Buy a guitar? That is the problem with people today. Expect things to be done for them. When I was a wee lad, I told my dad I wanted a guitar. Did he run out and buy me one? Heck no. He gave me a mahogany seed to grow my own wood and a shovel to dig ore for strings. Can I play yet? Heck no but in another 20 temperate growing seasons, I will be ready to start building my guitar.
Well you need those 20growing seasons to get your woodworking and metalsmithing skills up to par in order to build the guitar, yeash he put a lot of thought into that! So ungrateful
Learning to "mute" the strings helps a new player on electrics. Learning how to play songs (that they "like") right off the bat keeps new players interested. My two pence/cents. Great video, Brother..
I learned this the hard way. I bought an Ashton Beginner Acoustic pack before starting to learn guitar using Justins course. It was unplayable for me as a beginner. The action was ridiculously high and the strings felt like razor wire. It was a complete waste of money, really. I bought a second acoustic guitar - a Tanglewood TWR SFCE - and a friend of mine who works in a guitar shop set it up for me and with a nice set of phosphor bronze strings. Absolutely brilliant guitar with a wonderfully crisp, clean sound. It's a pleasure to play on it. Has given me much more confidence to keep practicing.
I've also seen many people on YT, where people say the exact same thing. You need to cough up at least several hundreds of dollars to get an actually easy to play instrument.
I started with an acoustic. If i learn more difficult things then electric guitar will be easier for me. Ive done good so far on the acoustic. Its a good improvement tool in my opinion. I am thinking to buy an electric and a classic too.
@@CitroenC407 I am beginner. How Long did you use the first guitar before u get your second? Is bronze string also steel string? I tried a nylon guitar which i think is a cheap one because the neck snapped when I played. And I dislike nylon sound. I later tried all steel strings n I like the sound. But the second one feels like playing a big whale. Just putting on my lap and it is crushing me! What makes you buy a second acoustic and not an electric?
I got the FG700S, and I have heard only good things about it. Of course my fingers still hurt, but I'm a 5'4" woman and can still play as well as a beginner can lol
I guess that you should start with a guitar that attracts you. For example if you really like to play some acoustic songs and like the way acoustic sounds and looks, you should go with an acoustic. If an electric guitar attracts you, get an electric guitar. It will motivate you more and even not hurt your purse, because you get what you love :D
yeah but im attracted to both. Little more to acoustic guitar, but i have very annoying neighbours. I dont think i can enjoy playing it, so point for electric guitar :/
I tried to learn on a cheap acoustic guitar 30 years ago. Like many people in this situation, I quit because I had no idea the high action made the guitar unplayable. Recently I decided to give it a try again and have a Squire Stratocaster package guitar on sale for the holidays. I can’t believe the difference! And with your classes Justin, I’m in 7th Guitar Heaven! Great video!
I had a student bring in their new acoustic and this is no exaggeration, I measured the action off the 17th fret and it was just under 1/2"! From the body was 3/4" and almost unplayable. It was a Fender that was priced @ $135 off the rack. She said that she was having issues with it and I let her use my Martin 00 and she could not only play all the chords I had her practicing but she almost mastered the dreaded bar chord on her first try. My 00 is set up like a Strat, so that shows you how much of a difference it makes on a new player. I showed her parents and when they saw how good she played on my Martin, they knew it was either pony up for a better instrument or stop wasting money on lessons.
Hello, I have two hand-me-down guitars one acoustic and one classical. I've tried to start learning on the acoustic one (because that's the ones my sister started on) but the string are so hard to push down and it feels way sharper than the classical one. Would starting on the classical then moving to the acoustic one be optimal in terms of being a beginner assuming I can't get an electric one?
That’s how the action is on my acoustic. I got it for free, but damn is it hard to play some things. I have made some impressively indestructible calluses on my fingers though.
hi everyone ,if anyone else trying to find out how to learn to play guitar try Alkarno Amazing Guitar Alchemist (Have a quick look on google cant remember the place now ) ? Ive heard some extraordinary things about it and my buddy got cool success with it.
@@norkagonzalez3408 Electric Guitars have thinner strings, lighter action, and a flatter body which is why they're easier to play than acoustic guitars.
@@kittycatgirl1139 Electric Guitars are the easiest because they're smaller in size which makes them easier to hold and play (lots of electric guitars these days now have a built in amplifier, flip the switch and play).
Thank You ! Now it makes some much sense. Several years ago I bought a really cheap acoustic guitar, but I rarely could consistently get the cords clear enough , I never realized it could be the action. So of course I gave up and gave it away. However now that I'm considering a guitar for my young daughter, electric makes more sense. Time to go Christmas shopping.
I felt so happy when you said that you started with a classical guitar because I recently bought a classical and then I felt like regreting..cause I can't buy another one at the moment. Your video made my night!🤍
Great advice for beginners, Justin. A playable instrument is what a beginner needs for a first guitar. The rest will come later as you learn what you like. When I started, the music studio provided a rental acoustic for 6 weeks. I then convinced my parents to buy me a semi acoustic electric Harmony Rocket. Wish I still had that guitar now. Was great for practice without an amp, louder than a solid body but quiet enough to not wake my parents when playing late at night. Did not realize at the time how good it was for entry level guitar.
On the money. Acoustic or electric, playability is #1, and the key which will keep the beginner picking up a guitar if anything will. The novelty of how it looks will wear off fast if it isn't a comfortable fit. I like the looks of my guitars, but that's has been the least influential factor in my choice, incidentally chosen from what's available once the criteria of higher triage prioritised factors had been met.
Justin Guitar, even though Electric Guitar is the most begginer friendly, some Electric Guitars have neck's who's width is the same as a Classical (7 String turned into a Wide Neck 6 String) cause it's ideal for those who have bigger hands. The advantage of a Wide Neck Electric Guitar over a Classical Guitar is that you have a lower action & lighter gauge strings.
While watching your video I gave a guitar to my wife and asked to try C-chord (she never played before). The guitars were electric stratocaster and classic Yamaha C70 with nylon strings. She was more successful with classic guitar playing this chord, due to bigger distance between strings, and bigger string diameter, not cutting so sharp finger tips. Electric action is set to 2.2 and 1.6mm. So average action. Classic guitar has high action, no adjustment, just as comes from a store. So even I with some experience can more complicated stuff on electric, complete beginner was more successful with classic. But thanks for the video we had good time with my wife playing the guitars :)
One more piece of advice on steel stringed acoustic guitars is that getting a smaller thinner guitar than the "standard" dreadnought size makes sense for most beginners. It mitigates the craning your neck to see the fretboard and strumming/picking arm being at an awkward angle that Justin mentioned.
Check out the Vintage (Paul Brett Signature) 'Viator' Travel Guitar (£220) and the Vintage (Paul Brett Signature) 'Viaten' Tenor Guitar (£196 'Gear for Music' sell them in the UK at those prices... czcams.com/video/A02J9b8Cv4I/video.html czcams.com/video/C3W6Gzp8jWk/video.html
Took your advice,took my Fender CD60 to my local music store,had my string action lowered and went to a 10m diadora string. It is so much easier to play,and now I can practice my barre chords,which were almost impossible near the nut before adjustments were made... thanks Justin
Great information!!! After several years of not playing, I restarted my guitar journey with a newer "beginner" guitar that I thought I really liked. But I noticed despite lots of practice I still could not really get barre chords down cleanly... and I'd thought I'd been able to play them better before. I then realized the action was too high so I went into a guitar store to get a setup... but fell in love with a guitar that cost over twice as much as I'd paid for the cheaper guitar... and boy it is so much more playable, plus I love the tone. Huge difference -- I'm more motivated and playing longer. Now, I'm also planning to get an electric... fun, fun!
