Learning the Guitar.

Subject: Learning the Guitar.
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 09:29 AM

I have been thinking about learning the guitar for some time now and I thought I would ask for advice from the experts!

As many of you know I play the fiddle and I do still love the fiddle but I want a new challenge and I feel that the guitar could be it!!!

What sort of price should I be paying for a guitar to learn on? Is it a difficult instrument to learn?? What sort of material (books) should I buy to learn from???....and can you recommned any????

I tend to learn things relatively quickly and easily and I like the guitar...any info would be warmly received.

Cheers
Khatt

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: Leadfingers
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 09:36 AM

Khatt DONT DO IT   The next thing you know is you will start asking
about banjos !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 09:41 AM

Somehow I don't think I will be asking about banjos.....just the guitar!!!!

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: Beverley Barton
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 09:48 AM

the guitarhas to be a Reyes peghead. you must spend at least £3000 to get a good one.
The book has to be "juan martin's flamenco method". According to my mate ted that is!

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 09:50 AM

LOL!

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: GUEST,KB
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 10:02 AM

Hi CatsP

As to books to learn from - scour the second-hand shops. There are often some simple old books to start to learn from, which tend to have nice old folk songs in them if you're lucky. My mum is always buying them for Om & I.
That should be enough to get you started. You're bound to pick it up pretty quick because you already play an instrument, and so presumably your fretting fingers are already pretty nimble & strong + you must have a good ear if you play violin!

As to instrument - my recommendation would be that if you have a friend that could lend you decent guitar for a short time (and maybe start you off with a few informal lessons?), that would allow you to check whether you really like it - and would give you a good start. So far as I can make out, a really good player can make a crap instrument sound good - but a fledgling player could do with a really good instrument to make the crap player sound good.

So - if you could try one for a bit then you'll know more about what to look for when you buy one, and you'll have some decent comparison for when you are trying instruments to buy. If there's no-one able to lend you one then what about hiring one?

Its not difficult to get reasonably good fairly quickly - certainly you can do accompaniments almost straight away. But then there's so much to learn that it can keep you going for ages. Depends what you want to do with it. Do you want to take lessons, or figure it out yourself?

There are plenty of websites with free guitar tutorials & theory etc on them - so there's no real need to buy a teach-yourself book unless you prefer book format, or internet access is limited. Also - there's tons of sites with songs & chords on, so there's no need to buy songbooks unless there's one you particularly desire.

Kris

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 10:22 AM

Thanx for the info KB, I might look into hiring a guitar.I don't think I know anyone who lives close to me that has a guitar for me to try. Can anyone recommend a shop where I can try them out etc??? (In London!)

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: Tinker
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 10:24 AM

Here is Just one of many Mudcat threads and a links colum to keep you busy for months (at least). When I find the time to work on my guitar skills I can usually browse a few of these threads and get myself going again. There is alot of really good information hidden in some of the old threads. Good luck

Tinker

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 10:27 AM

Theres nothing worse than not putting effort in and expecting it all just to come to you. You could do what i do with my flute. Pretend to play and hum instead. Its embarrassing if you get found out though.

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 10:30 AM

Guests I always put work into learning instruments....thats why I can play so many! I just wanted other peoples advice.

The link is great Tinker thank you!!

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: GUEST,KB
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 10:51 AM

Dinah - your post came thru fine. Had you getting an error when trying to post? I was getting that earlier today, and it only cleared when I cutnpasted my msg to WORD to save it, went back to forum page, revisited the thread & cutnpasted my msg back in. Dunno why.

Anyway - you don't have to be a member to post, you can post as Guest. I like to post as Guest so that I don't HAVE to identify myself (that's because I'm very inconsistent & don't want to have people point that out to me... - or to have to read my own old posts & think "oh no, did I say that?") - membership is very handy though, because you can send & receive personal messages, you can track threads on your personal page, & no-one can impersonate you. But its your choice.

Its not popular to post as Guest with no name attached, as it gets confusing when you have more than one Guest per thread. Posting with your name attached as you did is fine though.

