What is a good brand of electronic tuner for an acoustic guitar?

acoustic guitar for beginners recommendation image

Emily M

Hi

I'm a beginner to guitar and am not yet good at tuning it by ear. I would like to purchase a good quality electronic tuner for my acoustic guitar but am unsure which model/brand to go for.
I would be very appreciative of any recommendations!

Thank you :)

Answer
If you're playing acoustic, I recommend you use tuning forks or pitch pipes. It's really not very hard, and it will help develop your ear. If you can memorize those 6 pitches, you've got a great leg up on being a musician instead of just some schmoe that plays the guitar.

If you insist on being lazy, get the Boss TU-12. It's a bit pricey, but it's one of the best portable tuners on the market.

What type of guitar should I get?

Dusty DayD

I want to learn how to play the guitar and am planning on asking my mom for a guitar for Christmas/my birthday.
I want an acoustic guitar and am wondering what length I should get and if there is any type that is best for beginners.
Oh and I'm about 5'10 if height has anything to do with the length I should get.
Any comments, recommendations and suggestions would be much appreciated.

Answer
If you're 5'10, you need a full size guitar. Period. You certainly wonât be comfortable playing anything smaller, like a ¾ size.

There is no particular type that is best for beginners; there are different brands of varying quality and price, but without knowing how much you and your mom have budgeted to spend on a guitar its hard for me to advise you as to what brand to get.

There are 2 basic types of acoustic guitars. Nylon string guitars are meant to be strung with âyou guessed it â nylon strings. Nylon strings donât put a lot of âpullâ or tension on a guitar body or neck but they also donât put out a lot of volume, theyâre softer and mellower sounding. Guitars designed to use nylon strings are built of thinner, lighter wood with lighter bracing on the inside to make them as resonant and responsive as possible to work with the quieter strings. Steel string guitars put a lot more tension and âpullâ on a guitar body and neck, but they put out a lot more volume and a brighter sound. Guitars designed to use steel strings are built out of heavier wood with a truss rod inside the neck, and more and heavier bracing inside the body, to withstand the stress of the steel strings. Note that you CANNOT PUT STEEL STRINGS ON A NYLON STRING GUITAR â you will very quickly break the instrument if you do. Contrary to what The Jake said, it doesnât work to put nylon strings on a steel string guitar either â you wonât break the instrument if you do but the nylon strings donât have enough power to work with the heavier body of a steel string instrument â youâll get very little volume and the sound you do get will be crappy. The only reason some people mistakenly suggest putting nylons on a steel string guitar to start with is that the nylons are supposedly a little easier on your fingers when you first start playing. But no matter what kind of strings you have, the first few weeks of playing are going to hurt your fingertips until you develop callouses. If you get a steel string, just put light gauge steel strings on it to start and expect a little discomfort for a few weeks until your callouses develop.

The type of guitar you get â nylon string vs steel string â depends on what kind of music you want to play. If youâre interested in playing classical music, if Andres Segovia, Christopher Parkening, or Muriel Anderson are your guitar heroes, youâll need a nylon string guitar. If you have no idea who those people are, you probably don't want a nylon string guitar. If you know you want to play folk, rock, country, or bluegrass, youâll want a steel string guitar to give you âthat soundâ.

Hope this helps.

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where can i get a totally free acoustic guitar lesson on the net?

acoustic guitar for beginners yahoo image

monkey see

first off, i have no experience whatsoever of guitars nor other musical instruments. id like to take up acoustic guitar lesson at the comfort of my home without spending a dime. is tht possible? where can i get what i need?

Answer
Take your pick. Enjoy.
http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=free+beginners+guitar+lessons&fr=ush-ans

What do they mean by a guitar being high in action?

Bryce C

What does a guitar of High action mean, and whats the difference between steel strings and nylon strings, and what usually comes on an acoustic guitar? And how do i determine which size guitar i get? And if there is a specific guitar you suggest for a beginner would you please let me know.

Answer
high action was already covered, well, hmm, my acoustic has ridiculously high action...it's hell.... make sure you look for a guitar with low action....seriously...

steel strings/nylon strings: steel things are made out of steel (metal), nylon strings are made out of nylon. pretty self explanatory. =) nylon strings are usually on classical guitars, and steels are on electrics and acoustic. the difference between classical and acoustic is that classic is somewhat bigger.

get the size guitar that feels comfortable to you. just playing playing them at the store and holding them, you'll know when one's too big for you. some have bigger bodies (the main part of the guitar) either in size or thickness...if you're short you want a smaller guitar... you also have some that are shaped so you can play those high high frets, if you need that, get that, they're the guitar with the "caving" near those high high frets. however as a general rule of thumb, unless you're a really quick 8 year old on yahoo answers, don't get a children's guitar ;)

for a beginner....hmmm I dunno. Get a quality acoustic guitar I would say, one that you can play comfortably. Once you can play an acoustic comfortably electric is a breeze. What kind you get all depends on your budget really... get the one that sounds best to you for your budget.

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What is a good beginner acoustic guitar to buy?

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snicks

Should I buy the guitar kit with DvD's included and strap and such. oR BUY A BETTER GUITAR AND ALL THE OTHER items seperately? This will be a birthday present for my 14 yr old son who has started last year on an electric but lost interest, says he would rather try an acoustic. I would say 500. would be the higher end of what I would spend. Your experienced input much appreciated.

Answer
I brought an Ashton with spare strings, case and instructional DVD.

The tone is beautiful and on special the whole lot cost $200.00

Look for deals get someone to play the guitar for you, if you like the sound of it buy it.

What's the best kinda of acoustic guitar for beginners?

Jessa Lee

For my 16th birthday I'm going to get an acoustic guitar and I was wondering which is the best kind for beginners and how much would lessons be?

