I want to learn how to play both! What brands should I buy? Nothing too expensive, I want to learn first before getting the real crazy expensive brands

Thanks

You should start with one or the other, because they aren't the same. If you're just starting, go to a store and have someone show you guitars in your price range. Mess around with them in your lap, or standing, depending on how you're going to play. Ask someone in the store to show you a chord or two, they really won't mind. Buy something that feels good while you're holding it and playing. The ease of finger placement on/around the neck is important, but so is how a guitar fits in your arms and against your body.

My two cents.

Unless you spend a bunch of money you won't get anything too fabulous.

I could recommend just getting an acoustic because cheap electric guitars (and especially cheap amps) don't sound that great, and an acoustic guitar looks better just sitting in a room unplayed than does a cheap guitar and cheap amp, but mostly people get what they want and it doesn't matter what I recommend

Electric guitars are usually physically easier to play, because the strings are thinner. So it takes less force to play. And for beginners, this really is an issue because the guitar is hard to play at first.

Around my apartment I usually play an unplugged electric guitar because that way I can play for as long as I want and as late as I want and not bug my neighbors.

But there is a beautiful simplicity to an acoustic guitar that lets you concentrate more on playing than fiddling with sounds.

I wouldn't worry so much about brands, just get something you like. Even cheap guitars are made fairly well nowadays, if you spend at least $100 or so.

But maybe bring someone with you to the store just in case to make sure it works

NDRU said:

and an acoustic guitar looks better just sitting in a room unplayed

Cerebus said:

NDRU said:

and an acoustic guitar looks better just sitting in a room unplayed

I must be doing a fabolous job with this. I got an acustic guitar for my college graduation and I have never learned to play it. It has survived four different apartments and it looks stunning sitting in my living room.

I'd get an acoustic first, because you don't need an amp and also a power connection. You can take it anywhere.

If you can get someone to teach you two or three chords before you go shopping , that would be ideal, because then you can figure out which guitars feel nicer/easier to play when you're in the shop.

It's quite strenuous on your fingers if you don't practice everyday, so getting a guitar that's easy to play for the casual guitarist is recommended.

You can also get an expert to lower the strings (otherwise called lowering the action) which will make it easier to play. Most new guitars could benefit from getting this adjustment done by a guitar tech.

What sort of music do you like/want to play?

Get an Ibanez or Yamaha acoustic for around $150.

My experience is that you're better off buying a better acoustic guitar, something in the $300 - $500 price range. Two reasons:

1. They're easier to play. This is extremely important. Cheap guitars have cheap necks and frets and horrible strings, and your fingers will hurt no matter what you do. You'll get frustrated and quit. But a better-quality guitar will be easier and more fun to play. You're more likely to stick with it and if you enjoy playing, you're going to end up buying a better guitar any way. So if you can afford it, start with the better guitar.

2. If you don't like playing guitar and want to sell yours, you'll find that you probably can't sell a cheap guitar or if you can, you'll only get $20 for it. That's because it's a crappy guitar. But if you buy a nice guitar and don't like it, you can sell it. You won't lose much money, either.

Whichever guitar you buy, have the shop set it up for you to play as easy as possible. Tell them you're just learning and they'll know what to do. it'll cost you $20 or so, but it will be the best $20 you can spend.

The shop will string it with the lightest strings they can, and probably adjsut the bridge so that the strings lay closer to the neck.

Good luck, and have fun!

Thank you all for your comments

I'm gonna try to buy the acoustic 1st but I really want to learn how to play electric! The acoustic is great but I guess you can say I "Get Off" on Electric

A good buy, would be to get a Squier tele, or strat, which are cheap and dont break on impact. A good acoustic, not too expensive are made by Yamaha, or Ephiphone. There are 1000's of free guitar lessons on Youtube,or elsewhere on the net. If you want to learn a song, but do not read music, you can always get free tablature, guitatr tab. Good luck to you.

RuthCass said:

Thank you all for your comments

I'm gonna try to buy the acoustic 1st but I really want to learn how to play electric! The acoustic is great but I guess you can say I "Get Off" on Electric

That's the name of my middle finger.

If you want something really sexy you need a bass.

If you are just starting out, it's wise not to buy anything too expensive yet. But something relatively cheap and see if you really like playing the guitar first.

Moreover, the most important thing about a guitar is how it feels playing it. If you don't like the way it plays, don't buy it.

Of course stuff like sound and quality is equally important, but you do not necessarily have to buy a trademark guitar to get that good feeling that you need.

In any case, good luck and have fun girl! (I always get excited it when females love the guitar)

Oh and as for acoustic <-> electric.

my first quitar was an electric one. many thought that was not the way to go, but I stillbought it first, then an acoustic and then a western.

Tremolina said:

Oh and as for acoustic <-> electric.

my first quitar was an electric one. many thought that was not the way to go, but I stillbought it first, then an acoustic and then a western.

and how did you like the electric?

