Hammond Music

Posts Tagged ‘choose guitar’

What should you be looking at when it comes to styles, colors, makes and models? You have probably asked yourself – which one is right for me, and how on earth do I choose? If you have decided to buy your first guitar, then the overall choice that is available can often seem overwhelming!

The sad fact of the matter is that many people they end up spending a lot more money than they need to. If you are in the position of looking to buy a guitar, then the following questions are the ones that you really should be asking yourself. Many people end up with what they thought was a great deal that turns out to be complete rubbish.

What is the type of music that I am looking to play?
Whatever kind of music you like, the basic skills that come into playing the guitar are pretty much the same. The guitars, however, are different – they are built with a particular style in mind. For those who have more of a tendency to rock and roll or jazz, then an electric guitar is probably going to be best for you. If you are looking to strum along to a more tuneful style, then you should be looking into getting an acoustic instrument.  Examine your particular tastes and which type of music you are interested in learning

What is my current level of expertise?
·    For the beginner: we recommend buying an electric or a classical guitar, for the sole reason that they are easier on the fingers and therefore easier to learn on.
·    For the intermediate and expert player – then it really comes down to the music that you are looking to play, as well as personal preference and price. Consider whether you are looking to expand your musical repertoire or just improve your current style.

Should I worry about ‘tonal quality’?
You should ask yourself whether that sound suits you and your style of playing. Each guitar is different – strum a few different ones and consider the sound that they make. The phrase ‘tonal quality’ simply refers to the sound of the individual guitar.

What is the ‘action’’?
The action refers to the placing of the string son the fretboard. This affects the entire playability o the guitar. When they are set too high they become difficult to press and affect the overall tempo of your playing. Setting them too low has the affect of causing interference on the frets, leading to a buzzing sound as you play. You’ll find that on some guitars they are set high, whilst on others they can be set lower.

Is the neck straight?
Really simple to check, but unfortunately a lot of people miss it – simply hold the guitar and look along the edge – you’ll soon be able to tell if the neck is straight or crooked. Even a slight bend in the neck can seriously hinder the intonation of the instrument, and you’ll find chords can sound different at certain points.

Does the neck fit in my hand?
It’s a really good tip to make sure that the neck fits snugly into your hand. Try and find one that feels like it was built for your particular size hand in mind. The thin necks are usually more suitable for smaller hands, but thicker necks tend to be stronger. When a craftsman builds a guitar, they vary the shape and size of the neck to suit the variability of the players’ hands.

How much can you afford?
Look at exactly how much you have to spend, and then make sure you keep to it. Looking at models that you can’t afford is a waste of time and will only make you confused. You shouldn’t really be thinking about spending a massive amount of money on a new guitar if you are a beginner. Upgrading is easy when you have practiced for a while and you have a better idea of what style of music you want to play.

Taking a bit of time to get it right from the beginning will give you a much better prospect of succeeding in your musical endeavors. When you are buying a guitar, you are making an investment – an investment into your own musical future. Therefore, it’s important that you get it right. If you buy a guitar based solely on what it looks like hanging up in the shop, then you are more likely to find that when you get it home it does not come close to fitting your particular needs. When this happens, it will end up sitting unloved and untouched in the corner of your living room, or be relegated to the loft!

Copyright 2009 Liam Gibson (Stage Guitarist)

Care and maintenance can sometimes seem secondary to playing, but if you want to continue playing for a long time, then it’s absolutely vital. We have assembled some of the best tips to keep your guitar in tip-top condition. By following these steps, you will find that the guitar will last as long as you want it to! Keeping your guitar in the best possible condition is paramount to enjoying the full life and playability of your instrument.

·    After Practicing
The deterioration of the strings is a common problem amongst guitarists. If the strings start to rust, then they become very rough and have a higher propensity of cutting into your fingers. To prevent this, make sure that as soon as you have finished practicing take a soft cloth and clean the strings. A guitarist with cut fingers is not going to play as well, so it is important to make sure that the strings of your guitar do not get to this stage.

This is a very simple action, but it will get rid of all the oil, dirt and sweat that can accumulate on the strings. You might want to think about applying a thin layer of string conditioner before you re-case your guitar. These solutions are relatively inexpensive (a good one will cost less than ten US dollars) and they do a great job of preventing the oxidization of the strings that causes them to rust.

·    The fretboard
When you next change your strings, simply clean the fretboards with a damp cloth. There can often be an accumulation of dirt and grease around the fretboards, just as there is on the strings. If this is left unclean, it can lead to serious damage for your guitar, compromising the integrity of the instrument.

·    Polishing
The body of the guitar can often be neglected, as people tend to focus on the strings and the fretboard. However, by paying attention to the body of your guitar, you are more likely to sustain the overall life of the instrument. Polish it regularly with a lint-free cloth, using only guitar-specific polishes. Some more widely available household polishes arte too abrasive, and can cause damage.

·    Storage
Your guitar is a very sensitive instrument, and is extremely sensitive to the environment in which it is stored. Wood is a porous substance, which means it can absorb moisture. Whilst most guitars are tolerant to a range of temperatures, excessive moisture will cause swelling which in turn causes the wood to warp and affects the overall sound. For ideal conditions, you should be looking at storing your guitar at around 50% humidity and a temperature of around 25 degrees C.

·    Scratches
It seems an obvious thing to say, but I have seen so many people make this mistake! Before you begin to play, make sure you remove all jewellery and other accoutrements that might scratch your instrument. Obviously, rings and bracelets could do this, but I have seen many people scratch or damage their instruments through simple things like belt buckles or the buttons on their jeans!

It’s not really rocket science – and if you treat your guitar with the respect that it deserves then you will find the rewards are much higher. You can prolong the lifespan of your guitar by applying simple common sense in the majority of cases.

Copyright 2009 Liam Gibson