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Wich guitar will you choose?

So there is a lot of choice in guitars:

Spanish (aka classical), flamenco, western, electric... you name it.

 

Which guitar is right for you now?

 

First it is important to know which type of music appeals to you.

 

If you are only going to play classical music, then a Spanish or classical guitar is the guitar for you. And of course a lot of modern songs.

In the link below Ana Vidoivic plays the piece Asturias by Isaac Albéniz:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inBKFMB-yPg&ab_channel=SiccasGuitars

 

Classical music on a western guitar is possible, however, not all pieces are suitable.

Below is an example of classical music on a western guitar:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o15mjorpHT4&t=36s&ab_channel=BenButler

 

A western guitar is mainly used for a combination of fingerpicking and chords.

Tommy Emmanuel gives an example in the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sV1e-iSo5As&ab_channel=TommyEmmanuel

 

And well, an electric guitar. How do you choose an example of the sound of an electric guitar from the huge range? By choosing a medley:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOcABtJTpho&t=1710s&ab_channel=ProgMindProductions

 

If people really don't know what to choose and they ask me for advice, I usually recommend a classical guitar. The reason is that the neck is a bit wider, so you can put your fingers a little better. The strings also require less power than a western guitar. For learning good technique, a classical guitar is a good start. You can easily use the learned technique on any other guitar. It often just takes some getting used to the width and shape of the neck of that new guitar.

 

The western guitar has a somewhat narrower neck, which makes it more difficult to place your fingers on the strings without directly muting other strings. The strings also require a bit more power and therefore some calluses on your fingers, before you can play comfortably and without pain. But you get used to your own guitar fairly quickly and you can learn to play well on this type of guitar too.

 

An electric guitar has the disadvantage (or advantage, if you will) that you can get a lot of sound out of it fairly quickly. But a lot of sound is still not a well-played piece of music. Especially due to the use of effects, it quickly seems like something. But you won't get very far without technique. Good technique is also very important on an electric guitar. You can also learn to play well on an electric guitar. Especially if the electric guitar is really your cup of tea. My advice is just, especially in the beginning, to limit yourself very much with the use of effects.

 

The above also makes clear why many guitarists have multiple guitars; they want to have the appropriate guitar to play multiple styles of music.

 

Then there is still a subdivision into types within each type of guitar.

With electric guitars you have the more all-round models such as the Stratocaster and the Les Paul models (usually single coil pickups), the hard-rock and metal models (usually humbucker pickups and a somewhat wilder body shape), the jazz guitars have a very smooth sound and f-holes in the body.

Incidentally, a derivative can be found for every type; for example, single coils combined with humbuckers is a common combination.

The classical guitar again distinguishes between the romantic guitar (a somewhat easy-to-hear and round sound) and the flamenco guitar (which has a kind of short and shrill sound).

Jazz guitars are also available in an electric, acoustic or semi-acoustic version.

With western guitars I find that the differences are more subtle. But you can also have endless discussions about that, due to personal preferences.

 

In short: there is quite a bit to choose from. Choosing your first guitar is always the hardest. Go for what appeals to you the most. Learning the technique is the most important, the rest will come with time.

 

Good luck with all the considerations!