about holding down a single string, so...? And aside from that, I'm not sure I like the sounds of nylon strings as much when plucking.
Thank you very much LucasMan, no one else stressed the severity and I'd never asked. One of the pitfalls of being, "self-taught" I guess, thanks for saving my sister's guitar. --So, make that one question, the first.

Answer
===NEVER PUT STEEL STRINGS ON AN INSTRUMENT DESIGNED FOR NYLON STRINGS===

A classical guitar is a classical guitar is a classical guitar.

It's a specific style of instrument. You can't just refer to all nylon stringed guitars as classical guitars... because they're not.

You can strum a classical guitar if you want to, but classical guitar music rarely has any strumming in it.

You can't put steel strings on a classical guitar (or any guitar designed for nylon strings for that matter). They will ruin the guitar. Steel strings exert WAY more tension on the instrument when tuned to pitch than nylon strings. Nylon string guitars are not designed to handle that amount of tension.

If you've already stuck steel strings on a nylon string instrument, TAKE THEM OFF IMMEDIATELY! Especially if it's not your guitar. They WILL ruin the instrument.

While nylon strings pose no threat to a steel string instrument, they won't work very well. So once again, don't do it.

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Teach myself guitar Help?

Sophi Y

I have a guitar and I am planning on going to buy a music book soon and I have a chord sheet for reference. What are some pointers for me to learn easier? I already know how to play piano (again self taught) and played saxaphone for 2 years. I also have a few questions for acoustic guitar players.

Do you use a pick?
How do you use a capo and how much are they (can you go without one)?
What are some simple country or pop songs to play?
About how long did it take you?

Thanks in advance!

Answer
Welcome to the wonderful world of guitars! :D

I've been playing acoustic guitar for about 8 years. At this point, I still consider myself a "beginner"... although perhaps I'm a more advanced beginner at that.

It took me just one day to learn a few basic open chords and a very basic strumming pattern. But then again, I spent that whole day in my room just learning those. (I can get a little obsessive when I learn things). Five hours into that, I was already strumming and singing along to a couple of very easy songs. But I would not recommend spending too much time playing acoustic guitar when you're first starting out. It can hurt... especially if you're playing with a steel-string. It took me about a year to get familiar with most of the commonly used chords. It took me about four more years to get to the point where I could figure out how to play songs by ear. But perhaps, if I'd practiced more regularly, it would've taken me less time to get to there - I was often too busy with school.

Since you already have experience with other instruments, guitar will probably come easier to you... :)

Also, are you learning guitar from sheet music/standard notation? I learned the "informal" way... through tablature, chord sheets, shapes and patterns. I can't read music at all.. lol. That's another factor that could affect how long it takes to learn.

On picks:
I use one. But it depends on what song I want to play. I think using a pick gives a clearer, crisp and "chunkier" sound. Also, strumming a steel-string guitar just kills my fingernails. So, if I'm going to play a song that requires a louder, aggressive sound, or a lot of strumming, I am definitely going to use a pick. If a song sounds better with fingerpicking, or if it's easier to play it that way, then I'll put down the pick and use my fingers. For other songs, I use a combination- I'll use the pick in parts that are strummed, and then I'll hold it in a certain way to free up my other fingers so I can fingerpick on other parts. It's a bit tricky, but it can be done. ;) There are also thumbpicks and fingerpicks available, but I haven't tried them yet.

On capos:
How do you use a capo? It depends on what capo you want to use. So far, I have used two kinds: the "strip capo" and the "clamp capo". The strip capo is kind of like a belt. It has a nylon strip attached to a metal bar with a piece of rubber on top. You wrap it around the neck of the guitar (like a belt) at the fret you want to capo, with the rubber piece face down on the strings, and fasten it... With the "clamp capo", you "clamp" it on as the name suggests.. It's difficult for me to describe in words.. haha.. Perhaps if you do a websearch, you'll find pictures and detailed instructions. :)

I live in the Philippines, and I believe I got my strip capo for the equivalent of about $4 US. The clamp capo was like $10.

Can you go without a capo? Yes. But without a capo, depending on the key of the songs you play in, you may have to rely more on barre chords. Barre chords can be a bit more difficult to play than "open chords". Open chords are chords that are played by leaving at least one string unfretted (or "open"), and they're usually the first/basic chords you learn when starting out on guitar. With a capo, you can play these open-stringed chords higher up the neck of the guitar, instead of barring them. That makes playing a bit easier...

Personally, I use a capo only because I like the sound of open chords. Open chords ring out longer. Without a capo, I could play the same songs with barre chords, and it would sound just fine.... but it would definitely have a different sound to it.