Kris

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: GUEST,KB
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 10:53 AM

Well - that makes a lot of sense - NOT!!!!
I posted in reply to someone who was asking whether they had to be a member to post, and their post has now disappeared!!!!!
Did anyone else see Dinah? Or is she a personal phantom?

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: Peter T.
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 10:59 AM

Given that you play the fiddle, why not learn the mandolin? I believe it has the same fingering. (Just a thought -- I don't play the mandolin!)

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 11:07 AM

I've got a mandolin and I actually prefer the fiddle. I think the guitar being totally different form the violin would be a challenge I want to rise to!

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 11:14 AM

I'm inclined to think that anyone who can play the fiddle well must be equipped to do just about anything. I sometimes feel I'd give my right arm to be able to play the fiddle, but that might be a bit self-defeating.

A mandolin, as Peter says, makes a lot of sense, as an alternative instrument. Most fiddlers I know seem to be pretty handy at the mandolin as well. That doesn't necessarily apply the other way round -using the bow properly is something else.

But a guitar would be more of a challenge, if that is what you are after, what with its involving a completely different approach to music, thinking in chords and all.

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: mooman
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 11:16 AM

Dear Khatt,

Go for it!

The guitar is probably taking over from the mandolin/octave mandolin as my main intrument now and I've been learning/playing it for the past 40 years. It's not too difficult to get to a reasonable level of proficiency fairly quickly. You'll need to get over the initial bother of building up callouses on the tips of your fretting fingers after which you don't get the initial soreness from the strings cutting in. I'm getting fairly heavily into jazz guitar at the moment which is a whole new level of complexity (and probably bars me from the Mudcat!) but you're never to old to learn I say!

For trying out some axes, I'd recommend the Acoustic Centre which if I remember correctly is in Wapping, just near the Dockland Rail Station. They have a good range from decent beginners guitars to top level so there should be something there to suit your budget. As many have extolled here, the LaSiDo range (Seagull, Simon & Patrick, Art & Lutherie, Norman) are pretty good value for money although there are plenty of other decent but afforable makes. Now...if you want some trhing good, I'd recommend a .... (no, better not, 'Spaw will be winding me up again!).

All in all, if you fancy a guitar...go for it. Reasonably easy to get started and an ultimately highly rewarding instrument.

Peace

Richard

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: Grab
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 11:17 AM

In London you're spoiled for choice! Denmark Street and thereabouts is the classic place to start looking - lots of shops around there.

There have been several threads about whether to start with a classical or steel-string, which can be roughly summed up as: nylon strings are easier on fingers than steel strings of similar tension; but you could put ultra-light strings on a steel-string until your fingers get used to it (although the guitar will sound a bit lifeless with thin strings); cheap classicals are often cheaper than cheap steel-strings (as they're built lighter); but if you want to play folk then it's not a bad idea to just buy one guitar which you can use for a while, if you think you'll keep playing.

Books - I used the Russ Shipton series, but there's many out there, and there's the web as well now. It doesn't really matter, they'll all generally be OK. Just avoid any of the "electric guitar" books.

Guitars generally start at about £100. Around the £200-300 mark you can get some really good stuff if you look around - I found a really sweet-sounding dreadnought for £250 in our local shop which I could play for hours. Equally you can get stiffed on crap instruments at that mark too. Avoid anything highly-coloured, bcos the lacquer may hide the fact that it's bad wood (and may just be veneer over plywood). You really want something with a solid wood top (and body if you can), but apart from that it's down to finding something that sounds nice. Best bet is to visit the shop with a guitar-playing friend and see what they make of them.

I wouldn't advise spending that money if you don't think you're going to keep playing, though. Either hire or borrow one, or buy a cheap classical from the back of the paper, then see how you feel about it in 6 months.

Graham.

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 11:25 AM

I'm not going to do a "Learning Guitar for The Recycled Muso!"

