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Absolute Beginner's Guide To The Guitar Part 1It’s hard to imagine, but every famous guitar player was a beginner once. Even Clapton, Vai, Metheny, Bream et al had to learn how to tune a guitar, how to play an E chord, what a scale was, etc. This article has been written to provide you with some of the answers to the questions you were too embarrassed to ask, such as:. What’s the difference between an acoustic guitar, a classical guitar and an electric guitar? What sort of guitar do I need?What makes a good guitar?What sort of strings should I put on my guitar? When should I change my guitar strings?How do I tune a guitar? What’s DADGAD / Dropped ‘D’ tuning, etc.Should I use a plectrum / pick or should I use my fingers?Do I have to read music? What is tablature /TAB? What’s a chord box?How do I make my electric guitar sound like the guitars I hear on records / CDs?What are effect pedals?Why does a guitar amplifier have two channels?Guitar Types There’s already an article on the different types of guitar here. However, to save you having to navigate away then back, here’s a quick summary: Acoustic GuitarAn acoustic guitar is one that does not rely on any electronic amplification to make a sound. The sound made when plucking / strumming a string or strings is amplified in the hollow body of the guitar, and comes out of the sound-hole (the large hole underneath the strings on the front of the instrument). Acoustic guitars are strung with steel strings. This kind of guitar is typically used for folk and rock music, often as an accompaniment instrument, although they can be played solo. An acoustic guitar is a good place to start if you want to develop broad range of guitar playing skills, with the option of being able to switch to an electric guitar later on if you desire. Classical GuitarA classical guitar, although strictly speaking an acoustic guitar (as it doesn't rely on electric amplification), is hardly ever referred to as such. Alternative names for a classical guitar include Spanish guitar and nylon-string guitar. Classical guitars produce a mellower, less metallic sound than acoustic guitars. They are usually used to play classical and Spanish music, being played solo. Classical guitar playing is more of a rigid discipline than acoustic and electric guitar playing, with a recognised technique and emphasis on music reading and interpretation rather than improvisation and composition.
Electric GuitarElectric guitars rely on electrical amplification to produce their sound. They have pickups under the strings that convert the vibrations into an electrical signal. They are strung with metal strings, but usually of a lighter (thinner) gauge than acoustic guitars. Electric guitars often have more than one pickup because the tone varies along the string’s length, and having more than one pickup placed at different positions allows the guitarist to select which tone they prefer. A ‘brighter’ tone is produced if the bridge pickup is used. The neck pickup produces a smoother sound. If a guitar has more than one pickup then there is normally a pickup selector switch somewhere on the front of the instrument’s body. (Sometimes, as in Gibson guitars, this switch is labeled treble / rhythm, but this simply selects the pickup (bridge / neck) that will be used.) The sound that an electric guitar produces can be further altered by using the tone and volume controls that are usually present on the body of the instrument. What makes a good guitar?Obviously, this is a matter of taste as much as anything
else, but generally a high quality guitar will have better hardware
(tuners, nut, bridge, electronics, etc.), be made of better woods,
and have a higher quality of construction. Today, even the cheapest
of guitars is usually playable, with a straight neck, adequate hardware,
and the ability to hold its tuning. You’d have had to pay
a lot more for that even twenty years ago. However, guitars at the
low end of the market can still have tuning problems, so it’s
worth checking the intonation by making sure that strings remain
in tune wherever you play on the neck, and that if it’s an
electric guitar are still reasonably in tune after heavy string
bending and tremolo bar usage. Cheap guitars (particularly acoustics)
can sometimes have an uncomfortably high ‘action’ (the
distance of the strings from the neck). Make sure you try several
examples, to make sure that the action isn't overly high. Don’t
buy an acoustic if there is any serious rattling / buzzing / vibration
from the bridge or body. A little bit of fret buzz is acceptable
in electric guitars, and won’t be heard once amplified. Part 2 of Guitarnet.info's The Absolute Beginner's Guide To Guitar Playing will investigate guitar strings, guitar tuning, and guitar playing techniques.
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