Keyboardist wanting to learn acoustic gee-tar

[SOUND DIAGNOSIS]

Is anyone here an accomplished (self taught by ear) keyboardist who made a transition to being "fluent" in acoustic guitar? I am seriously thinking about taking up the acoustic guitar, and wonder about the transition. Is is "easier" for a keyboardist to learn this physically very different instrument? Other questions come to mind. Should I rent an instrument for like 30 bucks a month and see if I "get anywhere"? If that works out, should I buy a $130 Takamine and use this for a year to climb the learning curve? Steel -vs- nylon? Any recommendations for beginner books? Any thoughts would be most appreciated! ---Lee

 

[c7sus]

I'm not a keyboardist, but I'd say pass on a rental or even a really cheapo guitar even if you're starting from scratch.

Cheap instruments don't stay in tune. They won't intonate properly. Certainly not anything like you're used to playing keys. There's in nothing more frustrating than a stringed instrument that won't stay in tune or runs sharp up the neck. You'll hear it, and you'll hate it. Improperly intonated instruments are IMPOSSIBLE to tune.

So spend some bread on a decent guitar that won't be a pain in the ass to play. Decent guitars hold their value too. So if you decide guitar isn't for you you'll get most if not all of your money back out, especially if you buy used in good condition.

Have the guitar setup too. Most come from the factory not properly intonated or setup, unless you get into mid- to- highend stuff. Martins, for example, are set purposefully high from the factory so they can be lowered to suit the player.

 

[Cyrokk]

What c7 said.


Also, when you pick up an acoustic guitar, try to guage the distance between the string and the fretboard (called the action). The farther away the strings are, the harder it is to play (however, make sure that when you place your fingers on the higher frets, you don't hear a buzz which indicates that the string is hitting other frets and the action is set TOO low). I started learning how to play on a guitar with very high action (the distance was large) and it was a major pain in the ass. When I switched to a different guitar with better action, I flew all over the fretboard and it increased my confidence quite a bit.

With a decent acoustic guitar, you shouldnt have too much trouble picking up the basics. Musicians who pick up an additional instrument seem to have an easier time than someone starting off new to music as a whole.


Cy

 

[Dakota]

Consider a Fender Squier for $150. And a cheap 10 watt amp for $20. -I know you said acoustic, but electrics are easier to learn on. Easier to push the strings onto the frets. Since you've already got the ear, you'll pick guitar up fine. Learn some chords and scales and you're there!

 

[Outlaws]

c7sus made a good point. ie: you spend say...$500 on a good used guitar, and a 5 or 6 months later you don't want to play anymore, then you can sell it back for or a good portion of what you paid. If you had rented you would be out $150 - 180 anyways. But if you like it, you can keep it rather than spending another $150 on a shitty "beginner" guitar. That totals about $350. and you are stuck with a peice of shit. That beginner guitar might have been nice the first month of you playing, but you passed that on the rental period.

 

[Outlaws]

As for nylon or steel?

Since you probably understand music thery better than most guitarist EVER will, I would say you might have more fun on a classical guitar (nylon), than a steel string. But if you are looking for more of the stereotypical guitar playing, then a steel string might suit you fine.

It seems to me you have to spend a bit more for a classical guitar of quality, but they sound so damn good.

 

[SOUND DIAGNOSIS]

You guys have been most kind to offer a wide range of great suggestions to my question. Most appreciated here. I thank all of you so much! ----Lee

 

[SOUND DIAGNOSIS]

I do have one other question. How would I benefit from getting a model that is acoustic-electric in nature? Thanks in advance. ---Lee

 

[64Firebird]

I do have one other question. How would I benefit from getting a model that is acoustic-electric in nature? Thanks in advance. ---Lee

Micing your guitar for recording isn't too big of a deal, but if you ever wanted to preform live, micing it is a pain.

 

[christiaan]

I bought a €69,- steelstring acoustic like one month ago. It's fun to have one around but yeah... trying to keep it in tune is an issue. I mostly got it to be able to add some background strumming to songs and I think it will serve ok for that. It doesn't sound so bad anyway. But for working on my chops, I must rather pick up my electric. Not a great guitar either (Squire Tele) but still..

To make a long story short. I don't think it's the best 69,- I've ever spent.