Simple songs to play:
- I wish I could recommend some pop and country songs for you, but I don't really know which songs you like specifically. The first songs I started playing were "Zombie" by The Cranberries, and "Leaving on a Jet Plane". From there, I looked up the chords of songs from my favorite artists. If a particular song looked too complicated for me, I'd just save that for later and try to find an easier song from that artist. If I couldn't find any songs from that artist easy enough for me to play at the time... I'd just move on to another artist.. :)) Then I'd come back for them later.

Once you have the basics down... try learning one song every week. That's what a teacher once told me...

Best wishes.. :)

How much are Acoustic Guitars?

rawr

Hi.I've been really wanting to learn something to play and I found the Guitar rather interesting. I really dont have anything thing to do this summer (I just moved here) so I decieded using that time to learn the Acoustic Guitar.How much do they cost?

Answer
Hello rawr, and welcome to the wonderful world of guitar playing!

Here's a link to a great acoustic guitar for less than $200.

http://riffmyguitar.weebly.com/yamaha-guitar-offer.html

Learning to play the guitar should be easy and fun. One of the best ways to learn today is with online lessons. You really can learn how to play the guitar in just 15 minutes a day.

You probably could spend hours and hours of time online searching for "free" guitar lessons. On the other hand, you might just as well check out websites that offer lessons at very reasonable rates (compared to private lessons).

Visit: http://www.BestOnlineGuitarCourse.com or

http://19836lklokiz7ueye5tiolopc2.hop.clickbank.net/?tid=ACEGUITARLESSONS or

http://8ea82pehqhgycmd6na769q4wek.hop.clickbank.net/?tid=ADULTGUITARLESSONS

Do your homework. Do your due diligence. Have Fun.
 
Also you might want to look at:
 
http://goarticles.com/article/Best-online-guitar-course-Fact-or-Fantasy/4057915/
 
http://www.squidoo.com/i-was-a-closet-guitarist

If you play electric guitar, having a good guitar to play helps with motivation.
 
Hereâs a great electric guitar for under $500: Epiphone LP Standard Plain-Top Les Paul Collection Electric Guitar, Heritage Cherryburst. You can see this guitar at:
 
http://www.amazon.com/Epiphone-Standard-Plain-Top-Collection-Cherryburst/dp/B000VTH1MU/ref=sr_1_2?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1297771134&sr=1-2
 
or (for just over $500) the Epiphone LP Standard Plus-Top Les Paul Collection Electric Guitar, Trans Blue. You can see this guitar at:
 
http://www.amazon.com/Epiphone-Standard-Plus-Top-Collection-Electric/dp/B0002H06JG/ref=sr_1_11?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1297771134&sr=1-11

Best of luck in learning how to play the guitar!

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Buying acoustic guitar strings?

what??????

Okay so i am completely new to guitars so i don't know anything about guitar strings. I have a SA-100 Spruce top dreadnought acoustic guitar and i recently broke my B string. What kind/brand/gauge guitar string should i buy?

Thanks a bunch!
*Squire and is it best to buy online or at the store
please be extra descriptive on what to buy and how as i'm completely new to this and know nothing about guitar strings thanks
I was kind of looking at these strings but is it a pack or a single string?
http://www.guitarcenter.com/D-Addario-EJ11-80-20-Bronze-Light-Acoustic-Guitar-Strings-102950466-i1122083.gc

Answer
Martin and D'Addario are the 2 largest brands in the world, and it would be the first brands to look at.

Secondly, there are 2 main materials that are used to make acoustic guitar strings: 80/20 Bronze and Phosphor Bronze. Both give different qualities to the sound. 80/20 Bronze is crisp and bright sounding. Phosphor Bronze is more mellow and rounded.

Buy 80/20 now and the next time you need to change your strings, buy phosphor bronze and see which you prefer.

String choice is a voyage that you will need to take on your own and choose a string and material that suits your playing and your ear.

Thirdly, How do you know if you need new guitar strings?

For Acoustic and Electric guitars
Couple of questions to answer:

1) Have you had the same strings on for over 2 months?
2) Are your strings rusty?
3) Are your strings rough?
4) Do your strings sound dull?
5) Had a string break recently?

If you answered yes to any of the above, its probably time to replace your strings.

Because of moisture on your fingers and in the atmosphere, strings corrode and rust over time and their ablility to vibrate diminishes. This not only causes the sound to dull but even worse, the feel of the strings becomes rough and will hurt or even damage your fingers.

Strings can also become brittle from too much vibration, just think of how a paper clip snaps if you twist it too much, the same happens to strings - especially if you use a lot of different tunings.

If you play a lot, say for 2 hours a day every day, then you should look at changing your guitar strings every month.
If you play less, but still strum most days, the max you should leave them on the guitar would be 2 months.

