Acoustic Guitar Shopping
Getting Started with Acoustic Guitar. Steel string acoustic guitar is by far the easiest way to get started. There are 1/2, 3/4 and full sized guitars to match the size of the student. Many reputable companies make acoustic guitar starter packages: Fender, Yamaha, Epiphone, Washburn, Takamine etc…
Accessories are included with the packages but I am going into further detail on this subject. The details regarding accessories are important. They will insure that the student has what they need to study properly and have productive lessons with a qualified instructor.
Ok, here we go.
Method Books: First thing, NO TABLATURE! A method book’s intention is to teach the student Standard Notation. Tablature is a system of numbers and I have no idea why certain publishers include it in their method books? I use: Mel Bay’s Modern Guitar Method Grade 1 (for students with prior reading experience), Hal Leonard Guitar Method 1, Alfreds Basic Guitar Method 1 and Mel Bay’s Children’s Method 1 for young students.
Picks: Ok, yes Hello Kitty, Spiderman and even Sushi photo themed picks are available but my recommendation is Fender Medium picks. Yes, they are available in mulit-colors and fashionable.
Metronome: The most important and often neglegted tool for any musician. It is the reality check for your playing and makes sure you are rhythmically correct and developing the stamina it will take to play consistent & strong. I like the plain Matrix MR-500. There are many metronomes available by Korg, Seiko etc…best to stay with a battery operated model. If your teacher is not teaching you to play with a metronome find one who will.
Tuners/Pitch Pipes: Tuning can be a little intimidating for the student at first. I like to slowly go into this subject as the student’s ears develop. A pitch pipe is a really simple way to learn to hear the open notes of the guitar. It is like a whistle and has the sound of each open string. Kratt and Conservarte make good pitch pipes. I like the Snark Clip-On Chromatic Tuner or the Korg GA1. It which has a digital readout and also gives a reference pitch for each of the open strings on the guitar.
Capo: This is a device used to change keys or positions on the guitar. It is used in many styles of guitar playing. I really like the Kyser 6 string capo. Planet Waves & Dunlop also make good capos.
In my online guitar lessons archives you will find a variety of tunes and a “Natural Notes Guitar” lesson that will explain note placement on the guitar clearly. The lesson is in standard notation and has a video walk through of the written lesson. Webcam guitar lessons are a great way to learn! Please contact me to schedule your free Skype acoustic guitar lesson today.
