Q&A for How to Buy a Guitar

Research the guitar you are wanting, listen to its sound quality, and make sure that you are buying from a trusted store. A guitar center is your best bet -- see if you can get a deal on one. Don't buy it because it looks cool either. Another thing is talk to professionals.

Classical guitars have nylon strings which you may find more comfortable for your fingers. A classical guitar may be more comfortable to hold. The downside for classical guitars is that the neck is wider. Try holding both to see which you like the best. Also, listen to the sound each one makes, as that should really clinch the choice for you.

A steel string acoustic guitar generally has a more country/rock/western sound to it than the sound of a classical guitar.

It depends on what you are looking for. When you buy a guitar online, you will get the best quality guitar. At the same time, you might not get as much information about it as you'd like. You also won't be able to handle the guitar physically before buying it as you would in an actual store.

Unless they have not yet started puberty, or are extremely short, then a full/standard size guitar would suit them just fine.

The acoustic guitar has a calmer sound to it, which many think is better. The electric guitar has a more robotic sound to it, which many thing is good for Rock. The acoustic guitar is easier to use due to its simplicity form. The electric guitar is more complicated to use, unless you've been playing guitar for a while.

For a beginner, a budget between $100 and $300 should be good enough.

An acoustic guitar would be preferable, because it's simpler than an electric.

Assuming you mean a cigar box guitar, that is a guitar-like instrument made from a cigar box. It is not inherently difficult to play, but unlike with regular guitars, there aren't a lot of resources out there for beginners.

You can, and you can get some very good deals online, but always be sure that you have tried the type of guitar before you buy it online. (If you see a good deal for a Stratocaster online, try to play one in a guitar store first to see if it works for you before purchasing.) If you can't go to a guitar store, then research the guitar you want as extensively as possible.

It all depends on what you like and what your playing styles are. More folk-oriented music may be better played with a classical or acoustic, while more contemporary forms of music, including rock and R & B, could be better played with an electric. It all depends on your personal preference and how you want your music to sound.

A classical guitar has nylon strings and the acoustic has steel strings. The classical guitar has a soft mellow tone, wide neck and tuning keys facing down the headstock. It is played in plucking and fingerstyle technique and has low string tension. The acoustic guitar has a narrow neck, robust, hard sound and has a truss rod on the neck since the strings' tension is high than the classical guitar. The acoustic is more prone to fret wear.

An acoustic guitar would be better for a beginner. Electric guitars are for more advanced and experienced players. Start out with an acoustic guitar first. Once you feel comfortable holding and playing it, you may move onto the electric.

The difference is the basic range of tones that the guitar can perform. A guitar with fewer frets is used mostly for stuff with a lot of chords (rhythm guitar), 20+ frets are better for playing solos (lead).

It's much easier to learn on a cigar box.

If you're looking for something that will be easier on your fingers, go for the classical guitar. Classical guitars use nylon strings, which won't hurt as much as the metal strings on an acoustic guitar. Try out both and see which one you like best.

Choose a guitar that is comfortable to hold. Check for buzzing on the strings. Bring someone who is an experienced guitar player to help you decide.

A jumbo guitar is a type of acoustic guitar that is significantly larger, and were originally developed to make a louder sound. Many find them uncomfortable, and due to the invention of electronic amplification, they can be replaced with smaller guitars that can produce the same sound.

It really depends on the beginner in question. Your best bet is to have a friend or acquaintance who plays look with you and help you find what, specifically, is best for you. Guitars come in several scale sizes, and, again, the best way to determine which is right is to have an experienced and trusted person help you out when you go to the store.

As long as the student is passionate about learning, any guitar is good for a beginner.

It's okay. You can take lessons or just learn on your own using a guitar book (some come with a CD or online tracks that you can accompany) or online tutorials. See How to Learn Guitar for Free for some tips.

YouTube has great guitar lessons. Justinguitar.com is free also.

Yes. There are a lot of tutorial videos on YouTube right now.

Find your closest Guitar Center or look at gear4music.com. I would recommend the Guitar Center so you can try it out before making a decision.

Auditorium, Concert or Parlor sizes equipped with light-gauge steel or nylon strings are comfortable and not bulky, and have a full sound. These types of guitar should suit you as a beginner senior citizen.

No. The notes for guitar and the notes for the ukulele are different. A ukulele typically has the strings tuned to G, C, E and A, while an acoustic guitar is typically tuned to E, A, D, G, B and E.

If you lay the guitar on its back and look up or down the neck, you should be able to tell if it is straight.

A typical guitar has 6 strings, while a ukulele has 4. A bass guitar also has 4 strings. A bass has steel strings, not nylon. The best guitar for a beginner is one with six nylon strings, unless your child would like to play a ukulele instead. A ukulele, a bass electric guitar, and a classical/acoustic guitar are all very different.

Look them up, and search what kind of instrument they play.