If you are about to choose an acoustic guitar, there are a few things you should know. Going shopping for an acoustic guitar is a major event in a beginner guitar player’s life. It has the potential to turn sour if you just blunder around from store to store or from classified ad to ebay. Here is a little advice that can help you to maintain the excitement.

If you are a beginner your first criterion should be with how the guitar feels to play. You might have a basic idea of what kind of venue you want to play in when you have some experience, but that can come later if necessary. The important thing now is to get yourself over the learning process easily, and a player-friendly guitar is what you need. If you know what kind of music you are thinking of playing then you will know whether you want a nylon string guitar or a steel string. You should also have given some thought to whether you are going to need a built in pickup and an amp.

Nowadays a beginner acoustic guitar player can get a solid wood top, good action and intonation plus a balanced tone for under $1000. Washburn, Taylor and Takamine seem to be the most highly recommended brands of acoustic guitar for beginners.

Many beginner acoustic guitars are made of laminated wood on the backs or sides but the Larrivee D-03 and the Taylor 300 series are made from solid wood. You might already be aware that alot of the tone of your guitar comes from the wood it is made from. Rosewood has a warmer tone, and maple gives a much brighter and sharper sound. Tone is also governed by whether the top of the guitar is finished with lacquer. A raw wood top has a warmer tone.

With the Taylor 300 you also get electronics so you can play amplified. Martin, Larrivee and Taylor are makers of high-priced guitars who have started making instruments for the low end of the market.

Try taking a guitar-playing friend with you when you are looking for a guitar. Once you have played a few models yourself, and have an idea of which suits you as far as playing is concerned, have your friend play your final choices for you so you can make a decision based on how the guitars sound.

Having looked at a few things you need to know when buying your first acoustic guitar, here is another piece of advice: do not put off starting to play the guitar because you can’t find a guitar you really like. If you are short of money or live somewhere you can’t look at a range of guitars, choose whatever acoustic guitar you can get to learn on. Choose the acoustic guitar of your dreams later.

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