When buying your first guitar, it’s always best to go into a musical instrument shop for advice. The problem with that for many of us, certainly if we’re just beginning, is that it can be a nerve wracking situation. Why? Because we don’t know what to expect.
“Hey, Newbie!”
With any shop that specializes in guitars, it’s easy to worry about feeling inexperienced and on the back foot. However, the staff at music shops are very experienced at advising newbies. It’s also in the music store’s best interest to give you proper guidance and encouragement.
These are shops that will have regular customers time and time again if their staff are friendly and knowledgeable, with many returning again after their first visit.
Where to begin?
With no idea of what you’re looking for, it’s hard to know how to make the right purchase. Sure, you might want a flame maple top Gibson Les Paul like Jimmy Page, but lets look at practicalities – mainly your budget. If you want to learn to play the electric guitar, here are the very basic things you’ll need:
- Electric guitar (obviously)
- Plectrum
- Guitar strap
- Amplifier
- Audio cable
- Tuner
With these six things you’re good to go. Fortunately, there are companies that produce complete guitar packages that include these very things. They’re very affordable, and thanks to improvements in guitar production, you can get a good, basic guitar to practice with without breaking the bank. You’ll often find that these will include instructional DVDs and spare strings.
There are no stupid questions
Don’t be afraid to ask anything at all while you’re shopping at the music store. You can do plenty of research online, but it’s often much more helpful to talk to someone face to face. There’s bound to be snippets of knowledge and things you’ve picked up, so it’s a good opportunity to make more sense of it.
Time to learn
As previously mentioned, some guitar packages can come with instructional DVDs, and there are also plenty of guitar learning videos online. You might find that learning from a tutor is the best way for you to pick up the guitar. Music shops tend to have music instruction info on hand, and many even provide their own guitar teaching services.
However you choose to learn or whatever guitar you wish to buy, your musical instrument shop can be a great source of help and information. So fret no more, and go into your favorite music shop for all the professional assistance you need!
About the author: This article was provided by Peterborough Music, a musical instrument shop with an impressive stock of guitars, drums, keyboards and more.
Credits: Photo courtesy of Leslie R.