I want to learn to make music and stuff (yes, oversimplified). What guitar would be best?

sapphiregirl

Start cheap ($250) and work your way up ($4000). Start learning chords (open ones, A, B, C, D, E, F, G) and you're on your way

Not that it's important for someone who's brand new to the intrument but if it has a "pick-up" in it, you'll be able to play through an amplifier for more volume/clarity.

Slave2daGroove said:

thank you for the suggestion!

I now know two things:
1. I need to get a job, or start selling my art.
2. I won't be getting a guitar for my birthday.

Is there a type of guitar that would be good for beginners?

sapphiregirl

sapphiregirl said:

Yes. A cheap nylon string acoustic guitar. In Europe they go at about 50 euro's, that's under fifty dollars and you can have a lot of fun with them and learn all the basics. If it turns out you don't like to play, it's no big loss. If you end up liking it and getting an expensive guitar, this will make a nice cheap guitar to bring to parties without worrying about it too much. Plus, nylon strings are easier on a beginner's fingertips. I really recommend this!
[Edited 3/6/07 14:20pm]

sapphiregirl said:

A pawn shop is your friend with this in mind. $50 - $75 will buy you what you need. Don't worry about a brand name, just find one that will stay in tune. Do you know anybody that can help you look?

Slave2daGroove said:

Well, that can wait.

Save up; buy a Martin for about £4000; treat it well!

You can think about if you want nylon or metal strings.You can get an accoustic with nylon or a western type model with metal strings.
Now you have digital / midi guitars to even play harp and any other sample or sound.
Look around.
I would give my children an accoustic spanish guitar.

But I don't have kids yet.

I have a Yamaha CPX 5 S TMB. Great sound and plays wonderful.

I AGREE, start with something inexpensive from a pawn shop and then upgrade later if you decide to stick with it. Alot of people get discouraged in the beginning before they build good calluses

BUT. it would be good to get someone to go with you to check out the guitar first, make sure the fretboard isn't out of shape, etc. NEVER trust what the guy behind the counter tells you in a pawn shop.

I bought my first acoustic in a pawn shop and it sounds great. Somewhere down the line I may invest in a better acoustic, but for now my money is going into my electrics

txladykat said:

So what would be signs of a jacked up guitar? (Other than the fret board being out of shape.)

Also, would the Music Theory class in highschool help me any?
Sapphiregirl
[Edited 3/23/07 16:28pm]

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[Edited 3/25/07 3:26am]

i have a cheap old 150 dollar yamaha, and it sounds better than any 5,000 dollar acoustic i've played

price tag isnt important its tonality,

sapphiregirl said:

i honestly couldn't tell you. It is more about the sound of it than anything. I had this problem with my son's first bass we picked up from a pawn shop. The fretboard was out of shape and the nut (I believe) required to open and fix it was missing so it couldn't be fixed. If I had taken a knowledgeable person to the pawn shop with me, I would have known not to buy it at the time. Theory class WILL be very helpful in learning guitar, but I don't know that it will help you find the right one at a pawn shop, LOL. You just have to play it and listen to it. The tone of the guitar is the most important thing to listen for.

I never took theory and am just now learning it. It makes a WORLD of difference in your playing and the ease of learning if you know some theory.
[Edited 3/26/07 7:18am]

How about something like an Alvarez RD8 from eBay?