Thank you :)

Answer
I hate to do this to people, but I just answered this exact question for someone else, so I'm just gonna copy-paste my answer to here and make a few additions for your case.

***

If you want to start with a guitar, you'll want one that is not just a crappy beginners model. You want one that will last. So I advise that you get a mid-range starter kit, which will give you all you need to get started and learn.

Buying a guitar isn't like buying clothes; you want a name brand. It may sound snobbish, but from my experience, low end guitars from tiny companies no-one has heard of, in general, suck, and will probably break. Look for names like Ibanez, Fender, Yamaha, Ovation, or Dean, just to name a few. Most companies will provide a cheap starter kit for beginners, but on average these will still be a solid, quality instrument. (I am slightly biased towards Ibanez guitars, I've only had good experiences in my purchases form them.)

However, I retract everything I've said if you only intend to try a basic guitar to see if you like the instrument. But if you have serious intentions about learning guitar, start with one step up from that. It will help you get a better feel, won't break, and will last you well into the moderate skill level.

I would suggest you look at packs like the ones below. They're not amazing guitars mind you; these are certainly not pro-level instruments or something. But they're probably good enough to get you right on your way. They also come with some great accessories to get you started.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Yamaha-GigMaker-Acoustic-Guitar-Pack-102920113-i1150348.gc

That's a Yamaha, who are good for mid-range guitars. Its only about $175, and will keep you going well into intermediate skill level guitar playing. It also comes with a tuner, which is invaluable to someone who can't tune by ear (many people can't). It even comes with some picks, a strap, and a lesson disc. Its a bit pricey for a beginner, but this will save you a lot of money on purchases like tuners, straps, lesson CDs, and picks, which you will inevitably end up making.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-SA-100-Upgrade-Acoustic-Guitar-Pack-105788012-i1511647.gc

That's a Fender, a legend in electric guitars and very well known for their work in acoustic instruments, especially for beginners. It comes with a tuner, which as I mentioned is great to have. The benefit to this one is that its only about $100 dollars. I was actually looking at picking one of these up myself as a road guitar. From everything I know about Fender, this should be solid, tough, and able to handle most of what you throw at it.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Ibanez-JamPack-IJV50-Quickstart-Dreadnought-Acoustic-Guitar-Pack-103563631-i1150606.gc

Also making an appearance is the Ibanez model. I had to throw this in, I love Ibanez guitars. Its not a high end guitar by any means, but will give you good tone for a beginner guitar. It also includes a tuner and strap, as well as a gig bag. Its only about $100.
---
Those should be great for beginners. As for lessons, the cost really depends. I used to teach lessons to beginners for low rates, as low as $8 and hour for beginner lessons, when I started teaching. You can also get high grade professional courses which will take you through a set course material and have you playing pro slightly faster than you might through a private tutor. These are expensive (Up to $75 dollars per lesson in some instances!) but will ensure you get a quality education.

My advice to you is that you're better off to find a private teacher working out of their home teaching music lessons. This is not because I am biased because its my former job... I truly believe you will be receiving a comparable musical education for a fraction of the price. And if you are dissatisfied, there will always be another teacher. So just look on Google or on classified ads in the newspaper or your local music store for lessons ads, and you'll be able to find someone to teach you for a reasonable price.

You could always buy lesson packages like CD kits or books and try to teach yourself, but I wouldn't recommend it. This is how I learned guitar, and I regret it. It took me forever to un-learn the bad habits I had taught myself, and if I had taken lessons I never would have developed those habits.

Hopefully this helps you in your choice in guitars and lesson issues. If you have any more questions, post a comment and I'd be happy to help you further. Its great to see new interest in the world of guitar, and I hope it is as fulfilling for you as you expect it to be.

Happy Music-Making,
Feepfeep

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How can I learn to play the acoustic guitar?

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Liz

I have been wanting to learn how to play the acoustic guitar however I don't have the money to pay for classes. So how can I begin? How can I learn to tune my guitar( i own a guitar)? Do you have any suggested youtube channels, anything? Thanks:)

Answer
As much as I think the other answer is great, I honestly think he could have been more specific, so I'll try to do so.

So being a beginner in the 'music world' is always difficult, with dedicated practice, you'll get much better. Like Jesus stated, or whatever his SN is, you need to start with your basic chords. He wasn't very specific as to what those were. Basic chords mean your open-position chords, or in other words, chords that aren't being barred. Barre chords are chords that you place one finger over more than one string at one time. Avoid those for maybe a month because you need to build finger strength and get calluses so you don't feel pain when you play anymore. (It's normal, don't worry about it.) Your basic, open-position chords will be chords like: A Major, A Minor, C Major, D Major, D Minor, E Major, E Minor, G Major, and some variations like Dsus4 or stuff like that, but those are chords you can learn on the side when you learn songs. When you see chords on chord charts or tabs, they'll probably just say A, Am, C, D, Dm, E, Em, and G. Obviously the 'm's' stand for minor. So that's that for you. Once you learn those and feel confident on those, then learn barre chords: F, B, Bm, etc. You'll see the difference and there are different ways to play each chord on the guitar. Some guitarists just use barre chords and some open-position and some use a variation of some power chords. You pick what you like.

