Probably the most common pitfall for beginning students is getting the wrong guitar. It's important to find a guitar that's right for you. Another problem is a guitar that is poorly set up. See 'How to make your guitar easier to play.' If you have a guitar that is a little too large for you, there is something you can do. Try the capo exercises included on this CD-ROM.

I usually recommend beginning on an electric - for several reasons. If it's properly set up, an electric is easier to play than an acoustic. Chances are most of the guitar music you want to play was recorded with electric guitar.

There are many inexpensive, high-quality electric guitars available. Manufacturers like Fender, Ibanez, Yamaha and Washburn, offer beginner's packages including a guitar, amp and cord which go for as low as $300. These are good quality, durable instruments.

You can also save money by buying a used guitar and amp, and there are always good deals out there. Electric guitars and amps are fairly durable, so you don't have to be afraid of buying used, as long as someone with some experience looks at it first.

A common mistake for parents is to buy their son or daughter a full-sized acoustic guitar. These instruments are bulky, delicate, more expensive and harder to play than either reduced-scale acoustics, or full-sized electrics of comparable quality.

Some people think there is an advantage to beginning on acoustic instead of electric, but there isn't. People have told me they are afraid they will form bad habits from starting on electric. You are no more likely to form bad habits on electric than on acoustic. Some people think they will become better players if they learn on a guitar that's harder to play, but this only makes them learn more slowly.

The most important thing when you are getting the first guitar is to get one that is easy to play.

I recommend to some of my students that they start on a small-scale instrument for the first couple of months at least. Reduced-scale acoustic guitars are available for about $125, and you should be able resell it for a little less than you paid for it.

Two things you should check before buying a guitar:

1  Can you reach around the body of the guitar with your right hand?

2  Can you touch the index finger of your left hand to the lowest string on the 1st fret, or do you feel like you're overextending?

If the guitar doesn't pass these two tests, then it probably isn't the right instrument for you.

Some people have the opposite problem - their fingers are too big to get between the strings. This is a little unusual, but I have seen a couple of instances of this problem. The solution is to find a guitar with a wider neck.

Warmoth makes an extra wide Stratocaster replacement neck. Put 'Warmoth extra wide Stratocaster neck' in a search engine to find retailers and affiliates, or go directly to Warmoth's website.

Find The Right Guitar

Copyright 2000 by Greg Varhaug. All Rights Reserved.

This is the online lesson version. Audio and video buttons do not function.