BTW, tonight Aunty ABC was rerunning the fabulous "Guitar Show" - aussie made with all the best international guitarists in all styles, I do believe it is on Video, DVD. They have everybody, acoustic, electric, slide, etc

They have a web site which is either

guitarshow.com.au
or
theguitarshow.com.au

Robin

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: PoppaGator
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 01:45 PM

I'm with McG-of-H: if you can play violin, you will certainly be able to play as much guitar as you want to!

Unfortunately, a cheap guitar can be much more difficult to play (i.e, more painful to finger) than a really good one -- makes it problematic to start trying to play before you're ready to make a serious commitment. Borrowing (or renting) a decent instrument might be the way to go before making a sizeable investment.

I would advise against getting a nylon-string classical-type guitar as a "starter-kit" unless you plan to keep playing that type of instrument (which is a valid option, of course). If you figure you'll eventually want to play steel-string acoustic, don't put yourself through a transition, just start out with a steel-string 9perhaps using ultra-light strings for starters).

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 02:09 PM

Great information guys cheers!! I am going to shop around after the Christmas holidays and see what I can get. I am more inclined to go for a steel-string acoustic guitar so now I need to find one I like!!

Thanx again!
Khatt

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: M.Ted
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 02:18 PM

I have to disagree with KB's comment "It is not difficult to get reasonably good fairly quickly"--guitar has a low "playability" threshold--which is to say that you can be playing at something fairly quickly, but bankable performance skills are as elusive as with other instruments--

You can save a lot of time and trouble if you work with a teacher who is a master in the style of playing that you are interested in,since a teacher will steer you toward what you need, and away from the multitude of distractions and diversions that guitarists can fall into(I think that guitar offers more tangential distractions than any other instrument)--

As a fiddle player, you will have a bit of an adjustment to make, since you will be moving from the foreground to the background, with little positive transfer, since you will be playing everything *but* what you were playing on the fiddle--My experience is that fiddlers feel more affinity to lead guitar than to any of the accompaniment styles--Then there is the whole issue of chords--

I used to teach beginning guitar classes, and never found a book that was very useful--first, because none of them ever tried to find the simplest route from point A to point B, and second, because none of them agreed on where points A and B even were--like most teachers, I used my own fingering and chord charts, and I knew right away where to start with a student, and where, and how fast to go--

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: Mark Clark
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 03:22 PM

Lots of great advice here but I especially like M.Ted's comments. You're moving from an instrument that forces you to think in terms of melodic phrases and scales to one that forces you to think in terms of chords and the chordal structure of music. This isn't as big a problem for your fingers as it is for your head. Unless you already play piano or some other instrument heavily dependent on chord construction, you'll find the guitar demands different thought processes. Even the melodic lead guitar styles are built around chords.

Still, one of the finest guitarists I've ever heard, Kenny Baker, is primarily known as a bluegrass and swing fiddle player.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: Wesley S
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 04:18 PM

The one bit of advise I might add is to pay attention to the sizes of both the body and neck of the guitar you intend to buy. Here in the States most of the guitars offered for sale are D { dreadnaught } sized instruments that might be too large and uncomfortable for you as a beginner to play. Be sure to check out the 00, 000 and OM sized guitars also - the smaller body styles might be easier for you to hold. All necks are not the same either. Check the neck width closly. All of these are good reasons to ask the best guitar player you know to go shopping with you. You don't have to spend a lot to get a decent guitar. But if it's the wrong guitar any amount you spend will be too much.

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 08:02 PM

Stay away from Mel Bay books ...and beware of teachers. They have a self-serving agenda in wanting you to take lessons from them (that is, to put money in their pocket), and...if they don't know what you want to learn, they will try to convince you that what you want to know isn't worth the effort and you should be learning what they know (unless you want to play classical or jazz, then teachers of are some utility, because most of them cut from the same pattern). If you want to sound unique then definitely stay away from any formal training (like the majority of blues guitarists do). Go the "self-taught" route instead.