Thank you for your good and friendly advice. I started learning about 45 years ago and have made incredibly little progress over this time, despite, at times, spending crazy amounts of time on it. One problem was that my first guitar teacher sold me a huge jumbo which had the most horrible action imaginable. This brought me into the first of a number of extremely bad habits I've always struggled to overcome - the fact that one gets into the habit of putting the left hand fingers down hard and first before playing the notes - this means you'll never get speed or timing and there will always be stress on the left hand. Another problem was learning with the right arm draped high over the back of the guitar. This has also been a problem. And finally, the fact that I didn't really have a preference for what I wanted to play - I loved folk, classical and some electric blues, pop etc, meant that my hand positions constantly got mucked around with but without ever giving me any form of consistency in any of them. Your key suggestion that people should realise that their first guitar won't be your last is of such critical importance. I wish I had had a better start and I think with your guidance people will get that. Maybe I wouldn't be such a dismal player today...
As we all know Electric Guitars (or any Electric instrument) are physically the easiest ones to start with because the action is easier, and the flatter body makes it feel more comfortable.
I totally agree. I wasted years on a cheap acoustic guitar with really high action. But I didn't know what I didn't know. I made faster progress once I switched to my electric strat.
Wish I had this advice 3 years ago. Bought a cheap acoustic one because all over forums it said it's the way to go and i did like it, but it hurt my fingers a lot. Then i put medium strings on it and the bridge broke. Just bought an electric one recently and indeed, they are actually rather loud in my opinion even without an amplifier. Also much easier on the fingers, can practice for an hour and my fingers would barely hurt. Been trying to learn it again for 6 months and it's been pretty enjoyable.
For me, acoustic was the best way to start. There are fewer bells and whistles, I don't need to worry about equipment or output. It's just simplistic, hit strings = noise. Also, it's a lot easier to transport between my mates' who were helping to teach me. The only downside was getting over the pain on your fingers and learning to play quietly. I'd recommend a yamaha as a beginner guitar :)
Justin, clearly you are the man. I will literally teach you how to play ice hockey if you give me that classical. Upon reflection, I believe you’ll agree that it makes total sense and I promise I have not been on the whiskey tonight playing my Jim Dandy in my canoe on the river near my house. Greetings from Canada you legend.
This really helps me to decide. I wanted to buy classical guitar but I doubt it's hard because I have small hands.. Now I'm not hesitating to choose electric guitar to begin with.
D none I’m in the same boat as you looking at which kind to get. I been looking at Yamaha fg830. So far a lot of good reviews on websites like guitar center, musicians friend and CZcams. Best of luck with your decision
Thank you for posting this. What electric guitar do you recommend for the beginner/intermediate guitar player for classic rock, i.e., Stones, Beatles, AC/DC, Zeppelin, Sabbath, 38 Special, Lynrrd Skyrnrd..
@Guitarist Sam The most important thing being ignored in your statements is consideration of personal fit. Acoustics are even more critical. Neck design in the particular. Didn't you even listen to what Justin just said? As someone who owns six guitars I play regularly at this time, Squier's Affinity series, Strat or Tele, are not a best beginner guitar I'd recommend, not even the best *cheap* beginner guitar. And I own one (Tele), but didn't buy it as a beginner nor first guitar. What they are is an affordable Chinese made guitar at the lowest price point available from familiar big name associated brand, but hardly better in tone and no better in build quality build quality than Harley Benton TE-20 obtainable at a fraction of Squier's price. Despite actually being made in the PRC or Indonesia basic series Squier Affinitys are generally cheaper in the US than elsewhere, and so probably triage more favourably from a value perspective for Americans. Probably not for much longer though given where things are headed politically. In choosing an Squier Affinity people are paying a 'free drinks everyone' premium all along the distribution chain, for all in a box convenience if buying the package, and feeling of security familiarity factor of the Squier decal regardless. There are simply fretting friendlier beginners electrics within the same and even lower price brackets from other reputable manufacturers which coincidentally frequently sound better (better PUPs).
Most usefull tutorial for begginer. Always thought why should i play first with borring classic guitar to throw it away after a time cuz aquatic is huge and hurts and you dont dont want to start off with it and then you like oh wow electric is small, gives you a nice opportunity to play aquatic sounds without mich hurting ur fingers and wow eventualy after some time you can even plug it in and male some real fun! Thanks man, you realy opened my eyes.
Really good advice. I started with a second hand basic Squier Strat which a friend lent me. Got it set up for low action and put new 10 strings on. Took a painful few weeks before my finger tips adjusted to the pain. So for £60 I got myself started. I'm just over a year in now and just bought a second hand Takemine G acoustic for £150 and after new strings and a set up for £40 it plays beautifully. Barre chords are fine and it's just perfect for me. Now I'm moving through stage 8 and developing power chords I'm eyeing up my first improver / intermediate electric guitar for rock, metal and punk which is what I love most. Probably spend quite a bit more on an Epiphone Les Paul Standard but with the experience and knowledge I now have helping guide my choice. Guess what I'm saying is two things - always get a set up - best £50 you can spend on guitar and start on electric to keep you motivated as I've known plenty of people who buy a cheap acoustic only to quit through the pain.
wanting to learn some music and play along to your favourite songs? Your first guitar should be a ukulele! You will GET the musical principles and muscle memory so much quicker and easier. Tip: the uke is in fact a subset of the guitar fretboard and the chord shapes translate to guitar, when you want to move up. You will find yourself enjoying both types of instruments - just be sure to buy quality to avoid later disappointment.
My first and so far only guitar is ESP EC-50 because most of my idols use ESP (I'm a Japanese rock geek) and it's the cheapest ESP that I could buy. Not regretting my purchase at all.
So much wisdom here. Here's my advice, if you want to study classical, a good teacher REALLY helps. You learn proper technique to avoid pain and injury.
What an excellent video, just the medicine I need, I didn't like my accoustic so bought a classical and yep the neck is very wide, an electric guitar didn't cross my mind but now looks like this could potentially be my cure! Thanks man!
I started with an acoustic made by Harmony. It was 1973 and it was made in the 60s and the action was so high you could put a phonebook under the strings. Anyway 47 years later still playing but phone books no longer fit.
I'm not sure how easy they are to find brand new any more, but for a beginner you can't go too wrong with a Yamaha EG-112. Their Pacifica range is also worth a look. Fender Squiers are also pretty great (especially if you can get one with a bridge humbucker, if you like playing rock).
