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Steps To Consider Before Buying Your First Guitar.

Choosing the perfect guitar can be an exciting yet overwhelming experience, given the myriad of options available in terms of size, style, and sound. However, fret not, as we are here to assist you in finding the ideal instrument that suits your style and makes you feel like a professional musician, whether you opt for a brand new or preowned guitar, electric or acoustic. Follow our expert tips to make an informed decision that meets your needs.

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New V’s Old

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Size Matters

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Trusted Brands

Choosing the Ideal Guitar for You

Choosing the right guitar for your child is crucial. It's not just about the style of music they want to learn, but also about finding an instrument that inspires and ignites their passion to excel. Take a cue from the guitar heroes your child admires - their gear can be a great starting point. Whether your child wants to play like Hendrix or shred like Van Halen, a guitar like their idols' can be the catalyst for growth and achievement. At Cord Music, we believe that the right guitar can make all the difference - so choose wisely and let your child soar.
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Electric Guitars

 

Electric guitars are widely recognized as the most favored guitar style in contemporary music.

 

When paired with an amplifier, these guitars present infinite sound options to explore.

 

it is extensively applied in a variety of genres such as rock, metal, pop, blues, jazz, country, and R&B.

 

 

Pros of an electric guitar

• Easier to play
• Sizes to suit all ages
• versatile instrument in terms of different sounds and tones that can be created
• A very popular instrument.

 

Cons of an electric guitar

• Additional equipment needed, such as:

- Amplifier

- Cables

- Headphones

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Acoustic Guitars

 

Acoustic guitars produce rich sounds without electric amplification and are used in genres like bluegrass, country, and folk.

it can be modified if needed, Acoustic and electric guitars are effectively the same instrument, with the main difference being the sound.

The thickness and placement of the strings should be considered when choosing a guitar.

 

Pros of an acoustic guitar

• no additional equipment is needed so can spend more the guitar itself
• can be amplified with a slight modification
• good for playing chords

Cons of an acoustic guitar

• Inability to achieve suitable volume in a band setting without additional amplification.
• Limited range of tones and sounds
• Thicker strings may present a challenge for younger players.
• Poor craftsmanship in certain beginner or smaller-sized instruments.

An Electro-Acoustic guitar offers a perfect blend of the benefits of both Electric and Acoustic guitars.

It is an acoustic guitar integrated with the necessary pick-ups and plugins for amplification purposes, making it the ideal choice for gigs.

What to Consider

unfortunately, buying online won’t give you the full feel for the guitar you want to buy, it is best to visit a music/guitar shop and see the instruments in person.
please keep in mind that the instruments in-store may not have been fully set up, so here are a few things to ask yourself when you go shopping.

1. Is that in tune?

most sales assistants in a music store will be a musician of some sort, ask an assistant to check it’s tuned and play a few chords for you (if you can’t play yourself).
if it sounds awful, it may be that the guitar itself is hard to play.

2. Is this neck straight?

you need to look at the neck of the guitar to make sure there are no bends or curves as this will cause the stings to hit the fretboard when playing distort the sound and make it hard to play.

3. Are these strings too high?

how close the strings are to the fretboard is called the action, if the action is too high making it hard to play or the neck is curved you might want to give this one a miss. point it out to the assistant and ask if they have another available to show you as it may just be that guitar in particular not necessarily all the guitars of that make or model that are affected.

4. Does this feel right?

if it sounds ok and the strings feel nice to play, it’s now time to check that you can reach all the frets comfortably. you can also run a finger down each side of the neck and see if you can feel the ends of the fret sticking out. if any of them aren’t level with the wood again you might want to see if the sales assistant has another that doesn’t have this defect.

5. Does this sound right?

when buying an electric guitar don’t be shy and ask the assistant to plug it in, you need to listen out for any crackling sounds and make sure all the settings are adjusted. if there are any noises it may be something that can be fixed before you take it home but not what you want to take home unless it’s been sorted.

Structured lessons and consistent daily practice are crucial for your child, whether they are a beginner or have been playing for some time. By taking a professional approach, we can help your child achieve their musical aspirations.

NEW OR USED

an older guitar that’s been looked after can be just as good as a new guitar and could be a great guitar for a beginner.
some entry-level price guitars are usually made with materials that don’t age well – softer wood and thinner bits of metal don’t last as long. it would serve you well to keep in mind whether the guitar you are looking to purchase is new or old.

Pros for a new guitar
if your child is already playing is passionate about playing and can play a full-size guitar, it could be best to go for a new guitar from a reputable guitar manufacturer. buying new means:
• up to date technology
• warranty
• the satisfying feel of a new guitar

Pros for a used guitar
if your child is new to playing the guitar or you’re unsure if they have the drive to continue learning it may be worth buying a 1/2 or 3/4 size guitar that may have previously been used will get you the most value for money. the positives of this are

• the look and sound will be more vintage
• not too costly
• you may get your hands on a make and model longer available new

Size matters

ensuring your child's guitar is the right size is very important, it's not just the size but the weight and the distance between frets for your child's small fingers.

The general size guide is:

- Ages 5-7 should be using a half-size guitar.
- Ages 7-10 a three-quarter-size guitar.
- Ages over 11 full-size guitars.

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Best guitar brands

you will find a wide choice of guitars when walking into a music store/shop, however, it can be overwhelming and confusing at times.

strat vs Les Paul? Both are great guitars but depending on what genre of music you’d like to practice/play will determine the result.

you find also loads of copies of the above which isn’t a bad starter if you have a smaller budget. remember Fender Strat-type guitars will give you a much more treble sound because of the single coil pickups which are located underneath the strings. The Gibson-style Les Paul will be 9/10 always double hum bucklers and will sound meaty and heavy when applied to gain.

brands great for starters?

both types of guitars are great but please remember the Gibson style Les Paul will be a thicker neck whilst the Fender Strat style will be much thinner and perhaps better for the younger learner. I would always try and look across the idea of beautiful finishes and go with what feels right for the learner.

others I should look at?

the best value for money

Yamaha Pacifica! you can’t go wrong with a Yamaha, and they also have single and double humbuckers which gives you a massive choice over tone and what you want to sound like.

Guitar Accessories

there are a few basic accessories you will need to consider when starting out.

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    Guitar AMP (Electric Guitar)

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    Guitar lead (Electric Guitar)

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    Headphones (Electric Guitar)

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    Guitar tuner (Both)

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    Guitar picks (Both)

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    Guitar straps (Both)

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    Extra strings for your guitar (Both)

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    Guitar case (Both)

One Response

  1. Guitar Parts

    This article offers excellent advice for first-time guitar buyers, but remember, quality guitar parts are crucial, even for beginners! While budget options might seem tempting, they often skimp on wood, tuners, and construction, leading to frustration, hindered learning, and even potential repair costs. Invest in a well-made guitar with a comfortable neck for smooth playing, sturdy tuners that hold their pitch, and quality tonewoods for rich, resonant sound.

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