To tune your guitar, you will need to know what notes to tune your guitar to, obviously. Standard tuning for a guitar is EBGDAE or EADGBE, however you want to look at it. EBGDAE would the strings listed from highest in pitch to lowest in pitch. In other words, if you were to think about this for position on the guitar, the strings that are lowest on the guitar/the strings that are closest to the ground are the ones you would tune first. EADGBE would be the opposite and if you are confused by explanation, I apologize greatly and I'm sure you can look up on google or YouTube 'standard tuning on a guitar' and someone will be able to explain it better than me. If you need to learn to tune your guitar, I would either buy an app on your iPod Touch/Smart Phone/iPhone. Don't get any free ones. Those are really bad and they're slow and they're honestly very annoying. If you buy an ultimate-guitar tools app, it has a tuner and even a chord chart and it's a very helpful app for guitarists. Anyway, if you don't want to do that, then buy a chromatic tuner. Some tuners are 10 dollars and some can be up to 40 dollars depending on what features the tuners have. 10 dollars is fine but I'd recommend maybe something between 20 and 30. Tuners break so it's nice to have a nicer one so they can last longer. In addition, there are tuners for guitars that you can clip onto the headstock, but you decide what you want.

If I were you, I'd start with a book and start with YouTube and maybe even charts that you can find. When I started, I started with a song because I was way too eager, but I actually started with a book and I learned how to play a basic song by picking the notes and not learning chords, but you can choose. Books are a great tool and so is the internet. If you need tabs, I'd use ultimate-guitar.com. If you need to learn songs and you don't want tabs, then I'd use either Marty Schwartz or yourguitarsage (just YouTube them). youguitarsage has MANY beginner acoustic guitar tutorials on songs that you may want to learn and Marty Schwartz has both acoustic and electric tutorials and some are more challenging and he even has tutorials on some scales. Mahalo.dom or just Mahalo has tutorials for both acoustic and electric guitars and they have different teachers for their company and you can switch between all of them and decide which one of them you like most and see which teaching style helps you.

I hope I've been some sort of help! Good luck and have fun and don't forget to practice! You don't need to learn any instrument during summer, by the way. I learned guitar during spring break and still played during school. Just keep practicing and don't get discouraged. Everyone has troubles. I know, I did and gave up for like. . . a month or two.

I want an acoustic guitar for christmas, how do you know if it is a good guitar?

K@u)� @nn

I want an acoustic or an acoustic electric guitar, how much money does the guitar cost (acoustic/acoustic-electric) and how big is a normal guitar? is 38 inches a decent size?
these are the selections that i am thinking of look at the crossed out price above the red one:
guitar 1:

http://www.amazon.com/Daisy-Rock-WildWood-Artist-Acoustic-Electric/dp/B001SASQ0C/ref=sr_1_37?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1260309336&sr=1-37

guitar 2:

http://www.amazon.com/Daisy-Rock-Acoustic-Electric-RasPhosphor-Bronzeerry/dp/B001SASQ16/ref=sr_1_32?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1260309426&sr=1-32

guitar 3:
http://www.amazon.com/Crescent-Sunburst-Cutaway-Acoustic-Accessories/dp/B000HKZBYS/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1260309510&sr=1-12

guitar 4:
http://www.amazon.com/Austin-Bazaar-Acoustic-Guitar-Accessories/dp/B0007DGOQY/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1260309570&sr=1-11

which guitar do you think will be best?
about me: I like calm and soft music, i am outgoing and i am weird, i have to admit. I dance, play the piano and sing. I love Taylor Swift's music, esp. her new platinum songs jump then fall and untouchable. my fav colors: purple, blue, pink and pale green.

maybe this will help...?
i forgot this guitar as well.
guitar 5:
http://www.amazon.com/Daisy-Rock-Wildwood-Acoustic-Electric/dp/B0009PYWS2/ref=sr_1_34?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1260309779&sr=1-34

Answer
I have no idea what you mean by 38 inches. Most acoustics are the same relative size. Some are Dreadnought guitars, and are a little bigger than others. They range in price from $100 to $10,000.

You know its a good guitar by the way it sounds, the way it feels, and the quality of wood and parts used.... and if it stays in tune very well. You can find a guitar that is $1000, but might not stay in tune, so it's considered to be junk. This fact makes it necessary to play the guitar before you buy it. Most guitars at that price won't have problems, but every now and then you will find one. The guitars under $250 are going to have more problems, on average than the more expensive ones. You can still find a decent guitar to get you started around $400.... maybe a little less... $200 if you're lucky.

Actually, I have a 12 string Fender acoustic/electric if you're interested in that. It was $800 new, but I never play it. It looks perfect. I can sell it to you through Paypal. I'd like to get at least $250 for it. It's probably worth more, but I don't have time to sell it over ebay. They don't make the type of guitar I have anymore... which is why I probably have to sell it so cheaply. When I tried to sell it before, people told me the new ones are around $250 to $400, but they aren't as nice as the one I have, so I'm not willing to sell it less than $250.

Anyways, you have to go to the guitar store and try a bunch out and see if you can find a difference in the tone. Ask people in the store for recommendations (NOT THE STORE EMPLOYEES) they'll tell you which ones the store recommends, which is usually ones they are trying to get rid of, or ones that are going to make them a lot of profit.

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What are some great acoustic guitar love songs? or piano love songs?

best acoustic guitar love songs image

Mcampbell1

Well question is sort of self explanatory but i am looking for some like acoustic guitar and just pure acoustic love songs and maybe eevn some piano in with it.... or piano by its self.

Answer
I like to play "Love Story" by Taylor Swift. You can go to www.ultimate-guitar.com to find chords and tabs, or you can just type " love story guitar lesson" then they will give you step-by-step directions to play the song. Have fun!

P.S. here are the lyrics-
We were both young, when I first saw you.
I close my eyes and the flashback starts-
I'm standing there, on a balcony in summer air.

I see the lights; see the party, the ball gowns.
I see you make your way through the crowd-
You say hello, little did I know...

That you were Romeo, you were throwing pebbles-
And my daddy said "stay away from Juliet"-
And I was crying on the staircase-
begging you, "Please don't go..."
And I said...

Romeo take me somewhere, we can be alone.
I'll be waiting; all there's left to do is run.
You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess,
It's a love story, baby, just say yes.

