# Help me get my first guitar! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 30, 2011, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-my-first-guitar/583716 "2011-05-30T00:37:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-my-first-guitar/583716/21 "2011-05-31T13:57:00Z")
Though for $22.43 you can get [this](http://www.amazon.com/Korg-TM-40-Display-Digital-Metronome/dp/B000AAGM0M) which is a tuner and metronome - a very handy combination. ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-my-first-guitar/583716/22 "2011-05-31T14:10:56Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > [Amazon.com: Snark ST-2 All Instrument Clip-On Chromatic Tuner : Musical Instruments](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003VWKPHC/ref=oss_product) > > $14 bucks. Best tuner you’ll get under a hundred. Just clip it on and let it do the work for you. Amen… the Snark is a wonderful thing to have… As for the OP, I recommend a used guitar in the $100 range (preferably a nylon/classical model)… get started, get your hands used to making chords, your fingertips calloused, and get over the “beginner” hump… you will be in a much better position to purchase a guitar with 6-12 months of experience… walking into a guitar store now would be pretty difficult in terms of making a decision about “what you like” or “what feels best” ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-my-first-guitar/583716/23 "2011-05-31T15:09:27Z")
I just helped my daughter get her first guitar,she’a a percussionist now ad wanted to try guitar as well. I did get it online at [wwbw.com](http://wwbw.com) (woodwind brasswind). We know next to nothing about guitars, but felt comfortable ordering a full size dreadnaught style by Muse built for beginner/students. It was a package deal, soft carry case, picks and a tuner for under $200. I took in to the local music shop to see about lessons and get a new string (she busted out her G string:p). The guitar tech was impressed with it, the set up, the sound, said the action might need to be whittled down a bit but will let the teacher make that call. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-my-first-guitar/583716/24 "2011-05-31T15:34:16Z")
missed the edit window…Luna is the guitar maker, Gypsy Muse is the series… ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-my-first-guitar/583716/25 "2011-05-31T16:15:44Z")
Love the digital tuners. 😃 You do need to know the string names to use them. Here’s a Quick mnemonic to recall the Names of the strings EADGBE **E** ddie **A** te **D** ynamite **G** ood **B** ye **E** ddie ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-my-first-guitar/583716/26 "2011-05-31T16:22:34Z")
I use a Korg GA-40 tuner. Regardless of brand, they all work basically the same. > **[Amazon.com: Korg Acoustic Guitar Binding (GA40) : Musical Instruments](https://www.amazon.com/Korg-GA40-Large-Display-Guitar/dp/B000EEEYCW)** > > The Korg GA-40 is a dedicated, easy-to-operate guitar and bass tuner with automatic pitch detection. A large, easy-to-see, LCD needle-style display. Quinta-Flat Tuning mode allows dropped tunings from one to five semitones.Supports tuning of... ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-my-first-guitar/583716/27 "2011-05-31T19:48:34Z")
Actually, no. There’s three kinds of tuners. A: in-line. B: pedal. C: clip-on. The Korg GA-40 is an in-line tuner. You have to plug in to it, or use the built in microphone. Pedal tuners are large chunks designed to help you tune when you’re on stage. Not worth discussing at this point. Clip-on tuners are very small, and designed to clip on to the headstock of an instrument. The Snark tuner has some minor advantages over the Korg. It has the microphone, but it also has a vibration sensor, where it senses the vibrations made through the instrument’s body, rather than the air. It can not be plugged in to an electric guitar. However, the vibration sensor works even if 12 people are tuning up around you. The Snark also has an illuminated screen, in color, making it very easy to see if you are sharp or flat. So if it’s dark, you can see the screen. It’s also very fast. Faster than the Korg, in my experience. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-my-first-guitar/583716/28 "2011-05-31T22:01:29Z")
I bought[this book](http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Handbook-Ralph-Denyer/dp/0679742751/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1306878781&sr=1-9) when I was first starting and found it very helpful. I still get it out once in a while to look something up. Lots of info on how the different parts (of electrics and acoustics) work and how to adjust and maintain them. Also some explanation of musical terms and theory and chord charts. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-my-first-guitar/583716.md?page=1)