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Writer's pictureShivani Rajput

7 Common Mistakes When Buying Your First Guitar and How to Buy the Best Guitar for Beginners.

Updated: Jul 6, 2022


Common Mistakes When Buying Your First Guitar
First guitar


1. Choose the incorrect kind (and size) of guitar for your needs as you learn guitar.

Without a doubt, the most frequent beginner error that many new guitar players make when purchasing their first guitar is selecting the incorrect sort of instrument for their purposes. This is the most common error you'll see incomparable articles since it's the most common.

So, what exactly is the "wrong" sort of guitar, to learn guitar in the first place? First and foremost, do not purchase a guitar only based on its appearance. Yes, it is quite crucial to adore the appearance of your instrument, but this should not be the key motive for purchasing it.


A. First The acoustic guitar must sound and perform flawlessly.

B. Second, there is the matter of the guitar's body shape to consider. What is the best guitar for beginners that will suit your learning style! You must decide whether you wish to play an acoustic or an electric guitar before proceeding. What kind of guitar do you prefer: electro-acoustic, classical, or a compact travel-size parlor guitar?

C. Adult beginner guitar students who want to learn guitar should begin with a full-sized acoustic guitar. Even if you have a strong desire to learn to play electric guitar, beginning with an acoustic guitar will allow you to perfect your methods, develop finger strength, and enhance your general playing abilities more quickly.

D. The best guitar for beginner younger students who want to learn guitar is a smaller guitar: A half-size guitar is excellent for young kids between the ages of 4 and 8 years old, depending on their size and build, according to the rule of thumb. In contrast, older children between the ages of 9 and 13 should begin with a three-fourth length guitar. Older (or bigger) children and teenagers can learn guitar on a full-size guitar. What are a half and three-fourth length guitar? It's a tiny guitar that's better suited to those with smaller hands.



2. Not playing or hearing the guitar before you buy

As a beginning guitar player, the image of walking into a music store and being given a guitar by a kind sales representative who says, "Here, try it out!" fills you with confusion, because all you can tell the sales rep is that you need the best guitar for beginners.

The fact of the matter is that error number one on this list (choosing the incorrect sort of guitar) may be avoided if you try the instrument out first. You'll be able to tell whether the guitar has the appropriate feel and size for you. Whether or not you like the sound of it will be obvious even if you are just learning to play the guitar.

You can sometimes get excellent prices on guitars by purchasing them online, or because you may not be able to visit a reputable music store in your area, here are some suggestions for trying out guitars before you buy:

Ask to utilize one of the private sound rooms when purchasing your first guitar from a music store so that you may experiment with the instrument on your own. Ask them if this is the best guitar for beginners and take opinions from several stores.

Inquire if the salesperson would be willing to play the guitar for you. Their fingers are itching for the opportunity to demonstrate not just how the guitar sounds, but also some of their greatest skills.


3. Thinking an electro-acoustic guitar is the thing to go for


When you make this error, you are committing the sin of overpaying for pricey bells and whistles that you do not want and will not require for a few years. To get started on your guitar learning adventure, all you need is a basic guitar that will get you up and running right away.


To give you an idea, unless you're expecting to play live, you don't need a guitar that's filled with high-end electronic components especially as you are just starting out to learn guitar.


Since purchasing a guitar with additional features puts more hurdles in your path, consider purchasing a conventional acoustic guitar, which is the best guitar for beginners, just learning to play the guitar instead of an electric guitar. This will make learning easier, and you'll get more guitar for your money since you won't have to spend on extras like pickups and other accessories that you won't use.


4. Buying an expensive guitar


Don't purchase anything that is above your ability level. In your first few months of playing, even the most expensive high-end guitar will be a waste of money since you will have no point of reference to compare it to, especially if you are just starting out to learn guitar.

Purchase a great entry-level guitar while you're still getting your bearings on the instrument as a novice musician and avoid spending a lot of money.

