Online Guitar Lessons

Rock concerts were the rage in the 80′s and they pushed innumerable kids to buy their very 1st guitars. Today, video games like Rockband2 are having a similar effect.

The essence of all classic rock music does not just lie with the lyrics; it also lies with the electric guitar and the various sounds that it can produce. There are so many kids across the block who would give anything to play like Mark Knopfler, Steve Vai, Angus Young etc. These men are not just some of the best guitarists of their times, they are legends.

If you are interested in learning how to play the guitar then the first thing you’ll need to do is buy one. Most people start with an acoustic guitar and graduate to the electric guitar. It can be quite overwhelming for anyone to choose the right guitar right off the bat since there are literally 1000′s of models out there on the market. If you’re getting an electric guitar then you’ll also need to pick up an amp, pick-ups, picks, a tuner etc.

Electric guitars can be purchased in a lot of sizes and designs with the aerodynamic designs being some of the hottest. Do not buy the 1st guitar you see. You need to look around and check out the prices and models before you actually go and buy one. In fact, one of the better ways to pick a guitar is by the brand or by the style. Here’s my take on the four important styles:

Stratocaster (Also known as the ‘Strat’) – This certainly is a show stealer and has a typical style. The most famous is the red and white color combination, which was used with great regularity by Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits. The Strato is from Fender and has a neck sturdily fastened to the guitar’s body. Aside from this, it has double cut away sides, 22 frets accompanied by a wammy arrangement and three single-coil pickups. Fender designed the first Strato in the early 50′s. A few of the popular designs include:

* Deluxe Strat: Approx $550 * Fender American Deluxe Strat HSS Electric Guitar: Approx $1100 * Standard Stratocaster Electric in Maple: Approx $450 * Fender Standard Stratocaster Electric Guitar in Rosewood: Approx $600 * Fender Strat Eric Johnson Signature model: Approx $1700

Telecaster – The Telecaster is another creative guitar from Fenders. It is more than just another guitar; it is a complete band. It is a solid body electric and comprises of twin pick-ups. The first Telecaster was produced by Fender in the 40′s and has a single cutaway body. It doesn’t have the tremolo bar but has two different single-coil pickups. Some of the popular Telecaster models include:

* American Telecaster HS: $950-$1200 * Fender Standard Telecaster Guitar: $400-$600 * Fender 63 Telecaster Relic Solid Body Electric: $2600-$3100 * 72 Tele Custom Electric: $750-$850

Les Paul – This extraordinary guitar was designed by Gibson for some of the stars of the day. The striking feature of a Gibson Les Paul electric is its set neck construction, which means there are no joints. The body is a single cutaway and rounded. It is outfitted with dual humbucker pickups as well as a raised scratch-plate. If you want to play perverted sound then the Les Paul will provide you with a vast range. Some of the well known shredders who use the Les Pauls include Stevie Ray Vaughan and Slash (ex-Gunners). Some of the famous Les Paul models include:

* Les Paul Custom Electric: $3050-$3500 * 1959 Les Paul Standard Guitar: $5550-$6050 * Les Paul Vintage Mahogany: $750-$800 * Les Paul Classic Electric Guitar: $1850-$1950

Gibson – Gibson is one of the greatest brands in guitar and all their models are classics and cannot be compared to others. Gibson guitar company was actually started in 1902 by Orville Gibson and has been accountable for giving musicians some of the most innovative guitars. A couple of the famous models include the arch-top L5 model and the Flying V etc. Some of the legends who have shredded on a Gibson or are still using it include Jimmy Page and Frank Zappa to name a couple. Some of the popular Gibson models include:

* Gibson Flying V Guitar: $500-$600 * SG 61 Classic Guitar: $1500-$1600 * Gibson Faded SG Special: $550-$600 * Gibson Explorer Pro Electric: $1100-$1200

These are the best brands of guitars. The other aspects that will help you to pick up a guitar include fretboard, the sound of the pick-ups, and the body. Full-bodied electrics are normally favored as they can produce some of the best noises that you will ever get to hear.