@ zoomosis Ref Yamaha EG-112. They are still floating around new as packages, usually on eBay or vide a direct import online dealer who bought a large of the all in the box deal. It's since been superseded by the PAC012 in Yamaha's official distro lineup AFAIK. Essentially the same unit as the baby of the current Pacifica series with its Agathis body and still priced similarly, now renamed for numerical segmentation within the series. Pacifica 012 ->112J ->112V. EG-112 or 012, a decent playing beginner guitar at a very keen price point, but afforded little recognition because of its status at the bottom of the rung. In a sentence? Awesomeness on a tight budget really.
It is funny: the point of my electric guitar is that my neighbours CAN hear me :-) Thanks for that great video! What really put me off about the electric guitar was its weight (of some). Some are so heavy it is really uncomfortable even when sitting. I had to try a few until I found my favorite. And even more interesting: my new favorite is my self-built telecaster type. Unbeatable regarding playability! Being in a workshop leaning about electric guitars and building one is a good idea if you are really into it!
The Electric Guitar has thinner Gauge Strings than the Acoustic, & also a lower action, that is why Electric Guitars are generally easier to start with than Acoustic.
Hi, I have a question: Im a weak intermediate player, have been fingerstyling with my acoustic for a while, but I really love the sound of a classical guitar. Never tried playing it, and my question is this: if I buy a classical and get used to it, AM I GONNA BE STRUGGLING TO PLAY ACOUSTIC IF SOMEONE SUDDENLY GIVES IT TO ME AND ASKS TO PLAY SOMETHING?
It really doesn’t matter if you truly want to learn you’ll play anything. My first guitars were plastic toys. My first wood guitar was a parlor guitar that my aunt gave me it was horrible but I took it everywhere. That’s the true test if the new player always has it in their hands they will stick with it until they get a better guitar.
ahsan nawab I said a perfectly playable. The problem is wether or not they want to put the work in to learn. Most want instant results and when they don’t get it they give up. They will just have to settle for the participation trophy instead.
I know they are not to everyone’s taste and would perhaps be a bit expensive for a beginner but I love my Line 6 Variax. The range of guitar sounds it gives access to is incredible and I like being able to use it for acoustic models, even though I have a Yamaha acoustic. It is great fun to play acoustic Neil Young, James Taylor or John Martyn and then be able to swap to classic electric guitar sounds. Hell, with alternate tunings I can even play Keith Richards with Open G tuning and the 6th string volume turned down to zero at the turn of a knob. (after a bit of setting up on the computer).
couldn't afford an electric some 20 years ago so the wife bought me a cheap classical.So I went down the classical/fingerpicking route for many years until I could afford a squire,which I didn't take to easily having sausages for fingers.I can play an electric or a steel string acoustic but I always stray back to the classical like an old friend who I'm comfortable with....Jason is right in what he says,try all 3 if you can and above all,hang on in there because the rewards outweigh the pain and frustration when first starting out.... :-)
You can get a splendid Squier Tele/Strat for pretty nearly the same price as a quality acoustic. For that matter, Firefly and Grote are doing some downright *magical* things at astonishingly affordable prices! And then there are the pawnshops...
it makes sense what you are saying, for someone with smaller hands it feels really hard to play a non-electric guitar. I ended up switching to ukuleles, although learning slowly guitar as well. You mentioned a video what to look for when buying a guitar, maybe it's good to link it to this video in the endscreen/ cards or description?
My first guitar was a Martin D 1R. I saved up and got lucky. I've had it for 26 years. It's the best investment I've ever made. However my go to electric is a Harley Benton SC 550. The point is. Invest the extra money in a good acoustic. You don't need to invest a lot in an electric.
I would like to make an observation, I have large hands and large fingers and I found the electric guitar fret board far too small, so I bought a nice Hohner HC06 classical guitar, and that solved the problem, once I had that sorted I then found it more easy to move to an electric, a Godin Sessions Blackburst SG MN, also I bought a Seagull S6 acoustic dreadnought style as that had a slightly wider fret board than normal. The only downside I learning to play on a classical guitar is the width of the strings, they are quite a bit further apart which can cause problems.
I've found those 3 quarter size nylon acoustics are good for beginners to, just leave them on the sofa and they are easy to learn your chords especialy bar chords
Can't believe what i'm listening to here. A cheap electric guitar will not stay in tune and the cheap amp that's part of the package will be total garbage. Buy something like a Yamaha auditorium size acoustic guitar. Get the store to check the action is ok and you have a good guitar for life if you wish. Cheap electric guitars for around 200 pounds are rubbish. The components on these guitars such as the tuners and bridge and the other components are made from the cheapest possible materials.. NOTE! If you find that your fingers hurt a little from practicing, just remember that this is part of the journey. In the long run you will appreciate your guitar more when your fingers harden. There is nothing worse than listening to a complete novice trying to play a cheap electric guitar through an even cheaper amplifier. You would drive other people in your household totally crazy. Just buy a decent acoustic guitar and practice for 30 mins every day., don't practice for long periods to begin with. Guitar player for 57 years, and still love it.
Honestly unless you know for a fact what type of music you are going to get into, an electric guitar is and always will be the best option. First of all most contemporary "cool" music is played on an electric guitar and if you're not picking up the guitar to pick up chicks than what are you even doing with your life, secondly for a beginner, an electric guitar is easier to practice on due to it being softer when not plugged in so you don't have to feel ashamed of quietly practicing in a corner when you still can't even strum a chord properly, and on the note of a beginner, an electric guitar is able to faithfully reproduce the sound of an acoustic guitar, not entirely but it's close enough that it won't even matter to a beginner while still maintaining the ability to produce typical electric guitar sounds whereas with an acoustic you're locked with that acoustic guitar sound so in terms of flexibility and figuring out what kind of music you wish to play on your guitar, it keeps your options open. Definitely go with an electric guitar as a beginner
In case of the accoustic guitar I would strongly recommend buying a second hand guitar - and first listen to some guitars in a shop and get a rough idea about what model. Essentially, smaller = less bass notes. You will get much more bang for your buck with a 2nd hand and there is something cool about older guitars, second hand has a certain cool factor to it :)
If you start with a classical guitar then you’ll build the skin up on your fingers so you’re ready when it’s time to move on to a steel sting guitar like an acoustic or electric.
I don't think that's necessary, I'm a beginner with an electric, strings gauge 09 and I don't have problems with finger pain, wrist pain is what - for now - keeps practicing short. And also, small hands, classical would be much harder in that sense, for me. Electric with a thin neck is very probably the best choice. But sure, if I wanted to play music that uses mainly or only classical or acoustic, I'd probably buy either of those (though then I would probably go with 3/4? Don't know :P ) And I'm saying this as a total newbie - playing for 2 weeks and no finger pain (unless I would practice for at least an hour at once? I keep the session around 30 mins due to my wrist "durability")). But I guess, steel string acoustic would be much harsher.
@@GuacamoleyNacho They're both light and common (AFAIK way more commonly used than 08). Them being light make them good for a beginner as lighter gauge is more forgiving to beginner's fingers. 3/4 is a size of a guitar. Smaller than the standard size.