Strings are quite cheap, about £5 for a set of 6.

There is an alternative to changing your strings this often. You can buy coated strings. These last longer due to a coating on the strings that prevent dirt build up and corrosion. Coated guitar strings tend to last 3 to 5 times longer than normal strings, so you can leave them on for longer. These still need to be changed though. At least every 6 months these should be changed as they are also prone to breaking because of the vibrations of the string as explained earlier using the paper clip analogy.
Coated strings do cost more, about £12 for a set of 6, but last longer, so can work out more cost effective.

Ernie Ball Coated Strings have titanium reinforcement to make them stronger and less prone to break.

For Bass Guitars, the strings are much more substantial and tend to last longer and hold their tone. Change bass strings at least once a year.

For Classical Guitars with nylon based strings, again because of the way they are made, they don't rust, so last longer. They do age though, so do need replacing. When they age they tend to stretch and become hard to keep in tune. If you don't want to wait till this starts happening, you should look at changing them every 3 to 4 months.

So to summarise:
Change your Electric / Acoustic uncoated strings at least every 2 months.
Change your coated Electric / Acoustic strings at least every 6 months.
Change your Bass guitar strings at least once a year.
Change your Classical guitar strings at least every 4 months.

Details of guitar strings can be found at the Guitarbitz Guitar Strings page.
http://www.guitarbitz.com/guitar_strings.htm

Cheap 6 string acoustic guitar?

mia

I've been looking every where for a 6 string acoustic guitar for cheap but cant find any i need help

Answer
washburn og2 oscar schmidit really one of the best low end guitar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r70bjCkD6aw

http://www.instrumentalley.com/Oscar-Schmidt-OG2-Acoustic-Guitar-p/os-og2.htm

most of the low end guitars are laminated top/select spruce top .So if you can get a used solid wood top/solid spruce top then it would be much better sounding .so choose wise .also before buying its better to play those .cz each guitar eve of same model can have different sound

post these type quest on performing arts section next time

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Which acoustic guitar to buy for a complete beginner?

EpicBuddy

Hi, I'm 16, and i've always wanted to learn to play the guitar. Already I play the drums and piano pretty well, so playing the guitar would be a good addition. Now, since I have no experience in buying acoustic guitars, like what brands are good and what not, I would like some input please. My price limit is about $250.00 which I hope can buy a good sounding acoustic guitar.

Answer
Some cheap 'beginner' guitars are almost impossible to play. Of course if you didn't play already, you'd think it was -you-. 8^) So I would recommend taking along someone who plays to try the guitar out for you. You ought to be able to get a decent one for $250.

I know there are some spectacular-looking deals on EBay, but you don't get to play them. So if you do buy EBay, make sure they have a good return policy.

The important thing is the 'action', how high the strings are above the fretboard. Too high and you'll kill your fingers, too low and they buzz against the frets. Also you want to sight down the fretboard and make sure the neck is nice and straight, not warped from the tension of the strings. Most modern guitars have a steel reinforcement rod built into the neck, and on some it can even be tightened to straightened the neck. Also important is how good the guitar sounds, but that's less of a consideration in a first guitar. After you learn to play, you go around playing guitars and you'll really notice the difference.

The guitar is probably the easiest instrument to self-teach, which I think accounts for its popularity. (Well, maybe a uke would be easier). The hardest thing about learning to play guitar is building up strength in your left hand, to hold the strings down. At first you can't practice for more than 10 minutes at a time before it just gets really painful (but you can do it more than once a day). And if it's a steel-string guitar, you also have to build up callouses on your fingertips. I used to teach guitar (not serious, just in a parks and rec dept.) and most of my students came to me after a few days and said there was something wrong with their hands. So have faith, stick with it.

How to play an acoustic guitar for a complete beginner?

Demos V

Okay I don't know how to read notes, chords, tabs or etc. Hell I don't even know what I talking about or if it even makes sense. I don't know any guitar lingo either so bare with me. I don't know how to tune it either, are the strings supposed to be tight or kinda loose? Bacially I'm a sad and lost puppy with a guitar and can't even play it...Desperately needing help! Are there any sites with videos showing how to play step by step and showing what is what on the guitar? And my fingertips are in pain when I play is it normal or am I not doing it right? O_o

Answer
Hey, you're not alone. I've been there. Don't let it intimidate you - You'll pick it up before you know it.

1 - Take your time getting to know your guitar. Get used to the way the strings feel, the different sounds it makes when you pluck it in different areas. Make friends with it - It loves you! :)

2 - As for the strings being tight or loose, it really depends on the guitar, but for the most part, the strings should be somewhat tight. If you pluck a string and it flaps against the fretboard (that's the neck), then it's too loose.

