Acoustic Guitar

[aquariaguy]

I'm looking into starting to play the guitar. I'm gonna self teach myself, using this cool program my roommate which you can download tabs and such. I have a piano background so I can read notes. Just need a guitar and any other tips. I'm looking to spend less than $200. I'm also in the US so if you guys know any good sites to buy from. I've found www.guitarcenter.com but that's all I know. Any tips on what to look for on a newb guitar? Btw I want to get an acoustic one.

Thanks!

[ioums]

I would recommend not buying a guitar online. You should go to a store and play a few and find one with a sound you like.

[Asmegin]

Yahama F310 is a great, cheap guitar. Easy to play, nice bright sound and $150.

[aquariaguy]

I would recommend not buying a guitar online. You should go to a store and play a few and find one with a sound you like.

Oh definitely, I'm just looking to see if you guys have suggestions/tips so when I go to a store I won't get scammed or at least I have an idea on prices. :)

[mcewen]

spend the extra dollars, get a nice guitar that will stay in tune, sound nice and play well (ease of pressing the strings).
Otherwise you are wasting your money because it will be hard to play and sound like crap.. and you will say "forget it.. I'm not playing this anymore".

[Stock R]

I'm also in the US so if you guys know any good sites to buy from. I've found www.guitarcenter.com but that's all I know.

Go to your local Guitar Center if you want to try out the guitar in person. If you're looking to buy online, try musiciansfriend.com or music123.com . Some people have a problem ordering from music123 (bad CS) but they have a slightly different selection of products available.

I highly suggest you purchase the Hal Leonard Guitar Method pack (3 books + cds in 1) from amazon.com. It's cheap (<20) and progresses you slowly through each string before moving onto chords and scales. Tab programs like GuitarPro are ok when you have a general idea on how to play, but the book will give you your foundation.

GL.

[xanatos]

I'm looking into starting to play the guitar. I'm gonna self teach myself, using this cool program my roommate which you can download tabs and such. I have a piano background so I can read notes. Just need a guitar and any other tips. I'm looking to spend less than $200. I'm also in the US so if you guys know any good sites to buy from. I've found www.guitarcenter.com but that's all I know. Any tips on what to look for on a newb guitar? Btw I want to get an acoustic one.

Thanks!

Good to hear it. Don't worry about spending too much. Guitar Center is a fav, or if you know a guitar you like, many buy off MusiciansFriend.com also.

$200 is fine. Just don't get a guitar with a pickup and the electronics. There's a ton of budget guitars with pickups around 400, what you're getting is roughly a $200 guitar with $200 worth of electronics. A $200 will get you a fine starter guitar.

If you can get a friend who knows his way around guitars to help do a 'set up' for you that'd be great.

The absolute most important thing however is your own personal desire to learn guitar. That'll trump pretty much everything else.

In that range, I'd suggest any of:
Ibanez, the Godin family (Norman, Simon and Patrick, Seagull, they're Canadian), Yamaha, Washburn, Fender, etc (Yamaha or Washburn esp if you can find it in that price range).

Take a look here, these are $200-$300 guitars at MusiciansFriend:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/navigation/acoustic-guitars?N=100001%2b304276%2b9&Ns=P_Price%7c0&page=1

Make sure it feels comfortable, and that the strings aren't way too high to press down comfortable (known as having 'too much neck relief' in guitar speak).

[DeimosBeros]

Get something with iron strings to build callous' on your finger tips, extra strength goes a long way. Switch over to nylon strings when you got your notes down and some songs.

[Stock R]

Get something with iron strings to build callous' on your finger tips, extra strength goes a long way. Switch over to nylon strings when you got your notes down and some songs.

A steel string acoustic and classical/Spanish guitar are totally different guitars with different playing styles. You learn to play one style or the other. I've never heard of anyone starting with a steel string to build up strength before switching over to nylon. Rather ridiculous if you ask me.

[Stock R]

In that range, I'd suggest any of:
Ibanez, the Godin family (Norman, Simon and Patrick, Seagull, they're Canadian), Yamaha, Washburn, Fender, etc (Yamaha or Washburn esp if you can find it in that price range).


You forgot Art & Lutherie for the Godin family :)

[akky]

whats the program name?

[Batman.]

why not buy one from craigslist or here on rfd?

[mjl_toronto]

spend the extra dollars, get a nice guitar that will stay in tune, sound nice and play well (ease of pressing the strings).
Otherwise you are wasting your money because it will be hard to play and sound like crap.. and you will say "forget it.. I'm not playing this anymore".

I have to agree with mcewen. Spending a little bit more can score you an excellent guitar that will increase your enjoyment of the instrument.

I learned to play the guitar just by picking a few of my fave songs and searching for guitar tabs online or in magazines. I would then just memorize everything and move onto the next song. Eventually, I learned so many songs and began blending aspects of each song together which got me into writing songs. It's just too bad nobody else likes my songs :lol: If you can already read notes, you may get bored really quickly with a lot of the guitar lesson books out there.

FYI, Guitar Center is a subsidiary of Musicians Friend who also own Music123. They are the same company.

I'd hook you up with a guitar if you were in Toronto but since you're in Philly, I can't help you. Nothing against Philly, you just live to far.