###What guitar can I use/buy? The group uses classical, acoustic, acoustic/electric and/or electric guitars. I use an electric guitar, only because I may need to drown out some other players during a session LOL. ###How much should I spend? As little or as much as you like. Guitar prices range from $50 to $25,000. Talk to a professional about the best guitar for you. Visit a music store, not Harvey Norman, JB Hi-Fi et al type store. The sales person should listen to your requirements and then suggest several guitars that would be most suitable for you. Before you visit the store make sure that you have - a budget, or maximum price that you are willing to pay - type of music that you want to play. This will determine the type of guitar that would be best for you Don't buy the first guitar that you try. Ask yourself the following questions: - Does it 'feel right'? - Do you like the look of it? - Is it too heavy? - Is the guitar too big or too small? - Can your hand reach the end of the neck to tune the strings? If this is the first time that you have taken playing the guitar seriously then there is no need to purchase the most expensive guitar. A budget guitar will do just fine. You will be learning **techniques**. The more expensive guitars may have a 'better sound' but your ears haven't been trained to hear these nuances, as yet. Maybe in a year or two you will want to upgrade to a better guitar or even purchase a different guitar type. ### I've a guitar but it has been sitting in the cupboard for a few years The guitar will need a clean up and definitely new strings. You can take your guitar to a music store and the sales people can recommend some cleaning fluid and cloths, strings and if there is need for some repair work. If the 3 skinniest strings are - nylon (just like fishing lines) then you need nylon strings. - these produce a mellow sound - used for classical, folk or any other style of music (Willie Nelson performs on a nylon string guitar). - steel (just like cheese slicers) then you can use either steel or nylon - have a crisp, bright tone as compared to nylon string guitars - are used for rock, country and many other styles of music It doesn't matter what type of strings you use as both types will hurt your fingers. This pain is part of the induction to the guitar players club. ### What additional equipment do I need? The following list is what you will need, over time, meaning there is no need to purchase these items straight away. The only exception is the USB drive. - guitar strap ($15+) - picks or plectrums ($5+) - cappo ($12+) - music stand ($15+ optional) - portable foot stool (optional). At home you can use a couple of old telephone books - tuner (suggest using a free phone app if you have an acoustic guitar) - **32gb USB drive** (to copy all the lesson material to) - there are a lot of videos for you to look at - notebook and pen to take notes (optional) - folder to keep your sheet music - guitar case (this may come with a new guitar) - guitar stand (useful at home) If you have purchased/own an electric guitar then you will also need - amplifier (small and portable to bring along to the sessions) - cable between amplifier and guitar - electric guitar tuner $100+ (this is **not** the same as an acoustic guitar tuner) ### Why are you using Youtube I copy the material off Youtube to demonstrate a technique or to practice along with. I save these videos so I can copy them to your USB drive. This way you don't have to search Youtube for the relevant file/lesson and therefore incur the internet bandwidth cost when you need to play the video several times. ### What type of music will I learn? I start of with music that the group would like, later on, I encourage the group members to explore some of the music that they enjoy. To find out what the group likes I ask the group to make song suggestions and then the group votes on it. If I think that the music is beyond what the group is capable of then I will suggest something else. Currently we use Credence Clearwater Revival (Bad Moon Rising), Johnny Cash (I Walk The Line), Eagles (Hotel California), Beatles (Hey Jude), America (A Horse With No Name). I have a library of over 700 songs plus several songbooks from Simon & Garfunkel, Johnny Cash, John Denver and The Beatles just to name a few. The songs we learn depend upon the group and their preferences. ### I'm a leftie? No problem. I have material that will help you.