Guitar Question

dirkey_wynne

This is probably an extremely silly question.

Anyway, years ago when i was only a youngster my Mommy bought me a guitar! I never actually got around to learning how to play, but really want to. Anyway, my nephew is at present learning and this has fired my enthusiasm once again to learn, having messed around with his guitar over the w/end.

Anyway, the guitar I have is a Spanish guitar (3 nylon strings). Anyway, I was wondering - I heard before there is something about the bridge on a Spanish guitar, whereby you can't just get rid of the nylon strings and have all 6 strings the same as a classic guitar. Could anyone let me know? I wish to either get it re-strung or just go out and buy a classic guitar.

One other thing - I'm left handed. I was messing around on my nephews guitar which is right handed, and got used to using it that way. Would it be worthwhile having any potential guitar re-strung for a left-hander, or is it all just about what way you learn and become used to?

Anyway, thanks again, all advice gratefully accepted!

Doctor J

A Spanish guitar and a classical guitar are pretty much the same thing, they have three nylon strings. Putting steel strings on it won't work, it's not designed to cope with the tension of steel strings. If you want a steel string guitar you'll have to buy one unfortunately. As for the lefty thing, whatever feels best to you is the way to go, but the time tested method of bass strings at the top and treble strings at the botton is probably the safest route. If you choose to buy a new guitar, try out as many variations and models as possible and choose whatever you feel most comfortable with.

daymobrew

If you can learn to play right handed it will make the selection of your next guitar much easier. The range in shops for lefties (like me) is very poor.
For my first guitar I simply restrung a righie one and bought a cut-to-fit plectrum guard to stick to the body around the sound hole to protect it.
I still have this first guitar (3/4 size I think). Had machine heads redone. Nice sound. Height adjustable bridge. Could prob sell it to you.

I don't think you can put steel strings on a Spanish guitar because the body won't take the tension weight and might collapse. A quick phone call to a guitar shop will confirm this or correct me.

It wasn't me!

Nope, spanish guitars won't take steel strings. The whole thing will fall apart under the pressure. I wouldn't bother learning to play right-handed. It'll be a lot more trouble than it's worth. The selection of good left-handed guitars is crap but not so crap that you should have to change your style so drastically.

dirkey_wynne

Cheers guys. I was playing right handed with the nephews guitar at the w/end and was comfortable enough. (When I say playing I mean trying out his basic learning lessons!) I'll try it left handed when I go down to see which is more comfortable.

And daymobrew, as a matter of interest what would you sell that guitar for? I just need something basic for learning, so I'm guessing that would suit my needs.

One last question, do you think I should get lessons to start, or try to teach myself with some lessons downloaded off the net etc? It's much of a muchness really??

Doctor J

Maybe get a few lessons to start off with, just so you learn the fundamentals properly, ie - fingering and strumming technique, then take it on your own from there and see how you get on. Also, learn the music you listen to, rather than what instructors prescribe. Learning an instrument can be frustrating at times, learn tings that'll keep you interested in the instrument. Good luck.

It wasn't me!

I would say get a few basic tutorials from the net, just so you can play different chords and things, then get maybe a year's worth of lessons with a teacher to teach you more. Download every scale you can get your hands on. I got a list of every scale there is off MXTabs last year. Very useful. Learn them all, practice like mental and the world is your oyster. Enjoy.

Creamy Goodness

i'm left handed but when i first picked up a guitar (my brother's) it was right handed and so i continued to play right handed.

as said above it makes your selection of guitars more varied in a shop also right handed models tend to be a few quid cheaper.

Eoin Madsen

Good luck with it. My only advice would be: get proper lessons before you start playing a lot on your own or you'll regret it when you're trying to unlearn bad habits.