So I sneak out to the garden to see you.
We keep quiet, because we're dead if they knew-
So close your eyes... escape this town for a little while.
Oh, Oh.

Cause you were Romeo - I was a scarlet letter,
And my daddy said "stay away from Juliet" -
but you were everything to me-
I was begging you, "Please don't go"
And I said...

Romeo take me somewhere, we can be alone.
I'll be waiting; all there's left to do is run.
You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess.
It's a love story, baby, just say yes-

Romeo save me, they're trying to tell me how to feel.
This love is difficult, but it's real.
Don't be afraid, we'll make it out of this mess.
It's a love story, baby, just say yes.
Oh, Oh.

I got tired of waiting.
Wondering if you were ever coming around.
My faith in you was fading-
When I met you on the outskirts of town.
And I said...

Romeo save me, I've been feeling so alone.
I keep waiting, for you but you never come.
Is this in my head, I don't know what to think-
He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring and said...

Marry me Juliet, you'll never have to be alone.
I love you, and that's all I really know.
I talked to your dad -- go pick out a white dress
It's a love story, baby just say... yes.
Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh.

'cause we were both young when I first saw you

What are some good love songs to learn on guitar?

hotfudgeba

I am looking for a good love song to play on acoustic guitar, maybe more than just chords, but at least something pretty. I want it to be something sweet and tender, but still up beat. Got any Ideas? Doesn't have to fit perfectly, but whatever works :)

Thanks!

Answer
Depends on how well you sing, and play.
Angel in the Morning' isn't too hard.
First time Ever I saw your face takes more skill,
and more voice.
Willy Nelson's 'Loving you was easier... ' is a good one to start on.

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What kind of acoustic guitar would you recommend for a girl?

best 000 acoustic guitars image

B.A.F

I was wanting to purchase an acoustic guitar, but I am not sure on what brand and I am looking for a cheap price since it is my first one. Also I don't want one that is for a child..
Thanks!

Answer
well it depends what you think is cheap. Here's an example: My sort of cheap is 500$ but I'm at a high level of guitar. But for you it could be 300-400$

This is a good one


Epiphone AJ-100 Jumbo Acoustic Guitar

The Epiphone AJ100 Guitar is perfect for the beginner or Pro! The smooth playing AJ100 will let your fingers do the talking. This is a great sounding guitar with a Mahogany body and a select Spruce top. A Rosewood fingerboard and a set Mahogany neck make it very comfortable too.
$139.95

OR

Epiphone Dove

Tight, smooth, focused sound is the hallmark of the Epiphone Dove Acoustic Guitar, sister to the Hummingbird. This baby really sings with a solid spruce top and maple back and sides. The Epiphone Dove features a 25-1/2" scale maple neck, rosewood fingerboard with split parallelogram inlays, dove pickguard, stylized bridge with wing inlays, and chrome hardware.

Epiphone Dove Acoustic Guitar Features:

* Solid spruce top
* Maple body
* Set maple neck
* Rosewood fingerboard with split parallelogram inlays
* Dove pickguard
* Stylized bridge with wing inlays
* Chrome hardware
* 25-1/2" scale
* 1.68" nut width
$309.95


OR


My Favorite (and the one I have)
Blueridge BR-143CE Historic Series

Blueridge BR-143CE Historic Series

You asked for it, now here it is -- the Blueridge BR-143CE acoustic guitar as a new cutaway electric Blueridge in a "000" size. It has the same great features as the BR-140 and BR-143 models like select solid sitka spruce for the top and choice mahogany for the back and sides. All that plus the perfect cutaway to reach the higher frets and a state-of-the-art Fishman Prefix Plus pickup system with onboard EQ.

* Select solid Sitka Spruce top with hand-carved parabolic top braces in authentic prewar forward X-pattern
* Choice solid mahogany sides and back
* "000" body style
* Dovetail neck joint attached at the 14th fret
* East Indian Rosewood fingerboard, bridge, and bridge plate
* Dalmatian tortoise pickguard
* B/W/B plastic binding with fine black and white purfling on soundboard
* Slim mahogany neck has adjustable truss rod and 1 11/16" nut width
* Scale length of 25.5"
* Rosewood peghead overlay adorned with a unique Mother-of-pearl and abalone design
* Natural high-gloss finish with aging toner Fishman Prefix Plus under-saddle transducer with on-board EQ and volume control
* Accurate vintage-style 14:1 ratio nickel-plated open-back tuners with butterbean-style buttons
* Shop adjusted
*Case Included!

Hope mit helped

What is a good accoustic guitar to buy?

Kate J

I'll spend up to 1,000 dollars. I want an acoustic guitar with good sound, made out of good quality material. It can either be a plain acoustic or electric acoustic. The range of music I play will vary from classical to rock.

Answer
As far as acoustics go, I personally prefer anything Takamine, specifically their Jasmine. It has a wonderful sound which I have gotten many compliments on, and I play all styles of songs on it.

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What are the acoustic guitar chords for What makes you beautiful by one direction?

guitars for beginners acoustic or electric image

Jaina

I want it to sound just like the song. I am a beginner. I have an acoustic electric guitar and I need to play this fast but in looking into it, all of the ways sound nothing like it. Please HELP!!!!

Answer
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=what+makes+you+beautiful+chords&l=1

What would be a good beginner acoustic guitar?

Adam

I hear that Ibanez are pretty good for beginners because they have thin necks etc, but on a limited budget (around $400 australian dollars) what would be a good purchase? acoustic/electric would be prefered but if its just an acoustic with steel strings thats fine :)
would the Ibanez v50 that comes in the starter pack be alright?

