Which gear? My advice
Carrying on from where we began, let’s talk
about gear! From your first guitar, to your
first set of strings, all the way to which case
is it the best? Here is the gear I personally
found best for my early years of getting into
guitar.
The ideal place to start is considering the
budget. Just because a guitar is worth a
couple of grand doesn’t mean it will be easier
to play – usually, it all comes down to the
fingers. However, this does ring some truths.
It is best to spend at least £100 on a guitar
– then you’ll be sure you’re getting a decent
make and not a counterfeit model. I would
advice not buying second hand instruments
or ordering online from sites like eBay – you
never know what you’re truly getting. As
I have stated previously, go directly into a
music shop and see what options you have.
Listen for the sound, the feel, the comfort of
the instrument – all very important factors
that cannot go ignored. I have found the best
makes to initiate your music journey with are
Epiphones and Squiers. These guitars provide
comfort and ease, sound brilliant, made of
good wood and are affordable!
Let’s talk about tuners. A tuner is an electronic
device used to tune guitars and other instruments.
The first one I bought was from a brand called
Snark and I prefer it from the others I use. It’s
chromatic which means you can tune any string
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to any pitch. It is easy to operate and can be used
anywhere – whether you’re on stage or in the
comfort of your own home. Thanks to its digital
display it can even be used in the dark.
Next on the list are cases. These make your guitar
portable and offer it protection so it’s worth buying
one of these early on in your journey. Cases
generally come under two categories: hard cases
and soft cases. Soft cases are padded but are not
well protected. They are ideal for beginners as
they are less expensive and portable as you can
wear them like a backpack. Hard cases are more
expensive but offer more protection. They come in
a variety of shapes and sizes, denoting to different
makes like Epiphone or Fender. They are especially
handy if you are travelling abroad... can’t trust
these airlines, you know...
Finally, strings. It’s clear once you log onto a
website or strut into a music shop, you’ll have a
big selection to choose from. But which ones are
the best? It’s good to know that strings come in
different gauges, which is their thickness. Thinner
strings are ideal for beginners, so for you acoustic
fanatics it’s 11s. However, if you want the tone
and can grin and bear the pain, then get the 13s
for acoustics. I have personally found Martin
acoustic strings to be the best strings for me –
their bright, brilliant, crisp sound really brings the
instrument to life. Plus they are easy to use and not
particularly expensive, coming to £5.99.