There are many things to consider before splurging on a guitar. Guitars come in several types and sizes and it is imperative for you, as a parent, to choose the correct guitar for your child. When choosing one, it is necessary for you to fully inspect the guitar and see to it that it can be adjusted easily; you must also pay attention to the intonation, tuning and tone production of the guitar. If you are searching for a guitar guide, you have come to the right place. Here are 4 tips to choosing a guitar for your child.
Tip 1: Acoustic Guitar
Since you won’t have to spend a dime on amp features, acoustic guitars tend to be cheaper and more affordable than electric guitars. Therefore, if you don’t want to invest heavily on an instrument that your kid may not want to pursue for long, you should opt for a starter acoustic guitar. However, it is ill-advised for you to purchase a bargain guitar as the instrument can be painful to play; it may not tune up or hold its tuning and that can, in turn, discourage your child to continue his/her guitar lessons.
Tip 2: Electric Guitar
When you factor in the cost of a guitar amplifier, an electric guitar can end up costing higher than an acoustic guitar. In addition to that, electric guitars can be loud too. However, an electric guitar does have its fair share of advantages. For instance, electric guitars are easier to play than acoustic guitars. That´s because the height between the fingerboard and the strings is lower on the electric guitar, allowing young fingers to easily play notes without strain.
Tip 3: No need to go for branded guitars
Most of the major guitar brands generally specialize in high-quality professional instruments. However, that is not what we are looking for, is it? Your child doesn’t need a professional level guitar. Therefore, you can opt to purchase guitars produced by small brand companies. The guitars manufactured by major brands tend to cost higher because of factors such media advertising and marketing. Hence, even the entry-level guitars manufactured by the major brands tend to be more expensive than other entry-level guitars. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are better.
Tip 4: Other things to consider
As we stated earlier, there are many things to consider before splurging on a guitar. For instance, you need to ensure that the tuning machines function smoothly. In addition to that, the heel and neck joint of the guitar should also appear secure; the wooden bridge must be securely fixed to the top. You should also pay attention to the fingerboard and see to it that it is on par with the upper part of the guitar. What about the strings? Well, the height of the string at the nut just above the first fret should be very low.