You might want to start out on a clssical (read nylon stringed) guitar at first. The plastic strings are easier on a beginner's fingers and the fretboard is wider, but you are probably already used to crowding up your fingers on a narrow fretboard.

If you already play fiddle, you probably know as much about the basics as you need to know. Probably all you need are some diagrams to show you where to put your fingers to play certain chords, maybe a chart to show you what the notes are on the fretboard, what notes the strings are tuned to,and a friend who can show you a thing or two (just ask the 'Cat), and your ear...

Above all, don't take anyone's advice, including this advice, unless it agrees with your instincts. "Use the Force, Luke"......

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 09:16 PM

I don't normally have a lot of respect (as I've been saying in others thereads recently) for anonymous posters - but I will go along with this statement wholeheartedly...

"beware of teachers. They have a self-serving agenda in wanting you to take lessons from them (that is, to put money in their pocket), and... if they don't know what you want to learn, they will try to convince you that what you want to know isn't worth the effort and you should be learning what they know (unless you want to play classical or jazz, then teachers of are some utility, because most of them cut from the same pattern)."

There are a FEW teachers who are not of this type - but you don't know they whether they are as GUEST says until it is too late - you have paid money to be steered in a direction which you didn't know you didn't want to go until you didnt get to where you should have gone... :-)

I upset my first music piano and singing teacher by getting second prize in a eisteddford - she had said that I was one of her "worst students" - may father had said that I was a "natural", and he was right - but not in front of small audiences - the bigger the crowd the less nervous and more confident I am...

While the "self taught" path may produce interesting results - it can also produce disasterous results. I know of a violin player who had saved his money all year to travel to Brisbane (the "big smoke") from a country town with no violin teacher (or one considered good enough!) for his 2 weeks vacation every year. Here he went to the Conservatorium Of Music and studied hard - then went back home and diligently practiced bad technical habits all year.

He could not bow a piece consistently - there are good reasons for consistent bowing - legato phrasing and so on - and could NEVER go cleanly from note to note - my father joking said that he was the only player he had ever known who could slide an open string!

Now this guy thought he had been trained as a "Classical Musician" and loved "Classical Music" but he had a technique that would not have been out of place in "Folk Music"... but since he could rarely go from note to note cleanly, there was always something "odd" - it was not unlike those deadly "School Bands" which always sound "out of tune and time".

He had several very expensive instruments - but seemed a shame - because he always felt that the problem with his playing was that the instruments were not good enough - thus he bought better and better instruments - but like Sidam (Midas in reverse!) musically, everything turned to shit in his hands!

Robin

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 09:31 PM

Oops - that probaly should have been Sadim.... hmmmm... won't go there - this is a music thread...

Robin

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: PapaWhiskey
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 10:49 PM

However, if you can find a good teacher who knows what you want to learn it will speed your learning process. And never pass up chance to play with and borrow from other guitarists, particularly ones that play better than you do.

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: Jeri
Date: 17 Dec 03 - 08:47 AM

From my experience, it's a big change going from fiddle to guitar. You play melody on the fiddle. The best players have some knowledge of theory, and therefore, chords. Guitar players HAVE to know chords, even if they play melodies. With fiddle, you only have to think about 2 strings at the most at one time. You have to be aware of all 6 strings on a guitar. (Does that note go in the chord I'm playing? If it does, does it sound right in that octave?)

THE best tool is a good set of ears.
If they're yours, you can hear whether something sounds right or wrong. You can hear what other players are playing and duplicate it ("Oh, so THAT'S how they did that!") You can learn chords, fingering, and even music from books and other resources, but nothing can beat ears for letting you know when and how to play what, when to change something, when and how to improvise, or how to recognize musical cues to predict what you (or somebody else) will play next in the music.

Learn to hear yourself critically. This is nearly impossible to get right, IMO. No matter how closely you listen to your self, you're still going to miss stuff because you're used to doing it that way.

