When learning an instrument comes to mind, we often think of the piano, but have you considered learning to play the guitar? One of the main reasons a guitar is a better instrument than a piano is it’s easily transportable. Unlike a piano, a guitar can be carried around easily, making practising and playing this instrument easier.
This, coupled with its popularity, means that the guitar has loads of material to help you master this instrument. Guitars are also cheaper to own than pianos or violins, so your initial investment in learning this instrument will be minimal.
Benefits of Learning the Guitar
There are many benefits to learning an instrument. For some, learning to play the guitar goes beyond simple interest. The guitar is one of the most popular instruments to learn, with many physical and mental health benefits. Let us look at some of the benefits you will get when you learn to play the guitar.
Relieve Stress and Anxiety
We live in a world that is fast-paced with a lot of stress and anxiety. As a working adult, you might find that your job or life generally contributes to your stress and anxiety levels. If you are a student, upcoming examinations and school might be giving you anxiety and stress. Did you know learning the guitar can help with these?
When you learn the guitar, you must fully concentrate on the instruments, hand placement, getting the correct position for the chords and such. This requires your full attention to the task at hand. When you are concentrating on playing the guitar, it provides a kind of mindfulness that gives you a sense of calm. Your stress and anxiety leave as you are no longer concentrating on the things that stress you out or the things that are causing you anxiety. Learning the guitar is even used in therapy for people who are depressed, stressed and anxious.
Improve Coordination
Another benefit of learning the guitar is improving your overall coordination, especially hand-eye coordination. When you start learning to play the guitar, you will constantly need to look at the fretboard and hands to ensure that you are in the correct position when playing. As you progress, you will no longer need to look down at your hand position or the fretboard, as your brain will have established a connection between your fingers and hand. Practice makes perfect. As you learn to play this instrument, you will develop precise muscle movements that benefit other activities that require fine motor skills, such as typing and playing the piano or violin.
Help You Connect with Others
If you are looking for an activity that can connect you to people around you, then learning the guitar is just what you are looking for. Today, with the advancement of technology, it can be challenging to connect to people around us since we are constantly on our phones. Learning the guitar enables you to develop social and teamwork skills. When you learn the guitar, you can opt to learn it in a group setting. This will encourage you to meet other people with the same interests and passion for guitar. As you advance in your guitar learning skills, you can even meet and join bands looking for a guitarist. Joining a music group can teach you how to work effectively as a team, which will help you build your social skills.
What Guitar Should You Get As a Beginner?
As you start learning how to play the guitar, you might be overwhelmed with the information available online on how to begin learning to play the guitar. The vast information on the World Wide Web can be daunting and sometimes contradictory, which causes people, especially new beginners, to feel overwhelmed and unmotivated to learn this beautiful instrument.
The very first thing you would need to do is get a guitar. Now comes the most critical yet complicated question you will encounter in your journey: How to choose the right guitar?
Before we dive into this question, let us consider a few factors when you begin to learn the guitar.
Rent or Buy?
Should you rent a guitar or should you buy one? There is no correct answer to this question. It might surprise many, but did you know you can rent musical instruments in Singapore? Businesses such as Sound Systems Rental and Accent Musical Equipment provide musical instruments for rentals.
If you are unsure if the guitar is the musical instrument for you or if you would like to learn the guitar but do not want to spend a chunk of money until you have saved enough for the guitar of your dreams, renting is a good option. The flexibility of renting is one of the main reasons people opt for this option.
If you are passionate about learning the guitar, purchasing your instrument from a guitar shop is best. You will not go wrong with either option, but always remember that the cost of renting will eventually outweigh buying a new guitar, so it’s best to have a plan.
Acoustic or Electric Guitar?
There are similarities and differences between the acoustic and electric guitars. The electric and acoustic guitars have a fretboard, six strings and tuning pegs. What makes them different is mostly their body size, neck size and general portability. Acoustic guitar has a hole in the middle, and it’s this hole that produces the music. On the other hand, the electric guitar has pickups that convert the vibrations into electrical signals that play through an amplifier. Electric guitars tend to be smaller than acoustic ones.
One of the most significant differences between the two guitars is that the acoustic guitar is more portable. It is an instrument you can carry and play with you as and when you want. On the other hand, the electric guitar requires you to carry an amp, pedals and cables to play it.
Since you have some basic understanding of what you are looking for, let us now look at some guitars you can consider as a beginner.
Yamaha FG (Acoustic and Electric)
Yamaha is a brand that has been known for its quality and durability. The FG models are one of the best beginner guitars and remain a classic today. Yamaha’s FG models were introduced over 50 years ago and remain popular today. This shows this instrument’s playability, tone and build. This guitar will cost you approximately $300 to $1,000, depending on the exact model you purchase.
If you are looking for an electric guitar for beginners, the Yamaha Pacifica is one you should consider. They have many instruments under this series, such as the Pacifica Professional Pacifica Standard Plus. Their prices range from $400 to approximately $2,000, depending on your chosen model.
Fender (Acoustic and Electric)
Fender is a trendy brand in the guitar world. Fender is known as the king of guitars. This is mainly because Fender’s guitars are affordable, versatile, and almost indestructible. Fender is famous for its electric guitars, but its acoustics are also very popular. One of the famous acoustic guitars is the Fender SC-60. This guitar is known not only for its beautiful look but also for its balanced tone. It will cost you approximately $300 to $600.
If you are looking at electric guitars, the Affinity series is one of the best you can get from Fender. This series will cost you $400 to $600. This instrument is affordable and known for its quality tone, delivering in both form and function.
Can You Self Learn to Play the Guitar?
Like all instruments, you can learn the guitar by yourself. There are many resources available online that can teach you to play the guitar.
YouTube
There are many channels out there on YouTube that teach people to play the guitar for free. Andy Guitar is one such channel on YouTube. This channel has a ten-day course free of charge, along with countless songs. Another good channel on YouTube is Marty Music. Many more videos can teach you the basics, such as chords and how to play entire songs.
Udemy
Udemy is an example of an online platform with videos from many guitarists. They charge for their video lessons, but they are affordable. They have loads of content that is so valuable for beginners starting their journey of learning the guitar.
Why You Should Hire a Tutor?
As discussed in the previous section, many resources are available online for those interested in self-learning the guitar. What about hiring a tutor? One of the best things you can do when learning the guitar is to hire a tutor. Yes, they cost money, but they are well-spent. There are so many benefits to taking guitar lessons from a tutor, which we have listed below.
Individual Attention
One of the best parts about hiring a tutor is the individual attention and feedback you get. Just like any other instrument, learning the correct basics for the guitar is essential. One of the most common issues faced by people who self-teach themselves the guitar is they learn the basics incorrectly. This is bad and a waste of time as they had to relearn the basics, which was difficult.
Feedback
One of the most valuable aspects of hiring a tutor is the feedback you get. A tutor will not only be able to guide you as you embark on your journey of learning the guitar but also provide you valuable feedback, which will not only make you a better guitarist but also help you grow as a musician.
Keep You Motivated
Most people who self-learn the guitar tend to give it up within a year. The main reason is that they feel learning this instrument is not only tricky but boring. This is where a tutor comes in. A tutor can tailor their lessons for you and keep them exciting and fun.
Superprof is one of the places where you can find tutors to help you learn the guitar. The tutors from Superprof are not only qualified, experienced, and knowledgeable but also verified. Not only do they have the experience to guide you, but they can also help you achieve the highest standard possible.
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