Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of guitar should I get?
The most important thing is to get one that you feel comfortable playing. The three main types of guitar are electric guitars, acoustic guitars and a hybrid type called an acoustic-electric guitar. If you're using an electric, you will need an amplifier. Acoustic and acoustic-electric guitar can be subdivided into nylon-string and steel-string types. A nylon-string acoustic guitr will be the easiest on your fingers. Many beginners suffer from sore fingers until they develop callouses on them.
For a beginner, any type of guitar is usually adequate. As one improves and gets to the point where they can play certain styles of guitar, then you want to obtain the type of guitar mainly used for that style of music. If you want to play rock, metal, punk, grunge or jazz, you most likely want an electric guitar. If you are playing religious, devotional, classical, folk, fingerpicking, flatpicking, ragtime or bluegrass music, you most likely want an acoustic guitar.
Is there a minimum age requirement for students?
The famous classical guitarist Andres Segovia was often asked by parents with young children when should one start learning to play the guitar and he would always reply "Long before you are born". There is no set age for beginning guitar lessons. Mozart was entertaining the kings of Europe at age five. Everyone has different amounts of musical potiential. However it is very important to get a guitar tht is the right size for the student.
How long does it take to learn to play the guitar?
Again everyone is different. Some people learn in a month what it takes others years to learn. Progress depends on two things.
- The quality and duration of your practice. and
- Your innate, inherited musical ability which is genetically passed on from your parents, grandparents and ancestors.
If there are musicians in your family tree, there is a good chance you have at least some inherited musical ability.
I play guitar now but I want to get better. How do I do it?
Besides taking lessons from Guitar From Afar, there are three things you need to develop to play guitar well-your ears, your fingers, and your brain. When you play the guitar, those three things work together in a highly complex collaborative process. There are many activities that develop these together and individually. they are found in the book which can be downloaded for free called The Grounded Guitar.