Huh! That was a good question. What was holding me back? Fear of failure? Time? No instrument? I guess all of the above. I didn’t have much time … who does? I sure hate to fail at anything I try to do! And, I didn’t have a guitar.

The later excuse was the easiest to remedy. I just did a search and found some great deals on a Takamine guitar – they’re great for beginners and professionals with a great range of pricing. (I can’t stand paying full price for anything, can you???) With a guitar in hand and hating for anyone to accuse me of wasting good money, I soon found the time and overcame my fear of failure. I’m a happy player today!

Learning how to play guitar well is not easy. There are so many methods and so many conflicting opinions, it makes it difficult to know what to do.

But the simple fact is, if you want to be the best you can, as soon as you can, then all you need to do is – copy what the pro’s do…

Master the Basics!

Mastering the basics means being able to play in all keys. Being able to transpose any song to any other key – on the spot preferably.

Did you know that 95% of guitarists DON’T master the basics. Oh yes, they mean to get around to it, but they hardly ever do.

Why is that? Well, it’s because they think it’s boring, complicated and too much hard work. And most of all – no fun! And mostly they were right. Well, it needn’t be that way. Mastering the basics can be a lot of fun if you go about it in a methodical set-by-step way.

What does mastering the basics entail?

There are 6 basic steps you need to follow:

1. Learn the names of all notes on all strings, one string at a time.

2. Learn how to construct a C Major scale.

Basic must-know guitar theory. Easy stuff.

3. Learn how the chords of the major scale are made and what they are… their names etc. C Dm Em F G Am Bdim.

Basic chord construction knowledge.

4. Learn the triad patterns for the C major scale all over the fret board.

Triads are simple 3-note chords. Easy and fun to learn and play.

5. Learn to play those triads with common chord progressions.

Learn to play and apply the triads to the most common chord progressions that fit thousands and thousands of songs.

6. Learn to do step 5 in all keys.

Once you can do steps one to five in the key of C, it’s real easy to learn it for the other 11 major keys.

Hint: It’s much easier than you think. All the patterns are exactly the same as what you learn for C major. You don’t have to learn any new patterns. Cookie cutter stuff.

It really is not hard at all. All you need is a methodical step-by-step method that makes sense and is easy and fun to use.

Great Nutshell Productions The Unauthorized Guide to Setup Your Takamine (DVD) $19.95 The tips in The Unauthorized Guide to Setup Your Takamine DVD equip you to identify and correct most issues of string buzz, action and intonation affecting your Takamine guitar.Your setup is the key to achieving better and faster chops, more sustain, fuller tone, greater comfort, and greater personal satisfaction with your Takamine guitar.You can have your guitar tech perform your setups for you, but in reality one setup does not fit all. This is because of differences in playing style, string choices, string gauges, along with personal preferences and more. Learning how to perform a basic setup on your Takamine guitar pays you back many times over. Even if you continue to use your guitar tech, understanding these principles helps you to better communicate your needs and desires. That is exactly what this DVD will do for you.This instructional DVD is packed with tons of foundational information. The first half covers the what and why. What is a truss rod and why is it important? What are your choices in strings and why they are different? What is intonation and why it will never be perfect? The Unauthorized Guide to Setup Your Takamine seeks to answer these questions and more.The second part of this Great Nutshell Productions DVD takes you step-by-step through a basic setup of your Takamine guitar. From nut and bridge adjustment to the final intonation, this DVD shows you that most any Takamine guitar plays better when it’s setup just for you, by you.

Takamine EF740SGN OM Acoustic-Electric Guitar $899 The Takamine EF740SGN OM Acoustic-Electric guitar boasts a solid cedar top with sapele back and sides, a rosewood fingerboard, nickel tuners, and a CT4B preamp. The satin antique finish lends the EF740SGN guitar a classic look. The Takamine guitar’s onboard CT4B preamp has a musical 3-band graphic EQ with an extremely stable and accurate chromatic tuner. The Takimine EF740SGN OM is a great guitar for nonstandard and open tunings.

Takamine EF340SCGN-LH Dreadnought Left-Handed Acoustic-Electric Guitar Satin Antique $799 The Takamine Pro Series offers high-level electronics technology while exemplifying the unparalleled quality of Takamine’s build quality, with a solid cedar top, luxurious appointments, and eye-catching inlay work. Many famous artists count this Takamine guitar for their on-stage and studio performance because of its easy playability and robust, natural sound. When it comes to playing live, the CT4B electronics deliver the guitar’s naturally resonant acoustic sound at any volume. This built-in preamp includes 3-band EQ, a volume slider, and a tuner.

