Getting an acustic-electric guitar, beginner?

Question:What do you need for it? What are the best ways to learn guitar? What are good guitars for beginners+price? Stores? Anything, really, totally and completely clueless.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: What do you need for it? What are the best ways to learn guitar? What are good guitars for beginners+price? Stores? Anything, really, totally and completely clueless.

Guitar shopping: nobody else can tell you what guitar will work for you--different people like different brands. I like Ovation but most hate them...

Go to a music store and pick up all the guitars in your price range--don't fear the used or the display models or the scratch-n-dent if they're warrantied. See how they feel--does your left hand happily wrap around the neck? Does your right arm drape comfortably over the body? Do your fingers reach? Then you'll have several finalists.

Then get someone (even a sales clerk) to play the same tunes on each guitar while you turn your back. The one that sounds the best then is the one you want. Buy THAT ONE and not a "new in box" of the same model--acoustics (even with electric built in) will not all sound alike even if same model, wood grain and manufacture techniques are not all alike.

Also get yourself a solid case. A comfortable locking neck strap is good. Buy a lot of different types of pick and plan to try them all out.

To learn, get a teacher to start. If you don't have someone correcting your fundamental errors, you'll learn wrong--and in the worst-case scenario, that can lead to carpal tunnel syndrom! A dozen lessons with a teacher who's recommended by the best music store in town, or the music department of your local college, will give you a solid foundation.

At the outset, practice no more than 10 minutes at a time, several times daily. This will yield fastest progress. Then increase your time weekly by a couple of minutes and after several weeks start to drop the number of practices, so that eventually you're up to a single one-hour-plus section per year.

After your first dozen or so lessons, if you want to quit paying the teacher and you don't mind learning slower, you can self-teach using books, cds, dvds, and observation. Also Guitar Player magazine :-) Pick up used resources from ebay or a used bookseller if you want to save money; buy whatever looks good, if it turns out to be too advanced for you then just save it for when you catch up to it.

You would need an acoustic/electric guitar for playing on a amp with. That's basically what it's for. To ampifly the sound on it. You can also use them for playing LIVE performances too.

The good names in acousitc/electric guitars are:

1. Ibanez
2. Epiphone
3. Yamaha

Here is where you can find good ones at:

www.guitarcenter.com
www.music123.com
www.samash.com
www.samedaymusic.com

Good luck

My daughter teaches guitar and she recommends buying at locally owned shop that also has guitar instructors. The instructor will provide you with the proper guidance and see that the guitar fits you, and is setup well. You do not need to spend a lot of money on your first guitar, and does not need to be acoustic-electric unless you plan on performing immediately for large audiences. There are some good guitars being sold for under $100. I recommend starting with nylon strings to ease finger pressure. Be careful at your "Big Box" guitar retailers. Very good deals can be had as they buy in volume, but they often "oversell" and you end up spending more than you should. Save your money for lessons. Start now, and enjoy a lifetime of personal satisfaction. Again, think local, think independent retailer, and think lessons. Practice, practice, and practice, as nothing worthwhile comes easy, and beware of Esteban!