Teachers - there are those who'll be able to tell the difference between what they have to teach you to play anything and what they simply want you to play. If they only play in one style, that's what they'll teach, but you can look for a teacher that plays in whatever style(s) you want to play in. OR (big 'or', new paragraph)

Learn the basics from a teacher. Personally, I would strongly recommend this. Foolestroupe is SO right with what he/she (bloke or sheila?) said. I have learn so many crap things from my first fiddle teacher! She didn't know a damned thing about fiddle! I'm self-taught. Once you learn bad habits, it's very hard to get rid of them.
It's also very frustrating when you're learning on your own because there are so many things to learn and you may not have any idea where to start. I've got a problem focusing on things anyway, and I got absolutely nowhere to do everything at once. You'll also have an experienced critic who can recognize problems you might not notice and suggest solutiion you might not think of.

Good luck!

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 17 Dec 03 - 09:25 AM

As a violin player, you already have some feel for the strings (some of them steel) pressing into your fingers, so those comments are perhaps not as important for you.

Jeri   --- there's only one place I could put tampons... (from another thread...) :-)

"Learn the basics from a teacher. Personally, I would strongly recommend this." The core of the best advice so far I think...

"Learn to hear yourself critically." If you can't do that, you haven't got much chance of improving like the poor enthusistic guy I mentioned - if he had had any sort of regular teacher for the other 50 weeks of the year, he might have learned to do that...

There is an oriental saying: "When the student is ready to learn, the teacher will appear" - refer previous paragraph... "hear yourself critically"...

Must tell of another related incident. I was in the Valley Mall, and this guy (have no idea who it was - couldn't see him) was playing whistle (D) - something was sounding wrong... I thought I vagely recognised the tunes, but they sounded wrong too somehow.. this guy was undoubtedly ken, and I had seen him at sessions playing along with the general din...

It took about 20 mins (I was getting a Shaitsu Massage - which is why I couldn't see him) before the penny dropped!

He would play all the correct notes, but dadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadada (ahhhhhhh - big breath) dadadadadadadadadadaddadadadadadaddadadadadadada (ahhhhhhhh) dadadadadadaddadadadadadadada...

No phrasing, just an endless run of notes, (and not much difference in timing of the notes!) no pauses, even for musical phrases, so the 'tune' just sorta stopped and started at random (when he ran out of breath), and it was all run together... sad really, that none of his "friends" at the sessions helping him to "learn tunes" had told him one of the most basic music concepts about BREATHING WHEN PLAYING THE WHISTLE .... or had tried to correct his phrasing, etc - makes you really (and I'm not being nasty!) wonder how well all the others in the sessions played, doesn't it... was ANYBODY listening to ANYBODY there (let alone themselves)?

Robin O-> :-)
(a Low Whistle player at odd times...)

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 17 Dec 03 - 09:29 AM

I have studied at Music College and I have a degree in Music. I also play the piano so I feel at home with chords. I have a good ear so I don't think that will pose a problem. I am definately determined to rise to the challege of learning another instrument. I do tend to pick up instruments easily and I have the support of those around me to be able to start on another one!!

With all this good advice I know that I am going to enjoy learning the guitar and I know that it isn't going to be easy and at times it is going to frustrating but I believe it is going to be rewarding and worth it!

Thank you so much for all the information and links!

Khatt

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 17 Dec 03 - 09:55 AM

"The best tool is a good set of ears." That's what I meant by saying that a good fiddler could play anything, because anyone playing the fiddle without a good pair of ears will sound terrible.

With fretted instruments it's possible to get away with stuff, because there are only so many places you can put your fingers, and so long as the beast is in tune you're three quarters of the way there.

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: GLoux
Date: 17 Dec 03 - 12:10 PM

My advice is to first think about what you want to do with the guitar. If you want to play classical music, get a classical guitar. If you want to back up fiddlers or jam with other musicians, I'd say get a steel-stringed guitar. If you want to learn so you can play by yourself, get a smaller body instrument. If you want to jam and be heard, larger.