Answer
Ibanez guitars are fantastic, though I looked at a couple websites and they're a lot more expensive in Australia than they are in the US! But Takamine guitars are also great for beginners -- thin necks and low action -- and they don't seem to have suffered the gigantic markup in price. Just about every professional guitarist I know uses Takamine guitars on the road, since they sound incredible, are comfortable to play and are also built to withstand the rigors of travel. I'll post a link to one that's actually less expensive than it would be in the US, but which would probably serve you well for decades. It's got a thin neck, low action, and a solid spruce top that will give you a rich, resonant tone. Since each brand of guitar tends to have its own feel, it's worth stopping into a local music store and seeing if the Takamines feel comfortable to you. I've always been partial to Ibanez, since I've got small hands and need the thin necks. But my devotion to Ibanez is partly because Takamines are more expensive. The ones I've played have been just as nice as Ibanez guitars. Here's the link:

http://www.allansmusic.com.au/prod/117365/Takamine_D_Series_Acoustic-Electric_Cutaway_Guitar.aspx

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What is the minimum cost of a good-quality acoustic guitar at a normal music shop?

best acoustic guitars over 5000 image

i'm procra

On that note, how much is near maximum from a good music shop?

Answer
A good beginners' guitar starts at around $200 USD and goes up from there. There is effectively no maximum, but there are stock acoustics up to around $10,000 and custom acoustics to $25,000 and more. Add another $5000 if you want Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia Nigra).

What is the best type of wood used for an acoustic guitar?

blue

spruce? maple? rosewood?
i'm looking at one right now that has quilt maple body and rosewood fretboard, but i'm curious which material is the best
I'm looking to buy a Washburn D10QSB online so I can't try it out but it looks very decent. http://www.washburn.com/acoustics/d10-series/Page-2.html

Answer
Most people consider the best wood for the back and sides to be Brazilian rosewood (dalbergia nigra). As a result of an import ban in accordance with the C.I.T.E.S. treaty there is no more Brazilian rosewood coming into this - or any other - country. There are some existing stocks but they are scarce and can add as much as $5000 to the cost of a new guitar.

Top wood is a matter of taste but there are several varieties of spruce including Adirondack, Engelmann, and European that are highly prized. Redwood is also a great top wood.

Ebony is generally considered to be the best wood for fretboards and bridges.

I know that this did not help you at all but that's what you asked for. There are lots of other woods that people like, sometimes even better than the ones I listed. All-koa guitars, for example, can be splendid. Ultimately it comes down to what you like the best.

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Can I use an acoustic guitar amplifier for electric guitar?

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shreditout

I am predominantly an acoustic guitar player. I am looking to purchase an amp and I was leaning towards this Fishman one. I would obviously use it for acoustic guitar but if I want to plug my electric guitar into it as well, is that okay? I really like this Fishman amp. Should I instead just get one that is more versatile and can suit both?

Answer
I have worked with all the amps mentioned and discovered long ago a good combo amp (meaning either a tube/solid state or separate head and speaker unit) can by itself perform well for both.

Acoustic amps are circuited (signal path and routing, etc.) to respond best with the (piezo) pickups that are installed and meant for most acoustic guitars of worth. Not really the transducers for overdrives, distortion or other effects other than the standard reverb, tremolo (vibrato) and chorus circuits. Not enough (signal separation and channeling) diversity for any solid body or those that have different pickups.

These pickups take advantage of the acoustic (body chamber) rebound and resonance of what acoustics are designed for, and respond the best in the whole process.

Is why, some acoustic electric players may gravitate toward to an exclusive acoustic amp in hopes of bringing out the best in their own instrument of choice. As these units, are then tried to be paired with the particular pickups installed in their acoustic guitars.

Depends upon the player's ears all around, to make the real difference.

What is the difference between playing acoustic guitar and 6 string bass?

NickHighwi

I am an acoustic guitar player, but I have been looking at playing 6 string bass. I know the difference between the guitars, I want to know the difference between the playing style.

Answer
Do you mean a full-scale six-string bass, or a bass VI like the old Fender bass VI or the Schecter Hellcat VI? A bass VI has a 30" scale, tuned E-e one octave below a standard guitar, and close string spacing. You can play it pretty much like a standard guitar but if you try to strum standard open chords on it, you'll sound godawfully muddy - much better played fingerstyle. Listen to old Ventures songs, and early Cream - Jack Bruce used one on the first album.

A six-string bass usually has a 34-35" scale and is tuned B-E-A-D-G-C, with that B way down where the bottom end of a piano keyboard is. I haven't tried, but it would be a nightmare to try to finger standard guitar chords across it and would sound like a thunderstorm rather than music to strum all six strings. You can play it quite effectively with any normal bass technique - finger, pick, or slap. The middle four strings are the same as a standard bass guitar, the extra two strings just give you more range and flexibility. They're popular in jazz settings especially where people want to play more melodic lines running up the C string. You can play them chordally but it's nothing like strumming along on an acoustic guitar. You really have to use bass guitar technique, there's not too much resemblance to guitar technique other than that it has strings and frets.

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What is a good first guitar that won't cost a fortune, but will last a while without having to get a new one?

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Hailey M

I am planning to learn guitar and need my own acoustic guitar - I don't want to pay a fortune, but i also have no idea what is a fortune is when talking about guitars. I would like any info you have on brands, price ranges vs quality, etc. Thanks!

Answer
I've been a subscriber to Guitar Player magazine since the mid 70's, and they always have hard hitting reviews of musical equipment.

In short, the Fender acoustics have always gotten good reviews.

Here's the thing, if you truely want a guitar to "last," you have to get one with a "solid top." Most low end cheaper acoustics will simply say something like.."spruce top." this is NOT a solid top. If the guitar has a solid top, believe me, they will emphasize this point.

Solid tops are preferable because they age better...improve in tone, and can literally be handed down for generations.

Of course, solid tops are more expensive, but not out of reach.

