Choosing the Right Guitar

The gift of music is one that can last a lifetime, so it is important that you get things right. Here are five important things to consider when choosing a guitar:

1. First things first: Make sure the guitar is in good playing condition. Have things like the action and intonation checked before you buy. If you are just learning how to play the guitar having poor action can get in the way of learning proper guitar techniques and not to mention it will be much less enjoyable to play.

2. Electric or Acoustic? That is the question. There is no right or wrong answer; it purely depends on what you want to do. If you want to play heavy-metal with that crunchy distortion that only a true head banger can appreciate, then an electric guitar is certainly what you need. If you want to sit back, relax, and play some guitar then an acoustic guitar is what you want! WARNING! You get what you pay for with guitars. If you buy cheap because you're afraid your child won't stick with the guitar then you are officially paying for his failure as a musician. Cheap guitars that are poorly made make playing guitar extremely difficult and much more demoralizing. I know that money doesn't grow on trees, but if you really want to invest in a musical future I suggest you spend the few extra dollars.

3. It is very important that you select the right size of guitar. This might come as common sense, but, if you are trying to buy a guitar for your child and he can't play it because his fingers are too small then that is simply a waste of money.

4. Brand name does not mean it's the best! Don't get me wrong, Gibson, Fender and Ibanez are all produce great guitars but they aren't necessarily the best for your buck. A lot of times they are simply selling the name on the guitar, it's not too terribly difficult to find custom made guitars that are cheap and have great sound!

5. Pick a guitar that is appealing to you. If you don't like how your guitar looks, you are less likely to practice. Pick something with that awesome finish and the rosewood fret board with a nice design on the inlay that you've always wanted! If you have a daughter that loves pink, get her a pink guitar! You can't be a rock-star if you don't look like a rock star! Be sure to get a guitar that you really enjoy. If you are going to invest in something that costs as much as a guitar, you may as well like the color!

All in all, a guitar is something that should be a reflection of you. You are putting in hours of practice time and hours of emotion writing and playing music, so your guitar should match the image that you are trying to put out. Be sure to check with multiple vendors (preferably local music shoppes because they are more knowledgeable than big chain stores) and get as much information about the products as possible. If you do shop at a local store make sure to talk to them about their playing experience with that particular guitar.

Finally, NEVER buy a guitar without playing it first. You wouldn't buy a car without test driving it would you?

Happy guitar Hunting!

I play a Gibson Les Paul, a Fender Fat Strat, and a custom built Galveston Flying V.