3 - Tune your guitar. Here's the easy part. Get an electric tuner for ten dollars and it will practically tune itself for you. All you need to do is turn those little turny-things (tuning knobs) at the top of your guitar. In order from the very thickest strings, they are named E, A, D, G, B, E. Shouldn't take very long and you've got yourself a pretty sounding guitar!

4 - After you're all tuned up, find a book or website (I recommend guitarnoise.com) with pictures of basic chords. Start out with the basics, like Em (that's E Minor), Am, G, C, etc. Play them slowly at first, and get them sounding nice and pretty without any buzzing before you try anything too fancy.

5 - As for the pain, yeah, it hurts just a bit when starting out, but believe me, it's well worth it! Besides, before you know it, your fingers will develop calluses, and you'll barely feel a thing!

6 - As for lessons, I'd recommend first getting comfortable by yourself on the guitar. Get to know your chords. Play them well. Learn a few simple songs. Then, when you feel you've done what you can on your own, find an experienced teacher that will help bring out your strengths.

7 - Notes, tabs and sheet music can all come later. Don't even worry about that right now. Just start making music and the rest will fall into place.

Remember, everyone starts somewhere. Stick with it, and your guitar will be your best friend for life. Best of luck to ya!

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Best way to record acoustic guitar + vocals?

Daniel

I want to record an acoustic/electric and vocals to it at the same time. How do i do that and what will i need? Will i need a condenser mic, pop filter, etc.?? What do i record it to? a Laptop?
THanks in advance!!

Answer
I would use an electric acoustic plugged in direct and a mixture of a little reverb and delay. use a good vocal mic same effects

whats the difference between an acoustic guitar amp and electric guitar amp?

Eugene L

whats the difference between an acoustic guitar amp and electric guitar amp? like im really new to this whole guitar thing please help me

Answer
Wow, these people arent helping you at all.

I'll keep it kinda simple. The main differences are that acoustic amps utilize something called a "notch" filter to prevent feedback, their reverb settings work differently, and they have usually XLR DI output, and parametric equalization. in acoustic-electrics that utilize piezoelectric pickups, the signal coming directly from the transducer is too weak and it does not have the correct impedance for direct connection to an instrument amplifier. Small, battery-powered preamps within the guitar are often used within the acoustic instruments to resolve these problems, or the amp itself will contain a type of pre-amp.

What it boils down to is this.... if you try to play your acoustic guitar through a n electric guitar amp, you're going to suffer horrid feedback. Additionally, the signal will be too weak and your amp will deliver a dampened lousy tone when it isnt feeding back. If you try to play your electric through your acoustic amp, you might have some success if you have a hollowbody... or a hybrid like a yamaha AEX1500 or AEX500, but you will al;ways have tone and volume issues, so dont bother with it.

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Cheap acoustic guitar?

L..

I've been playing guitar for about four years now, so naturally (and you fellow guitar players know how this is,) the itch for me to buy a new guitar is becoming greater and greater. I already have a $400 silvertone acoustic that I LOVE. But I'm thinking for my next guitar I might go for looks instead of sound quaility. I want to buy a cheap acoustic guitar without a finish, and then decorate it myself, with quotes, drawings etc.

Kind of like so:
http://www.zamarguitarinc.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/.pond/JoesGuitar.JPG.w300h400.jpg

But anyways, I'm not sure how to go about buying a cheap guitar, or what brand to choose. (Again, the sound quality is not SUPER important, as it won't be my primary guitar)

Suggestions? :) thanks

-L

Answer
i would try pawn shops... there cheap and most of the time they wont have a finish... pick board and are missing strings

Where can I find a cheap 6 string acoustic guitar?

Olivia

Where can I find an acoustic guitar for under $200. I have been searching for a guitar for the past few months and I have seen many cheap ones that don't really work for me. Also, in your opinion, what color looks best on an acoustic guitar? I don't care about the technicality of it, I just want an opinion. Thanks in advance!

Answer
Check with your local music store and see if they have any marked-down flat top acoustics. You could visit pawn shops and find a great one at little cost and you could find one that has a warped neck, outlandish heighth of the strings from the fretboard, and has holes where holes ought not to be. Take a guitarist with you should you choose to shop at the pawn shops.

Nicks and scratches will not affect the instrument's tone. I have an old parlor Gibson acoustic that looks like hammered hell, but it plays better than ever before.

The color of the guitar will be at your choosing. Select an acoustic with a blonde or a honey-blonde finished top. For the least expensive brands, the back and sides will normally be made of mahogany.

