Identifying Your Musical Interest & Choosing a Guitar

Find your Style!

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the kind of music that you want to play
• Identify the kind of guitars used in that music genre
• Select a guitar that fits your musical interest

Identify the Kind of Music that You Want to Play

Listen to different genres (blues, country, rock, etc…) and see which one is your favorite. Listen to your favorite songs and focus on the guitar track. Find out what kind of guitar is used most for the kind of music that you want to play. Pick a guitar that fits your musical interest, sounds good, feels good, looks good to you, and that fits your personal style.

Your guitar choice should fit your musical interest and physical comfort.

Already have a Guitar?

If you already have a guitar it is important to take it to a guitar luthier and have it checked, or “Set-Up”. A Set-Up is a service that you can learn or have a luthier (guitar builder) provide for you. A set-up can cost from $15 to over $75, and consist of an assessment of the overall condition of the instrument. Any issues are notated and a cost for additional services are established.

In a basic set-up the neck is checked and adjusted, frets are checked and serviced, strings are changed and tuned, string height or “Action” is checked, the intonation and acoustic or electronics are checked, and the instrument is cleaned.

Ask Guitarist that you know, or your local music instrument store to recommend a luthier. Take your guitar that you got from a friend or relative, or if you are buying a guitar from an individual, agree to meet the seller at the luthier’s shop. The luthier will assess the instrument, tell you what it is worth and what it will cost to get it into playing condition.

My last Set-Up cost $45, the strings were replaced, the neck was adjusted and intoned, the electronics were checked and the action was lowered. It is important to keep your guitar in good playing shape. Even if it looks old, the neck and frets should be in adjustment and your strings should be in tune and sound lively.

Looking for a Guitar?

This is a must see video for those getting started. Also, great for understanding different types of guitars. Take a look and create a post in the community, about your choice of guitar and the genre or style of music you want to play.

When starting out it is best to get a guitar that feels expensive, but is not. Get a guitar that you can afford to move up from, once you start seeing your playing improve. I started with an acoustic and then moved to an electric solid body, with three single coil pick-ups. If you don’t understand the previous sentence, you will learn the parts of the guitar in the “Naming the Parts of the Guitar Lesson”. Other guitars have followed and I use them for different purposes.

Buying a Guitar

• Define your musical interest.
  • Example: Blues, and your desired sound: 60s Electric Blues, Preferred body style: Simi-Hallow.
• Search for online manufacturer information and videos about the guitar that you are interested in.
• Watch videos about the instruments and then visit a guitar store.
• At the store, get a feel for some of the different guitars that you see in the videos.
• Ask questions and take notes and pictures using your mobile device for use when comparing other guitars.
• Acoustic, Electric, Jazz or Folk, there are a range of guitars that may fit your needs.

Visiting Stores

Visit as many stores as you can and tell store personnel what kind of music you want to play. Let them know that you are seeking an entry level instrument that you can grow with.  Use the following sample questions to ask store personnel about a variety of instruments:

• I’d like to compare five guitar styles, a Stratocaster, a Les Paul, a 335, a acoustic electric and an acoustic.
• I’m interested in learning “Blues, Folk etc.” guitar.
• I like the sound of “Name you favorite guitarist”.
• Please show me instruments that fit the sound that I like and want to recreate.
• I want a guitar that fits the style that I want to learn at an entry level price.

Assignment:

• Pick a guitar that you can get started with, and that you can continue to grow with. If size and weight are factors that are important to you, consider an acoustic electric with a thin body.
• Create a post, with information about your guitar selection and your musical interest/style in the social learning community.
• After posting, you will receive a link to the lesson survey. Let us know what you think about the lesson and if you think it needs improvement, provide your suggestions.