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How to Choose Your First Guitar

Buying your first guitar can seem a bit bewildering, so I’ve provided a brief overview below which will hopefully set you off on the right foot. However, I really do recommend going along to a music shop rather than buying online as you will get good advice and be able to try out different instruments.
A few of my favourites, local to where I live in Hampton are:
  • Tree Of Life Guitars, Hampton
  • Hill Sound, Hampton Hill
  • Ritz Music Ltd, Richmond
  • Musicland East, East Molesey
Classical Guitar
You can expect to pay £40-£80 for an entry-level classical guitar. It’s the cheapest and simplest way to get started.
Pros
  • Good starter for kids
  • Cheapest
  • Come in different sizes (quarter/half/three quarter)
  • Nylon strings easier on fingers
Cons
  • Tend to have wide necks, so your hands will need to stretch further
  • Won’t sound great for rock/pop music
Acoustic
A steel-stringed acoustic guitar will cost from around £80-£150.
Pros
  • Good for pop music
  • Thinner neck, so easier to reach
Cons
  • Steel strings harder on fingers
  • Not ideal for rock music
Electro-Acoustic
This is a slightly more specialist instrument, and only really necessary when you want to play an acoustic guitar through an amplifier – perhaps as part of a band. They start from around £150-£300, so probably not worth considering unless you have this requirement, as you will be paying extra for unused electronics.
 
Home Guitar Lessons Hampton, Richmond, Kingston
Electric
An entry-level electric guitar will cost around £120-£250, and you will also need an amplifier and leads which will add £50-£100. Fortunately, music shops often offer deals when you buy them all together.
Pros
  • Thinner neck, so easier to reach
  • Ideal for rock music and a distorted sound
  • Extra effects are possible with foot pedals and/or computer software
Cons
  • Amplifier needed
  • Practice can be noisy, although headphones can be used
  • The noise can hide playing errors
 
Bass Guitar
The bass guitar occupies a unique position in a band, linking the rhythm of the drums with the tune of the other instruments. Often, an already-experienced guitarist will pick up a bass to fill that need in the band, but if you’re looking to start off on this instrument, you can pick up your first for about £100. Again, you’ll need an amplifier.
 
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