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acoustic guitar solos..??

jessica

what are some good ones??
prefferably the really like "woahh this dude is mad skilled!!"
naha, ^_^

or just pretty sounding.. I don't know, give me all of them.

Answer
Buckethead does some pretty awesome acoustic shit, check out Colma, Electric Tears or Acoustic Shards.

acoustic guitar soloing?

coreyhipsh

ok, i have been playing guitar for about two years now and i play blues, blues, and more blues.
i always solo in pentatonic scales. i mainly play electric but bust out my old acoustic every now and then. i can play rhythm on acoustic great, but my solos on acxoustic just dont sound right, i need somke advice
thanks

Answer
The strings may be tired. Assuming it's a steel stringed acoustic try a set of Ernie Ball Slinky 9 thou on it.

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acoustic guitar total beginner?

ZagarenO

well i am just a beginner and i am 30 years old , i think i am late to learn now but i just always wanted to learn guitar , i am practicing and i am starting to develop callus in my fingers but i feel that the buzz of the strings never improve my fingers are really thick and it makes me always press in the wrong way , i just hope that this improves by time , i am following justinguitar.com and it is good , does any one know any other free guitar teaching site?
EDIT : why i cant get lesson , it is not because i cant afford it but because simply i am working in sudan as a united nations officer , if i was in my country i could take lessons but here there is no such thing :)
thanks alot for yr great advice

Answer
I hear you, Ive been taking lessons for about a year and I just want to let you know I can HELP you!!!!

Ive started making youtube videos that are in the EXACT order that I have learned to play. So please check out my channel, with the economy in a ditch i can understand people who cannot afford lessons and I decided to help people, even if i only help one person ill be happy...

Send me a message on youtube with ANY questions you have and I will either make a video explaining it or ill answer it to the best of my ability.

heres my channel- http://www.youtube.com/user/Oaju349

Message me on youtube anytime, my username is Oaju349

I WILL EVENTUALLY GET UP A VIDEO SHOWING YOU HOW TO PLAY EVERY CHORD WITHOUT LEARNING IT... BIG SHORT CUT

Acoustic guitar lessons for beginners?

MrKnowItAl

Ever since i was small my dream was to play the acoustic guitar and now that im grown i can finnaly acomplish my dreams
i had a friend who taught me a few chords but i have fully masterd
and i dont have money to play for guitar classes
i want to know which is the easiest way to learn to play the guitar
like ive been on youtube but its not the same or maybe i was looking in the wrong place
and i wanna know whats the difference between and acoustic guitar and a eletric-acoustic and which is better?

Answer
There is a sight that might give you some direction as a beginner guitar player.

http://www.all-things-acoustic-guitar.com

It covers a lot of material ranging from different beginner guitars, electric acoustic guitars, learning to play the acoustic, and more.

The difference between an acoustic and an electric acoustic is simply that one can be amplified and the other cannot unless it is mic'd.

You may not think that you can afford a teacher, but if you change your strategy, you might be able to.

You might take one class a month. I know instructors who charge as little as $15 for a half hour lesson.
You could take a lesson, and then save up for the next. This way it is not such a strain on your budget.

You might also check out a church or community center in your area and see if they offer music lessons- some do it for free or just donations.

Hope this helps! Good Luck!

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what's a really good acoustic guitar? say around 600.00 or so. under 1000.00.?

brittany s

i want to buy my boyfriend a new one for christmas, and i want to get him a really nice one. i forget what his old one was, but it was around 500.00 and it was a guys name i think? any suggestions?

Answer
I like Fender and Gibson.

Try Musiciansfriend.com

I just checked they have some good prices in your range. Maybe and electric acoustic???

Was it a Les Paul?

I need a good starting guitar?

b3r53rker2

Hi I want to start playing electric guitar but the problem is I have small hands. Has anyone got any tips on a good starting guitar that is relatively cheap (I'll pay about £250 max).

Also, should I start with accoustic guitar first? and if so any recommendations there?

I have small hands so I'm worried I won't be able to play guitar properly =S it sounds stupid, right?

Answer
I don't know if a Taylor or Martin, even the cheapest ones they make (which I believe still run upwards $400.00 to $600.00 USD), would be right for you. For that much money you can get a fantastic guitar built by a different company (ibanez, alvarez, epiphone, etc) whereas the low-level (but still somewhat pricey) martins & taylors will abolutley SUCK. Believe me on that, I can speak from experience, at least with entry-level Martin acoustics...they are shamefully bad for how expensive they are!

I think an electric starter set would be better for you, especially if you're just starting out and youre not 100% sure if you're going to stick with it or not. Also, the electric will be much easier on your "small hands" (although there are plenty of great players with small hands....it just takes practice!). Then later, if you like playing and are getting good, you can buy an acoustic, which, truth be told, is a bit harder to play (or harder to finger anyway) than an electric guitar.