 

[Dakota]

I think the Fender Squires are an exelent value. When you're just learning the mechanics of playing and have some uncertainty whether or not you will continue playing, what's important? Stays in tune. Easy to set the action. And with ex-lights, very playable, very easy on the fingers. Pickups arn't great, but their good enough.

 

[christiaan]

In the same price range the Squire definately sounded better than the guitars I also tried when I bought my Tele. (Had to try four Teles though, QC on the electronics isn't top notch) but I agree that it's a pretty ok to start with (it's my first and only electric so far). What helps keeping it in tune is the fixed bridge. I absolutely wanted a guitar with a fixed bridge because tremolo units are often the bottleneck on cheap guitars.

 

[Dakota]

That's true. I forgot about the bridge. My Squire Strat came with 3 of 5 springs in place, and I had to put the remaining 2 on to keep it in tune.

 

[SOUND DIAGNOSIS]

Micing your guitar for recording isn't too big of a deal, but if you ever wanted to preform live, micing it is a pain.

A most very important consideration, indeed. Any other thoughts? any other advantages/disadvantages? Thanks ---Lee

 

[Outlaws]

A most very important consideration, indeed. Any other thoughts? any other advantages/disadvantages? Thanks ---Lee

Since you might not want to even continue playing....but if you do, you WILL want a better guitar after 6 months, spend the money on a nicer acoustic now, and buy a pickup later on.

 

[SOUND DIAGNOSIS]

Since you might not want to even continue playing....but if you do, you WILL want a better guitar after 6 months, spend the money on a nicer acoustic now, and buy a pickup later on.

Are "aftermarket" pickups as good as the ones that already come on a acoustic/electric guitar? ---Lee

 

[Outlaws]

Are "aftermarket" pickups as good as the ones that already come on a acoustic/electric guitar? ---Lee

In the sub $500 dollar acoustic/electric............I would say yes. No question.

A $3000 Taylor........well, they have a pretty nice pickup already in them.


If you were to buy a acoustic for say, $300, the model with a pickup would probably run anywhere from an extra $50-$150. You could buy a much better aftermarket pickup for $150 than what you will get pre-installed. I would bet that $50 would get you every bit as good a sound as what would come with an acoustic/electric in that price range. So I would put my money in a guitar that plays and sounds better from the start.

On acoustic guitars, a $300 dollar guitar is worlds apart from a $200 guitar. And a $400 guitar is close to another world apart. People will argue about how much difference is there after that. But I would say, what ever you are willing to drop on a guitar now, wait and save another hundred dollars. Unless you are willing to drop a grand right now. But then...........


(all stated above is subject to objections from Buck62 reguarding his $200 guitar that plays better than a high end Martin.Also all is a personal opinion and has no validity of any kind as someone will no doubt dispute all previous statements as total bullshit)

 

[SOUND DIAGNOSIS]

In the sub $500 dollar acoustic/electric............I would say yes. No question.

A $3000 Taylor........well, they have a pretty nice pickup already in them.


If you were to buy a acoustic for say, $300, the model with a pickup would probably run anywhere from an extra $50-$150. You could buy a much better aftermarket pickup for $150 than what you will get pre-installed. I would bet that $50 would get you every bit as good a sound as what would come with an acoustic/electric in that price range. So I would put my money in a guitar that plays and sounds better from the start.

On acoustic guitars, a $300 dollar guitar is worlds apart from a $200 guitar. And a $400 guitar is close to another world apart. People will argue about how much difference is there after that. But I would say, what ever you are willing to drop on a guitar now, wait and save another hundred dollars. Unless you are willing to drop a grand right now. But then...........


(all stated above is subject to objections from Buck62 reguarding his $200 guitar that plays better than a high end Martin.Also all is a personal opinion and has no validity of any kind as someone will no doubt dispute all previous statements as total bullshit)

Outlaws, we ARE talking about a pickup system that can easily be plugged into my Mackie 808s power mixer for live work...and can also be run into my soundcard, either directly or using a JOEMEEK pre-amp, right??? ---Lee

 

[Outlaws]

One in the same.

 

[SOUND DIAGNOSIS]

One in the same.

Kewl. What kind of signal comes out of guitar that is "picked up". Would one use a pre-amp? Any idea? (Sorry for the 4,673 questions...bear with me...you have been most helpful) ---Lee