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Type 1: Electric Guitars (back to top)

 

Great for jazz, metal, or rock musicians, electric guitars are best used with an amplifier and speaker; this will allow all to hear the distortion and reverb that comes from its steel cord strings. Most electric guitars have six strings, but can also range anywhere from six to twelve. Electric guitars can usually be identified by their signature shape and slim size, but all have different bodies whether it's hollow, metal, or acoustic-electric. In fact, there are four main types of electric guitars to choose from: solidbody, hollowbody, semi-hollowbody and chambered. Distinguishing qualities include humbucker or single-coil pick-ups, and of course a wood fretboard.

 

Cheap/Basic: For those who are just starting out and want something to learn on, keep in mind, you don't need to spend a fortune. Anywhere from $200-$300 will get you something basic and easy to learn on, but if you're looking to make a small investment on something you know you'll continue to use, $500 is a good limit to stay at. Ibanez is a good choice to go with if you're looking to stay on the more economical side of things; they have a pretty wide range of choices and models. Epiphone, a top brand that models its guitars after the more luxurious Gibson guitars, has a couple of models that are just under $300. But don't let Epiphone's reasonable prices fool you; this is the same guitar maker that is responsible for creating the legendary Les Paul electric guitar, one of the most famous guitars in rock & roll.

 

Standard: You are now entering Fender territory. Standard electric guitars are probably going to range anywhere between $500-$1,000, maybe more. But make this investment if you are getting serious about your commitment to guitar playing. Fender makes a Joe Strummer Signature Telecaster Electric Guitar, named after the former Clash member himself. You can also get a Fender Stratocaster for just under $1,000. What's the difference? Although both very powerful, both have different sounds, one a little more "twangy" whereas the other "screams" a bit more.

 

Luxury/Professional: These are going to start at around $3,000 and only go higher. Vintage guitars run pretty high price tags as well, many of which are considered luxuries nowadays. Gibson offers a good variety of electric guitars, many of the models look vintage-their design being taken from some of the models they issued in the 1950's. When purchasing a Gibson, be prepared to pay anywhere from $4,000 to $8,000. With a trusted and legendary brand like Gibson, you should be getting your money's worth. Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters sure is. Last year Gibson unveiled the DG-335 Dave Grohl Model Electric Guitar, created by the Gibson Custom Shop and Grohl himself, the guitar was modeled after Grohl's favorite Trini Lopez model, which was also built by Gibson.

 

Type 2: Bass Guitars (back to top)

Bass guitars, look similar to electric guitars, but have a larger solid body. The neck and scale length is longer, and the sound that comes out of a bass is lower in pitch than an electric guitar, this goes the same for the price, many stay under $1,000. Like electric guitars, bass guitars are usually used with an amplifier as well, string counts range from four to six on a bass. Bass guitars are for bass players-almost acting like a backbone of a song, they provide the actual bass line for many to most songs, beats and riffs. Be sure not to get a bass guitar confused with a string bass, an upright bass that is used in orchestras and jazz groups. There are a few types of bass guitars, the most common being the electric bass. Electric bass guitars must be plugged into an amplifier in order to be heard. Other types of bass guitars include acoustic bass guitars which have hollow bodies, acoustic-electric bass guitars, and semi-acoustic bass guitars which are only partially hollow. Semi-acoustic bass guitars are also commonly played by former Beatle Paul McCartney when onstage.

 

Cheap/Basic: Epiphone has an EB-3 electric bass that is for both beginners and pro-players, and comes in right under $300. For a little more edge, there is also the Nikki Sixx Blackbird bass, also made by Epiphone. Made of solid Mahogany, you would definitely be getting some bang for your buck here. Fender has a couple of models under $400, but across the board, Epiphone seems to be the smartest choice when shopping for something basic and affordable.

 

Standard: Main brands to look for in this price range other than Fender include Dean, and Ibanez, but Fenders make up a big bulk of standard and luxury bass guitars. This price will be between $300 and $500. Most standard basses have 4, 5, or 6 strings. The more strings, the more range the bass will have, but more strings on a bass make it trickier to play and require more control.

