The decision to purchase an electric guitar is a big one, and in the modern gear world, can be just as intimidating as it can be exciting. After all, musical preferences, size, budget, features, and many other factors all come into play when deciding. Think about it as if you’re buying a car; what are your needs? What sound are you trying to make, and what features should your guitar have in order to make that sound a reality? By the end of this article you will not only know what instrument you want, but a series of questions you can ask yourself and others to come up with an entirely personalized answer!
Step 1. Identify 5 Songs
Think about the music you consume in your day to day, which guitar solos stand out to you? If you’re able to name a song with guitar in the mix, chances are high that someone has written about that song, listed who played what on said track, and possibly even the guitar used. If you can’t find the guitar that they used, feel free to open up different tabs and do research on what instrument they may have been playing at the time. Now that the ball is rolling, come up with 4 others and try sketching out something like this:
- Comfortably Numb – David Gilmour – Stratocaster
- I Ain’t Superstitious – Jeff Beck – Les Paul
- Cissy Strut – Leo Nocentelli – ES-335 (semi-hollow)
- Little Wing – Stevie Ray Vaughan – Stratocaster
- Sleepwalk – Brian Setzer – Gretsch G6120T (full-hollow)
Step 2. Identify the Genre
Once your list of songs is complete and you have an understanding of the instruments used, we’re going to add a fourth category: genre. Now our columns should look like this:
- Comfortably Numb – David Gilmour – Stratocaster – Rock
Though different styles of guitars sound more natural in some genres than others, there’s no “rule” saying certain instruments can only be used for a particular style. Here are some basics on guitars and what genres they work best for!
Gibson and Gibson-style guitars: SG, Les Paul, 335, Explorer, etc., are all loaded with humbuckers. Humbuckers have a stellar clean tone, but they’ve become synonymous with rock. Jimmy Page, Slash, Peter Frampton, and others have made the Gibson Les Paul known for fat, beefy overdriven tones, whereas Angus Young helped pioneer the sound of classic rock using an SG. Blues players such as Mike Bloomfield, B.B. King, and JD Simo have found their own unique tones using the 335. Jazz players also favor the semi-hollow 335 for its warm tone.
- Gibson Style: Rock, Blues, Jazz
Fender and Fender-style guitars: Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jazzmaster, and Jaguar are primarily single-coil-loaded instruments known for their clean tone. Famous Stratocaster players include Jimi Hendrix (rock), Stevie Ray Vaughan (blues), Nile Rodgers (funk), and John Mayer (pop). The Telecaster is considered the most versatile guitar, used by Joe Walsh (rock), Brad Paisley (country), and John 5 (metal).
- Fender Style: Rock, Blues, Funk, Pop, Country, Metal
Hollow-body guitars: These have a warmth that cannot be emulated. If you’re looking to seriously study jazz, a hollow-body guitar is an essential tool. Joe Pass (jazz), Chet Atkins (rockabilly-jazz fusion), and Brian Setzer (rockabilly) have all played and sculpted their tones around a hollow-body! However, hollow-body guitars tend to feed back terribly if paired with an overdrive or distortion.
- Hollow Bodies: Jazz, Rockabilly
Step 3. Find a Pattern
Now that you’ve read about different styles of guitars and which genres they favor, take a look at your list! Identify recurring themes—same guitar, same genre, or even the same player. This will help narrow down your search. For instance, if both David Gilmour and Jimi Hendrix play Rock on a Stratocaster, that’s a strong indicator of what might work for you.
- Comfortably Numb – David Gilmour – Stratocaster – Rock
- I Ain’t Superstitious – Jeff Beck – Les Paul – Rock/Blues
- Cissy Strut – Leo Nocentelli – ES-335 (semi-hollow) – Funk
- Bold as Love – Jimi Hendrix – Stratocaster – Rock
- Sleepwalk – Brian Setzer – Gretsch G6120T (full hollow) – Rockabilly
Step 4. Guitar Shop Time
By now, you should have a good idea of the guitars you’re interested in, the genre you’re aiming for, and maybe even a price point. Now it’s time to visit a guitar shop and test some instruments! If you can’t play yet, ask an employee for help. Show them your list, give them a price range, and see what instruments fit your description. With their guidance, you can make an informed decision about which guitar is right for you.
Final Step. Find a Good Luthier!
Once you’ve purchased your instrument, it’s crucial to get it properly set up! The playability of your guitar depends heavily on the setup, more so than the instrument itself. The better your guitar plays, the more fun you’ll have, which will encourage more practice and improvement. Ask if the shop does setups or if they can recommend a luthier.
Finding the right instrument can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. You may not know much about guitars, but you know why you want to play—because the music you love gives you goosebumps! By identifying 5 songs, listing the guitars used, and figuring out your preferred genre, you’re already on the path to making music that gives others those same goosebumps.
– Rylee Chavez
Here’s a list of links to the songs mentioned in this article: