Rookie questions on guitars |
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ColonelClaypool
Forum Senior Member Joined: October 22 2005 Location: Bergen, Norway Status: Offline Points: 747 |
Topic: Rookie questions on guitars Posted: November 10 2005 at 16:09 |
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Aw, crap, entire post disappeared when I was trying to remove a typo..
The main point of it all was that I've gotten the urge to learn how to play, and was asking some questions about guitars. Beginner guitars: Acoustic or electric? Nylon or steel strings? Picks or fingers? Any major differences anywhere? Recommendations on decent starter guitars that won't cost me an arm and a leg would be appreciated Edited by ColonelClaypool |
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With magic, you can turn a frog into a prince.
With science, you can turn a frog into a Ph.D. and you still have the frog you started with. |
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Sam_Carey
Forum Newbie Joined: November 10 2005 Status: Offline Points: 4 |
Posted: November 10 2005 at 16:25 | |||||
It does matter what u learn on but most, includig myself learnt on nylon acoustic. This is because steel string acoustics and electrics can be hard on tender un callused fingers. Nylon Acoustics are really about affordability, as they are much cheaper (at times) than other guitar models. I would always use a steel string now (been playing since 8, so been playing for 8 years) as nylons are for classical guitars, and i play blues. i terms of buying an electric, you dont need to worry about the neighbours as you can purchase headphones for yur amp. But, if on a budget, i would suggest stay away from cheap electrics, such as Squires, because as soon as you get good you'll want to smash the piece of Sh*t for its low grade quality. ABSOLUTELY LEARN TO DO BOTH PICK WORK AND FINGER PICKING! That is a must as you'll find you will be able to do a wide varity of music from Robby krieger of the doors to Steve Hackett of Genesis (and MARK KNOPFLER, Joke). Just find an affordable acoustic, and start strumming on to the TV!. Sam PS: Playing for the first couple of years is difficult if you expectations are high( like mine were as i was listening to Hendrix when i started playing) make sure u stick with it and youll be fine, commitment! |
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Lindsay Lohan
Forum Senior Member Joined: May 25 2005 Location: Norway Status: Offline Points: 3254 |
Posted: November 10 2005 at 17:17 | |||||
Ello...none is really better to learn on...but i find a electric guitar to be more versitaile than an accoustic as you can choose between clean and distorted sound. And you dont really have to play the electric one to an amp when you practice... Also Nylon strings and steel strings are different in terms on how much they hurt your fingers....but really the most important if you like the feel and sound of nylon compared to steel strings...but this is really just based on your preferences as they are not really "better" when compared to each other... Well you can do techniques with your fingers that you can't do with the pick and vice versa...Forexample picking the A and G string on your guitar at the same time can only be done with fingers and also the sound is alot sharper when you play with a pick...you should also try out different picks as they can go from everything to 0.60 to 2mm so this also alters your sound but it really is a matter of preference I suggest to start whit a beginners pack that includes guitar,amp and diverse extra equipment... I suggest this set:
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chopper
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 13 2005 Location: Essex, UK Status: Offline Points: 20029 |
Posted: November 10 2005 at 17:27 | |||||
I'm learning and I've got both an acoustic and an electric. Both have
their own advantages and disadvantages. The acoustic obviously does not
need an amp so you can just pick it up and play it anywhere. I have a
Fender Telecaster, which I find easier to play because of the better
action and narrower neck. Some things sound better on an electric, some
are better on acoustic.
