Before you “go electric” and spend your money let me give you a couple of tips…
The first question you should ask yourself is:
1) “Why do I want to learn electric guitar?”
If the answer is because electric guitars are easier to learn than acoustic guitars, you might want to reconsider that. Why? Because playing electric guitar requires all the technique you need to play an acoustic guitar PLUS the ability to control all the different sounds that an electric instrument can produce.
So, if you are shopping around, my first tip is to buy a basic model.
2) Don’t spend a fortune!
These days you can purchase a nice electric guitar for just $200-400.
If you have absolutely no experience, ask a friend who has been playing for several years. Don’t have one? Go to gigs. Find a guitarist that you like and right after the gig, ask her if she could help you pick the perfect electric guitar for your needs. You can offer to buy her lunch in return! Doing so, you’ll also make a new friend whom you can always go back to when you need more advice…
3) Purchase a nice amplifier also
Guitar amps are available in many sizes. As beginner, you’ll want just a small amplifier (20-30 watts) that you can utilize for your daily practice sessions. Don’t buy those very small amps. They sound terrible. Invest in a good amplifier that you can use for years.
4) Don’t be in a hurry to buy!
Spend some time trying both guitars and amps before making your choice. You might want to go to a few shops before making a decision. Most stores allow their customers to test their gear. Bring a notebook with you and take note of what you liked and what you didn’t like in the instruments you tried. Once you have a few options under your eyes, go back to the shop where you found the instruments you liked the most and buy them. Also, remember to purchase an amplifier that already has a distortion box, especially if you are into rock or heavy metal.
And finally, when purchasing your guitar and amp, don’t be afraid to ask the shop assistant to give you a handful of picks for free. And, why not, ask for an additional set of strings too…
5) Make sure you know how you are going to learn to play your new guitar…
Sounds obvious right? wrong! I have seen way too many times people spending hundreds in a beautiful electric guitar and then getting frustrated for non making progress. What does this inevitably lead to? giving up! that means your new guitar is going to sit in a corner of your living room and accumulate dust for the next few years…
Bottom line is:
6) Find a good instructor
How about the guitarist who helped you choose your gear? Does he teach? Does he know how to teach?
Or else, if there is any music school in town, you can be sure they’ll have some guitar courses.
To begin with, you must decide what style interests you more. Who is your favorite guitarist/group?
This will help you immensely to select the right guitar teacher for you.
Careful though, guitar lessons can be very costly! An experienced teacher will ask you between 20 and $50/hour.
Alternatively, if you check the internet, you’ll find literally TONS of on line guitar instruction. Most online guitar schools offer free lessons that you can grab to get you started. Spend some time trying out different methods and, after you find the guitar teacher you want, make your final decision.
Anyway… I hope you found these tips helpful…Once more, start small and invest in your skills rather than spending a lot of money in a flashy guitar.
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