1. Figure out exactly what you need and what your budget allows.

The first thing you should be thinking about is what kind of music you will be wanting to play on it as well as how much you can afford.

If you decide that you want to start learning rock music, you will definitely want to be looking at electric guitars. Because of this, you will also want to factor in the price of an amplifier to go along with the guitar. For budding folk or country musicians, you may be looking into acoustic guitars. This will make things a little easier on you since you will not have to look at amps as well, but at the same time, there are a lot of different acoustic guitars out there to choose from.

2. Do you research.

You should take your time and do some research without jumping into anything to quickly. You do not want to just buy a guitar impulsively; a guitar is a big investment, so you really want to be sure you get something you like and you do not overpay for it. It is a good idea to read up on them first, comparing prices and features before settling on a guitar. Online sites like harmony-central.com and right here at frugalguitarist.com are excellent places to start your research.

If you want to get the most bang for you buck when buying a guitar, you should consider researching a beginner guitar from a major brand name. Major brand names are generally more expensive than knockoffs, but with knockoffs, you can pay the price of shoddy wiring and other flaws. Even though beginner guitars from major brand names are cheaper than more advanced guitars and you can trust that they will be well put together. That way, you can start simple, get used to your guitar, make sure you want to progress with your guitar playing, and then eventually move up to more advanced and expensive brand name guitars. A good example of an inexpensive beginner guitar is a Fender Squire.

The other advantage to choosing a wewll known brand name guitar is that when you do get to the time that you want to sell or trade it up for a higher quality guitar, it will be a lot easier to sell and hold its value better.

3. When possible, try before you buy.

You always want to test the guitar out in person before buying, to ensure that it is in perfect working order. One thing you will want to do is to shake the guitar vigorously as you listen for rattling. Another thing you will want to do is check the intonation of the guitar. Checking the intonation is quite important. To do this, you should play the harmonic at the 12th fret, and ensure that it sounds the same as the open string. You will also want to check for buzzing by strumming the guitar loudly. Obviously buzzing, rattling, and incorrect intonation are all to be avoided when buying a guitar.

If you are really on a budget, you could consider buying a used guitar. You can look online for used guitars at places like ebay.com and other online marketplaces, or you can check out pawnshops and music stores. You want to be careful buying a used guitar, though, and carefully check it in the ways mentioned earlier.

In addition, buying a guitar should be fun! So have some fun with it--after all, you get to look around, explore your options, and test out various guitars. In addition, it is a great feeling when you finally find the guitar that feels perfect for you.

About the author - For the past twenty or so years, Corey Palmer has been playing as much guitar as he can make the time for. For him, happiness is hands on a guitar neck!

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If you have a more knowledgeable guitar-playing friend brining them along is always a good idea. Its good to get a second opinion, and they can play the guitar so you can hear what it sounds like out front. Here are some important features to consider.

Solid Top – If your budget can afford it, I highly encourage you to buy a guitar with solid top. Guitar tops are either made out of solid wood, or a series of laminations. Solid tops will sound better with age as you play them more, whereas a laminated top sounds as good as its every going to sound right out of the box.

Solid Back and Sides – Much like a solid top, a guitar with solid back and sides will have an overall better sound. The sound will continue to improve as the guitar is played over the years and the wood gets broken in. A guitar with a solid top and solid back and sides will usually cost at least $800, so something like that may not be in everyone’s budget. Laminated back and sides are certainly not bad, as a guitar’s top contributes more to the overall sound. If you are looking for solid back and sides be sure that the guitar description explicitly says so. Many manufacturers will say “Solid top with select back and sides”, which usually means they are laminated.

Tuners – Staying in tune is very important, and a good beginner guitar should have solid set of tuners that don’t slip. Tune a prospective guitar up to pitch and play it hard, strumming some chords and picking single strings. They should stay in tune. Check each tuner, turning the knob you should feel some resistance, they should not feel loose and slip.

Body Size – There are a lot of different acoustic guitar body sizes. Dreadnoughts are by far the most popular, but there are also mini jumbos, grand concerts, and parlor sizes, to name a few. Be sure to try several different sizes to see what feels best for you. Smaller guitars like grand concert and orchestra model sizes are often more comfortable for some people, who may feel that a dreadnought size is just to big.

Setup – While many guitars can be setup to fit the player, check to make sure that a prospective instrument plays fairly comfortably before you buy. It should be comfortable to fret all along the neck, and the strings should not be to far from the fretboard. Sight along the neck, it should be straight, with no twists. The frets should be seated snugly in the fret slots. A reputable music shop should give you a short approval period after buying an instrument, during which it can be beneficial to take to a competent repair person for a quick look. If you are really interested in a certain instrument the cost for getting it looked at can be a wise investment.

Pickup, yes or no? - I often see first time buyers for acoustic guitars asking what sort of acoustic electric they should get. I am of the mindset that if you want a pickup get one installed after you buy the guitar. Its better to spend that money initially on a higher quality instrument than a preinstalled pickup. Plus many preinstalled pickups include a preamp cut into the side of the guitar, which is going to make the instrument heavier and affect, tone, sustain, and volume. Sure, it might not be alot, but who wants a plastic box installed into the side of their beautiful wooden guitar? Just get an external preamp later on down the line. Some good companies for pickups include K and K, LR Baggs, Fishman, Mcintyre. You can find a good pickup for about $100.

So those are some points to keep in mind when buying that important first instrument. Now for the fun part, go out and play a lot of guitars before choosing the right one for you.

About the Author

Anton Emery is the Community Manager of http://www.RhythmStrummer.com. This site offers easy guitar songs for adult learners in a fun & patient atmosphere, taught by teachers who care. Students learn songs & technique lessons across a variety of genres, including Folk, Country, and Classic Rock- all with NO advertising.

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I figured I'd cover picks (or the plectrum, which is so strange to me I still can't say it and have it sound normal to me, it sounds more like a body part than a musical accessory) even though I didn't spend a huge amount of time on thinking about this to be honest. Sometimes to me a little advice communicated in the right way is all I need to make a decision. There are a lot of picks out there. In fact, it's a little ridiculous. Could each one offer something unique? There's every shape, size, density, material, and cost out there. How did I pick the ones to start with? My buddy handed them to me at guitar center and said "Here use these". My ignorant comment ofcourse was something like "Oh these are good?". No they're awful that's why I picked them out for you. So there you have it.

Just starting with the guitar? A master of the instrument? I recommend the Dunlop .60mm Tortext Standard Number 418 medium orange pick. Not too thick, not too thin, and according to their website they offer some sort of fantastic "memory".
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I personally think that effects pedals are the easiest guitar gear to buy on eBay and have the least risk involved. Why? Well for one most guitar pedals do not cost close to as much as a guitar or an amp. So even if you did end up getting scammed it is not as high of a risk as shelling out $500+ dollars.
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Read the rest of Buying on eBay, Part II- Effects Pedals (294 words)

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