Why You Should Learn to Play the Guitar (and How to Care for It)
For many people, hearing a song or a piece of music is sure to stir something in their soul. From the rock songs blasting from your stereo in full volume inside your room when you were an angsty teenager, to the love song that you danced with your spouse to at your wedding, to the lullaby that you hummed to your little baby, music is surely ever-present in many moments (both quiet and significant) in your life, and in others’.
It can be soothing and enjoyable to whistle a tune that’s been stuck in your head, or to belt out your favorite songs with friends at karaoke, or to have earphones constantly in your ears so you can listen nonstop to your favorite tunes. But for those who simply must have music in their lives at all times, it makes sense to study how to play a musical instrument so they can play the music they love anytime they like, or even write their own.
Trying to decide which instrument to take up? You’ll find that the acoustic guitar remains one of the most popular options among music lovers.
Here are three excellent reasons why you should choose a high-quality guitar and learn how to play:
● It’s lightweight and portable.
Although not as small as a violin or flute, an acoustic guitar is considerably easy to carry around, which means you can take your music anywhere. If you will be heading to a gig by bus or plane, or taking a roadtrip in your car, taking the guitar along won’t be a problem. The same can’t be said for a grand piano, no matter how beautiful the music it makes is.
What’s more, you won’t need to bring and set up any kind of special equipment before you can play your acoustic guitar. Just take it out of its case and you’re good to go.
● It’s easy to learn.
Any individual with his heart set on learning how to play a guitar will be happy to discover that accomplishing this is fairly easy. You can gain access to countless books, websites, YouTube videos and a variety of other online resources that can help you begin learning how to play all on your own.
If you prefer to be taught how to play by a professional, such teachers are easy to find; look for teachers advertising their services around your neighborhood or online, or visit music schools within the area.
● It allows you to play songs that most people know.
Guitars are used by musicians and bands from just about every genre of music, which means that you’ll be able to play the kind of music you like on a guitar. From the latest pop songs to the rock anthems of your youth to the jazz tunes that your parents love to listen to, you’ll be able to play well-loved music that other people can sing or play along to and enjoy as well.
How to Take Care of Your Acoustic Guitar
Once you purchase your very own guitar, study how to play, and start using it regularly, it’s important to be aware of the correct ways to take care of it. Like any musical instrument, your guitar is an investment and is sure to be a beloved possession for many years to come, so you’ll want to make sure that it stays in great shape and lasts a long time.
There are four crucial elements to keep in mind to keep your guitar safe from damage and the usual wear and tear:
1. Regular cleaning
As with a car, a motorcycle, a camera, or any other piece of machinery or equipment that gets regularly used, keeping a guitar clean is one of the most effective ways to keep it in excellent shape.
The dust from the environment and the natural oils, sweat and dead skin from your hands that comes into contact with your guitar have to be regularly cleaned off, or else these will affect how your guitar looks and how it functions. You don’t want your guitar’s shiny finish to be constantly covered in fingerprints or handprints, and there shouldn’t be any dust or grime on the fretboard or any other part of the guitar.
To keep the guitar clean, make sure to have a dry, clean cloth in the guitar case or bag at all times. Wipe the strings and the fretboard after every use and whenever you replace the guitar strings.
You can also consult a professional about special guitar cleaning products that would work best on your specific guitar.
2. Protection against extreme temperatures and humidity
While you can take your guitar practically anywhere, you need to be mindful of how the temperature in your current location could be affecting the instrument.
For instance, keep in mind that an acoustic guitar is made of thin and delicate wood. In a humid location where there is excess moisture in the air, this material tends to swell. This could result in joins separating at different parts of the guitar. Conversely, when a guitar is kept in a very dry room or place, the wood will either shrink, crack, or warp.
How do you keep these from happening? The key is to keep your guitar in a place where there is relatively stable humidity. According to the experts, 45%-55% humidity is just about right for a guitar.
It’s a good idea to buy humidifiers and dehumidifiers so that you can improve the environment surrounding your guitar wherever you may go.
3. Proper storage
While your guitar would look good in your music room or living room at home, handsomely propped up in its guitar stand, it’s not a good idea to leave it exposed like that for prolonged periods. The best way to store your guitar is to keep it contained inside its dedicated guitar case.
With your guitar inside the case, the instrument is better protected against fluctuations in temperature which could compromise the quality of the wood. What’s more, a contained guitar won’t be at risk of being accidentally shoved or kicked to the floor by kids, pets or guests in your home, compared to a guitar on a stand.
4. Professional tune-ups
Every now and then, take your acoustic guitar to a luthier or guitar technician so they can look over your guitar and see if there are any adjustments or repairs that need to be done. These professionals will inspect every part of your guitar for any potential or existing issues and will then make the necessary adjustments.
From loose or lifting frets to misaligned necks to incorrectly looped strings to a flawed tune, a seasoned technician will address all problems and hand you back your guitar in its best playable condition.
Learning to play the guitar will bring beautiful music into your life. By taking excellent care of your instrument and developing your skills, you can be sure to have many more years of guitar playing to look forward to (and perhaps even move up to playing electric guitars, learning to use audio equipment like Behringer mixers, and tinkering with recording technology).
Banner Image by Matan Ray Vizel from Pixabay
