At some point, nearly everyone decides to take a stab at becoming a guitar hero. They buy the cheapest guitar they can find, learn two chords from a friend, and three months later the guitar is back in its case, slid under the bed or lost behind never-worn clothes in the back corner of a closet. Sound familiar? Sadly, many people never get beyond this first washout. But there is a better way, more likely to lead to success and genuine guitar heroics. You can learn to play guitar.
The first step is to ask yourself a few questions. What style of music do you like? What type of music do you listen to the most? If the music you enjoy is full of guitars, you’re on the right track. (If, instead, you discover a deep fondness for flugelhorn solos, you may want to reconsider this guitar fetish.)
Chances are, if you like rock, blues, or jazz, you’ll be looking for an electric guitar and amp. On the other hand, if you enjoy country, folk, or bluegrass, an acoustic guitar will deliver the sound you’re after. This is an important choice--the style of music you want to play largely determines what type of guitar to buy. It’s not true that all beginners should start on an acoustic guitar. (In fact, electric guitars are typically easier to play because the strings are lighter and closer to the fingerboard, making it easier to hold notes and chords.) In the long run, you’ll end up learning most of the same chords, techniques, and musical concepts, regardless of whether you start on acoustic or electric. Your choice of which kind of guitar to buy should be based on the kind of music you want to play.
The second step--before you go to Picccolo’s Music and buy a guitar--is to make a commitment to yourself that you’ll actually put in the time to learn how to play. Just as with any other skill, you won’t learn and improve unless you do it. Learning to play guitar requires a minimum of 15 to 30 minutes of focused playing each day. It’s important to play every day, not just once a week.
The third step is fun and exciting. Come on down to Piccolo’s Music and play a bunch of guitars. Talk with Fred, Julie, or John about the different types of guitars in the store, and tell them what kind of music you want to play. Sit down and make some noise on a guitar. And listen to Piccolo’s staff play so you can hear what each guitar sounds like. Think about how much you want to spend. In the beginning, it’s okay to buy a cheap acoustic guitar or cheap electric guitar, provided that it’s a real musical instrument, like the ones you’ll find at Piccolo’s Music. You’ll find great beginner acoustic guitar deals starting as low as $79.95 and beginner electric guitar deals starting at $129.95. Piccolo’s also carries 3/4 size guitars perfect for kids and smaller adults.
The best acoustic guitar for a beginner is one that is the right size, sounds good to that person, is easily playable, and is affordable. The best electric guitar for a beginner would have the same traits.
The fourth step is to take some lessons from a fun teacher who can start you off on the type of music you want to play. A good teacher will be friendly and personable, articulate, and able to demonstrate and clearly explain the techniques and concepts of playing guitar. Not all good guitarists make good teachers--the skills involved are different. Piccolo’s Music offers in-house lessons with a choice of teachers to suit your style and personality.
The fifth step is to simply enjoy playing guitar. Play every day, whether practicing on specific skills or jamming along with friends. The more time you spend making music on your guitar, the easier it will be and the more music you’ll find inside you just waiting to spill out.
