| A guitar should be purchased with due care to | | | | |
| avoid any problems with it in future. | | | | Neck - This is the long piece attached to the |
| Identifying a good instrument is an important | | | | body over which your finger moves to play |
| guitar lesson. | | | | chords. On the other end on the neck there is |
| | | | the head in which tuning posts and tuning |
| Should you purchase a new or an old | | | | heads are fixed. Neck should be examined |
| instrument? You should consider purchasing an | | | | carefully for any warping or twisting. |
| old instrument only if you trust the source. | | | | |
| The sound quality of musical instruments | | | | Fret Board - This is the piece glued over the |
| generally improves with playing, which is a | | | | neck on which strings are pressed to play |
| plus point for an old instrument. You can | | | | chords or individual notes. The distance |
| also get it at a lower cost unless it is an | | | | between fret board and strings is critical. |
| antique piece or some other value is attached | | | | If the strings are too close you do not get |
| to it. But there may be mechanical damage in | | | | "clean" notes. On the other hand if the |
| the guitar which is not easily detectable. | | | | strings are too far away you have to press |
| You have to really use your judgment. When in | | | | harder to play the notes causing greater |
| doubt, go for a new one. You can get a | | | | strain to your fingers. Also, the string gets |
| warranty for a period in a new guitar, but | | | | stretched while playing. Ideally, pressing |
| you will not have this comfort in old | | | | the strings over the fret board should not |
| instrument. | | | | stretch it. But if the strings are too far |
| | | | above the fret board, they get sufficiently |
| New guitars may be mass-produced or custom | | | | stretched while being pressed to change the |
| made. The mass-produced instruments will be | | | | original tuning of the string. |
| less expensive. Custom made guitars come in | | | | |
| wide price range depending upon the material, | | | | Strings - You can have a choice of strings |
| skill and effort put into their construction. | | | | made of different material. They come in two |
| You can use one rule of thumb in deciding | | | | broad categories - metallic and nylon |
| which one to buy - if you can discern the | | | | strings. Nylon strings are easier on the |
| superiority of sound quality in a custom made | | | | finger tips. There are also "heavy" and |
| guitar then you can consider purchasing it. | | | | "light" strings which vary in cross section. |
| Otherwise purchase a mass produced one. You | | | | All these strings have different sound |
| can purchase custom made guitar later when | | | | quality and "feel" while playing them. You |
| your ears are better trained. | | | | can take your pick. |
| | | | |
| Before purchasing you should see all its | | | | The position of strings on the guitar is also |
| parts critically. I am giving here my views | | | | an important criterion. Finger sizes vary |
| on what you could look for in a new piece. | | | | widely in individuals. Your fingers should |
| | | | comfortably reach and press the last string. |
| It is always good to prepare a checklist for | | | | The distance between the strings, and the |
| purchasing anything which is somewhat costly. | | | | width of the fret board should match with the |
| Based on the considerations given below you | | | | size of your fingers. |
| can prepare a checklist of your own which | | | | |
| will help you to remember all the points you | | | | Tuning Heads and Posts - For each string |
| have to verify. | | | | there is one set of tuning post and head. |
| | | | They stretch the string for tuning it when |
| Overall Appearance - Guitars come in | | | | you turn the tuning head and keep the string |
| different colors, designs, sizes. You can | | | | in that stretched position for playing it. |
| select a piece to your liking. Inspect | | | | You should ensure that the movement of the |
| thoroughly to satisfy yourself that there are | | | | tuning heads should is smooth, and the tuning |
| no visible defects. | | | | posts retain the stretched string. The string |
| | | | should not become loose while playing. |
| Body - This is the hour-glass shaped part | | | | |
| with sound hole in the front. It is where | | | | After you have considered all these points |
| strumming is done. It is hollow from inside | | | | you should play the instrument, or get the |
| and provides resonance when strings are | | | | salesperson to play it. See how it sounds, |
| played. The resonance enhances the sound | | | | how it feels. You should be satisfied with |
| volume and makes it "rounded". The body is | | | | its overall performance before you decide to |
| designed to provide resonance over entire | | | | buy it. When you buy a good guitar which is |
| range of notes played on the guitar. You | | | | to your liking you will be motivated to take |
| should check the sound quality with each | | | | you guitar lessons more seriously. |
| string played at different notes. | | | | |