My guitar sounds weird . . .

__Ellie__

Hello,

I got a guitar as a Christmas present around 5 years ago from Argos and tried to play it around four times and gave up, but I decided recently to try and learn to play it properly. I ordered DVDs from some site that looked good and while I’m waiting on them to get here I have just been messing around with it myself and trying to learn some basic songs I found online and stuff. But the problem is my guitar doesn’t sound right for any hard rock or metal songs, and I’m just starting to realise now why people don’t buy guitars or amps from Argos ! I cant afford to buy a decent guitar or amp for at least a year though so I was wondering if anyone has some idea of something I could buy that’s relatively affordable to make it sound cooler in the mean time while Im learning coz its really off putting when nothing ever sounds right ! Please excuse my total lack of guitar knowledge I’m so confused haha ! Thanks !

Johnny Storm

Crank up the drive or gain knob on the amp, all amp tone controls in the middle, volume to taste and see how that goes.

Blackhorse Slim

Is the guitar in tune? Is it electric, and are you using an amp? Acoustic guitars tend to be more forgiving, electric guitars amplify your mistakes as much as what you do right.

Assuming it's an electric guitar, something like this might help. You plug it in to the jack on your guitar, and plug headphones into it. You have the normal volume, gain and tone controls, and you won't be upsetting family and neighbours while you jam.

If you have a little more money, something like this or this willl give you a whole lot more 'cool' sounds and effects to play with. One of my kids has a toy guitar with real strings and pickups but a plastic neck and tuning pegs that make it useless as anything more than a toy. But even that can sound good (if not in tune) through one of these, so it can make your guitar sound its best. It will give you those crunching rock metal sounds you're looking for.

Another option is to just buy a pedal. Go to a music shop and try out a few, you might find one that does what you like. Expect to pay 50-100 euros for a cheap pedal.

Personally, I think the Pod is the best option. But there is one other thing that will make your playing sound better.... PRACTICE!!!

__Ellie__

Cool thanks to both of you for the replies !

Yeah the guitar is definitely in tune and I’m using the little amp that came with it that I can put headphones in. That’s great one of those things looks like what I had in mind, thanks a million !!

Fingers Mcginty

I started off on a small gorilla amp and a hondo guitar and was able to get a decent sound. make sure you are in tune !!!!;)

deaddonkey

and if it has the same strings that it's had for 5 years, it isn't gonna sound its best.

__Ellie__

Yeah I am definitely in tune, its sounds ok when I fiddle around with the amp and stuff like someone told me to up there but its still not really what I’m mean, and it doesn’t have the same strings I changed them the other day so its all good in that department ! Anyway I think I’m gona get the “Line6 Pocket Pod” That Blackhorse Slim posted the link for coz that looks like it has all the stuff I’m looking for, I looked up demos of it on youtube and stuff so its probably all sorted !! Thanks