AB Music Studios-Tips for Buying Your First Electric Guitar

Music Blog

AB Music Studios-Tips for Buying Your First Electric Guitar

What are some tips when buying your first electric guitar

It really depends on the style of music that you want to play. Electric guitars are heard in just about every style of music but are mostly associated with rock music. The advantage of starting out on an electric guitar is that they are easier on your fingertips. The strings are usually closer to the fingerboard than most acoustic guitars making it easier to press down. Electric guitars can also be played without an amplifier. Using headphones makes it possible to practice anytime of the day or night without disturbing the neighbors or other family members.

What size electric guitar should I buy?

Most electric guitars are full size and fit comfortably for most adults and kids over the age of 10. Kids 10 years of age or younger may want to try a ¾ size or ½ size electric guitar. The smaller size electric guitars make it much easier for kids to hold the guitar and stretch their fingers to reach the chords.

What should I be listening for when buying an electric guitar?

The sound of an electric guitar is far less important then the playability. The action on a guitar is the height of the strings from the fingerboard. A lot of cheap electric guitars have the action set too high and this makes the playability of the guitar difficult. Most electric guitars are easier to play than acoustic guitars but sometimes you will need to have the action of your guitar lowered. Don’t give up the first week you start playing because your electric guitar’s action is set too high!

I’ve already purchased an electric guitar. Can the action be lowered?

If your fingers are hurting too much and you feel that the action is too high, you can have the action lowered at Pat McGrath Guitar Repair. He is right next door to AB Music Studios 714-274-3137. Lowering the action on a guitar can make it 100% easier to play! You can ask Pat to put on a set of the lightest strings. This also makes the playability of an electric guitar much easier for a beginner.

How often should I change the strings?

A huge part of the sound of an electric guitar is the electronics and the guitar amplifier but strings that are old and corroded will make the guitar sound dull. Changing your strings a few times throughout the year will make your guitar sound clear and bright. At a minimum try to have the strings changed once per year. We recommend that you use a light gauge set of guitar strings because it’s a lot easier on your fingers. For a small service charge we can change your strings for you here at AB Music Studios.

What if I’m left handed?

If you’re left handed and you’ve already been playing guitar a little bit then shop for a left handed electric guitar. If you’ve never played before and your left handed then we recommend buying a right-handed electric guitar. The advantage is that there is a bigger selection of electric guitars to choose from without having to do a special order. Another advantage is that when you go to play someone else’s guitar it will probably be right handed.

When playing guitar you will be using both hands. In fact the left hand does more of the intricate work.

What is the most important thing to learn on the electric guitar?

One of the first things you will be learning on the electric guitar is the basic chords and strumming patterns. If you can change between basic chords and strum you can play of lots of simple songs. Playing rock music on the electric guitar also involves learning lots of scales, solos and classic riffs. You can learn all of this here in weekly guitar lessons at AB Music Studios in Huntington Beach!

Should I use a guitar pick or my fingers?

Electric guitar playing is mostly played with a pick. Sometimes electric guitar players will also use the fingers to get a softer and more nuanced sound. There are many different kinds of guitar pick shapes and sizes. We recommend using the standard teardrop shaped pick with a medium thickness.

How long does it take to learn to play the electric guitar?

The answer depends upon how much you practice and how advanced you want to become. You can expect that within the first several weeks or months to be playing the basic chords, power chords and playing some riffs to some popular songs. The more you practice and learn, the more you can see how much there is to still learn. You can always keep learning and improving on guitar throughout your whole life!

How much do electric guitars cost?

An electric guitar can cost anywhere from $100 to thousands of dollars. You may want to spend between $100 and $250 for an electric guitar that plays well and stays in tune. The price of an electric guitar is based on the quality of the electronics, the wood, and the overall craftsmanship of the guitar. Guitars made in the USA are generally more expensive. The more expensive brands sound, play, and look better.

You should also purchase a guitar tuner. Tuning a guitar by ear without any experience can be difficult. Simply clip a tuner on to the headstock of a guitar. Then tune each individual string to a note (EADGBE).

Do I need a guitar amplifier?

Although an electric guitar can be played without an amplifier it won’t be loud enough to perform or play with other musicians. A big part of playing electric guitar is the sound of the amplifier.

Guitar amplifiers have built in volume and EQ controls for treble, mid and bass. They also include an overdrive, gain or distortion channel that enables the amp to sound like your favorite blues, rock, grunge or metal band. Many guitar amplifiers also have built in reverb and other effects to give you endless sound possibilities. Most new amplifiers have a headphone and phone jack built in. This feature allows you to play along with songs on your phone as loud as you want without disturbing the neighbors!

How much does a guitar amplifier cost?

A good guitar amplifier can cost between $100 and $250. You don’t need a super big or loud amp when starting out. Most small and inexpensive amplifiers will work well and you’ll rarely turn them all the way up. If you eventually join or play in a band you’ll need to invest in a guitar amplifier that can be as loud as your drummer in the band.

Does AB Music Studios sell electric guitars and amplifiers?

Yes! We sell beginning electric guitars and amplifiers to students. All of our guitars are easy playing guitars. Our guitar teachers recommended the guitars we sell to give students have a better learning experience. We also sell picks, strings, tuners, capos, straps, guitar amplifiers and effects.

room full of electric guitars and guitar apps on the floor