How to choose an acoustic guitar. How to choose an electric acoustic guitar

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Choosing a guitar is an important undertaking for any musician. For those who are just starting out in music, this can be an extremely difficult task. Therefore, before choosing an acoustic guitar, you should study the main technical characteristics of such an instrument and decide in advance on the requirements that your purchase must meet.

Choosing an Acoustic Guitar

How to choose an acoustic guitar is often not known to those who make a purchase for the first time. First of all, pay attention to the material from which the tool is made. A good guitar is made from several types of wood - this allows you to achieve the required sound transmission. It is important that the wood is thoroughly dried, otherwise the guitar will begin to deform over time. Be sure to make sure that the body of the instrument does not have plastic parts - this will degrade the sound quality.

Pay attention to the nut, that is, a special overlay through which the strings are passed. It determines the height above which the stringswill be located above the neck. For a beginner, it is better to choose a low nut option: in this case, a good sound requires less pressure and, accordingly, less effort when playing.

Be sure to try the guitar before you buy it. The virtuosity of the performance is not important, the main thing is to appreciate the sound. It should be rich and clear, without rattling or discordant notes. If you hear a rattling sound, then most likely, violations were made during the manufacture. Check how the instrument sounds when played by picking, striking, whether the sound is good enough when using a pick or fingertips.

Make sure the guitar can handle a slender sound at the 9th, 11th and higher frets. Some low quality models stop building as they get closer to the body, and you won't be able to play complex compositions on such an instrument. The last thing you should pay attention to is the appearance. Remember that a cheap model that looks too spectacular can only be a cover for defects.

How to choose the right electric acoustic guitar

A peculiar subspecies of the instrument is an electro-acoustic guitar. It is distinguished primarily by a sound pickup - a special mechanism that transmits sound to external media. Otherwise, it must meet the requirements for fully acoustic instruments.

The highest quality and surround sound can be extracted from the guitar,the pickup on which is a miniature microphone. However, these tools are quite expensive. A conventional piezoelectric pickup is considered much less reliable, but it is also able to pick up the sound quite well if it is installed on the body of the guitar. But models with a pickup tablet on the neck should be put aside immediately: the sound of such an instrument will be distorted and incomplete.

Before choosing an electric acoustic guitar, you should also consider additional accessories such as a pick, sound tuner, equalizer and tuning fork. Having these items is optional, but makes the game much easier.

How to choose guitar strings?

As a rule, strings are not supplied with the guitar. Therefore, the first question that arises for any musician is: "How to choose the strings for an acoustic guitar?" There are currently quite a few companies producing them, and the choice should be based more on personal preferences than on any general criteria.

All types of strings can be divided depending on the material of manufacture into nylon and metal. The first are installed on guitars of the so-called classical type. They have a softer and quieter sound than metal ones and are great for performing romances and instrumental etudes. At the same time, the force of their tension is less, therefore, classical guitars are easier to play than models with metal strings. It is important to remember that classical instrumentsthere is no truss mechanism that changes the inclination of the neck, so the installation of metal strings on them can deform the body.

Pop guitars are considered the best instruments for performing rock, blues and bard songs. The metal strings mounted on them have a powerful, rich sound. However, due to the high tension force, not everyone will be able to play them. When choosing strings, it is necessary to take into account their diameter, on which the timbre of the sound depends: the thinner the string, the louder the sound. However, thin strings wear out much faster, as a result of which they have to be changed more often.

Setting and tuning strings

Proper string setting on an acoustic guitar determines how harmonious your instrument will sound. Each string must be carefully fixed on the saddle and in the hole of the corresponding tuner. Only after that it is possible, by carefully rotating the pegs clockwise, to start tuning - to produce a tension on each string to such an extent that when touched it makes a strictly defined sound. It can be difficult to achieve this without a musical education, so it is recommended to purchase a tuning fork before choosing an acoustic guitar.

Tuning always starts with 1 string, the sound of which must correspond to the note E. After it is stretched with the necessary force, you need to clamp the 2nd string at the fifth fret and twist the pegs until both strings begin to sound in unison. Do not try to do it quickly - a sharp increasestress can break the string. The rest are stretched according to the same principle: each subsequent one, when clamped on the fifth fret, should sound the same as the free previous one. The only exception is the third string - it is tuned on the fourth fret.

How to quickly tune a guitar

Many novice musicians are forced to loosen and tighten the strings several times, because they do not immediately succeed in tuning the acoustic guitar correctly. Do not be upset because of this - the skill comes with experience. If you need to tune your guitar quickly and effortlessly, you can use a guitar tuner. This little device captures the sound of a string and shows if it matches the target, as well as how much you need to turn the tuning pegs to achieve the desired sound.

How much does a guitar cost

The average cost of an acoustic guitar ranges from 3,000 to 15,000 rubles. Higher-quality tools made by well-known companies can cost up to 80,000 rubles or more. The main mistake that beginners often make is buying the cheapest guitar. Don't do this, as models below 4000 are generally not of good quality.

Too expensive, however, you should not buy either - it is quite possible that in a few years you will have a desire to change it to a more functional model. The best choice for those who are just starting to learn music would bean instrument in the price range from 4,000 to 7,000 rubles.

Buying a guitar is an important and exciting experience for everyone involved in music. Do not be afraid to ask questions to sales consultants and clarify nuances that you do not understand. If you have no idea how to choose an acoustic guitar, it is better to ask for help from friends who already have similar experience.