Takamine Ef740sgn Om Acoustic-Electric Guitar $899 The Takamine EF740SGN OM Acoustic-Electric guitar boasts a solid cedar top with sapele back and sides, a rosewood fingerboard, nickel tuners, and a CT4B preamp. The satin antique finish lends the EF740SGN guitar a classic look. The Takamine guitar’s onboard CT4B preamp has a musical 3-band graphic EQ with an extremely stable and accurate chromatic tuner. The Takimine EF740SGN OM is a great guitar for nonstandard and open tunings.

Takamine EF740SGN Noveau & Santa Fe Acoustic Electric Guitar $699 Takamine EF740SGN Noveau & Santa Fe Acoustic Electric Guitar The Takamine EF740SGN OM Acoustic-Electric guitar boasts a solid cedar top with sapele back and sides, a rosewood fingerboard, nickel tuners, and a CT4B preamp. The satin antique finish lends the EF740SGN guitar a classic look. The Takamine guitar’s onboard CT4B preamp has a musical 3-band graphic EQ with an extremely stable and accurate chromatic tuner. The Takimine EF740SGN OM is a great guitar for nonstandard and open tunings. Get Your Takamine EF740SGN Noveau & Santa Fe Acoustic Electric Guitar Today!

Takamine EG523CDX-HB G-Series Jumbo Acoustic Electric Guitar $799 Takamine EG523CDX-HB G-Series Jumbo Acoustic Electric Guitar Built on a jumbo design, the Takamine EG523CDX acoustic-electric guitar from the G series possesses the greatest internal air volume and delivers a sound that matches its name. The curvature of the top profile hints at the resulting tonality of this body design. The Takamine jumbo guitar’s tonal spectrum is enhanced by its dynamic range. From aggressive chord comping to gentle finger passages, the jumbo responds well to the subtle, and not so subtle demands that might be made of it. The Takamine guitar’s solid spruce top offers balanced tone, while the flamed maple body brings out full projection. The dovetail neck joint, rosewood bridge and fretboard, and maple neck offer plenty of sustain, and the asymmetrical neck and 1-5/8" nut width provide comfort for intricate fretboard movements. At the heart of this Takamine guitar is an impressive electronics system, letting you amplify your sound with intuitive frequency controls. The CP-100 pickup is an innovative pickup arrangement instead of the conventional under the saddle piezo design. The Takamine guitar uses a U-shaped aluminum rail, securing the pickup and saddle for a snug fit and balanced response from the instrument, not just pressure on the strings. The Takamine TK40 preamplifier features volume control, bass, middle and treble frequency slider controls, EQ bypass, a notch filter, tuner and a mid contour switch. The G jumbo’s gold hardware, gold and amber pearl tuners, and gloss finish adds a striking touch to this already beautiful instrument. Features: 6-string Jumbo body Flamed maple body Solid spruce top 25-5/16" scale Dovetail neck joint Maple neck Rosewood bridge and fretboard Asymmetrical neck shape 20 frets 1-5/8" nut width CP 100 bridge pickup TK40 controls Gold and pearl tuners Gold hardware Gloss finish Get Your Takamine EG523CDX-HB G-Series Jumbo Acoustic Electric Guitar Today!

Takamine Glenn Frey Signature Acoustic-Electric Guitar 889406568525 $1279.2 The Glenn Frey Signature acoustic-electric dreadnought-style guitar features a solid spruce top, solid rosewood back, and rosewood sides. This Takamine guitar offers scalloped X-bracing, chrome tuning machines, white cab binding, and a striking natural gloss finish. The Glenn Frey Signature acoustic-electric’s CT4B preamp is designed for ease of use and purity of tone. The CT4B consists of 3 bands of graphic EQ tone control, a volume control slider and a built-in chromatic tuner. This signature guitar is beautiful—making is obvious why one of the Eagles’ founders is proud to lend it his name. The label on each guitar is signed by Glenn Frey .

Takamine Glenn Frey Signature Acoustic-Electric Guitar 889406750722 $1279.2 The Glenn Frey Signature acoustic-electric dreadnought-style guitar features a solid spruce top, solid rosewood back, and rosewood sides. This Takamine guitar offers scalloped X-bracing, chrome tuning machines, white cab binding, and a striking natural gloss finish. The Glenn Frey Signature acoustic-electric’s CT4B preamp is designed for ease of use and purity of tone. The CT4B consists of 3 bands of graphic EQ tone control, a volume control slider and a built-in chromatic tuner. This signature guitar is beautiful—making is obvious why one of the Eagles’ founders is proud to lend it his name. The label on each guitar is signed by Glenn Frey .