Most of the major companies (ibanez, epiphone, fender/squire, etc) have fantastic starter sets where you'll get a very decent electric guitar, with a strap, a small amplifier, a tuner, and a guitar cable (and maybe even some other stuff like a guitar stand, gig bag, instructional DVD, etc) for under or right around $300.00 USD (so maybe, like, 200 pound or less). Like the guy above me said, go to musiciansfriend.com, they have the absolute best prices & customer service & warranties and stuff. Below is a link to their webpage of electric starter sets.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/navigation/electric-guitar-value-packages?N=100001+306243

...good luck, hope this helped!

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instrument. looking to upgrade my acoustic guitar?

j

hey guys, i have a cheap acoustic (quality wise) which id like to replace with a cheap acoustic (money wise) my budget is up to 350. currently im considering the martin lx1 based on all the good reviews plus i like the sound. can you tell me some drawbacks/cons of this guitar? or offer a better option that will fit the budget? thnx in advance :}

Answer
If you currently have a very poor quality acoustic that doesn't even have a solid top, then upgrading to a solid top guitar will make a big difference for you. However, I think you'll find that you'll soon be looking for a guitar that doesn't just have a solid top, but has solid wood back and sides as well. The difference between the two is just as big (if not bigger) than the difference between an all plywood guitar and one with a solid top (but laminate back and sides). There's just no comparison. An all solid wood guitar is something that's going to open up more and more as you play it and will only get better with age. It's something you're going to be happy with for years to come, whereas a guitar that only has a solid top is one that you'll enjoy for sure, but you'll quickly be wishing you've got something even better.

Your budget is high enough right now where, for just a little bit more, you'll be able to find some deals on all-solid wood guitars. I just checked Amazon and this one is an amazing deal. I would jump on it without hesitation:
-(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001G7C17Q/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=choos02-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001G7C17Q) Blueridge makes some great guitars for the money and this is a fantastic deal for one of these.

If you absolutely can't go above $350, the LX1 isn't a bad choice. It is a small guitar though, and it's not going to provide with you with some of the depth and volume that a bigger guitar might offer. It does have a solid top, though, and laminate back and sides so, for the money, it's a pretty good option. I would definitely check out a few other solid-top guitars while you're looking, though. In that price range, ones worth checking out are:
Seagull
Takamine
Epiphone
Ibanez
Blueridge
Durango
Recording King
(I'd avoid Dean and Washburn. Their quality control can be very inconsistent and, unless you know exactly what to watch out for, you could end up with a lemon on your hands).

Some specific instruments that are on Amazon worth checking out:
- (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002IC1DE0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=choos02-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002IC1DE0) Recording King is a lesser known brand that is making surprisingly good guitars for the money. This is a smaller-bodied guitar, as well, if that's what you're looking for

-(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001OMI3UC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=choos02-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001OMI3UC) Blueridge - Another 000 body size, which is the same size as the Recording King above. You wouldn't be disappointed with this one.

- (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BTJQYG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=choos02-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000BTJQYG) The Seagull S6. It's popular for a reason. Just a great guitar for the money. Sounds amazing for a guitar in its price range. The cedar top delivers a nice, warm tone. I still have mine despite owning many far more expensive guitars, and pick it from time to time just because it's a cool, unique guitar. It is a dreadnought, so it's going to be significantly larger than the Martin LX1 or the Recording King.

Hopefully that helps. If you can afford that all-solid Blueridge, I would absolutely buy it.

The best quality cheap (cheap) mics for acoustic guitar and vocal recording?

J

Right now, I'm using a Starpower SP-9 which seems to work O.K. But I wonder if there are specific mics I could using individually for vocals and acoustic (and sometimes elec.) guitar. 5 stars for an educated, experienced musician/recorder. Note: I'm in a pretty small studio apartment and plan on using FL studio with it. I also play a Privia Piano...which I believe can be directly recorded via USB to my computer. I'm using an 8-track as well...Tascam DP-01. Note only will you get 5 stars but my blessings. Thank you.

