I’m standing in a music store, choosing a capo. I see and hear the following scene.
Two guys walk in. The first one immediately asks the salesperson what kind of guitar he could give his friend.
Quote: “Do you have an inexpensive guitar, like a sampler?” – end of quote.
Well, I think the salesperson would politely explain to the guys that the guy should come to the store and choose one himself. At least that would be fair.
BUT.
The salesperson, after a short pause (they often think they know better than others because they work in a music store), begins to sarcastically ask if the guy plays guitar or just wants to learn.
The guy replies that the friend doesn’t know how to play yet, and they just want to give him a guitar and show him how cool it is to play. He’ll want to play after he gets a guitar for New Year’s. And THEN he’ll decide for himself.
Well, I think the salesperson will now shed her unnecessary indifference and say something like this:
“Guys, this is all well and good, firstly, the person needs to WANT to play the guitar, secondly, to like the guitar, and thirdly—MOST IMPORTANTLY—his desire to play and his aesthetic need to surround himself with beautiful things, which to him, will help him come to the store and choose it for himself. There’s no point in taking on such responsibility.”
What’s it like in real life?!
The salesperson led the guys to a very expensive guitar (80 USD, and that’s in our small town, with our salaries), explaining to them that “this guitar will be enough for now, although even this one won’t be enough to start with.”
WHAT?!
I seriously doubt that this seller would have bought a guitar for that price at the very beginning of their training.
If someone has forgotten, they don’t know how to play, and their primary goal will be to LEARN TO PLAY, not BUY an expensive guitar, and then, after a brief period of “torment,” safely put it away in its case or hang it neatly on the wall. And then take it out occasionally when friends gather for a party and ask you to play for them. You’ll pick up the guitar, strum something, sing a bit, and, after some approval from your friends and a general laugh, put it away until the next time.
The best option is to borrow a guitar from friends for a few days to practice. A week is enough to determine whether you really want to play or just want to achieve something else through playing.
If you’ve become known among your friends as a “non-returner,” then it’s easier to go to a music store, sit there with a guitar you can afford (and a knowledgeable salesperson), choose one based on color and grip comfort, and then NOT BUY, just try it out. Then, leave the store and go about your business.
You can do this several times. Just come in and try out guitars; you can even browse everything the store has. The salesperson will wait; that’s their job. They should be glad you’ve shown interest in their store and are choosing a guitar for yourself for a second, or maybe even a third time. A good salesperson will do everything they can to help you choose, and even if you don’t make your choice this time, they’ll see you off with a smile and a simple, “Please come back again, we’ll be happy to help!”
If, after your shopping trip, while doing other things, you recall the sensations of pressing the strings, running your fingers and a pick across them; the feelings of hearing the strings ring and shimmer; those images and dreams associated with playing the guitar (how cool it would be to be able to play THAT song of my favorite band), then you’re ready to learn and need to buy an instrument. Please, just not a very expensive one.
This is the only way to choose a new guitar!