I would start out with an acoustic, and tried to play it for years without getting it set up. I spent $200 for a Yamaha dreadnaught. I then made the mistake of buying a Jackson guitar with a floating tremelo. That was a huge mistake, but I paid a luthier to set it up and once I started playing it (electric) It was like night and day. The Jackson was so much easier to play. So then I got the acoustic Yamaha set up, and it became ten times easier to play. So my advice would be to buy a good, but fairer priced guitar, not the most expensive one you can find while you figure out if guitar is really for you. Second, before even leaving the store, get the guitar set up. You may have to leave it for a few days, but if you go in with the mind set that you are going to have that initial extra cost (setting up the electric cost over $100 but included new strings, intonation, doing some repairs to the instrument) you will be much better off and you won't struggle nearly as much. I struggled for months to play. With that being said, my fingers became really strong. But after, my playing was much more accurate and precise. So buy a Squire with the practice amp, get it set up, and let Justin teach you how to play guitar!
Also a shout out to the highly underrated NUX MG-100 multieffects pedal, which is absolutely brilliant for beginners as well as experienced players. Sub-$150 price with aux input, headphone out, plus a whole stack of convincing emulated amps, cabs and effects. Something I could've only dreamed of when I began playing!
Didn't notice until you mentioned it, but it's WAY easier to bar chords on electric guitar. My friend let me borrow/have his just for fun, and the action is ridiculously lower. Might start practicing with it more.
Finger exercises are good with Spanish guitar ! Lots of space between each string! So less buzzing sound! Learner get less frustrated and think they are doing good !!! Because most students quit within first week or two !!! It doesn't matter how good sound is or even comfortable! Obviously that's my opinion.
Defiantly electrics are the easiest to learn or play but electro acoustics like the Ovation copies have nice electric type necks with low action so would also be great if you want a acoustic.
My 2 cents worth. I started with a steel string acoustic. Stopped playing for ages, then started again wondered why my hands hurt with bar chords. Apparently the neck is bowed at the top, no wonder. Justin is right, but you can get a nice clean tone out of a reasonable electric as well, but if you make a mistake it gets amplified.
Also, one good thing with electric guitars is that it's easy to set it up yourself, with intonation and action. You just need a screwdriver and a tuner, which you'll have anyway. Plenty of guides on the internet. Meanwhile, it's much, much harder to do that on an acoustic guitar and you can actually break it if you don't know what you're doing, no such problems on an electric one.
Electric is the way to go! Heck, change the strings for 8 to 38 and it'll play itself. If they really want to play acoustic and their little fingers cant cope, put a set of electric 8's on to start them off! It'll sound a bit crap but he ho! Loads of electro acoustics have a nice low action and easy to play like the cheap gear4music one I got. Worth trying one out! ;0)
is good advice. Electrics apparently have easier string pressing and also the electric timbres. Should check you can have comfortable fretting hand and chord sounding before you buy acoustic. you might be spoiled on an electric though. to me acoustic --> electric is an attractive progression. Will get electric after I'm intermediate.
Great video. As a beginner I'm noticing that I don't like the position of my Fender style guitar plug in location. It gets in the way. I'll need to research another guitar
Here's a question for the panel.....some time ago, on a whim, I bought a gorgeous cherry red Gibson 335 copy for pennies. Now, heeding Justin's advice, I'm going to make another attempt to 'properly' learn to play but this time on an electric guitar. My red 335-sized guitar is a 'bit of a lump' under the arm but sounds great and is easy enough to play. Anybody got any experience of comparing the ease of playing, say, a Les Paul-sized guitar versus a 335-sized guitar?
I have a Squier Tele and a Firefly ff338, and I don't really notice a significant difference. I suspect that, the more you play the "335", the less you'll notice the lump.
Great information - how about doing video on different types of electric guitars? I started on acoustic and now want to get into electric as well... Les Paul? Stratocaster? Whats the main difference? What sound can they produce? And what combo will I need? So many questions :-)
I live in the middle of a big wheat field so i don't have any neighbors so i would buy an electric not just because i don't bother anyone but that i just like the electric sound way more than the acoustic or the classical
Hello, I'm 8 months into guitar playing and I have finished the beginners course by Justin. I was thinking of buying an electric guitar as I have a lot of problems with my cheap beginners acoustic guitar. What would you guys recommend me to do? Buy an acoustic or an electric? I like the crisp sound you get on an electric and I think I can play jazz on an electric. I love the Jazz sound!
Like that one. Pretty sure all bases are covered. Agreed with everything that was said in video. When I was starting I bought mid-cheap acoustic that I really hated. Stock string gauge 12 didn't make my life easier. Also this thing was so loud so I practiced like not enough to make significant improvement. Found some cheap squier with amp used in my area and It's like heaven and earth. You can finally control volume to more reasonable levels(Yeah, i evened stuffed my acoustic with some fabric to make it quiet, It was still like much more louder and sound was different). Action can be set pretty low without messing up instrument(in acoustic often you have to file the bridge). Anyway, great video.
Buy a guitar? That is the problem with people today. Expect things to be done for them. When I was a wee lad, I told my dad I wanted a guitar. Did he run out and buy me one? Heck no. He gave me a mahogany seed to grow my own wood and a shovel to dig ore for strings. Can I play yet? Heck no but in another 20 temperate growing seasons, I will be ready to start building my guitar.
Tak El-Uc Have you started to forge steel for the strings yet?
lmao wtf
Well you need those 20growing seasons to get your woodworking and metalsmithing skills up to par in order to build the guitar, yeash he put a lot of thought into that! So ungrateful
Well done!!! LMHO
Tak El-Uc z
Learning to "mute" the strings helps a new player on electrics. Learning how to play songs (that they "like") right off the bat keeps new players interested. My two pence/cents. Great video, Brother..
The irony is that " beginner acoustic guitars" are the worse guitar for the beginner to learn on . Good comprehensive advise from Justin.
I learned this the hard way. I bought an Ashton Beginner Acoustic pack before starting to learn guitar using Justins course. It was unplayable for me as a beginner. The action was ridiculously high and the strings felt like razor wire. It was a complete waste of money, really.
I bought a second acoustic guitar - a Tanglewood TWR SFCE - and a friend of mine who works in a guitar shop set it up for me and with a nice set of phosphor bronze strings. Absolutely brilliant guitar with a wonderfully crisp, clean sound. It's a pleasure to play on it. Has given me much more confidence to keep practicing.
I've also seen many people on YT, where people say the exact same thing. You need to cough up at least several hundreds of dollars to get an actually easy to play instrument.
I started with an acoustic. If i learn more difficult things then electric guitar will be easier for me. Ive done good so far on the acoustic. Its a good improvement tool in my opinion. I am thinking to buy an electric and a classic too.
if you really have to start with an acoustic, get the best one you can afford with NYLON strings. you can thank me later.
@@CitroenC407 I am beginner. How Long did you use the first guitar before u get your second? Is bronze string also steel string? I tried a nylon guitar which i think is a cheap one because the neck snapped when I played. And I dislike nylon sound. I later tried all steel strings n I like the sound. But the second one feels like playing a big whale. Just putting on my lap and it is crushing me! What makes you buy a second acoustic and not an electric?
if you are going to get a beginner acoustic, just go with a yamaha. Even the cheaper models are very playable.
this made me feel much better about ordering a yamaha acoustic for my first
I got the FG700S, and I have heard only good things about it. Of course my fingers still hurt, but I'm a 5'4" woman and can still play as well as a beginner can lol
@@gchungus I got a crafter cruiser, 2 humbuckers and one single coil pick up
Take this guy seriously! His guitar course app is amazing. I'm in stage 6 and I love his structure
Do you happen to know the name of the app?
