I need a guitar — what do I need to consider?

If you want to start playing the guitar, you first have to make an important decision: Which guitar should it be? There are a few things that should be considered before buying to ensure that you get off to a good start.

There are acoustic guitars with nylon strings (classical guitar) or steel strings (acoustic guitar) and electric guitars (see also our blog post "What types of guitars are there?").

Each has its own sound and special features. To find out more about buying a guitar, we spoke to Elio from Gitarren Total, our partner guitar store in Zurich. He answers the most important questions.

First of all, I find out whether the person would prefer to play an acoustic or an electric guitar.

If you want to play rock, metal, pop music or jazz, you're more likely to end up with an electric guitar. For beginners, we recommend a Fender Stratocaster, which is versatile and suitable for a wide range of musical styles. It also impresses in terms of quality.

However, if you are looking for a "jazzy" sound, you are better off with a "hollowbody" guitar. We recommend an Epiphone in the lower price segment.

For classical music, song accompaniment or singer-songwriter pieces, on the other hand, the acoustic guitar is better suited. A classical guitar with nylon strings is great for beginners because the strings are soft. This makes it easier to pick at the beginning.
An acoustic guitar with steel strings is also possible if this is more in line with your sound preferences.

I think it's important that the guitar feels good and, if you're aiming for a certain sound or a certain style of music, that you choose an appropriate instrument. Such an instrument is preferred and played more often and motivation is the most important thing, especially at the beginning!

A tuner is definitely an advantage so that the guitar always sounds right. Depending on the type of guitar and playing style, you should also have a few picks, spare strings, a strap and a bag or case.

Of course, an electric guitar also needs cables, an amplifier and any effect devices.

From 500.00 CHF you can get an acoustic or electric guitar from us at Gitarren Total.

For beginners, we recommend investing CHF 900.00 to 1300.00 for an acoustic guitar. For this you get a good acoustic guitar that will last a lifetime and is fun to play!

You can buy a high-quality electric guitar set (Fender Stratocaster incl. good amplifier) from around CHF 1300.00 from us.

Beginners in particular are often not yet sure whether they will really enjoy playing the guitar in the long term. In this case, we recommend renting a guitar or guitar set first:

For CHF 400.00 for 6 months, you can get a solid electric guitar set (Fender Stratocaster incl. a good amplifier).

For 240.00 CHF for 6 months we rent an acoustic guitar (classical guitar with nylon strings). It is also possible to rent a smaller children's guitar (180.00 CHF/6 months).

The rental sets can be purchased after the regular rental period, whereby the rental is fully credited.

Many people order the cheapest possible guitar without having tried it out first. These instruments are often badly adjusted or simply don't sound good. Understandably, they quickly lose interest. In my opinion, a guitar has to feel good. That's why I recommend trying out different instruments and getting advice.

When buying a guitar, you should pay attention to the type, sound, quality and feel. It's best to get advice from a specialist store and try out different models. The most important thing is that you enjoy playing.

If you're thinking about buying a guitar, our guitar partners in various cities can advise you.

You can learn guitar for all genres and levels here.

You might also be interested in these articles:

Manual:

Learn to play the guitar for beginners
Learn to play the guitar for adults
Learn to play the guitar for children
Rent a guitar
Learn jazz guitar
Learn to play the blues guitar
Learning electric guitar for beginners

Blog:

What types of guitars exist?
Is it ever too late to learn the guitar? An analogy.
Acoustic guitar or electric guitar?
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