How to Select the Right Guitar for You Guitar Lessons

A number of my students ask me what they should look for when they purchase a new guitar. So I decided to create a short guide on what to look for when you start shopping.

Budget

The first thing you should consider is your budget. How much can you spend, or more, how much are you willing to spend on your instrument. I always tell students that if they can purchase a guitar that is not a the bottom of the scale, then they are doing good. Why? You get what you pay for. Slightly more expensive guitars ($200-$300) range, play much easier than $50-$100 ones. They are just made better. If you cannot afford $200-$300, try to find a used one on craigslist or at your local guitar shop.

The Action

You should look for a guitar that has a low action. What does this mean? The action is the distance between the string and the neck of the guitar. Hold your instrument so that the body of the guitar faces the ceiling. Now look at the neck. The smaller the space underneath the strings, the easier it will be for you to play the guitar. This is something that you can get adjusted at a shop, but if you buy a guitar set up already with low action then you are all set to go. Electrics in general have a lower action than acoustics.

Buy the Guitar You Want To Learn On

If you want to play heavy metal, buy an electric and learn on an electric, if you want to learn some Jewel or Emmylou Harris, buy and acoustic.

Make Sure the Neck Isn't Bent

Hold you guitar so that the base is on the ground and the neck of the guitar is directly below you. Stand over the guitar while holding the neck and make sure that it is straight. DO NOT by a guitar with a bent neck. It will never play right. Also, make sure there are no cracks in the body of the guitar. A couple dings here and there is OK if you are buying used, but do not buy a guitar with a cracked body.