@@nathanfregoso9763 "justin guitar"
I guess that you should start with a guitar that attracts you. For example if you really like to play some acoustic songs and like the way acoustic sounds and looks, you should go with an acoustic. If an electric guitar attracts you, get an electric guitar. It will motivate you more and even not hurt your purse, because you get what you love :D
Totally agree with this!
I'm a beginner, used to practice with acoustic in the past - couldn't agree more with you there!
yeah but im attracted to both. Little more to acoustic guitar, but i have very annoying neighbours. I dont think i can enjoy playing it, so point for electric guitar :/
I started acoustic, cause I love it. Now I am thinking about getting an electric guitar
I tried to learn on a cheap acoustic guitar 30 years ago. Like many people in this situation, I quit because I had no idea the high action made the guitar unplayable. Recently I decided to give it a try again and have a Squire Stratocaster package guitar on sale for the holidays. I can’t believe the difference! And with your classes Justin, I’m in 7th Guitar Heaven! Great video!
I had a student bring in their new acoustic and this is no exaggeration, I measured the action off the 17th fret and it was just under 1/2"! From the body was 3/4" and almost unplayable. It was a Fender that was priced @ $135 off the rack. She said that she was having issues with it and I let her use my Martin 00 and she could not only play all the chords I had her practicing but she almost mastered the dreaded bar chord on her first try. My 00 is set up like a Strat, so that shows you how much of a difference it makes on a new player. I showed her parents and when they saw how good she played on my Martin, they knew it was either pony up for a better instrument or stop wasting money on lessons.
Hello, I have two hand-me-down guitars one acoustic and one classical. I've tried to start learning on the acoustic one (because that's the ones my sister started on) but the string are so hard to push down and it feels way sharper than the classical one. Would starting on the classical then moving to the acoustic one be optimal in terms of being a beginner assuming I can't get an electric one?
I'm a beginner also and i feel like the strings actions on my acoustic is kinda high especially on the higher fret. Is it okay if i lowered it?
That’s how the action is on my acoustic. I got it for free, but damn is it hard to play some things. I have made some impressively indestructible calluses on my fingers though.
Watches videos
Justin says get a electric before acoustic
Me:it’s all according to plan
hi everyone ,if anyone else trying to find out how to learn to play guitar try Alkarno Amazing Guitar Alchemist (Have a quick look on google cant remember the place now ) ? Ive heard some extraordinary things about it and my buddy got cool success with it.
@@norkagonzalez3408 Electric Guitars have thinner strings, lighter action, and a flatter body which is why they're easier to play than acoustic guitars.
electric guitar is far easier to play than an acoustic guitar, especially that wonderful suhr
Yep that's because the Strings are lighter gauge, & the aciton is easier on the left hand as a fact.
What abt electric vs bass I already play a lot of instruments & im trying to find the easiest type of guitar to play?
@@kittycatgirl1139 Electric Guitars are the easiest because they're smaller in size which makes them easier to hold and play (lots of electric guitars these days now have a built in amplifier, flip the switch and play).
@@RockStarOscarStern634 are those with built in amplifier still good quality or shld I choose those without built in?
@@GuacamoleyNacho The ones w/ built in Amps are super super good quality. It's punchy
THIS VIDEO was huge for me. Everything you said applied to me. Doesn't get any better than that. Thank you so much.
Love to hear what it meant to you! | LievenDV | JustinGuitar Official Guide, Approved Teacher & Moderator
Thank You ! Now it makes some much sense. Several years ago I bought a really cheap acoustic guitar, but I rarely could consistently get the cords clear enough , I never realized it could be the action. So of course I gave up and gave it away. However now that I'm considering a guitar for my young daughter, electric makes more sense. Time to go Christmas shopping.
I felt so happy when you said that you started with a classical guitar because I recently bought a classical and then I felt like regreting..cause I can't buy another one at the moment. Your video made my night!🤍
Great advice for beginners, Justin. A playable instrument is what a beginner needs for a first guitar. The rest will come later as you learn what you like. When I started, the music studio provided a rental acoustic for 6 weeks. I then convinced my parents to buy me a semi acoustic electric Harmony Rocket. Wish I still had that guitar now. Was great for practice without an amp, louder than a solid body but quiet enough to not wake my parents when playing late at night. Did not realize at the time how good it was for entry level guitar.
On the money. Acoustic or electric, playability is #1, and the key which will keep the beginner picking up a guitar if anything will. The novelty of how it looks will wear off fast if it isn't a comfortable fit. I like the looks of my guitars, but that's has been the least influential factor in my choice, incidentally chosen from what's available once the criteria of higher triage prioritised factors had been met.
I'm a beginner and thinking which one should I go for.
This answered all my questions.
Thanks for the video.
Justin Guitar, even though Electric Guitar is the most begginer friendly, some Electric Guitars have neck's who's width is the same as a Classical (7 String turned into a Wide Neck 6 String) cause it's ideal for those who have bigger hands. The advantage of a Wide Neck Electric Guitar over a Classical Guitar is that you have a lower action & lighter gauge strings.
While watching your video I gave a guitar to my wife and asked to try C-chord (she never played before). The guitars were electric stratocaster and classic Yamaha C70 with nylon strings. She was more successful with classic guitar playing this chord, due to bigger distance between strings, and bigger string diameter, not cutting so sharp finger tips. Electric action is set to 2.2 and 1.6mm. So average action. Classic guitar has high action, no adjustment, just as comes from a store. So even I with some experience can more complicated stuff on electric, complete beginner was more successful with classic. But thanks for the video we had good time with my wife playing the guitars :)
One more piece of advice on steel stringed acoustic guitars is that getting a smaller thinner guitar than the "standard" dreadnought size makes sense for most beginners. It mitigates the craning your neck to see the fretboard and strumming/picking arm being at an awkward angle that Justin mentioned.
Check out the Vintage (Paul Brett Signature) 'Viator' Travel Guitar (£220) and the Vintage (Paul Brett Signature) 'Viaten' Tenor Guitar (£196 'Gear for Music' sell them in the UK at those prices... czcams.com/video/A02J9b8Cv4I/video.html czcams.com/video/C3W6Gzp8jWk/video.html
Took your advice,took my Fender CD60 to my local music store,had my string action lowered and went to a 10m diadora string. It is so much easier to play,and now I can practice my barre chords,which were almost impossible near the nut before adjustments were made... thanks Justin
Great information!!! After several years of not playing, I restarted my guitar journey with a newer "beginner" guitar that I thought I really liked. But I noticed despite lots of practice I still could not really get barre chords down cleanly... and I'd thought I'd been able to play them better before. I then realized the action was too high so I went into a guitar store to get a setup... but fell in love with a guitar that cost over twice as much as I'd paid for the cheaper guitar... and boy it is so much more playable, plus I love the tone. Huge difference -- I'm more motivated and playing longer. Now, I'm also planning to get an electric... fun, fun!
