Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What kind of guitar should I get?
A: I recommend that you get the type of guitar that is most
often used in the kind of music you would like to learn how to play.
There are basically three types of 6 string guitars:
1. 1. Steel string acoustics-these are the guitars typically used in
popular music. The positives are that the necks are narrow and fit
the hand well. Acoustic guitars are loud enough on there own and
don’t need amplification, although some come with the option for it.
The down side to an acoustic is that for a lot of beginners the
heavy steel strings are hard to press down. jpeg
2. Nylon string acoustics(classical guitars)- These style guitars
have all the same aspects of a steel string acoustics except the
strings are made of nylon (3 clear nylon and 3 wound). Nylon strings
are much easier to press down and are softer on your finger tips.
The downside is that on the full size nylon string guitar, the necks
are a little wider and may be a slight bit harder for some people
with smaller hands to form some of the bigger guitar chords. jpeg
3. Electric guitars- Electric guitars are probably the easiest of
all three to play. They have narrow necks, and very light steel
strings which are easy to press down. Some of the possible down
sides are that you need to get an amplifier for them. Electric
guitars are solid and therefore don’t produce a lot of sound with
out an amplifier. Though not a real problem they are also a little
heavier than acoustic guitars. jpeg
All guitars come in 1/4, ½, 3/4 and full sizes and should fit the
person proportionally. Most adults will need a full size guitar but
if it feels really big try a 3/4.
Q: How much does a new guitar cost?
A: Beginner guitars range any where from $150 to $300.
Beginner electrics are often sold in package deals with the
amplifier and various other accessaries. You can get ½ and 3/4 nylon
string from $75 to $100. If you want more for your money you can
also buy a used instrument. Either way have the salesman play it for
you so you can hear that it sounds ok.
Q: Is there anything else I need to get when buying my first guitar?
A: Yes. You should get guitar picks, a strap and a chromatic
tuner. Sometimes you can get them to throw some of that in. When
your only spending a 100 or so dollars there isn’t much room to
dicker on price, but a few picks and maybe a strap isn’t too much to
ask for.
Q: How young can I start my child?
A: 6 or 7 is a good age to start, but I have taught kids as
young as 4 yrs old. The key is, if you want to start them this young
then it is crucial that the parent is at the lesson. It is important
that the parent understands the material as well and can go over it
with the child at home. Also don’t nag young kids to practice. Trick
them into it. Pick up their guitar and play it when they’re around
you. Especially when they are in a playful mood. Children learn by
example so, if you do this, more often they’ll want to play it too.
Then you can ever so subtly offer help or just praise. Children
don’t want to practice they want to play. So if you trick them into
it this way, then they’ve made the choice to play on their own and
you don’t have to nag them. There are many ways of coaxing them to
play , you just have to put a little thought into it.
Q: I heard that you should start young children out on piano first.
Is that true?
A: If they don’t already have a preference for a certain
instrument then I believe piano is the best choice for really young
children. It is the easiest instrument to be able to sit down and
get sounds out of. Press the key and you have a perfect note every
time. As well it is the most logically laid out. All the notes are
in a row from low to high in order. This helps them to physically
see how music works. But don’t force a child to play an instrument
they don’t have an interest for, you may ruin any desire they have
for it.
Q: I was told that you should start out on a steel string acoustic
first?
A: That is an old myth that I don’t believe in. Why start on
the guitar that takes the most hand strength to play? Why learn on a
guitar that may not be used in the kind of music you like? Choose
the guitar that is most used in the kind of music you want to play.
If that happens to be the steel string acoustic then that’s what you
should get. But if you like Rock then get an electric , if you like
classical get a nylon string.
Q: How long of a lesson should I take?
A: Half hour lessons are the standard. You will learn enough
in a half hour to keep you busy all week. Any longer is too much
unless you’re a more advanced player and need more.
Q: I have two kids that want lessons, can they go together?
A: All my lessons are one on one with the exception of
parents who want to take lessons with a young child. The reason is
that everyone learns at a different rate, and when you have multiple
people in a lesson you end up splitting your time between the two.
Or, one picks it up faster then the other and you end up spending
more time on one student. It’s like trying to teach to teach to
different levels of math at the same time. What you can do is have
them go on alternate weeks. This way you don’t have to pay for 2
lessons a week if you cant afford it.
Q: I don’t want lessons every week, can I go once every other week
or once a month?
A: Yes, you can go as often as you like, but you can’t own a
time slot. People who take weekly lessons own there time slot. If
you only want a lesson once in a while you have to schedule them by
what slot is open at that time.
Q: How much do you have to practice?
A: Preferably you should play every day for at least a ½
hour. You don’t have to do it all at once though. Actually its
better if you spread it out. Just keep your instrument out where it
will remind you to play and just pick it up and play what you’ve
learned for 5 or 10 min. Doing this multiple times through out the
day and you will easily reach you practice goal and will get even
better results then if you did it all at once. It’s easier to stay
focused, and there’s less time in between sessions to forget what
you’ve learned. Just think about it; if you had to practice 7hrs a
week you could just practice for 7 hrs on Saturday and be done all
in one shot. Well that is obviously not gonna work because then your
doing nothing for the 6 other days of the week. So if it makes sense
to spread your practice out over the week, then it makes even better
to spread it out over the day. Plus a 5 or 10min session is much
easier to do and is easier to stay focused. And 5 min. of focused
practice is better then 30 of forced practice.
Q: What other things do I need to bring besides my guitar?
A: Guitar picks, a guitar strap, a chromatic tuner and an
extra set of strings would be a good idea to get as well.
Q: Do I have to learn how to read music?
A: You can learn how to play an instrument without reading
music, but it is like learning a language with out learning how to
read or write it. You can do it but you may run into some
difficulties later on. Now if your goal is to eventually play
professionally or to go to school for music then you definitely need
to learn how to read music. But if you just want to play for fun or
as a hobby, than it isn’t absolutely imperative that you do; as long
as you learn a basic understanding of rhythm.
Q: Can I choose the songs I learn?
A: Yes, definitely. A teacher should never force you to play
music you don’t like nor listen to. You are only going to be
motivated to practice if you’re playing songs you like. Of course
you’ll have to start off with easier songs and work up to the harder
ones.
Q: What styles of music can you teach?
A: I teach all styles of music: rock, jazz, blues, classical,
country, folk, latin, etc. etc.