You probably have a short-list of guitar players that you admire. What types of guitars do they play? If you get a chance to be at a music party with lots-o-guitars, ask to play as many of the different guitars there, and ask the players why they play that guitar. You can also play many guitars at a music store, but that can be somewhat overwhelming if they have hundreds of them.

Here in the US, you can pick up a new, cheap steel string guitar for a couple hundred dollars (Robelli is the brand I've seen) and they sound new and cheap. I doubt that you could get that money back, if you wanted to sell it or trade up. My advice is to spend the money for quality, and you'll be able to get your money back. Look into quality used instruments...as with violins, you can pick up very playable instruments that may have been abused (scratched up) for reasonable prices. But these should be inspected for any structural problems.

Hope this helps,
-Greg

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: M.Ted
Date: 17 Dec 03 - 12:23 PM

While it is true that some teachers teach what they teach, regardless of what you want, as an already accomplished musician, you should be able to sort the wheat from the chaff--as to blues, GUEST, someone who really plays blues teach you things that most self-taught players *never* figure out on your own--same with the other genres--

I am sure that Khatt will do well, whatever path he chooses, though, if for no other reason than that the formal music background really does help!

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: Mark Clark
Date: 17 Dec 03 - 02:20 PM

After posting my advice about chords and the piano I checked out Khatt's Mudcat profile and realized that piano is among her conquests, she is classically trained and will have no trouble learning guitar and then coming back to show the rest of us how it's really done. I'ts a little embarrasing to note that she had to come back and tell us what we should already have known.

Sorry, Catherinejayne.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 17 Dec 03 - 04:34 PM

No need to apologise Mark, I really should up date that profile as it is over a year old, and perhaps put some more recent pictures up!!

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: KateG
Date: 18 Dec 03 - 11:46 AM

I wouldn't worry about the steel string demon. As a fiddle player, you probably already have callusses that will do just fine. If you find you need to work up to the higher tension on a guitar, then I recommend silk and steel or (nicer) silk and phosphor bronze strings. The treble strings are standard steel, but the wound strings have a nylon filament core similar to the ones on a classical guitar. Lower tension that standard steel strings and a nice warm sound. I still keep them on my "starter" guitar (a $250 Alvarez RF-20), since the action is a bit higher and the neck not quite as comfortable as the setup on my Martin.

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 18 Dec 03 - 03:49 PM

The most important thing that anyone learning to play guitar within the context of traditional music can do is play with other people. Learn the basics - the most essential chords for common keys and basic strumming or fingerpicking technique - however you can. Find a willing friend, pay a teacher, whatever. But as soon as you have the bare basics down get out of the house! Go to every session, music party or festival you can get to and play. The more you can immerse yourself in the music, the quicker you'll learn.

Listen to the techniques other players are using and try to leave each session having learned something new. And concentrate on timing, timing and timing.

And, if you're already attending sessions with your fiddle force yourself to leave the fiddle at home and just take the guitar. I accompany three fiddlers on a semi-regular basis and they're all decent guitar players as well. But they'd all be a lot better if they'd leave the fiddles at home occasionally and just play guitar.

As for instrument recommendations... From other threads it sounds like Yamaha guitars are readily available in the UK. You can't go wrong with one of them. They're relatively inexpensive, sound good for the money, and come in variety of body sizes. Get a steel-string model, put silk & steel strings on it until your callouses build up to guitar-player thickness and change to bronze or phosphor bronze strings as soon as they're reasonably comfortable. (Silk & steels don't have enough punch for many accompaniment situations.)

Bruce

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: GUEST,Tomas ludwig
Date: 22 Apr 05 - 06:34 PM

hola
    quisiera que me puedan dar un consejo.
    Quisiera conocer algunas paginas donde yo pueda aprender
    a fabricar guitarras.muchas gracias por escucharme
                                                Tomas

Subject: RE: Learning the Guitar.
From: Amos
Date: 22 Apr 05 - 07:02 PM

Tomas:

Consejo que hace una "Google" por "Luthiers", o, egalamente, "Making a Guitar".

A