8 Golden Nuggets For Buying Your First Guitar

Buying your first guitar is always a very exciting proposition but not without its challenges. When buying a guitar for beginners it is all too easy to get carried away and succumb to temptation when faced with a shop full of beautiful, shiny new guitars. Purchasing that wonderful bright red Fender Stratocaster seems like a good idea at the time (budget? what budget?) but you can soon come to realise that it is totally unsuited to your present needs!

To avoid these beginner pitfalls just follow these 8 simple steps to make buying your first guitar a breeze AND.... help protect your bank balance!

GOLDEN NUGGET 1: Know What Style of Guitar You Want to Buy!

This may sound a bit obvious, but before you even begin to consider buying a guitar, you need to know what guitar is best suited to the style of music you wish to play. There are four standard guitars:

Electric Guitar - probably the most popular and well known type of guitar, used in the majority of current pop and rock bands. Usually made with a solid body. You will need an amplifier to go with this guitar as you cannot hear the sound without one.

Acoustic Guitar - this is the other most recognisable guitar, made with a hollow body and wound steel strings to produce the sound, so no need for an amplifier with this guitar.

Electro Acoustic Guitar - as the name suggests, this guitar is a combination of the acoustic and electric guitar. With a hollow body and a pickup this guitar can be used with or without an amplifier.

Spanish/Classical Guitar - this is the oldest style of acoustic guitar which was first built in its current form in the 19th century in Spain. The strings on these guitars are nylon.

GOLDEN NUGGET 2: Ensure it is Suitable for You

As well as different styles, guitars also come in different sizes. It is possible to purchase half size and three quarter size guitars which are more practical for children. Remember also that learning to play guitar can be a bit painful on the fingers when you first start. Nylon strung guitars and electric guitars can be a little bit kinder to tender fingertips!

GOLDEN NUGGET 3: Set a Budget (and stick to it!)

Buying your first guitar is very exciting and it is all too easy to get carried away! It is best to do some figures before you get to the shops to establish how much you can afford and what you really want to spend.

Keep in mind that there is the possibility you may discover you are not cut out for learning to play the guitar after all. You could end up with a very expensive ornament collecting dust in your lounge!

If you are new to guitar it is a good idea to consider starting with a second hand guitar and then treating yourself to a brand new one once you have accomplished some level of playing ability.

GOLDEN NUGGET 4: Gather Information

Buying a guitar is a big investment so like any other large purchase it is essential that you glean all the information you can before you make your final buying decision.

The best place to start is at your local music store. These shops are generally privately owned by music/guitar enthusiasts. They will be more than happy to spend time with you, showing you all the different guitars and explaining things to you. If you cannot play, they will also demonstrate the guitars for you so you can hear the different sounds each guitar makes. But remember, this is a fact finding mission - today is not the day to buy, no matter how nice they are!

If you are looking for an electric guitar, you can also see all the accessories available and familiarise yourself with what you will need to achieve the sound you are after.

GOLDEN NUGGET 5: Shop Around

Music stores are great for pinpointing what guitar you would like but they are not necessarily the cheapest option for buying your guitar. That being said, they can offer a great aftercare service so it is worth weighing up what that is worth to you in monetary terms.

If you decide to purchase from a store, ask them if they have any sales coming up and wait (yes, wait!) for the sales to grab a bargain. If you cannot wait that long and decide to buy now, make sure you haggle with them on the price. They usually have a healthy mark up on musical instruments giving them plenty of room for manoeuvre.

Once you know the make of the guitar you would like, the obvious choice is the internet. There are a number of excellent secure sites which offer great deals. If it is an electric guitar you are after, a good starting point is a 'bundle' deal, which gives you all the accessories you need to get started as well as the guitar - great for beginners!

GOLDEN NUGGET 6: Buy Second-hand

Okay, so buying a second-hand guitar is not quite as sexy as that gleaming, shiny brand new one you have been drooling over. BUT, it is a great option if you are on a budget or not quite sure if the guitar is going to be for you.

Again, your local music store is a great place to start. They generally have some second-hand guitars that people have traded in and it is possible that you could pick up a well known brand for an excellent price.

The classified ads in your local newspaper are also a good place to track down a bargain and again, you can haggle with the vendor.

Buying second-hand online is slightly more risky. If you go this route, make sure they have a returns policy and some sort of guarantee otherwise you may find you have been sold a pup!

GOLDEN NUGGET 7: Check it is Well Made

Always ensure that the guitar you choose is well made. Check the seams; run your fingers around them to ensure that they are smooth, not rough and that they are not coming apart. Make sure the frets are smooth and even on both sides of the neck. Do not buy a guitar made from plywood or with a plywood top.

GOLDEN NUGGET 8: Try Before You Buy (then try again)

Every guitar is different so it is absolutely imperative that you try out lots of guitars before you make your purchase. They may look beautiful but you need to know how they feel in your hands and what they sound like before you can decide what is best for you. Even if you cannot play the guitar, you will know if it feels comfortable in your hands and you will know if you like the sound it makes. So, try before you buy and then try again!

Of course, buying your guitar is just the first step of your musical journey! Sign up today for your FREE Five Part E-Course on How to Play Guitar for Beginners at http://howtoplayguitargenie.com. This comprehensive FREE course is packed with tonnes of tips and tricks to give you exactly what you need to set you on the road to fulfilling your dreams - TODAY!