Guitars Are Like Shoes : A Guide To Buying Your 1st Guitar

When shopping for a guitar you will quickly notice that there is more to it than a block of wood with some strings on it.  When looking to buy a guitar either for yourself or a child, think about shoes.  You want the right guitar for the occasion. 

Size:  Have you ever seen a child try to wear their parent’s shoes?  My kids do that & end up tripping all over the place.  Just like it’s hard to walk in shoes that are too big, it’s also difficult to play a guitar that’s too big. 

Here is a chart that will help you match the guitarist with the right guitar.

Style: While some people prefer boots & others prefer sneakers, most people own both.  That’s how I feel about acoustic guitars vs. electric guitars.  The difference is in style & tone but you don’t have to commit to just one or the other.  The basic layout of the two is the same and most guitar players will hop from one to the other depending on mood or to compliment the style of a particular song.  So if the guitarist prefers to play Taylor Swift, then an acoustic guitar would be a smart purchase.  On the other hand, if AC/DC is your inspiration then look into an electric guitar. 

Budget: I already mentioned that acoustic guitars are generally more affordable.  An entry level model can purchased for $100-$200. 

With Electric guitars keep in mind that they are more versatile than acoustic guitars but require an amplifier & instrument cable.  This means that you will need to invest in some additional equipment & you won’t be playing it around the campfire since the amplifier will need to be plugged in.  You can find package deals & save a few bucks, but expect to pay $200-$400.

In either case you can spend less but you also can easily spend more. Be careful going too cheap as these low quality guitars can be more difficult to play resulting in the student quitting in frustration.  Of course you can buy used off craigslist.org or even some retail shops.  My students often email me links to what they find to get my input before they buy.  If you have an instructor, ask them if they would be willing to help you too.

So basically the guitar needs to be the right size, fit your personal style, and fit your budget.  Choose the right guitar for your situation and get with a great instructor that will walk you through the steps in learning to play it.

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