Which guitar is better? Beginner's Selection Tips

The guitar is a popular musical instrument. Three basic chords to master on it are within the power of everyone. Having mastered the game, you will be the center of attention in any company

But the guitar is not as simple as it sounds. As your skills develop, you will see how enormous potential lies in what would seem to be such a simple “yard” tool. But in order to become a pro, the choice of a guitar should be taken seriously. So which guitar is better?

In this article we will talk about how to choose a guitar for a beginner guitarist. After reading, you will understand by what criteria to choose a tool.

In the slang of professional guitarists there is a word “beaver”. They call them a tool of very poor quality. Earlier in the city of Bobrov there was a furniture factory, which, strangely enough, also made stringed musical instruments. All products that came out of the walls of the enterprise were of very poor quality. That's how the tools from the city of Bobrov and became a household name.

Tips for those who are going to get their first guitar:

1. Be sure to bring a friend with you who has been playing the instrument for a long time. An experienced musician himself was once a beginner and knows all your aspirations very well. Perhaps he will tell you, based on his own experience, which guitar company is better.
2. The budget is an individual matter. But you should not choose the cheapest or most expensive guitar. Naturally, you think that you are acquiring a tool in order to try yourself in the game. But the fact is that a guitar that costs less than 2000 rubles can even be difficult to tune. But how are you going to learn to play it? Suppose you have a pretty impressive amount and decided to give yourself an expensive tool. Do not do this. Beginners do not feel the difference between the tool for 5000 or 50,000 rubles. Opt for something in between.
3. What is a good guitar itself? The one you like externally! This may not be very professional advice, but you can’t play an instrument that does not provide aesthetic pleasure!
4. Choose the right size. There are different guitars: 4/4, 4/3, 2/4, 1/4. For an adult, 4/4 is usually suitable. Teenagers and petite girls choose 4/3. For children there are sizes from 2/4 and 1/4. The latter is for the crumbs, such options are rarely on sale. To understand what size instrument you need, just hold it in your hands as if you were already playing it.
5. Beginners use nylon strings. Pros - metal. It happens that novice guitarists immediately learn to play metal and lose nothing. Please note that metal strings are not used for classical guitar. They are for acoustics.
6. Did you like some kind of tool in the store? Ask the sales assistant to set it up and play something. Keep your sound clean. There should be no rattle. Nothing should irritate your hearing.
7. Do not stop at the first option, which appealed to you. In any case, arrange listening to 3-5 applicants. Only in this way you will understand which guitar is better to play.
8. If you want to play the electric guitar, then buy it right away. Do not torture yourself with a classical instrument, the sound of which does not bring pleasure.

What guitar is better to learn to play: acoustic or classical?

Before talking about manufacturers, you need to decide on the constructive types of tools.

Classics is immortal

Pupils of music schools without options begin with a classical guitar. For beginners, this is the best option. A classic instrument has a wide and thin neck, which means that untrained fingers should not move out and interfere with each other. It is much easier to practice fingering on such a guitar than on a narrow neck of an acoustic guitar. On the "classics" are installed nylon strings. This means that you will protect your fingers from blood corns at the beginning of training.

It will be easier for you to learn to tune your guitar on your own, as nylon is easily clamped and pulled. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to put metal strings on a classical guitar. Rarely what classic model can withstand steel strings. Do not experiment, you may lose an expensive tool.

Nylon strings give a quiet and soft sound. The musical genres that are performed on this instrument are as follows:

• ballads;
• plays
• romances;
• Latin American compositions;
• spanish compositions.

The “classic” case is much smaller than the “acoustics”. Thanks to the larger body size, the acoustic guitar produces a deeper sound. Classical guitar is three hundred years old. She appeared in the 18th century in Spain. That is why the instrument is called "Spanish".

Acoustics - rich sound

This type of guitar is much younger. He is only about a hundred years old. The tool is a native of America. Here in the mid-twentieth century were fashionable jazz and folk, which sounded very picturesque to the accompaniment of an acoustic instrument.

This type of guitar has stiff springs, i.e. wooden reinforcement rails, which are located under the top deck. Steel strings are mounted on an acoustic guitar. The sounds she makes are much richer and louder.

To understand which guitar is better, acoustic or classical, you need to understand the features of both options. About the "classic" was discussed above. Now came the turn of "acoustics."

The body of the acoustic guitar is quite large. This feature gives a deep sound. This tool has a metal rod in the middle of the section. It is located along the entire length of the neck and is called an anchor. It is needed in order to protect the plucked string instrument from damage due to the strong tension of the metal strings.

To understand which guitar is better, you should understand the types of strings that are installed on the acoustic version of the instrument. Acoustic metal strings can have different types of braids. Sound directly depends on metal.

Braid Types

So, which acoustic guitar is best for braided string types?

1. Phosphorus Bronze. It looks like an orange-bronze hue. It looks very aesthetically pleasing. The sound of such strings make velvet. The bass is thick, but the high frequencies are less clear.
2. Steel or nickel-steel. The pros among themselves call them “silver,” but they know very well that there is no precious metal there. The sound made by such strings resembles a silver ringing - bright and distinct. Braid color - gray-silver.
3. Bronze plus tin. Such strings are on the models of the most famous manufacturers. The sound level of high and low frequencies for such strings is optimal.

To the accompaniment of "acoustics" perform works that relate to rock and roll, pop, chanson. Learning to play guitar with steel strings is very difficult. But if you take a chance and endure for about three weeks, then your fingers will soon get used to it and you can enjoy a deep sound.