Here's a nice Fender acoustic with a solid top with the bonus of having a built in pickup, which you might consider...especially if you plan on doing some open mikes one day or performning in a band?

Explore the web site...there are many very nice guitars well under the 5 bill mark. Also, Guitar Center owns Musician's Friend, so they are basically the same store.

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-CD140SCE-AcousticElectric-Guitar?sku=517574

How much does it run to repair the back of a guitar?

Christina

I have an Aria acoustic guitar vintage 1977 and the back panel is coming off. I think it might just need to be replaced. The closest dealer to me is about 200 miles. Any one know how much it will run for the repair?

Answer
Its really tough to tell without really seeing it. If nothing is broke, just separating they may be able to glue and clamp it, and that shouldnt cost too much. the best idea is to go online and find a luthier in your area. sometimes you can find guys that work right out of their homes. Before they start tearing into your guitar have them show you their work. When they give you the estimate, do yourself a favor and look up the value of your guitar and see if it is really worth the money you are putting into it. you will be able to find it in vintage guitar magazine's priceguide.

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How long does it take for an acoustic guitar to dry out?

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B.J.

I'm getting a new acoustic guitar soon. I never liked it (always prefered electric), but now it's starting to grow on me. So, let's say I get a $500 Taylor acoustic guitar and get a humidifier with it and keep it in good condition. How many years will it last? Five, ten, fifteen, twenty? If I don't use a humidifier, how long will it last me then?

Answer
If you take reasonably good care of your guitar, even a low-priced Taylor like you're looking at will last a lifetime. Just like any other fretted instrument, there is regular wear and tear. At some point, you'll need to dress or replace worn frets, but that's way down the road. Same thing with a neck reset, which is easy on a Taylor because the necks are bolt-on.

Here's the thing about humidifiers: Acoustic guitars which have solid wood tops (like Taylors) like to stay at a fairly constant (40-50%) humidity. In the winter months, the air is dryer so you should use a humidifier. Why are you even considering not using one? Even a moist sponge in a plastic bag will work. Just put in the case with your guitar. And yes, the guitar should be stored in the case...not on a wall or stand. If the wood dries out, it shrinks and this can cause cracks....most commonly in the top. The guitar will still be playable and can be repaired, although the repaired crack will be visible. Hoe long does it take to dry out? That depends on the environment it's in.....as little as a few days to a week of really dry air could cause a problem. On that topic, quick changes in temp are a good way to crack the finish......although it won't hurt the guitar.

So rest assured that if you buy a decent acoustic and treat it well, you'll be enjoying it when you're old and gray.

How often should I use my acoustic guitar humidifier?

Alan

I just got an acoustic guitar, it is really nice so I want to take care of it. I got a humidifier for it but I don't know if I should put the humidifier in whenever I am not playing it or if I just put it in once a week or something like that. I also have a fairly old guitar, should I use my humidifier for that one too?
Thanks a lot for all your help.

Answer
Keep it in anytime you are not playing it. Just make sure to keep checking the temp. in the case so its not too humid or too dry. As for the older acoustic, do the same thing. A humidifier can keep the wood pure, from warping and sounding bright and new.

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What is the difference between the mid-priced and super-expensive guitars?

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Q. Would a $1,999 Gibson acoustic guitar sound a lot better than a $199 Ibanez acoustic guitar and $699 Taylor acoustic guitar, or are you just paying for the design and nice finish? If you can be specific, please do.

Answer
A guitar under 200 bucks is, well, no damn good.

200-500 is a GOOD amateur-class guitar.

700-1000 is generally entry-level pro quality.

1000 dollars and up is 'custom' quality. That is, best of everything put together. The highest end guitars can run around 3K. More, and your paying for vintage, usually.

Making that spread a little more complex, some brands are known for having strengths and weaknesses. For example, in the upper end, an Epiphone Les Paul is the real deal, a serious musicians guitar. At the lower end, Epiphone makes junk. Ibanez guitars are famous cost/value guitars... they make cheap guitars of notable quality for the price. Some guitar makers are famous for one model and everything else they do is junk. Some make great acoustics, lousy electrics. Some the other way.

The differences are in woods (although, in guitar woods, it is usually good vs cheap) hardware (chrome is cheap and wears fast, plastic loses finish and eventually breaks, while graphite and steel last forever) electronics (cheap components and wiring over quality) and craftsmanship (a guitar made by human hands will cost more than a manufactured one... usually any guitar under 500 bucks is mass-produced). Finish depends in intended material/look. Some finishes are soooo deep that scratches don't make it far and never show, and are easily filled and buffed.

Rounding out the price factor will be options: passive vs active pickups, locking bridges and tuners, one way or two way trem bars...

So yes... there is a real quality difference between a 199 guitar and a 1999 guitar.

It is generally accepted that NO ONE should buy the cheapest guitars. Novices should start in the 200-300 range. After a year or three, move up to the best guitar you can afford, especially if you intend to play in front of people for money. If you never intend to leave your room no matter how good you get, you can get buy with guitars between 300 and 800 bucks, depending. A novice usually can't appreciate a GREAT guitar. As soon as you play well enough to know the difference, one should start to seriously begin trying as many guitars as possible, to learn your preferences.

As far as cost, you are paying for a guitar that will sound better, physically play better, and require less fanatical care (although you really should be a fanatic anyway) to remain in good condition. TO keep a cheap guitar going, you have to replace some of the hardware every five or so years, depending on use. A 1000 dollar and up guitar is usually configured JUST as you want it, and will never require repairs if you care for it well.

EDIT: Kab's analogy is very good... most of us have 700 dollar guitars that will 'get us there.' And Mikey's right about Gibson acoustics. They are an example of a manufacturer that has a few pet beauties, and their acoustics ride on that reputation without living up to it.

