If you have decided to buy your first guitar, then the overall choicethat is available can often seem overwhelming! What should you belooking at when it comes to styles, colors, makes and models? You haveprobably asked yourself – which one is right for me, and how on earthdo I choose?

If you are in the position of looking to buy a guitar, then thefollowing questions are the ones that you really should be askingyourself. The sad fact of the matter is that many people they end upspending a lot more money than they need to, and many people end upwith what they thought was a great deal that turns out to be completerubbish.

What is the type of music that I am looking to play?

Examine your particular tastes and which type of music you areinterested in learning. For those who have more of a tendency to rockand roll or jazz, then an electric guitar is probably going to be bestfor you. If you are looking to strum along to a more tuneful style,then you should be looking into getting an acoustic instrument.Whatever kind of music you like, the basic skills that come intoplaying the guitar are pretty much the same. The guitars, however, aredifferent – they are built with a particular style in mind.

What is my level of expertise?

• For the beginner it’s a good idea to look at a classical or anelectric guitar. These tend to be easier on the fingers to begin with,and thus easier to learn on.

• For the more experienced player it really comes down to what kindof music you want to play, as well as price and style. You shouldconsider what you are trying to achieve – for example are you lookingto improve your current style or expand your repertoire?

What is ‘tonal quality’?

Tonal quality, is, quite simply, the unique sound of the individualguitar. Does that sound suit you and your style of playing? Each guitaris different, so strum it and listen carefully to the noise that itmakes.

What is the ‘action’’?

The action is the placement of the strings on the fretboard. Theplacement of the strings will affect the playability of the guitar –too high and the strings become more difficult to press down andtherefore affect the tempo of your playing. On some guitars they areset high, on others you’ll find they are lower. Too low and there willbe a lot of interference on the frets which causes a buzzing sound asyou play.

Is the neck straight?

You should see more or less straight away whether the neck isstraight or crooked. If there is even a slight bend in the neck it willhinder the intonation of the instrument, and at different points chordswill sound different. It’s a really easy thing to check, but is stillmissed by a lot of people. All you need to do is hold the guitar andlook along the edge.

Does the neck fit in my hand?

When a craftsman builds a guitar, they vary the shape and size ofthe neck to suit the variability of the players’ hands. It’s a reallygood tip to make sure that the neck fits snugly into your hand. Try andfind one that feels like it was built for your particular size hand inmind. The thin necks are usually more suitable for smaller hands, butthicker necks tend to be stronger.

How much can you afford?

You shouldn’t really be thinking about spending a massive amount ofmoney on a new guitar if you are a beginner. Look at exactly how muchyou have to spend, and then make sure you keep to it. Looking at modelsthat you can’t afford is a waste of time and will only make youconfused. Upgrading is easy when you have practiced for a while and youhave a better idea of what style of music you want to play.

Getting it right, and getting it right from the very beginning isabsolutely vital. Get it right, and you have a much better chance ofsucceeding in your musical quest. Buying a guitar based solely on whatit looks like as it hangs in the shop is a recipe for disaster – youwill get it home only to find that it does not even come close tofitting your needs. Relegation to the corner of the living room or theloft will probably ensue! Buying a guitar is like making an investment– an investment into your own musical future.

Liam Gibson of LearnGuitar-User-Reviews,specializes in helping aspiring guitarists get the info that they needto make the right choices. Liam, a stage guitarist himself, leads histeam of guitar experts to constantly review new courses and products inthe market and make sure you get the best value products that work foryou. Check out actual user reviews and feedback of the most popularguitar courses at http://www.LearnGuitar-User-Reviews.com.