Lesson 1 : How to chose your first guitar

Above all, to play the guitar you must of course get a guitar! And god knows that it is not easy, especially when you know very little about it. To choose between all types of guitar, all ranges of prices, etc. I will therefore in this article guide you so that you buy the guitar that suits you!

There are 3 main types of guitars. There are no better ones than others, each type of guitar is different and has its own characteristics. 

Classical guitar :

This guitar has : 

• Nylon strings
• A wide and straight handle
• A hollowed head

This kind of guitar is mainly used to play Flamenco or gypsy style music. 

The classical guitar is most often made of cedar, but it is not an obligation. The wood used will create a different and unique sound. Again, there is not really wood better than the others, each will create a unique sound that will appeal more or less to people.

Folk acoustic guitar :

This kind of guitar has :

• Steel strings
• A thinner and slightly curved handle
• A full head

It is much more versatile than the classical guitar and allows you to play pop, rock, folk…

For Folk guitar the choice of wood is more free. The main ones are cedar, spruce and mahogany.

For my part I much prefer the folk guitar. It produces a more pleasant sound and its versatility is a major advantage when you want to play different musical styles.

P.S: Note that you can also get an electro classical or electro folk guitar, these are acoustic guitars but have a built-in microphone to be able to amplify the sound on an amp.

Electric Guitar

Finally, we have the holy grail for all rock fans, the electric guitar.

• Steel
• Thin and curved handle
• Flat body, without sound box
• Requires an amp to play properly.

The electric guitar is used on styles of music like rock, metal ... and to do very badass solos ! Fender guitar is a very good brand if you want to go on it !

Conclusion :

Several factors can be considered when you are choosing your first guitar. A fear that often recurs with beginners is the fingertip pain. Of course, at the beginning, until your fingers get used to pressing the strings, you will have a little pain in your fingertip. Some people will therefore prefer to take a classical guitar because the nylon strings are less painful to the fingers than steel.

But from my point of view, that is not the main factor to consider in your decision. After 2 or 3 weeks, no matter the type of strings, your fingertips will produce horn, and you will no longer feel pain. The most important question when you are looking for the perfect guitar is : What king of music I want to play ? If you love flamenco and gypsy style then go for a classical guitar. If you prefer pop then run for a folk guitar. And if you are a rock fan then go to your nearest guitar seller to buy an electric guitar and an amp.

Personally, I advise you to start with an acoustic guitar. The fact that they are self-sufficient avoids getting stuck with an amp when you start. Besides, a good amp is pretty expensive, so I advise you to make your hand on an acoustic guitar, see if playing guitar is something you really like. Then, if you see that you love playing guitar and are ready to invest in equipment, then go for the Fender of your dreams and the amp that goes with it!

Here is the link for the next lesson ! https://fromzerotoguitarhero.blogspot.com/2020/01/lesson-2-how-to-hold-guitar.html