I need help getting started a an acoustic guitar?

zsd6008

my grandad has given me a 50 year old gibson acoustic guitar and its basically brand new. Ive already got a bunch of picks and a digital tuner but how do i get started with it. I want to learn to play.

Answer
I taught myself how to play acoustic guitar by the wonderful World Wide Web =) Try youtube for some tutorial videos that will get you started. then as you get better, move on to memorising chords and then finally reading tabs. i recommend ultimate-guitar.com for tabs and chords =) good luck!!!

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What is the difference between playing acoustic guitar and 6 string bass?

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NickHighwi

I am an acoustic guitar player, but I have been looking at playing 6 string bass. I know the difference between the guitars, I want to know the difference between the playing style.

Answer
Do you mean a full-scale six-string bass, or a bass VI like the old Fender bass VI or the Schecter Hellcat VI? A bass VI has a 30" scale, tuned E-e one octave below a standard guitar, and close string spacing. You can play it pretty much like a standard guitar but if you try to strum standard open chords on it, you'll sound godawfully muddy - much better played fingerstyle. Listen to old Ventures songs, and early Cream - Jack Bruce used one on the first album.

A six-string bass usually has a 34-35" scale and is tuned B-E-A-D-G-C, with that B way down where the bottom end of a piano keyboard is. I haven't tried, but it would be a nightmare to try to finger standard guitar chords across it and would sound like a thunderstorm rather than music to strum all six strings. You can play it quite effectively with any normal bass technique - finger, pick, or slap. The middle four strings are the same as a standard bass guitar, the extra two strings just give you more range and flexibility. They're popular in jazz settings especially where people want to play more melodic lines running up the C string. You can play them chordally but it's nothing like strumming along on an acoustic guitar. You really have to use bass guitar technique, there's not too much resemblance to guitar technique other than that it has strings and frets.

Can you use an acoustic guitar in a metal song instead of an electric guitar?

Aphotic Su

I was wondering if people would still consider it metal, and I know Tristania used acustic guitars a lot for their album Ashes but every song also has an electric guitar. And I don't mean like a slow acoustic song, just like a real metal song just with an acoustic guitar instead of an electric guitar?

Answer
Here, you tell me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hBWpQH_-yc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEERiOgBOrg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhWweBYLZBE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFxO43IWNRE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcJzszo7Xnw

In other words, yes, Acoustic works beautifully with metal in most cases, and I know bands that incorporate loads of acoustic work, if not entirely acoustic and still metal.
Metal is about shredding, or heaviness, but the emotion put into playing.
A guy with an acoustic can play the heaviest song in the world if he knows how to put the proper amount of soul into it.

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Can you people suggest some good ACOUSTIC guitars for beginners?

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Akshaya

I am a beginner in guitar and i have to buy one. Can you guys suggest some good acoustic guitars for beginners?

Answer
well there are a lot of options, don't get anything that doesn't have fret markers, i know a lot of no name guitars will be free of fret markers, my first was like this and it was a b**** to figure where my frets were. take note of size (this is scale, or distance from the nut to the bridge, body size is also important and should be taken into consideration if the beginner is young). I would recommend squier, alvarez, ibanez, and ovation if you can find a decent one for cheap. squier guitars are cheap and last pretty long, but they may not sound as good as the others. ibanez guitars are more expensive but the sound they put out is well worth the money (provided the person learning will stick with it). ovation guitars are just wonderful but i have heard from some guitar center employees (cant always trust them) that ovation guitars do not last very long, and I have plenty of friends whose ovation guitars died or lost their outlet jack inside the guitar, so make sure to tighten it now and then if you can. the real benefit to the ovation guitars is the composite back, this is far more comfortable than your usual wood guitar body and makes little difference in sound. alvarez guitars are a pretty good medium, they sound gorgeous, they are relatively cheap, and if you go acoustic-electric the electronics are very good. acoustic electric guitars are really only a good idea if a) the price difference is $50 and under, b) this beginner WILL stick with it and plans on performing at some point, or c) it just sounded too darn good through an amp.

I want to know everything a owner of a Acoustic Guitar should know?

Hiral

Like I want to know how to tune it with a pitch pipe tuner and how to clean it. Care for it. Replace strings and quick if it is working good. And I want to get like a few sheets of chords or notes of the Acoustic Guitar for beginners because I just brought a Acoustic Guitar and i do not know how to play, care, clean, tune, and stuff. Like i want music to follow with also. Thanks

Answer
Your best option is to visit your local music store, state your position as a beginner, and ask for what you need. Guitar lessons from an accredited teacher would be a plus for you.

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What are the best websites to go to for beginner guitar lessons?

acoustic guitar lessons for beginners youtube image

Bradley

What are some good places to go to on the internet to get good beginner acoustic guitar lessons?

Thanks

Answer
Check out Marty Schwartz and Justin Sandercoe on youtube. Justin has a pretty good website where all his stuff is organised nicely:

www.justinguitar.com - go to the left hand side and find the 'beginner's course' tab.

Marty is probably better for learning songs, and Justin better for technique and theory and stuff.

Hope this helps.

What are some good beginner guitar lesson videos on youtube?

Autumn

I have an acoustic guitar and I want to find a beginner lesson(s) online free. My plan is to find a teacher after learning very basic things.

Answer
This one looks pretty good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5aDC1Zkx3A

I think its a good idea to take lessons from a real person to make sure you get a solid foundation.
Some basic things you'll want to learn are:
Names of the strings
"Open" Chords
Notes of the frets (at least the first 5 frets)

Learn these things and you'll be well on your way. Have Fun!

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What is the best and cheapest digital recording equipment?

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wash

What type of digital recording equipment would you recommend? I will basically be recording an acoustic guitar, bass, banjo, and vocals. I would like something that can burn to cd or export to a computer. I would like something cheap but quality to record some demos.

