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When it comes to what guitar you are going to play, the best answer is usually whichever guitar you have available to you. When my first started playing guitar, my grandmother had an old nylon string classical guitar under her bed, and she let me borrow it. It worked until I saved up enough to buy something else.
For this course, I’m assuming you’re going to be playing a 6-string guitar (I wouldn’t recommend a 12 string, for example). Whether it’s electric, acoustic, classical, etc doesn’t really matter – as long as it’s 6 strings tuned to standard tuning, you’ll be good to go.
I like to tell students that using an acoustic guitar to learn on is typically preferred, mostly because you don’t need an amp to play one. You can use an electric guitar, though – the way you play/learn them is exactly the same. You can also use an electric guitar without an amp, but it will just be quiet.
Assess your current guitar (if you have one)
If your guitar is very cheap and poorly made, it will be difficult to play and learn on. There are a couple reasons why this is, but the main reasons are as follows:
- Cheap and poorly made guitars don’t stay in tune very well (or don’t tune properly at all). If your guitar won’t tune properly, you won’t really be able to use it at all. And if it does tune, but goes out of tune easily, you’ll constantly be fighting it.
- They typically have very high string action (how far above the frets the strings are). The higher the string action, the hard the guitar is to play – you literally have to press the strings harder.
The best piece of advice I can give you is to find someone who plays guitar, and ask them to assess your guitar for you – they’ll be able to tell you if it’s fit to use to learn on.
What if you want to buy a new guitar?
I’m not suggesting that you have to go out and buy a new guitar if you already have one, but if you are in the market for something to learn on, here are a few suggestions. We also did a video on the best cheap (read: budget) guitars and amps – I’ve embedded it below:
The acoustic guitar we recommend is the Martin 000x1ae (find it here). For electric guitar, we recommend a Fender Standard Telecaster (find it here). We also recommend you buy them used, which puts either guitar in the $3-400 range.
If you have any questions, please ask away in the comments – see you in the next lesson!
Just signed up. The 1st 2 lessons have a nice flow. Looking forward to getting started and learning. I wound up getting a Dean acoustic off of Craigslist. Have a great day.
Just starting out to learn guitar playing. Found your site and I am very impressed, especially that it’s Christian based. I have an electric with an amp so that’s what I’ll start with. Looking forward to go through the lesson plan. God Bless.
Just starting. The video window is too big for my laptop.
Hey guys!
Nathanael here from Canada! just started this bought a very cheap washburn, I may need a while to save up for a new guitar. Hopefully this doesnt hold me back. Thanks again!
GOD Bless you Brain,
I pray that God will provide me the wisdom to learn and add to the worship team at my church. Your effort to teach others is a blessing.
I should have been doing better playing but hit a plateau, I remember following you about a year or two ago. Hopefully, this time around I will take all the lessons, learn, commitment, and dedication to succeed with playing the guitar. I have a Fender T- Bucket 400CE, Dreadnought guitar and I hope to one day be able to play the BASS.
Thank you
Angel De Jesus
NYC – CCEN Centro Cristiano Edificadores de Naciones
I just signed up and really ready to learn but for now i don’t have a guitar so is it possible to also learn.
Looking forward to your help.
Hey Guys!!! Greetings from Belize. I’m a beginner on a used Fender FA 100 which I bought in February 2019 for $150USD. When I bought my guitar I had NO knowledge about guitars but now all I can think of is purchasing a brand new guitar and of course learning EVERYTHING there is to learn. I’m grateful to have ran into your YouTube channel because you gave me hopes that I can still learn at age 29. Keep up the great work. God bless.
Thank you I just got my guitar for my birthday god bless you
I have purchased ovile tree box guitar ,am a beginner ,is it tuned already.