Beginner Question - HowToTuneAGuitar

AdamoVita · 06-26-2009, 07:53 PM

I just received a new guitar for my birthday, and I'm really excited to learn how to play it. However, the guitar that was bought for me is a parlor-size acoustic, instead of a full-size (I hope I've got my terms right there). I've managed to tune it, but I'm having trouble playing basic chords without my fingers touching on other strings and messing up the sound. Would returning the parlor-size and getting a full-size guitar eliminate this problem?

dantheguitarman · 09-12-2009, 04:50 PM

It is unlikely your issues will be improved by getting the larger guitar. You might find it easier for your fingers to touch only one string, but the extra fretboard size will give you further issues.

You may wish to get the larger guitar for when you 'grow' into it, but don't think it will magically give you good technique - this comes with practice.

In truth, it shouldn't matter the size of guitar if you have good technique.

Make sure you are pressing the string down with your finger at a right angle to the string - press directly down with the very tips of your fingers, not the flat fleshy part.

Practice simple songs and scales, sometimes only single notes. Make sure you are pressing the string down with your finger at a right angle to the string - press directly down with the very tips of your fingers, not the flat fleshy part.

This may be uncomfortable at first, but practice and it will improve.

I also recommend starting playing simple tunes first of all as you only have to concentrate on one string, not multiple as with chords. Also you will get much more satisfaction as you can pick them up quicker.

Try this website http://www.dantheguitarman.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk for a few easy to play songs, with midi and tab. It is aimed at younger guitarists, but the principle is the same. Learn simple songs, practice technique and the rest will come with time.

Good luck!

Dotfret · 10-09-2009, 11:10 PM

First, let us make sure your guitar is the "full scale length". Use a tape measure to check the distance from the centre of the bridge slide to the nut. This should be around 25 inches, but it is a little variable. Gibson used to make them 24.9", Fender used a 25 1/2" scale, it can go up to 26 1/2" or more on a lot of classical guitars and modern electrics.

If it is a little shorter, down to say 22 1/2", you have a short (3/4) scale guitar. This is not necessarily bad - it can make playing easier. John Lennon used a 3/4 scale Rickenbacker for years in the early days of the Beatles, without knowing it was a short scale guitar.

Shorter than that and you have a terz guitar, sometimes called a "pig" guitar, which can be something of a problem if you have big hands.

Unless your guitar is a scaled down instrument, you are merely experiencing the sort of fumbles that every beginner gets when starting out on guitar. A parlor guitar is usually more comfortable and easier to play than a jumbo or greadnaught. Unless you have a"terz" guitar, it is worth persevering with it.

A good sounding small guitar is harder to build than a good sounding big guitar - that is why large guitars are more common. Most good guitarists prefer a small body guitar, if it sounds right. Look at Martin's "signature models" - shows how many big names play 000 guitars rather than dreadnaughts or jumbos.

I have lots of guitars (yes, I'm a dealer, it is no secret around here). If I'm playing in public, I mostly use a dreadnaught.

If you pay me to play a gig, I come with a small body Bacon & Day Senorita from the 30s, or an old Italian small body "guitarre manouche". Those guitars put me at ease and increase my confidence. That's also because those are the guitars I have got, but I have owned them for many years, and they are my best guitars for the purpose.

Don't be in a hurry to trade that guitar ...

Dotfret · 10-10-2009, 05:27 PM

This might be useful - Stefan Grossman teaches Vestapol -

part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TPn6ZVKlwE
part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLMAFqW2ypA
part 3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN6R8De3xZo

You can save the files by going to www.savevid.com - you enter the YouTube URL of the file into the box, click on "download", then select "download mp4".
The file will be downloaded to your download directory as video.mp4. You can rename this file, cut it and paste it to another directory, then start again. You need a new call to savevid for each video, it does not refresh.
If your player does not support mp4, download the latest Quicktime player from the Apple website - Google for it, whatd'y'want, spoonfeeding?

Tom · 10-29-2009, 10:28 PM

Go to a large store in your area and rent a full size and play it for a couple of weeks and see if you like it better. In fact do this with any instinct you have about a piece of equipment.

In my opinion the only way to know a guitar or amp or pedal or anything is to rent it for a few weeks. Don't play it in the store... you have to take stuff home and spend a few hours with it to really learn what you like about it and what you don't.

Personally; when I was building my last guitar, I rented about 10 different guitars in a couple of months.

When I rented a Rickenbacker with a small nut width I realized I wanted in nut width on a guitar. When I rented a fender with a maple neck; I learned what kind of wood I prefer there, and so on.

You learn through trying and taking chances. If you feel it's the guitar; perhaps it might be. But then again you might try every guitar in the shop and realize, oh yeah I need to practice more. Or you might find one that is a little easier to play and you enjoy it more.

In my experience often you do find one that is easier to play and better suited to your sensibilities but you really have to play alot of different guitar for a couple hours each before you start realizing what you want in a guitar.