Answer
There are many digital recorders out there. If you already have a mixer, you can use it to send a mix of everything to any small digital 2 channel recorder:

USB

http://www.zzounds.com/item--TASUS122

Stand Alone

http://www.zzounds.com/item--ZOMH4

A digital mixer with 6 or so real simultaneous inputs is going to get expensive:

http://www.zzounds.com/item--BOSBR1600CD

Whats the difference between a beginners guitar and a normal one?

I got serv

What's the difference between a beginners acoustic guitar and a normal classic guitar?
Why buy a beginners guitar when you can buy a good quality acoustic guitar (NOT for beginners)

Basically, I just want to know why people buy beginners guitars and are they worth it

Answer
Cheaper price,let's you explore the art with out the cost!
If you know your gonna stay with it get the best you can afford. Have a musican help you shop .

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What is a good guitar for playing Surf-Rock, Jack Johnson style and, Blues?

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The Dudesi

I am looking for a good and versatile guitar for playing Surf, Blues and, pretty much everything in-between. I have a pretty big price range of around $200-$500 and I was thinking about something like a "Fender" but I am not sure. I am looking for an electric guitar if that helps, because sometimes people give me acoustic guitars as responses...

Answer
Hello there,

This is easy. Fender Standard Stratocaster.

Later,

Hello again,
You can use a Fender Jaguar. But not every one finds the short scale length (only 24 inches) to be comfortable to play. I played a short scale Fender as a kid when I was learning to play. Now that scale length is not comfortable for me to play. If you like the Jaguar, try one before you buy.

Nearly everyone finds a Strat pretty comfortable to play. The guitar has good balance (neck is not going to hit the floor if you let go). The weight is comfortable (lighter than a Les Paul). The double cut away body gives you easy acess to the bottom frets. Fender single coil pickups are bright and clean in tone. Nothing beats that for surf.

At $200 to $500, you are in the ball park with some options.

The Squier Classic Vibe is a very good guitar (yes there are good Squiers contrary to what some think). It has Alinco 3 magnets in the pickups like the vintage Fender American pickups. It comes in the 50s series and 60s series. Either is good for surf. Not everyone will like the low output 50s pickups. Try them before you buy. New is sells for about $350. Limited color choices. All have 3 singles and a vintage tremolo bridge. No pickup configuration variations.

The Fender Standard Stratocaster is the work horse. This baby is built to last. My new one is a 1997 year model. Can be had in SSS or HSS pickup configurations. Lots of color choices. Rosewood or maple fretboards. New it is $500. There are many used ones on the market. They last forever, so there are always lots of used ones around. I see used MIM Strats sell on ebay for $200 to $285 all the time. I recently bought a used MIM Strat with a maple fretboard in Lake Placid blue for $200. I like the maple fretboard better than rosewood for 2 reasons. 1) It sounds slightly brighter. 2) I like the feel of lacquered maple under my fingertips.

The Fender Strat is the most versatile guitar out there. It can be used for about anything. SRV to Jimi Hendrix to Malmsteen to Clapton to George Harrison.

Hello again,

I started playing surf over 50 years ago. Over the years I have played it on about every guitar imaginable. I have played it on a 63 Harmony Bobcat (better than you might expect), a 63 Gibson ES-335, a 64 Fender Strat, a 64 Rickenbacker, numerous funky 60s and 70s Japanese imports. Most days now, I play a (custom built) Squier Tele and several MIM Strats (a few custom built ones). You really can use about any guitar. So fine a guitar that is comfortable for you to play. Whatever it is, it will work. The amp is a big part of the sound. I used a black face Fender Bandmaster for years. These days I play a 69 Fender Dual Showman Reverb (my personal tribute to Dick Dale).

Does anyone have information about Black Horse guitars?

Gooberman

Have an old Black Horse acoustic guitar. Was wondering if anyone knows any information about these guitars? On the top front by the tuning keys it says "BLAckhorSE". Inside the hole beneath the strings the label says:
"TRADE MARK"
then a silhouette of a black horse
then (2) strange characters that appear to me to be possibly Arab or something.
Black Horse
MODEL NO. SG123"
and then (5) possibly Chinese characters. I can post a couple of pictures if necessary.

Answer
Wow, you've been looking for this one a few months - or longer if this is you also: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100511145853AATiflz

Anyway, the other post suggests that it dates to the late 50's. There were a lot of store brand guitars around back then, mostly made by Harmony or Kay. We could probably tell from pictures if it's one of those (make sure you show the headstock shape). Another alternative is that it's a Japanese import from the early "bizarre guitars" era. Anyway, please do post pics, as detailed as you can get them - I have never heard of this brand and didn't see anything on the web except your queries and the one I linked to.

PS. Just found another, with good photos (scroll down on the page): http://www.ebay.com/itm/Trade-Mark-Black-Horse-Vintage-acoustic-neck-and-body-guitar-model-No-SG123-/320986053090?nma=true&si=IIETN1%2FfRRlGQapMwBNMgi75Wtk%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Japanese, apparently, but influenced by Harmonys and Kays of the period (note the unclassical square-shouldered outline and the slightly Kaylike headstock shape). At that period, most Asian cheap guitar production hadn't yet moved to Taiwan and then to Korea and mainland China. The lack of a backstrip inside indicates that it is an budget plywood instrument (at least the back and sides, and probably the top too). The label is rather cool, with the horse logo and calligraphy! Wish I could read Japanese as the kanji underneath might tell what factory it came from. Something Gakki (Musical Instruments), I think...doesn't look like Hoshino Gakki (Ibanez/Tama), Nippon Gakki (Yamaha), or Tokai Gakki.

By the way, this is a classical guitar...make sure you use ONLY nylon strings on it. Steel strings will destroy it.

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