Thank you for your good and friendly advice. I started learning about 45 years ago and have made incredibly little progress over this time, despite, at times, spending crazy amounts of time on it. One problem was that my first guitar teacher sold me a huge jumbo which had the most horrible action imaginable. This brought me into the first of a number of extremely bad habits I've always struggled to overcome - the fact that one gets into the habit of putting the left hand fingers down hard and first before playing the notes - this means you'll never get speed or timing and there will always be stress on the left hand. Another problem was learning with the right arm draped high over the back of the guitar. This has also been a problem. And finally, the fact that I didn't really have a preference for what I wanted to play - I loved folk, classical and some electric blues, pop etc, meant that my hand positions constantly got mucked around with but without ever giving me any form of consistency in any of them. Your key suggestion that people should realise that their first guitar won't be your last is of such critical importance. I wish I had had a better start and I think with your guidance people will get that. Maybe I wouldn't be such a dismal player today...
As we all know Electric Guitars (or any Electric instrument) are physically the easiest ones to start with because the action is easier, and the flatter body makes it feel more comfortable.
Perfect advice and... Justin, you are such a genuine bloke and I have so much admiration for you. Keep making the world a better place dude 😊
Indeed. I have a cheap acoustic which I believe it is humanly impossible to play a bar chord on. Nice video as always.
Great advice here. I think getting a guitar you want to play is really valuable.
The best advise is to follow your heart and what you love. If you don’t enjoy it you won’t practice.
I totally agree. I wasted years on a cheap acoustic guitar with really high action. But I didn't know what I didn't know. I made faster progress once I switched to my electric strat.
Wish I had this advice 3 years ago. Bought a cheap acoustic one because all over forums it said it's the way to go and i did like it, but it hurt my fingers a lot. Then i put medium strings on it and the bridge broke.
Just bought an electric one recently and indeed, they are actually rather loud in my opinion even without an amplifier. Also much easier on the fingers, can practice for an hour and my fingers would barely hurt. Been trying to learn it again for 6 months and it's been pretty enjoyable.
I started with a baritone ukulele, then classical guitar and guitalele. That worked great for me.
They have a wider string with than guitars so bigger fingers can do that Dm chord. Same tuning as guitar.
For me, acoustic was the best way to start. There are fewer bells and whistles, I don't need to worry about equipment or output. It's just simplistic, hit strings = noise. Also, it's a lot easier to transport between my mates' who were helping to teach me. The only downside was getting over the pain on your fingers and learning to play quietly. I'd recommend a yamaha as a beginner guitar :)
Justin, clearly you are the man. I will literally teach you how to play ice hockey if you give me that classical. Upon reflection, I believe you’ll agree that it makes total sense and I promise I have not been on the whiskey tonight playing my Jim Dandy in my canoe on the river near my house. Greetings from Canada you legend.
You live a life that i want
I agree. Start on an electric guitar.
This really helps me to decide. I wanted to buy classical guitar but I doubt it's hard because I have small hands.. Now I'm not hesitating to choose electric guitar to begin with.
D none I’m in the same boat as you looking at which kind to get. I been looking at Yamaha fg830. So far a lot of good reviews on websites like guitar center, musicians friend and CZcams. Best of luck with your decision
Same
@@GuacamoleyNacho I'm not that professional regarding on the type of electric guitars, I just buy what my budget can offer.
Best beginner guitar is...
ELECTRIC.. Squier series
Acoustic..any guitar which can be affordable
Thank you for posting this. What electric guitar do you recommend for the beginner/intermediate guitar player for classic rock, i.e., Stones, Beatles, AC/DC, Zeppelin, Sabbath, 38 Special, Lynrrd Skyrnrd..
Pacifica?
ozzy indeed they are good but the feeling on low end squier is like better than yamaha
Angel Martinez in MIDDLE RANGE.. PRS AND IBANEZ would be awesome for all these things..... On LOWER RANGE....EPIPHONE is awesome choice
@Guitarist Sam The most important thing being ignored in your statements is consideration of personal fit.
Acoustics are even more critical. Neck design in the particular. Didn't you even listen to what Justin just said?
As someone who owns six guitars I play regularly at this time, Squier's Affinity series, Strat or Tele, are not a best beginner guitar I'd recommend, not even the best *cheap* beginner guitar. And I own one (Tele), but didn't buy it as a beginner nor first guitar.
What they are is an affordable Chinese made guitar at the lowest price point available from familiar big name associated brand, but hardly better in tone and no better in build quality build quality than Harley Benton TE-20 obtainable at a fraction of Squier's price. Despite actually being made in the PRC or Indonesia basic series Squier Affinitys are generally cheaper in the US than elsewhere, and so probably triage more favourably from a value perspective for Americans. Probably not for much longer though given where things are headed politically.
In choosing an Squier Affinity people are paying a 'free drinks everyone' premium all along the distribution chain, for all in a box convenience if buying the package, and feeling of security familiarity factor of the Squier decal regardless. There are simply fretting friendlier beginners electrics within the same and even lower price brackets from other reputable manufacturers which coincidentally frequently sound better (better PUPs).
Most usefull tutorial for begginer. Always thought why should i play first with borring classic guitar to throw it away after a time cuz aquatic is huge and hurts and you dont dont want to start off with it and then you like oh wow electric is small, gives you a nice opportunity to play aquatic sounds without mich hurting ur fingers and wow eventualy after some time you can even plug it in and male some real fun! Thanks man, you realy opened my eyes.
We love you Justin ❤
This was such a helpful video for a complete beginner. Especially the part about not disturbing the neighbors. Thank you for this guide!
He explains everything really well.
Omg thank you I have an older Fender F3 and I swore the action was huge on it. I tried to adjust it a little but man it hurts to play!
Really good advice. I started with a second hand basic Squier Strat which a friend lent me. Got it set up for low action and put new 10 strings on.
Took a painful few weeks before my finger tips adjusted to the pain.
So for £60 I got myself started.
I'm just over a year in now and just bought a second hand Takemine G acoustic for £150 and after new strings and a set up for £40 it plays beautifully. Barre chords are fine and it's just perfect for me.
Now I'm moving through stage 8 and developing power chords I'm eyeing up my first improver / intermediate electric guitar for rock, metal and punk which is what I love most. Probably spend quite a bit more on an Epiphone Les Paul Standard but with the experience and knowledge I now have helping guide my choice.
Guess what I'm saying is two things - always get a set up - best £50 you can spend on guitar and start on electric to keep you motivated as I've known plenty of people who buy a cheap acoustic only to quit through the pain.
wanting to learn some music and play along to your favourite songs? Your first guitar should be a ukulele! You will GET the musical principles and muscle memory so much quicker and easier. Tip: the uke is in fact a subset of the guitar fretboard and the chord shapes translate to guitar, when you want to move up. You will find yourself enjoying both types of instruments - just be sure to buy quality to avoid later disappointment.
that’s what I did and now I’m playing the acoustic and it’s much easier!
My first and so far only guitar is ESP EC-50 because most of my idols use ESP (I'm a Japanese rock geek) and it's the cheapest ESP that I could buy. Not regretting my purchase at all.
I rather acoustic! Electric right now is kicking my butt! 😂
But I won’t give up. I’m a fighter!
the title to attact people and I hold electric guitar only 👏
So much wisdom here. Here's my advice, if you want to study classical, a good teacher REALLY helps. You learn proper technique to avoid pain and injury.