1. Before you buy a used guitar, cost-compare against the price of a new one, unless the guitar is quite old. You could also compare its used price to other used prices by going to an online auction and either searching for the same or a similar guitar.

2. Check the overall condition of the wood for cracks, scratches, splits, dents, chips, etc.
Also check the lacquer finish for cracks and splits.

3. Check the neck/fret board for warping and twisting. You can do this by holding the guitar flat on its back, with the sound hole facing upward. Bring the guitar up to eye-level, with the neck running away from you and the edge of the body almost touching your face.

4. Let your eyesight skim across the front of the body and down the fret board. You should be able to see if the neck is twisted or bowing.

5. Tune the guitar, or have the seller tune it for you.

6. If you know how to play about five or six chords then play them. If you don’t know how to play, ask the seller to play them for you. This check ensures that the neck of the guitar is not warped, even though you couldn’t physically see it. If the neck is warped, and the guitar is properly tuned, then some of the chords will sound good, but others will sound as though the guitar is not tuned. If this happens, check the tuning again. If it persists, then don’t buy the guitar.

7. Check the bridge of the guitar. If it’s made out of wood or plastic, make sure it’s not cracked or splitting. The bridge needs to be rock-solid, as a lot of pressure is exerted on the bridge by the strings.

8. Check the tuning heads. Do they turn easily, or are they very stiff and hard to turn. Even with the high tension of the strings, a quality guitar will have tuning heads that are fairly easy to turn.

9. Check the ‘action’ of the guitar. Are the strings a fair distance from the fret board? Are they easy or hard to press down at various points on the fret board? If you are buying the guitar for yourself, and you know how to play, even if you’re a beginner, then play the guitar. How does it feel? Is it easy or hard to play? Can you fit your hand around the neck/fret board comfortably to play chords? Is the guitar a comfortable size and shape for your body? Is it easy to hold?

If you are unsure of your own judgment, take along a friend who plays guitar really well. Don’t be afraid to ask questions!

Save Money

Used Fender basses or used Fender Stratocaster guitars can be had for relatively cheap compared with buying a new one. This is the route that a lot of people go when they are looking for their first guitar. The best place to find a used guitar is at a music store that is specialized in selling second hand equipment. If you can’t find a store like this in your area, you may also want to search the internet. There are hundreds of online stores that sell used instruments.

Used, cheap electric guitars are also a top seller. Brands like Ibanez, Squier or Epiphone can be found for very little money. Used Gibson guitars or a second hand Fender Stratocaster will cost you probably more, but will still save you a lot of money. In return you will get a top quality guitar which will last you a very, very long time!

You may also be able to find used guitars at a flea market or garage sale. The best way to go about doing this is find a large flea market in your area, and frequent it as often as possible. You will eventually come across what you are looking for.

Many people have also turned to eBay in order to find a second hand guitar. EBay offers hundreds of guitars that you can bid on. The best thing about using this service is that you can keep an eye on each listing, and only purchase what you can afford.

Great for Beginners

A used guitar can be a great buy for anybody that is just learning, or anybody who simply wants a new guitar. In most cases you can buy a second hand guitar for half the price it would cost you when buying it brand new. Ok it probably will have some scratches on it, but the quality and the sound of the instrument will still remain the same and that’s what counts!

If you know where to look, and stay persistent you should not have any problems at all finding a guitar that suits your needs. Remember, stay patient until you find the guitar that suits your needs and fits your budget.

Taylor 2012 Big Baby Taylor Acoustic Guitar $449.99 Taylor 2012 Big Baby Taylor Acoustic Guitar

Taylor 2012 Baby Taylor Acoustic Guitar $299.99 Taylor 2012 Baby Taylor Acoustic Guitar

Taylor 2012 Baby Taylor Acoustic Guitar Natural $299.99 The 2012 Baby Taylor Acoustic Guitar gives you sweet, full voice and open tone from an ultraportable 3/4-scale instrument. A solid Sitka spruce top, sapele arched back and sides, ebony bridge and fretboard, and laser-etched rosette look great and add crisp projection.Solid Sitka spruce top3/4 scaleSapele arched back and sidesEbony fretboard and bridgeLexan headstock veneerLaser-etched rosetteEnclosed die-cast tuners22-3/4″ scale1-11/16″ nut widthIncludes Taylor gig bag