Answer
the best quality mics are not cheap at all. the electronics within good studio quality mics are better than the crappy cheap mics people will buy for home studios. however, at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is the sound. if it sounds good, it is good.

i've heard good things about the AT 2020. it has been released now with a USB connection so its easier to connect to a computer for a home recording session. i haven't used many USB mics, so i can't speak for the quality.

for vocals and acoustic i would recommend the Rode NT1a. i've heard it on a lot of sessions and it has never let me down. it sells for about $240, but i would lump the sound in with that of a mic costing over $1000.

afor electric guitar i would recommend the Shure SM57. that mic has been around forever in studios and live shows. it sells for around $100 i believe. it pretty much sounds good on anything except vocals. if you are mostly doing vocals and acoustic, this might not be the right choice but if you plan on recording more instruments at some point, this is a great mic.

the Shure SM58 is a good vocals mic that like the SM57 has been around for a long time. i haven't used it a lot, but i've always heard good things. it sells for around $100 as well i believe. obviously this mix isn't going to sound like a C12 or a Blue Bottle (both very good but expensive mics) but will get you a good recording for the price. i'm sure it will also sound good on acoustics not just vocals.

what i would recommend is that you get on some sites like guitarcenter.com sweetwater.com or musiciansfriend.com and check out their mics and read reviews on them. the reviews will give you a little more insite into consumer opinions after trying them. reading reviews will help save you money and time when purchasing something like this. the mics i mentioned are all industry staples but there are hundreds of mics out there.

just remember, at the end of the day, the sound is the only thing that matters. if you buy an old ugly trashy looking mic, and it sounds amazing, then use it.

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Questions about buying a bass guitar?

Kayla

I'm a beginner but hoping to play professional. So I need a bass guitar for a good price that has awesome sound! Any suggestions? Also I need to know what all I need to begin playing as soon as possible. And where should I look for one? Thanks! :) If you can answer any of these questions I would really apreciate it!

Answer
If you REALLY go on to play professionally, chances are that the instrument that is your main gigging axe as a pro will not be the same one you learn on as a beginner. Don't get ahead of yourself. What you need right now is something to learn on. By the time you're ready to buy a pro-quality instrument, you will know enough not to be asking people on Y! answers what you should get...

Do you have an actual budget? You can learn on anything, it's a matter of what you're willing to spend. Figure out what your budget is, go to a music store, and start trying stuff out. Buy the instrument that feels most comfortable in your hands and that you like the look and feel of. The staff should be willing to let you plug it in and try it out. Do the store the courtesy of actually buying from them, don't use their inventory and then go buy from the internet. If there is literally no music store anywhere near you, there are lots of websites; musician's friend, sweetwater, zzounds, and amazon for that matter.

The absolute cheapest bass you can get that is still worth playing is an SX; they're only sold online at www.rondomusic.com. They are cheapest chinese mass-produced instruments, mostly copies of Fender designs, but they are real wood and real hardware and the two I've had played quite well. You can get one for around $100 + shipping.

If you have around $300 (not counting an amp and accessories), look at a Squier from the Vintage Modified or Classic Vibe series. I wouldn't bother with the other lines of Squier, if you can't afford a VM or CV just get the SX from rondo. A Peavey Millenium or Ibanez SR300 is also worth thinking about, especially if you like very slim necks.

If you have more like $500-600, you can think about a standard Fender, or (my personal recommendation) a Yamaha BB424x. There are lots of other brands in that price range too. If you have more money than that to spend, then there are lots and lots of good instruments and you just need to try them out and see what you like; most beginners don't spend that much on a first instrument unless they're very well-heeled.

The other things you'll need are an amplifier, tuner, strap, cord, and preferably a gig bag and stand. Bass can be played fingerstyle or with a pick, you should plan on learning both. Fingers you already have, picks are very cheap (75 cents apiece or so). For an amp you should just get a cheap practice amp to start; rondo sells some for $50 or so (+ shipping), in a store it's likely to run more like $100. Eventually, when you're playing with a band, you'll need to invest at least $500 or so in an amp that has enough power to be heard over pounding drums and wailing guitars. You can get a tuner for $15 or so, straps start at about $7 (but you can spend $100 on a really nice strap if you want), cheap cords are $5 or something but it's worth spending $20 on a good one, gig bags sometimes come with the instrument but cheap ones are $20 separate, a stand will run you another $15.

Basically, I'd say plan on spending $100 on your amp and another $100 on the accessories. If you go to your local craigslist, you can often find a lot of this stuff used for maybe 30-40% less than you would spend on it new. To tell the truth, all of the basses I currently own except one I bought used - a Yamaha BB415 I got for Christmas (that's the only new one), a custom bass I got used, an acoustic bass I got in trade, and an SX I bought from a guy on craigslist.

How do you start professionally recording music?

AussiePrid

What tools are best for recording music, rock music, with
x3 Guitar (1 Bass, 2 Treble)
Keyboard
Vocals
Drums

Answer
First decide exactly what you want to do. Let's say you want to produce songs with drums, keyboard, 3 vocals, bass, 2 guitars. You would need a 16 track digital audio workstation (DAW), either a computer-based system if you already have a good enough computer, or a stand-alone DAW, like the ones I linked. Why 16? Because you'll want at least two tracks for drums (maybe 4 or 6), two for stereo keys. Do not get exactly how many tracks you think you want. You will grow out of them, I promise. DAWs typically have CD burners, so you can take your project all the way to CD. Send that in along with your artwork to a duplicating house like dvd-cdinc.com or Discmakers, and you're ready to sell your music.