Im a big believer that guitars are like shoes and the size and style is important for each player... and you should try as many instruments as possible before putting up your money ... (find a large music store with a rental department the one by my house has 60 different guitars for rent)

06-26-2009, 07:53 PM	#1
AdamoVita Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1	Beginner Question I just received a new guitar for my birthday, and I'm really excited to learn how to play it. However, the guitar that was bought for me is a parlor-size acoustic, instead of a full-size (I hope I've got my terms right there). I've managed to tune it, but I'm having trouble playing basic chords without my fingers touching on other strings and messing up the sound. Would returning the parlor-size and getting a full-size guitar eliminate this problem?

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09-12-2009, 04:50 PM	#2
dantheguitarman Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 2	It is unlikely your issues will be improved by getting the larger guitar. You might find it easier for your fingers to touch only one string, but the extra fretboard size will give you further issues. You may wish to get the larger guitar for when you 'grow' into it, but don't think it will magically give you good technique - this comes with practice. In truth, it shouldn't matter the size of guitar if you have good technique. Make sure you are pressing the string down with your finger at a right angle to the string - press directly down with the very tips of your fingers, not the flat fleshy part. Practice simple songs and scales, sometimes only single notes. Make sure you are pressing the string down with your finger at a right angle to the string - press directly down with the very tips of your fingers, not the flat fleshy part. This may be uncomfortable at first, but practice and it will improve. I also recommend starting playing simple tunes first of all as you only have to concentrate on one string, not multiple as with chords. Also you will get much more satisfaction as you can pick them up quicker. Try this website http://www.dantheguitarman.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk for a few easy to play songs, with midi and tab. It is aimed at younger guitarists, but the principle is the same. Learn simple songs, practice technique and the rest will come with time. Good luck!

10-09-2009, 11:10 PM	#3
Dotfret Community Luthier Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 35	First, let us make sure your guitar is the "full scale length". Use a tape measure to check the distance from the centre of the bridge slide to the nut. This should be around 25 inches, but it is a little variable. Gibson used to make them 24.9", Fender used a 25 1/2" scale, it can go up to 26 1/2" or more on a lot of classical guitars and modern electrics. If it is a little shorter, down to say 22 1/2", you have a short (3/4) scale guitar. This is not necessarily bad - it can make playing easier. John Lennon used a 3/4 scale Rickenbacker for years in the early days of the Beatles, without knowing it was a short scale guitar. Shorter than that and you have a terz guitar, sometimes called a "pig" guitar, which can be something of a problem if you have big hands. Unless your guitar is a scaled down instrument, you are merely experiencing the sort of fumbles that every beginner gets when starting out on guitar. A parlor guitar is usually more comfortable and easier to play than a jumbo or greadnaught. Unless you have a"terz" guitar, it is worth persevering with it. A good sounding small guitar is harder to build than a good sounding big guitar - that is why large guitars are more common. Most good guitarists prefer a small body guitar, if it sounds right. Look at Martin's "signature models" - shows how many big names play 000 guitars rather than dreadnaughts or jumbos. I have lots of guitars (yes, I'm a dealer, it is no secret around here). If I'm playing in public, I mostly use a dreadnaught. If you pay me to play a gig, I come with a small body Bacon & Day Senorita from the 30s, or an old Italian small body "guitarre manouche". Those guitars put me at ease and increase my confidence. That's also because those are the guitars I have got, but I have owned them for many years, and they are my best guitars for the purpose. Don't be in a hurry to trade that guitar ...

10-10-2009, 05:27 PM	#4
Dotfret Community Luthier Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 35	This might be useful - Stefan Grossman teaches Vestapol - part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TPn6ZVKlwE part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLMAFqW2ypA part 3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN6R8De3xZo You can save the files by going to www.savevid.com - you enter the YouTube URL of the file into the box, click on "download", then select "download mp4". The file will be downloaded to your download directory as video.mp4. You can rename this file, cut it and paste it to another directory, then start again. You need a new call to savevid for each video, it does not refresh. If your player does not support mp4, download the latest Quicktime player from the Apple website - Google for it, whatd'y'want, spoonfeeding?

10-29-2009, 10:28 PM	#5
Tom admin Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 147	Go to a large store in your area and rent a full size and play it for a couple of weeks and see if you like it better. In fact do this with any instinct you have about a piece of equipment. In my opinion the only way to know a guitar or amp or pedal or anything is to rent it for a few weeks. Don't play it in the store... you have to take stuff home and spend a few hours with it to really learn what you like about it and what you don't. Personally; when I was building my last guitar, I rented about 10 different guitars in a couple of months. When I rented a Rickenbacker with a small nut width I realized I wanted in nut width on a guitar. When I rented a fender with a maple neck; I learned what kind of wood I prefer there, and so on. You learn through trying and taking chances. If you feel it's the guitar; perhaps it might be. But then again you might try every guitar in the shop and realize, oh yeah I need to practice more. Or you might find one that is a little easier to play and you enjoy it more. In my experience often you do find one that is easier to play and better suited to your sensibilities but you really have to play alot of different guitar for a couple hours each before you start realizing what you want in a guitar. Im a big believer that guitars are like shoes and the size and style is important for each player... and you should try as many instruments as possible before putting up your money ... (find a large music store with a rental department the one by my house has 60 different guitars for rent)