If you are just getting interested in guitar playing or you've been playing a borrowed/hire one and now want to purchase one, here is what to check out for.
1 The bag or case
Just like other musical instruments, the guitar is a fragile
instrument that needs to be taken care of. The first place to start is to
ensure that it is always in its case whenever not in use. This means that when
you buy it the first day it should be enclosed!
Why is the case so important anyway?
It protects the strings from snapping anything and thereby
breaking.
Exposure to too much heat could result in expansion thus messing
up with the tune. In the long run, you might notice you guitar taking a bow
shape. This often times results in of the fingerboard.
People love music even though they may not know how to
create or play. Keeping your guitar exposed makes it vulnerable to touch by any
onlooker (children and adults alike). They might never have had any bad
intentions but if they don’t know how it works, you’ll find someone
experimenting with the tuning pegs, trying to strum like a pro. You and I know
where that can lead! As much as possible and as a Dowe’s music rule, “Keep
all instruments away from the reach of non-instrumentalists until they learn a
thing.”
Your guitar will last longer if the exposure to scratches is
minimized. A case does this fine enough.
Inside the case
Of course the content will have the guitar.
Let’s look at
the accessories of the instrument.
Tuning pegs:
Shouldn’t be touched if you haven’t learn't how
to tune.Depending on where you buy, they could be metallic or plastic headed. I prefer metallic.
Strings:
Depending on the type of guitar, the strings should
be enough for the guitar. Except for the bass guitar, most usually require 6
strings which differ in width.
Capo:
A gadget used to transpose. Just a reminder that it’s
not wise to use this a short-cut of playing the barre-chords. I personally use
Capo to achieve a particular tone in music that may not come out clearly with
barre- chords. I repeat, use capo only as a preference.
Plectrum:
This will help you big-time in strumming and
picking. Always check the right width before buying. I'm a bit hard on guitar so my preference will always be thicker stuff. If you are soft, do just the opposite of me.
Cable/code:
For connecting to the amplifier for performance where P.A is needed.
Pickup:
Necessary for acoustic guitars especially when you
are playing before a large crowd.
Strap:
Well, we can play guitar while seated on a chair but
in many cases we want to move around, psyche up the audience or dance to the
tune. In that case, the strap saves the day.
Tuner:
You need this all the time just to ensure you are
playing the songs in the right key. The sound you get when one string is off
the tune is really ugly. I detest the feeling. Let me hope you do too. Thanks
to technology, modern guitars have tuners fitted on the sides of the resonator.
Thanks for reading through. More to come.
There was a time a song could make me cry, could make me sleep, could make me laugh, get me inspired but I always yearned for all of them in one package. The want became the need until when I sang that all felt right and that’s the beauty of good music. “Your body is the harp of your soul. And it is yours to bring forth sweet music from it or confused sounds.”- Khalil Gibran. Every music instrument produces its own sound melody but with the same progression it's swift, sound and liberating, and with a touch of passion, practice and purpose it gave meaning because practice isn’t the thing that you do once you are good.