 

Luxury/Professional: Fender guitars are somewhat luxury, and there are quite a few Fender bass guitars ranging between $500-$1,000. The Fender Jaguar Bass is an overall nice make and model and can be purchased for around $800.

 

Type 3: Acoustic Guitars (back to top)

Unlike electric and bass guitars, acoustic guitars need little to no amplification to sound great. Acoustic guitars have a clear, audible sound that is produced by only its strings. The wood guitar body is hollow so some sound is projected through the acoustic's hole behind the strings, giving off its signature sound. Across the board, acoustic guitars are probably best for those who are learning to play, to start on. Prices can go into the low thousands, but for the most part, acoustics are affordable, starting at $100 or lower sometimes.

 

Cheap/Basic: When looking for an inexpensive acoustic guitar, there are tons that are priced under $100, BUT many or most of the brands maybe ones you've never heard of. Many of these inexpensive acoustics are also built for and priced for guitar students. Squier, Yamaha, and Rogue acoustics are priced reasonably at about $100, and Yamaha uses a high quality of wood on even its most economical guitars, these models are usually named something simple like "classical acoustic."

 

Standard: With a reputation of being one of America's greatest guitar makers, Taylor has a large selection of medium to expensive priced acoustics available. Starting at around $300, Taylor offers acoustics made of mahogany wood, or spruce. The fretboard, or skinny neck where you control what chords you're playing is ebony black. Taylor also makes a left-handed acoustic model. The Taylor 210 acoustic is solid wood and priced at around $800. This is one of the most standard guitars that would be worth investing in if you are a decent acoustic player and practice or play regularly. Taylor also makes a Baby Taylor which is a good choice for the younger guitarists.

 

Luxury/Professional: Taylor falls into this category, as many of their models are priced at over $1,000. Martin also makes custom acoustic guitars, and also has a vintage series of acoustics made from solid spruce with East Indian Rosewood black sides, priced at around $3,000.

 

Type 4: Classical Guitars (back to top)

 

Classical guitars, sometimes known as Spanish Guitar, have distinguishing characteristics that include a "flat top" or flat sounding board, it is usually made of thin wood, and the strings are made of gut or nylon. Classical guitars are traditionally played with the fingers or fingernails as opposed to a pick, and almost any genre can be played on this modern classic. String counts are anywhere between six and ten, and just like an acoustic guitar, classical guitars also have a sound hole and a distinguishing signature rosette inlay around the hole.

 

Cheap/Basic: Basic Classical guitars run anywhere between $100-$200. Yamaha and Lucero both make classical guitars in a standard size, the models are designed for easy playing and at just under $100, these are ideal for beginners.

 

Standard: Standard classical guitars are going to be priced at $300 and higher. Washburn makes a comfortable classical guitar that is good for all types of playing. A little over $300, the Washburn classical has a cedar top and rosewood sides.

 

Luxury/Professional: Luxury classical guitars run at about $1,000 and higher. Takamine, and Cordoba Solista both make higher end classical guitars. The nicer quality of wood the guitar is made of, the more money it will probably cost. More expensive models are made of 100 percent spruce wood, with intricately detailed rosette inlays.

 

Accessories

 

Guitar accessories go hand in hand with buying a guitar, regardless of what type you choose. Acoustic guitars probably require less attention in regards to accessories, but with electric and bass guitars, amplifiers are pretty much required in order to hear the best sound from your playing. Guitar amps come in a variety of sizes, some are mini and portable, costing only about $20, but these would be good for just playing around at home in your room-not at a full on practice for your next show. A high quality amplifier starts at around $40 but prices go much higher into the hundreds since they do come in larger sizes and have much more efficient technical features.

 

Guitar strings are not expensive, and start as low as 60 cents a piece. This is good since they wear out with use, and should be maintained and changed every couple of months in order for your guitar to sound brighter. Figuring out how what strings you need to buy is easy and obvious depending on what type of guitar you own. Electric guitar strings for electric guitars, acoustic guitar strings for acoustic guitars, etc. you get the point.