Very important: Buy a large-diaphragm condenser microphone. Any decent salesperson will know what this is. They are more expensive than dynamic mic's, but this is a very important investment. Small diaphragm is second choice, followed by dynamic. A large-diaphragm mic is what you would use for vocals and acoustic guitars. You can use less-expensive mic's on other instruments.

If you want to record real drums, you'll want to consider mic'ing most of the drums separately. Shure SM57 and SM58 are $100. These have been industry standards for decades, and they take a pounding. They are good for drums, guitar amps, and other instruments. You can buy them in a package with a special bass drum mic (link below). Add to that a pair of small-diaphragm mic's (link) for "overheads" - for cymbals and overall ambience, and you have a great drum mic kit. For a smaller budget you can just get the overhead pair and a bass drum mic.

You'll need to monitor your music (listen while recording and mixing) so you'll need a decent power amp and speakers (monitors) or powered speakers. Good monitors are an important investment, too, because they are your window to the ears of your audience. They need to be accurate, because your music will be heard through ear pods, headphones, computer speakers, in cars, and good stereo speakers. Your best shot at sounding your best in all those formats is to buy decent monitors. You can get budget ones for around $300, but they only really start to get good at $600. Lots of people use headphones to monitor. That's OK if it's all you can afford, but your ears tire out after long sessions. The better the monitors, the longer you can listen without fatigue. You will need a set of headphones for when you're recording acoustic instruments; you can't have speakers on while recording with microphones in the same room.

One very important but overlooked aspect of studio recording is acoustical treatment. It can get very pricey, and there are a lot of expensive and useless products. I've included a link to some excellent advice for room treatment. I recommend Roxul brand rigid fiberglas, called rockboard, insulation board, etc. The article will tell you how to use it.

Once you have a good idea of what you want to accomplish, find a knowledgeable salesperson who will help you fill in the blanks. The type of set-up I've illustrated here is fairly expensive, so have a budget in mind when you talk to them. Try sweetwater.com.

There's nothing wrong with getting an 8-track DAW, a $100 microphone and a set of headphones. Learn the basics. This will prepare you for better-informed decisions when you're ready for the serious gear.

It's a real adventure. Have fun.

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Would this guitar be worth buying as a first guitar?

ninja boy

I've never played a guitar before and with my recent guitar hero addiction i would like to learn. I'm sure it will not be as easy to tear through freebird on a real guitar as it is in the game but i would at least like to give playing a real guitar a try. My musical interests are classic rock and country (lol) i found this guitar on ebay and actually have never been in a guitar store yet but just wanted to know if i should spend the money or if this thing will just be a piece of crap. I will take any recommendations about buying a guitar.
Heres the ebay auction site
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?MfcISAPICommand=ViewItem&item=140152766083
if the link doesn't work just go to ebay.com and search for
Black Electric Guitar 10 W AMP, Bag Straps Tuner String
and it should come up.
Thanks

Answer
Careful - it says KIT. If it means Kit guitar, you have to assemble and do the electronics.

Avoid this stuff like the plague - if you want cheap, take someone who plays to your local pawn shop AND retailer. Find something cheap that stays in tune and keeps an octave, and don't forget to haggle.

Then, get a Monster cable - unlimited lifetime free exchange when it breaks, and see if you can afford a used Line 6 spider 15 watt amp - it has built in effects. Have your friend help you out with accessories - they're cheap.

I only recommend Squiers (above) if they play well and are set up right. Otherwise, the Yamaha Pacifica is good, the OLP MM1 (great neck+pickups), Schecter or Ibanez also make a good guitar for 200 bucks or so. The Pacifica you can find for 170 or so.

My daughter just gave up trying to learn guitar after 2 lessons to stick with guitar hero - so you might even consider starting acoustic. For 200 bucks, the Takamine G230 or for $180 a Yamaha F335 (make them give you picks and strings for free) is all you need.

Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES AT ALL should you bid on that. Some poor tree gave it's life for nada.

where can I get a decent, cheap acoustic kit on the net?

Q. As in a put together kit, it would have to be left handed or left handed stringable. Also, do you know of a good book telling in detail how to build and wire an electric guitar?
Cheers

Answer
Im a lefty guitarist aswell, some good sites are ultimateguitar.com , megamusic.com, although dont buy anything too cheap, i made that mistake once it sounded horrible.

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