I'm gonna keep coming back cause I love comedy and you look like Norm :)
What an excellent video, just the medicine I need, I didn't like my accoustic so bought a classical and yep the neck is very wide, an electric guitar didn't cross my mind but now looks like this could potentially be my cure! Thanks man!
I started with an acoustic made by Harmony. It was 1973 and it was made in the 60s and the action was so high you could put a phonebook under the strings. Anyway 47 years later still playing but phone books no longer fit.
What is meant by high action?
This series is sooo good, I love your rambling!
One of my new favourite channels :) Awesome content dude
Even enjoying this video and I've been playing for 20 years haha
I agree! I wished I would've had your advice 20years ago.
I'm not sure how easy they are to find brand new any more, but for a beginner you can't go too wrong with a Yamaha EG-112. Their Pacifica range is also worth a look. Fender Squiers are also pretty great (especially if you can get one with a bridge humbucker, if you like playing rock).
@ zoomosis Ref Yamaha EG-112. They are still floating around new as packages, usually on eBay or vide a direct import online dealer who bought a large of the all in the box deal. It's since been superseded by the PAC012 in Yamaha's official distro lineup AFAIK. Essentially the same unit as the baby of the current Pacifica series with its Agathis body and still priced similarly, now renamed for numerical segmentation within the series. Pacifica 012 ->112J ->112V. EG-112 or 012, a decent playing beginner guitar at a very keen price point, but afforded little recognition because of its status at the bottom of the rung. In a sentence? Awesomeness on a tight budget really.
Just absolutely love your stuff Justin ! thank you so much mate
It is funny: the point of my electric guitar is that my neighbours CAN hear me :-) Thanks for that great video! What really put me off about the electric guitar was its weight (of some). Some are so heavy it is really uncomfortable even when sitting. I had to try a few until I found my favorite. And even more interesting: my new favorite is my self-built telecaster type. Unbeatable regarding playability! Being in a workshop leaning about electric guitars and building one is a good idea if you are really into it!
look out for an old Woolworths kay electric guitar and then chuck it on the log burner .
I just started playing i chose both is that a good idea
🙄😀"Without disturbing neighbors" thing is really true, a problem indeed no one points out.
The Electric Guitar has thinner Gauge Strings than the Acoustic, & also a lower action, that is why Electric Guitars are generally easier to start with than Acoustic.
Hi, I have a question: Im a weak intermediate player, have been fingerstyling with my acoustic for a while, but I really love the sound of a classical guitar. Never tried playing it, and my question is this: if I buy a classical and get used to it, AM I GONNA BE STRUGGLING TO PLAY ACOUSTIC IF SOMEONE SUDDENLY GIVES IT TO ME AND ASKS TO PLAY SOMETHING?
yes
It really doesn’t matter if you truly want to learn you’ll play anything. My first guitars were plastic toys. My first wood guitar was a parlor guitar that my aunt gave me it was horrible but I took it everywhere. That’s the true test if the new player always has it in their hands they will stick with it until they get a better guitar.
ahsan nawab I’ve seen many a beginner with a perfectly playable instrument give up. You got to want it bad enough to stick with it plain and simple.
ahsan nawab I said a perfectly playable. The problem is wether or not they want to put the work in to learn. Most want instant results and when they don’t get it they give up. They will just have to settle for the participation trophy instead.
I know they are not to everyone’s taste and would perhaps be a bit expensive for a beginner but I love my Line 6 Variax. The range of guitar sounds it gives access to is incredible and I like being able to use it for acoustic models, even though I have a Yamaha acoustic. It is great fun to play acoustic Neil Young, James Taylor or John Martyn and then be able to swap to classic electric guitar sounds. Hell, with alternate tunings I can even play Keith Richards with Open G tuning and the 6th string volume turned down to zero at the turn of a knob. (after a bit of setting up on the computer).
Sounds like really good advice. Thanks
couldn't afford an electric some 20 years ago so the wife bought me a cheap classical.So I went down the classical/fingerpicking route for many years until I could afford a squire,which I didn't take to easily having sausages for fingers.I can play an electric or a steel string acoustic but I always stray back to the classical like an old friend who I'm comfortable with....Jason is right in what he says,try all 3 if you can and above all,hang on in there because the rewards outweigh the pain and frustration when first starting out.... :-)
Thanks very much for this helpful video.
I wanted to learn the piano and was searching on youtube and somehow landed here
He says electric but my wallet can only afford an acoustic.😭😭😭
You can get a splendid Squier Tele/Strat for pretty nearly the same price as a quality acoustic. For that matter, Firefly and Grote are doing some downright *magical* things at astonishingly affordable prices! And then there are the pawnshops...
Lmaoooo
it makes sense what you are saying, for someone with smaller hands it feels really hard to play a non-electric guitar. I ended up switching to ukuleles, although learning slowly guitar as well. You mentioned a video what to look for when buying a guitar, maybe it's good to link it to this video in the endscreen/ cards or description?
My first guitar was a Martin D 1R. I saved up and got lucky. I've had it for 26 years. It's the best investment I've ever made. However my go to electric is a Harley Benton SC 550.
The point is. Invest the extra money in a good acoustic. You don't need to invest a lot in an electric.
I would like to make an observation, I have large hands and large fingers and I found the electric guitar fret board far too small, so I bought a nice Hohner HC06 classical guitar, and that solved the problem, once I had that sorted I then found it more easy to move to an electric, a Godin Sessions Blackburst SG MN, also I bought a Seagull S6 acoustic dreadnought style as that had a slightly wider fret board than normal. The only downside I learning to play on a classical guitar is the width of the strings, they are quite a bit further apart which can cause problems.
The best guitar, for all levels, is the one you like to pick up and play (or diddle on if you can't play full songs yet) often. :)
This was great info, thank you for making this video. I will be buying an electric to learn on... 👍
I've found those 3 quarter size nylon acoustics are good for beginners to, just leave them on the sofa and they are easy to learn your chords especialy bar chords
Can't believe what i'm listening to here. A cheap electric guitar will not stay in tune and the cheap amp that's part of the package will be total garbage. Buy something like a Yamaha auditorium size acoustic guitar. Get the store to check the action is ok and you have a good guitar for life if you wish. Cheap electric guitars for around 200 pounds are rubbish. The components on these guitars such as the tuners and bridge and the other components are made from the cheapest possible materials.. NOTE! If you find that your fingers hurt a little from practicing, just remember that this is part of the journey. In the long run you will appreciate your guitar more when your fingers harden. There is nothing worse than listening to a complete novice trying to play a cheap electric guitar through an even cheaper amplifier. You would drive other people in your household totally crazy. Just buy a decent acoustic guitar and practice for 30 mins every day., don't practice for long periods to begin with. Guitar player for 57 years, and still love it.
love this video!!!thanks a lot mate
Honestly unless you know for a fact what type of music you are going to get into, an electric guitar is and always will be the best option. First of all most contemporary "cool" music is played on an electric guitar and if you're not picking up the guitar to pick up chicks than what are you even doing with your life, secondly for a beginner, an electric guitar is easier to practice on due to it being softer when not plugged in so you don't have to feel ashamed of quietly practicing in a corner when you still can't even strum a chord properly, and on the note of a beginner, an electric guitar is able to faithfully reproduce the sound of an acoustic guitar, not entirely but it's close enough that it won't even matter to a beginner while still maintaining the ability to produce typical electric guitar sounds whereas with an acoustic you're locked with that acoustic guitar sound so in terms of flexibility and figuring out what kind of music you wish to play on your guitar, it keeps your options open. Definitely go with an electric guitar as a beginner
In case of the accoustic guitar I would strongly recommend buying a second hand guitar - and first listen to some guitars in a shop and get a rough idea about what model. Essentially, smaller = less bass notes. You will get much more bang for your buck with a 2nd hand and there is something cool about older guitars, second hand has a certain cool factor to it :)
If you start with a classical guitar then you’ll build the skin up on your fingers so you’re ready when it’s time to move on to a steel sting guitar like an acoustic or electric.
