Guitar Materials for Beginners

Guitar Materials for Beginners

Six Items Guitarists Need to Get Started

Guitar

I usually recommend starting out with a steel-string acoustic guitar. If the strings are painful to press try out a set of silk and steel strings. You want to find a guitar that fits well with your size. Go to a music store and try out several guitars. Have a sales person help you position the guitar comfortable. Also, ask a sales person to play something on the guitar so you can hear how it sounds.

I have seen decent guitars for as low as $100. Be careful about getting something too cheap. Some guitars on the market are more toy than instrument. Avoid renting or renting to own guitars. If you purchase a decent guitar and it goes unused you can sell it or give it to a relative or a friend who has taken an interest.

Picks

A standard medium pick is generally where you want to start. Choose something that is quality and doesn’t have rough edges. These are generally celluloid. You’re going to want to purchase several picks. They get lost easily and only cost about .25-.50 cents each.

Method Book

Find a standard guitar method book. Mel Bay Method One and Hal Leonard Method One are probably the two most common choices and cost around $10. These books are just one part of your practice routine. Be sure to check the beginning pages to get a good foundation.

Foot Rest

Having a foot rest helps to keep the guitar in a more comfortable position. These cost $10-$20 and often have several height settings. I recommend placing the foot rest under your right leg, unless you are setting out the play classical guitar.

Music Stand

A music stand will help you view your materials while sitting with the guitar. I would avoid wire music stands and get something sturdy enough to hold a binder. Stands usually range from $15-$50.

Summing Up

These six items will get you what you need to start. Now it’s up to you to practice, daily.