Which guitar is better: acoustic or classical?

Next, consider the differences between these types of tools.

1. The nylon strings of a classic guitar are much softer. "Acoustics" will provide you with calluses on your hands. Soon your fingers will harden, and you will get used to it.
2. Steel strings often break, which is also not very nice. With nylon, this does not happen.
3. There are always six strings in the “classic”. In “acoustics” their number varies from 4 to 12.
4. For children, a small case of a classical guitar is more preferable.
5. To play an acoustic guitar, a pick is often used. This is a special metal plate. She makes the sound louder. When playing a classical instrument, such a device is not used.

General conclusion

Having considered all the features, it's hard to say which guitar is best for beginners. This choice is individual, and you must decide which option is more convenient for you.

We raised the question of which guitar is best to learn to play, in terms of the physical properties of the instruments. However, they are not decisive when choosing. First of all, the future guitarist should clearly understand his musical preferences.

"Acoustics" issues:

• loud noises;
• high clear tones.

What is performed on an acoustic guitar:

• pop music;
• rock and roll;
• blues;
• folk;
• jazz.

On the "classic" you will play:

• incendiary Spanish motifs;
• plays
• romances.

As practice shows, musicians who sincerely fall in love with the sound of a guitar acquire both options.

The best brands that produce “acoustics”

To answer the question which acoustic guitar is best for beginners, you first need to get acquainted with the brands that exist in the music market.

Here is a list of recognized champions:

1. Yamaha Japanese manufacturer of musical instruments, whose name is widely known. No matter what you choose, a professional tool or a model for beginners, you can be sure of the sound quality. The main thing that distinguishes this manufacturer is a decent combination of price and quality.
2. Crafter. Korean brand. Makes tools for both beginners and pros. Brand products have a wide price range. The buyer with the most modest budget will be able to choose a decent option from a Korean company.
3. Martinez. A Chinese manufacturer that specializes in inexpensive goods. The company creates analogues of expensive acoustic models. The company makes a tool for both pros and beginners and amateurs.
4. Ibanez. And again a brand from Japan. This manufacturer has proven itself in the production of bass guitars and power tools. However, the company also makes quality acoustic guitars. A distinctive feature of this brand is its use in the manufacture of mahogany and rosewood.
5. Gibson This company produces luxury tools. She does not need advertising, since she has long gained popularity around the world. The products of this brand are distinguished by amazingly clear sound and chic quality of materials.
6. Fender. The manufacturer also specializes in elite “acoustics”.

Inexpensive “acoustics” for beginners

Which acoustic guitar is best for beginners? Below is a list of budget options of good quality.

1. MARTINEZ C-95. A good tool from a famous brand. The guitar produces fairly tolerable sounds, given its low cost. The instrument is made very high quality, therefore, most likely, your children will also be able to learn how to play it. For beginner guitarists - a great option. As soon as you learn the basics, you want to change it to something more perfect. The instrument has a classic design: 6 strings, 19 frets. The neck of the guitar is made of rosewood, the body is made of mahogany.
2. YAMAHA C-70. A great tool for relatively little money. The brand does not need advertising. A guitar with excellent sound quality.
3. FENDER ESC80 CLASSICAL. If you still don’t know which acoustic guitar is better, then pay attention to this model. According to the pros, she has no shortcomings. The tool is made of precious wood (spruce, nato, agatis). Moreover, the price is affordable. This model is recommended to students of music schools. Its sizes are designed for children and adolescents - ¾.

Budget "classic" for beginner guitarists

1. CORT AC250 NAT. This guitar is made of three grades of wood. The sound quality is high. Many people like its aesthetic appearance. Manufacturer: USA. Cost: 11600 rub.
2. FLIGHT C-250 NA. The company gained popularity in the 80s. Since then, this guitar model has been recommended for beginners (previously called the Flight C-100). The only negative: if the novice guitarist does not properly care for the instrument, then the glossy finish will quickly become worthless. Manufacturer: China. The cost of 9500 rubles.
3. ANTONIO SANCHEZ S-1005 CEDAR. If your budget is unlimited, then pay attention to this handmade model. This is the brainchild of the world famous Spanish brand Antonio Sanchez. The guitar, which produces a chic balanced sound, has excellent debugging. If you are still wondering which classic guitar is best for beginners, then with a high budget, pay attention to this model. Naturally, not everyone can afford this tool (the cost is about 37,400 rubles). And, probably, you should not buy such an expensive model for children and adolescents who have not yet decided whether they want to play. The guitar is suitable for adult students who know for sure that the instrument will not gather dust in the corner.

A few practical tips before buying

1. Check tool for external defects. The fact is that if you choose an inexpensive model, you should know that in mass production, tools are often made of insufficiently dry wood. This leads to the fact that the stands immediately begin to peel off from the deck. Check for slots on the tool.
2. Inspect the entire guitar for gaps between its parts.
3. Check if the bar is flat. It should not be curved outward.
4. Run your hand over the ends of the frets. If they cling to the palms, then in the future this will lead to microtrauma on the hands.
5. The guitar must have the correct string height above the fretboard. How to measure it? There should be a margin of 2 mm above the sixth string. Above the first - 1.5 mm.

Even when buying an expensive guitar, you must understand that, most likely, you will need the help of a professional to tune it. Later you will do it yourself. We hope that this article answered the question: "Which guitar is better for beginners?".