My advice would be to start on acoustic and progress to electric. |
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Lindsay Lohan
Forum Senior Member Joined: May 25 2005 Location: Norway Status: Offline Points: 3254 |
Posted: November 10 2005 at 17:54 | |||||
Well personally i dont see any advanteges on beginning on a accoustic guitar perhaps other that it is cheaper but still that set only costs 2000kr You dont need an amp all the time also it is harder to play an accoustic guitar compared to an electric one...also cheap accoustic guitars can not be amped and is usually also pretty crap so you cant really use them later and although the amp is really crap on that Yamaha pack the guitar itself is really great...great neck and the pickups are ok
Edited by maidenrulez |
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Certif1ed
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: April 08 2004 Location: England Status: Offline Points: 7559 |
Posted: November 11 2005 at 02:39 | |||||
There are two major advantages that I can think of for learning on an acoustic; 1) Acoustic guitars tend to be cheaper. 2) Electric guitars make it easier to play and hide mistakes - get it right on an acoustic, and when you play it on an electric it'll be even better.
I write most of my stuff on a nylon-strung acoustic, which has a wide neck and very high action. I then improvise around the material on my steel-strung acoustic. When it comes to playing in the studio on an electric instrument, it's like second nature - you don't even think about the notes you're playing and get more into playing and feeling the music.
So my advice is go for a cheap crappy nylon strung acoustic, and a copy of "A Tune A Day" to start with
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KoS
Forum Senior Member Joined: May 17 2005 Location: Los Angeles Status: Offline Points: 16310 |
Posted: November 11 2005 at 02:49 | |||||
what these guys are saying is so true. I wanted an electric but i got a
spanish nylon guitar about 5 years ago. now I play electric and its so
much easier because i have the dexterity.
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Lindsay Lohan
Forum Senior Member Joined: May 25 2005 Location: Norway Status: Offline Points: 3254 |
Posted: November 11 2005 at 03:04 | |||||
Also cheap acoustic nylon guitars are pretty much the crap as alot of techniques used on electric guitar is not very usable for playing on a nylon, also you dont have the fret array that an electric has and a standard cheap acoustic stop at the 12'th fret or something while an electric has a broader range... |
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Syndromet
Forum Senior Member Joined: May 16 2005 Location: Norway Status: Offline Points: 150 |
Posted: November 11 2005 at 06:27 | |||||
I second the acoutic. I would sugest buying a cheap nylon of ebay to start with, and change the strings to some quality strings. The nylon strings don't hurt your fingers as much as the thinner steel strings will. It's also easier to learn, as you will have to play corectly to get the sound out right. I'll also sugest you buy a "learn to play guitar-book". This way you will not have spent enourmous amounts of money on a guitar and equipment, and if you find out that guitar is not for you, you can wrap it up as a christmas gift for someone you think deservs a guitar. I would also sugest you start out without a pick, so that you get the left-hand-fingers right-hand-fingers syncronisation from the beginning. But the most important thing is ofcource to have fun and play wathever you like. Good luck |
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Lindsay Lohan
Forum Senior Member Joined: May 25 2005 Location: Norway Status: Offline Points: 3254 |
Posted: November 11 2005 at 06:31 | |||||
I dont get why you all prefer a nylon string acoustic to an proper electric guitar??? The electric guitar is far more versitaile and also supports more playing styles than an nylon strung acoustic...Also you need to harden your fingers so it best to get it overwith by getting a steel string at once... |
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MikeEnRegalia
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: April 22 2005 Location: Sweden Status: Offline Points: 21138 |
Posted: November 11 2005 at 06:45 | |||||
My recommendation: Buy the cheapest Line6 Variax there is + the Line6 GuitarPort. If you have a computer, that is. This combination offers you the best of both worlds - acoustic and electric. You can try out all the important electric guitar sounds - Les Paul, Fender Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jazz guitar, Acoustic Guitars, 12 String Guitars, Banjo/Sitar/Experimental sounds, all with one guitar (the Variax). And the GuitarPort offers many different Amp models - Marshall, Soldano, Vox, Fender, with lots of cabinets (2x12, 4x12, 4x10, etc.) and effects. I sound like a Line6 employee, don't I? I can only say that I'm not. I'm currently using a Vox amp instead of my old Line6 one, but for a beginner I would absolutely recommend the GuitarPort. The Variax should be priced around $300, and the GuitarPort should be available for less than $200. If you subscribe to the only service you get lots of lessons and backing tracks too ... they also have a 30 part beginner's guide. But I would also recommend taking lessons at least for half a year, to make sure that your basic technique is correct.