I don't think that's necessary, I'm a beginner with an electric, strings gauge 09 and I don't have problems with finger pain, wrist pain is what - for now - keeps practicing short. And also, small hands, classical would be much harder in that sense, for me. Electric with a thin neck is very probably the best choice.
But sure, if I wanted to play music that uses mainly or only classical or acoustic, I'd probably buy either of those (though then I would probably go with 3/4? Don't know :P )
And I'm saying this as a total newbie - playing for 2 weeks and no finger pain (unless I would practice for at least an hour at once? I keep the session around 30 mins due to my wrist "durability")). But I guess, steel string acoustic would be much harsher.
@@GuacamoleyNacho They're both light and common (AFAIK way more commonly used than 08). Them being light make them good for a beginner as lighter gauge is more forgiving to beginner's fingers.
3/4 is a size of a guitar. Smaller than the standard size.
I would start out with an acoustic, and tried to play it for years without getting it set up. I spent $200 for a Yamaha dreadnaught. I then made the mistake of buying a Jackson guitar with a floating tremelo. That was a huge mistake, but I paid a luthier to set it up and once I started playing it (electric) It was like night and day. The Jackson was so much easier to play. So then I got the acoustic Yamaha set up, and it became ten times easier to play. So my advice would be to buy a good, but fairer priced guitar, not the most expensive one you can find while you figure out if guitar is really for you. Second, before even leaving the store, get the guitar set up. You may have to leave it for a few days, but if you go in with the mind set that you are going to have that initial extra cost (setting up the electric cost over $100 but included new strings, intonation, doing some repairs to the instrument) you will be much better off and you won't struggle nearly as much. I struggled for months to play. With that being said, my fingers became really strong. But after, my playing was much more accurate and precise. So buy a Squire with the practice amp, get it set up, and let Justin teach you how to play guitar!
If one practise bar chords only on Electric guitar he will struggle like hell to play it on Accoustic guitar
To be honest i started out with classical nylon string and i stayed with it. No finger pain no nothin
Also a shout out to the highly underrated NUX MG-100 multieffects pedal, which is absolutely brilliant for beginners as well as experienced players. Sub-$150 price with aux input, headphone out, plus a whole stack of convincing emulated amps, cabs and effects. Something I could've only dreamed of when I began playing!
Nice explain Justin, Thank you.
Didn't notice until you mentioned it, but it's WAY easier to bar chords on electric guitar. My friend let me borrow/have his just for fun, and the action is ridiculously lower. Might start practicing with it more.
Finger exercises are good with Spanish guitar ! Lots of space between each string! So less buzzing sound! Learner get less frustrated and think they are doing good !!! Because most students quit within first week or two !!! It doesn't matter how good sound is or even comfortable! Obviously that's my opinion.
Defiantly electrics are the easiest to learn or play but electro acoustics like the Ovation copies have nice electric type necks with low action so would also be great if you want a acoustic.
My 2 cents worth. I started with a steel string acoustic. Stopped playing for ages, then started again wondered why my hands hurt with bar chords. Apparently the neck is bowed at the top, no wonder. Justin is right, but you can get a nice clean tone out of a reasonable electric as well, but if you make a mistake it gets amplified.
Also, one good thing with electric guitars is that it's easy to set it up yourself, with intonation and action. You just need a screwdriver and a tuner, which you'll have anyway. Plenty of guides on the internet. Meanwhile, it's much, much harder to do that on an acoustic guitar and you can actually break it if you don't know what you're doing, no such problems on an electric one.
Electric is the way to go! Heck, change the strings for 8 to 38 and it'll play itself. If they really want to play acoustic and their little fingers cant cope, put a set of electric 8's on to start them off! It'll sound a bit crap but he ho! Loads of electro acoustics have a nice low action and easy to play like the cheap gear4music one I got. Worth trying one out! ;0)
I just bought myself a nylon classical guitar because it feels a lot better to play than my electric, plus my hands are freaking huge, so it's fine.
Love you master Justin
Thank you Mr. Shelby
is good advice. Electrics apparently have easier string pressing and also the electric timbres. Should check you can have comfortable fretting hand and chord sounding before you buy acoustic.
you might be spoiled on an electric though. to me acoustic --> electric is an attractive progression. Will get electric after I'm intermediate.
I like it this vedio because really helped me! Thanks
Great video. As a beginner I'm noticing that I don't like the position of my Fender style guitar plug in location. It gets in the way. I'll need to research another guitar
Here's a question for the panel.....some time ago, on a whim, I bought a gorgeous cherry red Gibson 335 copy for pennies. Now, heeding Justin's advice, I'm going to make another attempt to 'properly' learn to play but this time on an electric guitar. My red 335-sized guitar is a 'bit of a lump' under the arm but sounds great and is easy enough to play. Anybody got any experience of comparing the ease of playing, say, a Les Paul-sized guitar versus a 335-sized guitar?
I have a Squier Tele and a Firefly ff338, and I don't really notice a significant difference. I suspect that, the more you play the "335", the less you'll notice the lump.
Great information - how about doing video on different types of electric guitars? I started on acoustic and now want to get into electric as well... Les Paul? Stratocaster? Whats the main difference? What sound can they produce? And what combo will I need? So many questions :-)
Didn't know Cillian Murphy plays guitar!!
I live in the middle of a big wheat field so i don't have any neighbors so i would buy an electric not just because i don't bother anyone but that i just like the electric sound way more than the acoustic or the classical
Hello, I'm 8 months into guitar playing and I have finished the beginners course by Justin.
I was thinking of buying an electric guitar as I have a lot of problems with my cheap beginners acoustic guitar.
What would you guys recommend me to do? Buy an acoustic or an electric?
I like the crisp sound you get on an electric and I think I can play jazz on an electric. I love the Jazz sound!
Rmate.listen to zeepoch
Like that one. Pretty sure all bases are covered.
Agreed with everything that was said in video.
When I was starting I bought mid-cheap acoustic that I really hated. Stock string gauge 12 didn't make my life easier. Also this thing was so loud so I practiced like not enough to make significant improvement.
Found some cheap squier with amp used in my area and It's like heaven and earth. You can finally control volume to more reasonable levels(Yeah, i evened stuffed my acoustic with some fabric to make it quiet, It was still like much more louder and sound was different). Action can be set pretty low without messing up instrument(in acoustic often you have to file the bridge).
Anyway, great video.