 

Guitar pedals are meant for creating special effects and sounds with your guitar. There are several different types of pedals, or "sound boxes" that you can choose from, but there are four different "themes" you can go with when choosing a guitar pedal: distortion, dynamics, reverb/delay, and pitch modulation. Multi-effect guitar pedals cost anywhere from $40 to $80 and higher.

 

Slide is a certain way to play the guitar, and can also be called "bottleneck guitar." In order to play slide, it requires smooth, hard objects that fit around the top of the fingers where you play. These are usually made of glass, ceramic, stainless steel, brass, or chrome tubing, and shouldn't cost more than $20. Rather than plucking the strings with a pick, the instruments on the fingertips are used to slide the guitar strings for a unique sound.

 

A capo is a device that is used for shortening guitar strings and raising the pitch of the guitar sound. It looks like a little clip and clamps onto the top of the fretboard of the guitar. A capo will change the key and pitch of the strings without having to use the tuning keys on thee guitar. Standard capos cost around $15 or more.

 

Lastly, what's the fun of playing guitar if you don't have a cool guitar pick to play with? Picks are pretty necessary when playing guitar and can be made out of plastic, rubber, felt, tortoiseshell, wood, metal and stone. They are shaped like a rounded triangle and should only cost $2-$8.

 

FAQ's:

 

Classical guitars and acoustic guitars look so similar. How can I tell the difference?

A classical guitar has six strings and the body is symmetrical. Acoustic guitars have twelve strings. Most classical guitars have a rosette inlay around the sound hole whereas acoustic guitars tend to have a plain sound hole with no inlay.

 

Why are some guitars so expensive?

The price of a guitar is largely determined by the woods used in its construction. Lower quality, cheap guitar bodies are made from plywood or laminates. The price increases depending on what types of woods are being used such as rosewoods, cedar and spruce. Cedar and spruce guitars age well.

 

How do I tune my guitar?

You can tune a single string and then tune the rest to sound similar to it, or you can tune each string to sound similar or relative to another instrument. Many guitarists now use electronic tuners which can be purchased for a relatively inexpensive price.

 

How do I know I'm buying a good guitar?

When choosing a guitar, be sure the strings are close to the fretboard, or playing may be difficult. The guitar should produce a clear sound, there shouldn't be any buzzing, and make sure that the guitar is constructed of high quality wood.

 

I dropped my pick in the sound hole. How can I get it out?

Most would react quickly and try to jam their hand in the sound hole and reach around, but this isn't wise. You may end up messing up the strings on your guitar, instead, turn it upside down and shake it; the pick should fall right out.

 

How often should I change the strings on my guitar?

Changing the strings on your guitar regularly is important, and depends on how often you play. If the strings begin to look corroded or rusty, or if the guitar is sounding different and it isn't the chords, it's probably time to change the strings. Every couple of months is a good idea.

 

How do I remove moisture from my guitar?

When storing your guitar in its case, be sure to slip in a few tiny packs of silica gel into the case, this will keep absorb any moisture from the guitar.

 

How do I clean my guitar?

Whatever you do, just be sure to use the proper cleaning products suited for your guitar, you can pick these up at a music store. Never use furniture polish or rough, abrasive cleaning cloths.

 

Do I need to buy an amplifier right away in order for my guitar to sound right?

If you are buying an electric guitar, yes, an amplifier will seem necessary, but the most important thing is to be sure the guitar is set up properly. Don't focus all your spending on the gadgets and accessories; buying a quality guitar is most important. Bottom line: unless you are playing in a band, you don't really need an amplifier to start off with.

 

What should I look for when buying a guitar?

There are four important things to remember when purchasing your first guitar: yes, you get what you pay for most of the time, but price is important, especially if you are on a budget. Consider the comfort of the guitar. Is it easy to play? Does it feel comfortable when you hold it? Do you feel like any part of the guitar will hinder your learning? These are important things to consider. Also think of the sound of the guitar, does it sound good to you? Lastly, overall appearance should definitely play a factor. You will be happier playing something that not only sounds good, but looks good too.

 

What is the difference between a guitar and bass?

The most notable difference between a guitar and bass is the pitch range of the two. Bass notes are an octave lower than a regular guitar's notes. Bass guitars play a supporting role when played with a guitar; they provide a sort of "foundation" for songs.