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Lindsay Lohan
Forum Senior Member Joined: May 25 2005 Location: Norway Status: Offline Points: 3254 |
Posted: November 11 2005 at 06:48 | |||||
Finally someone that has the sensibility to recommend a ELECTRIC GUITAR...aslo lessons are not really needed....just learn to build up chords, guitar tuning and also to build up some scales and stuff and then you are on your way....also watch your favourite guitarists play as you can pick up alot of tips and tricks from them |
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Lindsay Lohan
Forum Senior Member Joined: May 25 2005 Location: Norway Status: Offline Points: 3254 |
Posted: November 11 2005 at 06:53 | |||||
Btw i checked the Line 6 Variax 700 (The only one i found) A bit expansive for a beginners guitar at 12 000kr |
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MikeEnRegalia
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: April 22 2005 Location: Sweden Status: Offline Points: 21138 |
Posted: November 11 2005 at 07:13 | |||||
The Variax 300 is the beginner's model: http://www.thomann.de/thoiw2_artikel-177504.html The dollar is not as cheap as a few months ago ... back then I also saw it below €400. I'm not saying that it's cheap ... but it's much cheaper than three different guitars, and much more fun than any ONE really cheap beginner's guitar. |
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Lindsay Lohan
Forum Senior Member Joined: May 25 2005 Location: Norway Status: Offline Points: 3254 |
Posted: November 11 2005 at 07:18 | |||||
Hmm yeah well i cant find it acutally...i found the 600 that was pretty cheap...around $600 but i agree that the variax guitars are great guitars and VERY versitaile...but still i prefer a yamaha package deal as it includes all the equipment ya need |
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MikeEnRegalia
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: April 22 2005 Location: Sweden Status: Offline Points: 21138 |
Posted: November 11 2005 at 07:25 | |||||
^ for the Variax + GuitarPort all you need is a computer (connected via USB). For the acoustic models you also need the A/B switch, whose output can be connected directly to your HiFi system. BTW: you can also practice using headphones, which is also a great plus. normally you can't practice even acoustic guitar during nighttime without waking the neighbours - no problem with the Variax. |
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Lindsay Lohan
Forum Senior Member Joined: May 25 2005 Location: Norway Status: Offline Points: 3254 |
Posted: November 11 2005 at 07:26 | |||||
Yep and also for practicing you rarely need to plug the guitar in at all... |
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MikeEnRegalia
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: April 22 2005 Location: Sweden Status: Offline Points: 21138 |
Posted: November 11 2005 at 07:32 | |||||
^ yes you do ... if you're a professional it begins to make sense to practice unplugged on an electric guitar. But as a beginner it is very important to exactly hear what you're playing. And it's WAY more fun to blast away at full volume, with a decent backing track. Black Sabbath - War Pigs is a cool backing track for beginners ... it's much more motivating than just playing for yourself. |
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Certif1ed
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: April 08 2004 Location: England Status: Offline Points: 7559 |
Posted: November 11 2005 at 07:33 | |||||
Like I say, acoustic guitars are harder to play, therefore learning on one then transferring your skills will help you become a better electric player. You can use ANY technique on an acoustic guitar that you can use on an electric guitar - you could even get one with an extended range if you really needed the extra few semitones. Standard acoustics do not stop at the 12th fret - you're thinking of the toy ones. |
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Lindsay Lohan
Forum Senior Member Joined: May 25 2005 Location: Norway Status: Offline Points: 3254 |
Posted: November 11 2005 at 07:35 | |||||
Well it depends what you are practecing....newbie guitar players often have to strenghten their fingers, practice chord switching and stuff like that....besides if i sit alone in a quiet room i have no problem at all hearing what i play... |
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