Which one do you think I should buy 1st, and if I buy electric what do u suggest?

pickle said:

A good buy, would be to get a Squier tele, or strat, which are cheap and dont break on impact. A good acoustic, not too expensive are made by Yamaha, or Ephiphone. There are 1000's of free guitar lessons on Youtube,or elsewhere on the net. If you want to learn a song, but do not read music, you can always get free tablature, guitatr tab. Good luck to you.

That's exactly what I'm going to do for practice

Thanks for the advice!

NewYorkMike said:

RuthCass said:

Thank you all for your comments

I'm gonna try to buy the acoustic 1st but I really want to learn how to play electric! The acoustic is great but I guess you can say I "Get Off" on Electric

That's the name of my middle finger.

Well....well....well....

novabrkr said:

If you want something really sexy you need a bass.

I wanna learn that too lol

and of course the piano and drums

RuthCass said:

Tremolina said:

Oh and as for acoustic <-> electric.

my first quitar was an electric one. many thought that was not the way to go, but I stillbought it first, then an acoustic and then a western.

and how did you like the electric?

Still love it dearly. She is my first and true love

Which one do you think I should buy 1st, and if I buy electric what do u suggest?

That's entirely up to you. Whatever you buy, make sure you like the way it plays and the price is safe.

I would buy electric tho' lol;)

[Edited 10/10/11 10:32am]

Tremolina said:

If you are just starting out, it's wise not to buy anything too expensive yet. But something relatively cheap and see if you really like playing the guitar first.

Moreover, the most important thing about a guitar is how it feels playing it. If you don't like the way it plays, don't buy it.

Of course stuff like sound and quality is equally important, but you do not necessarily have to buy a trademark guitar to get that good feeling that you need.

In any case, good luck and have fun girl! (I always get excited it when females love the guitar)

That's what I plan on doing I don't want to spend too much money yet! I just want to get comfortable with it and move on to bigger and better

Thanks so much I can't wait to get started!

breese said:

What sort of music do you like/want to play?

Get an Ibanez or Yamaha acoustic for around $150.

EVERYTHING!!!

I was thinking towards Yamaha...

Tremolina said:

RuthCass said:

Still love it dearly. She is my first and true love

Which one do you think I should buy 1st, and if I buy electric what do u suggest?

That's entirely up to you. Whatever you buy, make sure you like the way it plays and the price is safe.

I would buy electric tho' lol;)

[Edited 10/10/11 10:32am]

What exactly do I have to buy if I want an electric?

Yea, I'm just kinda iffy on what brand cause I don't want one that sucks :/

RuthCass said:

Tremolina said:

What exactly do I have to buy if I want an electric?

Yea, I'm just kinda iffy on what brand cause I don't want one that sucks :/

Brands really don't say all that much, electric or acoustic.

I could tell you to go to the south of Spain and order a handmade spanish guitar from one of the world's finest guitar builders, but it still wouldn't suit you, if you didn't like the way it played.

And sure a Fender or a Gibson, or whatever famous guitar is usually of great quality, but on a genuine one, you easily spend more than 2 to 3 thousands dollars, than on many cheaper guitars that can also have a great sound and go a long way too.

What's MOST important is that YOU like the way the guitar plays and sounds. When you've found that, you've found your guitar.

[Edited 10/10/11 10:48am]

RuthCass said:

breese said:

What sort of music do you like/want to play?

Get an Ibanez or Yamaha acoustic for around $150.

EVERYTHING!!!

I was thinking towards Yamaha...

What sort of style though?

like a hard rock guitar

rockabilly (or jazz)

classic/hard rock

blues/country/indie rock/funk (Actually this is a really versatile guitar)

Clapton/Hendrix/SRV wannabe (that's not entirely fair, I actually play one of these!)

NDRU said:

RuthCass said:

EVERYTHING!!!

I was thinking towards Yamaha...

What sort of style though?

like a hard rock guitar

rockabilly (or jazz)

classic/hard rock

blues/country/indie rock/funk (Actually this is a really versatile guitar)

Clapton/Hendrix/SRV wannabe (that's not entirely fair, I actually play one of these!)

Ahhhhh!!!!!! It's so hard to pick they're all gorgeous! But I like the idea of playing like Hendrix/Prince/Orianthi Also some Santana!

Tremolina said:

RuthCass said:

Brands really don't say all that much, electric or acoustic.

I could tell you to go to the south of Spain and order a handmade spanish guitar from one of the world's finest guitar builders, but it still wouldn't suit you, if you didn't like the way it played.

And sure a Fender or a Gibson, or whatever famous guitar is usually of great quality, but on a genuine one, you easily spend more than 2 to 3 thousands dollars, than on many cheaper guitars that can also have a great sound and go a long way too.

What's MOST important is that YOU like the way the guitar plays and sounds. When you've found that, you've found your guitar.

[Edited 10/10/11 10:48am]

That is true! But it's probably gonna take me awhile, but it will be worth it