Finally, keep in mind that purchasing a high-end guitar will not automatically transform you into a superb musician. Practice will help you. In the case of an electric guitar, for example, ask yourself whether you really need a Gibson Custom Guitar when your ability to play Smoke On The Water is still in its infancy.


As a beginner, most people are unsure of the sound, style, or type of guitar that they would ultimately like to play. However, after playing for about 6 months, you will have a much better understanding of guitars and that when the time comes to choose your next guitar, you will have an easier time deciding. The most important characteristic of the best guitar for beginners is a guitar that is well-set-up and simple to play. You don't need to spend a lot of money to acquire a better sound quality. Higher-level guitars will only sound better when your playing has developed to the point where you are able to perform admirably on them. This is the best guitar for beginners to purchase and learn!

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5. Not buying a decent guitar


What could be more detrimental to a beginning guitarist than purchasing a costly branded instrument as their first guitar? A beginning guitarist purchases a piece of low-cost low quality for their first instrument.

Purchasing a low-cost guitar will almost always result in you purchasing another one sooner rather than later since low-cost guitars are notoriously difficult to play. They are constructed of poor materials, resulting in a mediocre sound and feel when played.

Cheap machine heads, for example, will need you to constantly adjust the level of your instrument, and cheap electronics on electric guitars will not provide a satisfying playing experience when you must constantly adjust the pickup volume switch to hear any sound at all.

If you don't have the money to spend a significant amount of money on your first guitar, hold off a bit longer and save up some money. You're looking to get an acoustic guitar but believe you need an electro-acoustic? As previously explained in Mistake No. 2, if you forego the electronics and go for a traditional acoustic guitar, you will be able to acquire considerably more instruments for your money.


With that in mind, always seek advice and assistance from a reputable source, such as a music shop sales representative or an internet reviewer who does not have a vested interest in endorsing a certain brand of guitar or amplifier.



6. Purchasing a guitar without accessories


A. Guitar Picks: If you're playing the guitar, you don't want to injure your finger by picking it too hard. Picks are triangle-shaped pieces of plastic that you hold between your fingers to improve the tone and playability of your instrument. Guitar picks are available in a variety of patterns, sizes, and brands.

B. A guitar strap is something that you will find really beneficial, particularly if you are standing and playing your guitar, or if you are not accustomed to holding a guitar for a long amount of time, as you will be when you use it.

C. Spare Set of Instrument Strings - Guitar strings may break at any time, even while you are tuning your guitar. If you are prepared to change your guitar strings, having an extra set on hand might be very beneficial in an emergency situation. A restringing tool, on the other hand, may assist you in getting back up and running again.

D. A tuner is a device that adjusts the pitch of a musical instrument. Always check that your guitar is in good tuning while you're performing; a detuned guitar will sound like a loud instrument while you're playing. It's critical to ensure that you always have the means to tune your instrument in case of an emergency. This is particularly important for instruments that are prone to losing their tune. A word of caution: You will need a tuner. You don't need an automatic tuning device to tune your guitar for you; you can do it yourself.

E. It is probable that you will carry your guitar with you while learning to play, therefore you will need a backpack to keep it safe while you are out and about learning to play the guitar.



7. Having no plan to get lessons

The last error on our list is one of the most detrimental and should be avoided at all costs by all beginning guitar players. The purchase of your best guitar for beginners is very meaningless when you don't know how to properly teach yourself to play the guitar thereafter.

Did you know that a whopping 90 per cent of guitar players leave up playing within a year of purchasing their first guitar? By taking some guitar lessons, you may avoid the unfortunate situation of throwing in the towel. They will assist you in staying motivated, focused, and making progress.

A professional guitar instructor will provide you with a clear action plan and assist you in learning the necessary methods and abilities that you will need to begin crushing it at the guitar.

If you reside in a place where there aren't any excellent guitar coaches, or if you just prefer the convenience of learning from the comfort of your own home, you can also join online guitar classes.


Happy Playing!

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