Taylor 2012 Big Baby Taylor Acoustic Guitar Natural $449.99 The 2012 Big Baby Taylor Acoustic Guitar is the Baby Taylors big sibling, a 15/16-scale Dreadnought with a solid Sitka spruce top and sapele-laminate back and sides. It boasts a surprisingly full voice, comes with a lightweight gig bag for easy portability, and makes a trusty companion wherever you go even if its just to the couch.Sapele Laminate/Solid SitkaLaminated sapele backs and sides and a solid spruce top make for crisp and well-defined sound in this versatile mid-priced guitar.15/16-Size DreadnoughtMeasuring just a fraction smaller than a full-size Taylor Dreadnought, the Big Baby is small enough to be a perfect travel companion, yet big enough to be a trusty performer.Type/Shape: 6-String 15/16 Size DreadnoughtBack & Sides: Sapele LaminateTop: Sitka SpruceSoundhole Rosette: Laser-EtchedNeck: Tropical American MahoganyFretboard: EbonyFretboard Inlay: Pearloid DotsHeadstock Overlay: LexanBinding: NoneBridge: EbonyNut & Saddle: TusqTuning Machines: Enclosed, Die-Cast Chrome PlatedStrings: Elixir® Light Gauge Strings with NANOWEB® CoatingScale Length: 25-1/2″Truss Rod: AdjustableNeck Width at Nut: 1-11/16″Number of Frets: 20Fretboard Radius: 15″Bracing: X-BraceFinish: VarnishCutaway: NoneElectronics: NoneCase: Gig Bag

Sonic Implants Amps and Pickups 1 Gigasampler $129.95 Sonic Implants guitars and basses with a level of realism unlike any you’ve heard before. The Amps and Pickups 1 Gigasampler library delivers awesome sonic quality. Includes sampled tones, chords, upstrokes, downstrokes, harmonics, and moreall the material you’ll ever need for incredibly authentic and powerful guitar and bass tracks. Sample CD includes: Taylor Acoustic Guitar, Les Paul Power Rock Guitar, Paul Reed Smith Electric Guitar, Vintage Guild Guitar, Vintage 12-String Rickenbacker Guitar, Jazz Guitar, Spector Slap Bass, Dynamic Acoustic Bass, Hard Rock Pick Bass, Vintage Hofner Beatle Bass, Alembic Basses, Fender Jazz Bass, and Fender Fretless.

Taylor 210E-G Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural $799 From Taylor guitars comes a guitar you’ll take a shine to. The 210E-G dreadnought acoustic-electric guitar features a beautiful gloss finish on the top and a satin finish on the back and sides, for a beautiful look, to go along with a beautiful sound. Built on the popular dreadnought design, the depth of the guitar body and broad shoulders create an ideal sound chamber, pumping balanced and full-bodied tone out with plenty of projection to cut through any mix. Whether strumming away on the rhythm, or flatpicking some barn-burning solos, the Taylor acoustic-electric guitar sounds great in any setting. It features a solid Sitka spruce top, a top-quality wood, known for its balanced tone and clarity. The Indian rosewood back and sides, also premiere wood, produces rich, booming sound, with the perfect element of projection. The 25-1/2″ scale, 1-11/16″ nut width, and 15″ radius adds comfort for intricate movements up and down the ebony fretboard. The NT neck joint fits into a specially cut pocket in the body of the Taylor acoustic guitar. The frets are supported equally by the neck, creating a more stable playing surface, one that is continually straight, from the bottom to the top of the neck. The mahogany neck is strong and provides added presence and clarity in the tone, and the ebony bridge and fretboard bring out lasting sustain. At the heart of this Taylor acoustic guitar lies an integrated electronics system, letting you dial in and amplify the guitar quickly and effortlessly. The electronics include bass, treble, and volume controls, for an individualized plugged-in experience. Taylor tuners keep the 210E-G guitar in precise tuning and chrome hardware add an extra sleek look to this already stunning offering from Taylor. You won’t believe the sound.6-stringDreadnought designLaminate Indian rosewood back and sidesSolid Sitka spruce top25-1/2″ scaleNT neck jointMahogany neck woodEbony fretboardStandard Taylor neck shape20 frets1-11/16″ nut width15″ radiusEbony bridgeTaylor tunersChrome hardwareIntegrated electronics with 2-band EQ and volume controlGloss top, satin back and sidesIncludes hardshell bag