Guitars and Gear

By Xpike Go To PostYeah any of those are good. I learned using a cheap Cube amp but my practice amp is now a used Marshall I got for like $120.

I also recommend Rocksmith 2014 as a learning tool, runs pretty cheap these days and I find it more effective to learn songs than using tabs

Impedance is another important thing to consider when buying headphones for practicing your electric guitar. It’s an electrical unit that represents the relationship between resistance and reactance. To put it in simpler terms, low impedance headphones (below 25-30 Ohms) only work well with devices that have low amplification.

But because you’ll be using them with your guitar amp, you need headphones with high impedance. This helps prevent blowouts and ensures that there is no overloading when playing at higher frequencies. Moreover, high-impedance headphones also reproduce sound much more accurately, which is why they’re an essential part of studio and mixing equipment.

By reilo Go To PostAre you playing indoors in an apartment? If so, be aware that basically anything over 10W might be too much and way too loud even with a master volume. Indoor amps for small spaces might be best at 5W or so. There's amps that allow you to switch between full-power and half-power but those are more expensive.

Also, if you plan to play with headphones, be aware of the 8:1 ohm rule, else playing through headphones will sound like junk without an interface.

This is a pricey example but if you were to buy some headphones make sure you select something at least 250 like these Beyerdynamic ones: https://www.amazon.com/beyerdynamic-770-PRO-Studio-Headphone/dp/B0006NL5SM

From: https://musicoomph.com/best-headphones-for-guitar-amps/

By reilo Go To PostFWIW, digital amplifiers like Amplitube 4 (which is what I use) via an interface (e.g. Scarlett 2i2) is really great if you do want to go the guitar -> interface -> laptop route.

By Mister Go To PostI was actually planning on going the digital route after learning and getting used to playing on a regular amplifier, will look into those then, thanks.

By Kibner Go To PostIf you want to record yourself (and you really should, especially when practicing), a solid interface like the Scarlett 2i2 or similar Behringer products are essential. I like to recommend interfaces with at least two inputs in case you also want to integrate singing into your recording. You would typically use a different mic for voice as you would for guitar so it gives you an easy way to do that.

By Mister Go To Postthanks for the advice guys. I'll also start looking into getting an interface for later, on a strict budget right now and the Scarlet 2i2 is a bit expensive

By Mister Go To PostDecided to take advantage of work from home till I have it for the next few months by learning (electric) guitar, bought a "Fender Squier Bullet Fat Stratocaster HSS RW", need to buy an amplifier.

What are the best cheap amplifiers for a beginner? Are these any good:
https://www.bajaao.com/products/ibanez-ibz10g-10w-guitar-combo-amplifier?variant=1004451199
https://www.bajaao.com/products/fender-squier-portable-electric-guitar-amplifier?variant=13072570384456https://www.bajaao.com/products/marshall-mg-15g-gold-series-15-watts-combo-guitar-amplifier?variant=13068934709320

By Mister Go To PostOk thanks, is the reverb(?) effect you hear in post-punk music achieved by amplifier tuning or is it something like post-processing on a PC? The beginning of these 2 tracks for example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph6gIFHbGwg&list=RDph6gIFHbGwg&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-ahNXvCvyA


The Real Tone guitar to USB cable it uses is impossible to find here.

By Kibner Go To PostAn alternative to the Scarlett 2i2 is the Behringer UMC202HD. If both of those are too expensive, you can get single XLR input interfaces for a bit less: Scarlett Solo, Behringer UMC22, or Behringer UM2.

By Diego! Go To PostI had a cheap 10w squire amp that came with my first guitar in a pack and it was terrible.

I would say its worth spending a bit extra or getting a half decent second hand amp if you can.


Reverb effects are very often built into amps. It can also be added post processing but for practice/live you would use your amps reverb or a reverb pedal.

These days you get some fairly cheap modeling amps which give you a hell or a lot for your money. Loads of effects and they attempt to replicate tube/valve amps in the way that you can control the gain via the guitar volume or how hard you play (which is fun). A lot of them also have USB outs so you can plug them into your PC to record if you want.

TBH the best thing to do is go to a shop and listen for yourself or if you can't do that cause of covid look at youtube videos/guides.

By reilo Go To PostIf I were to give out a few of unsolicited tips:

1. Learn to play the ENTIRE fretboard early. Playing a D7 chord on fret 3 isn't quite the same as a B7 chord on fret 12 despite being the same shape.
2. Find a practice routine and learn different/new things early
3. Make sure your fretting finger tips are as perpendicular as possible against the fretboard
4. Get your posture right early

Especially number two, the best way to improve is to train your fingers something new all the time, else you'll get stuck trying to perfect that "one thing" and progress will be a law of diminishing returns.

By Xpike Go To Postremember to warm up always or you'll fuck up your fingers

“We’ve broken so many records,” Mr. Mooney said. “It will be the biggest year of sales volume in Fender history, record days of double-digit growth, e-commerce sales and beginner gear sales. I never would have thought we would be where we are today if you asked me back in March.”

Shortly after stay-at-home orders were announced in the spring, Mr. Trani saw a surge of traffic for his videos, he said, and quickly tripled his number of private students taking lessons remotely. Popular instructional sites like JustinGuitar.com and GuitarTricks saw similar spikes during the spring.

The biggest names in the business of online guitar instruction were seeing a similar pattern. Fender said that its guitar-instruction app, Fender Play, which features Mr. Trani as an instructor, saw its user base shoot to 930,000 from 150,000 between late March and late June, with a considerable assist from a three-month promotional giveaway.

No wonder. Learning guitar, or piano, or oboe or bassoon, benefits the brain on profound levels, according to Daniel Levitin, a neuroscientist, musician and the author of the 2006 New York Times best seller “This Is Your Brain on Music.” (Many psychological studies have shown the therapeutic benefits of playing an instrument, as well.)

The process, Dr. Levitin wrote in an email, is “neuroprotective” in that it “requires that you grow new neural pathways — something you can do at literally any age.” He added that “using your brain for something that is challenging, but not impossible, tends to be rewarding, and hence comforting.”

Learning the guitar, he wrote, is also a forward-looking process, kindling hope and optimism, which helps regulate stable mood chemicals like serotonin and dopamine.

By reilo Go To Posthttps://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/08/style/guitar-sales-fender-gibson.html

Good, good
.

By Mister Go To Postturns out I've slightly sprained my left index finger. I think it's from the day I practiced for 4 hours straight. I should avoid doing that in the future.

By Kibner Go To PostI don't know if it is true of guitar players, but I know that most high-level brass players practice for about an hour at a time, 4-6 times a day.

In general, 30-45 minutes a day is enough to consistently improve. It is also better to practice for 30 minutes a day than an hour every other day.

By Kibner Go To PostGood deal! Sorry if it sounded like I was condescending or something.

By Kibner Go To PostI don't know if it is true of guitar players, but I know that most high-level brass players practice for about an hour at a time, 4-6 times a day.

In general, 30-45 minutes a day is enough to consistently improve. It is also better to practice for 30 minutes a day than an hour every other day.

By sy Go To PostI feel like I've read that may be true in the very beginning but beyond that stage, 30-45 mins is just warming up imo

I don't play instruments but I imagine the difficulty curve is the same as getting good at drawing/painting/physical skill