Subject: How a Cheap Guitar Can Slow You Down
You are getting this e-mail because you subscribed to it on www.learn-to-play-rock-guitar.com. If you don't want to receive these e-mails any longer, go to the bottom of this message and click on "unsubscribe." Hey there Friend, Today is Black Friday in the US. Historically, this is the day when retail businesses go from being in the red profit-wise (losing money) to being in the black and making enough money to stay in business for another year. Stores put on huge sales to get people to come out and purchase everything imaginable, from tools and hardware to vitamins and underwear. And it's no different for music stores.This is usually a time when a lot of people get new guitars and other gear. Sadly, there are many stores that will sell inexpensive, cheaply-made instruments to folks that don't know what they're looking for - or at. The store's only goal is to move product, not to make sure that you are getting an instrument that makes sense for the intended recipient. People are drawn in by a low price, and unfortunately, when you're buying a guitar, price is not the most important factor to consider. You see, many people tend to rationalize purchasing a low cost guitar by saying it will be a good starter instrument. If the guitar gets used and the player sticks with it, you can always upgrade later. Unfortunately, in many cases, later never comes because the cheap instrument is barely playable. The guitar student quickly becomes frustrated and loses interest because the instrument is too difficult to play. Like the saying goes, you get what you pay for. And so we have many guitars collecting dust under beds and in corners and attics around the world. And we have many people out there who have "tried" guitar without having a fair shot at it in the first place. This reality doesn't do much to help the cause of someone that wants to learn guitar but may have tried something else in the past and quit. I was reminded of this recently by an email from Gary P. His story started out like so many others. He began with a cheap guitar and struggled with it for over four years. The guitar spent more time under the bed than in his hands. It wasn't until he bit the bullet and got himself a quality guitar that he really began seeing progress with his playing ability. As he puts it, "I found that my learning progressed much easier and look forward to practice everyday. I wasted a lot of valuable time trying to learn on low quality guitars... If I had a quality instrument to start with, It would never have been put under the bed." I consider that a happy ending to a story that ends so much differently for most other people. There typically isn't a strong enough compelling reason to keep them going when it's too difficult to play that low-end instrument. Discouragement is a strong foe, and the work to learn guitar proves to be too much for many people. Add on top of that the cost of the guitar and perhaps some lessons, and you begin to see why so many guitars end up in garage sales or buried under a pile of clothes in a closet. Now before you get the idea that you need to spend a lot of money on a guitar, let me put your mind at ease. There are plenty of options available to you that won't break the bank, but you need to know what you're looking for. There are many guitars out there at affordable prices, both new and used. Of course, cost is relative to what you can afford, but even with a low budget you should be able to find a decent guitar. While it would be best to have someone help you choose a good guitar, many times you don't have access to someone who knows how to evaluate a deal. Regardless, it's important that you get your hands on an instrument before you lay out any money for it. Whether it's a new or used guitar, there are some common things you can check before you make a purchase.
I realize many parents don't want to put too much money towards something that may just be a phase for a child, but it is much easier to find a buyer for a quality instrument than to try and sell a cheap guitar. If you end up with a dust collector, you are much more likely to get a decent price for a quality guitar than for a cheap department store model. And you're increasing the likelihood they will actually enjoy learning guitar and stick with it. The point I'm trying to make is that if you are going to take up guitar (or any instrument), either as a hobby or something more, you should give yourself the best chance of success. Take some time to get your hands on different guitars to see what feels good and comfortable to you. Most music stores will allow you to try the instruments out. Even is you don't know how to play, you can still hold a guitar in your hands and tell how difficult it is to press the strings down on the neck. You can strum it and hear how it sounds. If the guitar you like is a bit out of your price range, I'd suggest waiting until you can afford the right instrument. This also goes for choosing a guitar for a child. Guitar isn't the easiest instrument to learn, so you should stack the odds in your favor by at least getting a guitar that isn't fighting you for every note. If you want help choosing a guitar for yourself or a family member, you should talk to my buddy Adam. He has a knack for finding quality instruments at reasonable prices. You can also inquire about purchasing a custom guitar as well. Have a rockin' weekend! Peace~ Dave Dave "Eddie" Vance is a rock guitar enthusiast and gear nut. He has been playing guitar for over 30 years and enjoys tormenting the neighbors every chance he gets. When he's not slaving for the man, you can find him rocking out with his B.C. Rich Bich guitar, a cold beer and some sweet tunes. He also runs Learn-To-Play-Rock-Guitar.com, but you knew that already! Follow Learn To Play Rock Guitar:I welcome your feedback! Did you like today's message? What other topics would you like to see covered in my e-mails? Please let me know at: dave@learn-to-play-rock-guitar.com As always, please feel free to forward this email to a friend! I review products before recommending them. If you buy a product based on my recommendation, I will receive a commission. However, my emails also contain links that don’t require any investment on your part and are jam-packed with "juicy, guitar learnin' tastiness". We don't rent or share your name with anybody. Feel free to forward this issue to any friends you think would enjoy its contents. They will thank you. So will I.
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