So. You’ve decided that you’d like to learn how to play the guitar, huh? Great decision! In this article, I’ll cover the basic things you’ll need to get before you’re ready to start taking guitar lessons.

The first thing you’ll need is pretty obvious: a guitar! You should really give some serious consideration to what you want in a guitar before you buy one, though.

There are three major classifications of guitars: acoustic, classical, and electric. Acoustic is pretty much the most versatile, but it may not be what you want.

An acoustic guitar is a steel stringed guitar with a hollow wooden body. As it’s name suggests, it can be played acoustically, meaning that you don’t need an amp to play it. You can use an amp with an acoustic guitar, though. Some come with pickups already installed inside the guitar – you just plug in a ? sound cord and go. These are called acoustic-electric guitars. If you choose a guitar without this feature, you can buy a soundhole pickup for your guitar for about $60, which allows you to plug your acoustic guitar into an amp.

A Classical guitar is similar to an acoustic guitar, except it has nylon strings and is designed somewhat differently. As it’s name suggests, a classical guitar is ideal for playing classical guitar. You might also want a classical guitar for fnger-picking or Spanish music.

An electrical guitar is usually a plastic solid body guitar with thin steel strings. It requires an amp to play it. Electrical guitars have a unique sound, and are often used with effects pedals to distort or change the sound of the guitar. Electric guitars are central to rock music, as well as being integral to many other types of modern music.

Once you get your guitar, you’ll still need a few other items. If you’re playing an acoustic or electric guitar, you’ll want some picks. I’d suggest you start with Medium picks for most music. You should also buy a capo, which is used for changing the key of your guitar. Be sure that it fits your guitar properly before you buy it though.

With these items, you should be ready for your first guitar lesson.

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You are apparently interested in playing the guitar. Or maybe you are educating yourself before you make a time and money commitment for a child. I believe that being able to play a musical instrument can be very satisfying and enriching, provided the choice of instrument is appropriate and provided that it is voluntary.

This article focuses on the choice of instrument. The guitar certainly has been, and probably always will be, one of the most popular instruments. Why? I imagine it is because a classic guitar can be taken just about anywhere. You can always play a few strings and soon have a circle of people join you in singing. Even young people join in, especially when some of the classic rock songs are being played.

The classic guitar is generally played at a lower volume than the electric guitar. Many young people however are more excited about playing the loud electric guitar, which requires an amplifier and with that an electrical outlet nearby. It also might require some soundproofing, unless you live in a very remote location. Neighbors generally do not appreciate a group of teenagers jamming at full volume at 10 pm or on a Sunday afternoon. And it is amazing what sound effects can be created with guitar and amplifier. It opens up a whole new avenue of creativity. It is important when learning to lay the guitar, that a clean technique is learned from the start. This is especially critical when it comes to body posture. Wrist problems can arise by not properly positioning the hand and having to contort the wrist, in order to reach the strings. Ignoring any pain from the wrist, could result in having to stop playing the guitar.

Learning how to play the guitar requires a good teacher or good learning program (book, video, audio) and commitment on your part to hours of practice. You can find a good teacher in your local area and you can find good programs on the internet. Many of these programs offer a combination of books and videos. Some include free newsletters or free sample lessons. Check the different avenues out so you can determine what works best for you. It might be a combination of learning with a teacher in person, supplemented by a downloadable program.

So before you run out, buy a guitar and sign up for lessons, ask yourself if you will dedicate several hours each week to practicing and playing the guitar. If you do, you will be able to enjoy many hours of enjoyment playing this wonderful instrument.

Christiane Perrin is the mother of 2 teenagers who play guitar and drums. http://www.learnguitareasily.blogspot.com