3 Reasons Learning Guitar Is Different To Learning Other Instruments

The guitar has always been a popular instrument to learn for a variety of reasons. It’s relatively cheap to buy, it has a fairly steep learning curve and the music you’re probably listening to features a lot of guitar work that you can learn from. Learning the guitar is different from learning other instruments and the experience is unique in a number of ways. This article will discuss just a few of them.

People Are Able To Learn By Watching Others

 

While there’s no doubt that taking lessons with a guitar teacher is going to give you the best chance of learning how to play the guitar well, there are a great many guitarists out there that initially learnt just by watching other people play. A lot of this has to do with the visual nature of guitar playing and our psychological response to it. Many people remember chords by the way they look, for instance, the position of the hand and the fingers when they are played. This enables people to pick up a few chords relatively quickly just by observing others and apply what they have seen.

Your Favourite Songs Only Have A Few Chords

Another reason for playing the guitar is so popular and is often considered different to other instruments is the fact that with just a few chords, you can play a huge number of songs from some well-known artists. In fact, with just a G-chord, C-chord and D-chord under your belt, chances are you can play along to the large majority of rock and country songs. Add another couple of chords and you can play almost anything.

This makes learning guitar more rewarding earlier compared to some other instruments, which require that you develop and refine your skills before you are able to really get something out of it and see your progress.

The Perfect Campfire Instrument

 

One of the big reasons learning and playing the guitar is so appealing is the fact that it’s practical compared to most other instruments. It’s pretty easy to transport and take with you wherever you go, and requires little to no set up if you want to play. This makes it a great instrument to play in a group setting just about anywhere and it’s great to sing along to, as the music the guitar more often than not produces the foundation for the main melody. The guitar is the perfect addition to a camping trip or just a hangout with friends for this reason.

If you’re looking to take lessons at some point, it’s worthwhile picking up a guitar at some point and trying your hand at it first. There are plenty of affordable guitar options down at Guitar Paradise that are worth checking out. Go to our website or just pop into our Richmond store today.

How to Find the Perfect Guitar Amp for Your Needs

It is often said that there are three things that make up a guitarists sound that defines them; the player, the Guitar and the guitar amp. With these three items being a bone of contention throughout the history of recorded music, as guitarists look to replicate a Hendrix or Knopfler sound that they can enjoy and further make their own.

But playing the guitar is all about finding your own path to success and how you define the sounds that you create. With your playing style taking much of the credit, the guitar you use will also play a large role – but one of the most important aspects of your setup has to your guitar amp. From deep, rich tones of a jazz amp, to a triple super lead cranked to 11 – your amp will define your playing like no other!

Fender Guitar Amps

If you are looking for a classic twang of the American blues and rock, then you’ll find all that you need in the wide range of Fender amps available from the past and the present. From solid state starter combos to fully-fledged reissue valve amps, Fender has set the tone in the guitar amp world for many, many years.

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One of the best fender amps out there today has to be the ’65 Deluxe Reverb blackface edition. This amp has it all when it comes to tone, making the most of whatever guitar you plug into it – you will notice that distinct American sound that set the world alight back in the 60s. As a premium professional guitar amp, the cost is a little over a beginner’s budget, but for the players, the pros and the travelling guitarists, there doesn’t come much better than this pure valve tone monster!

If you are looking for a starter amp with a lot of value for money, then maybe one of the Fender Champion amps is right for you. Featuring several models with different combo speaker arrangements, the Fender Champion 40 is a great way to get into the tone of Fender amps. As one of the most popular guitar amps, Melbourne music shops sell, the Champion 40 is one of the most versatile amps on the market, with a number of voices and effects that will allow you to tune your tone to perfection every time!

Laney Guitar Amps

Laney has been in the business since the mid-sixties and has enjoyed playing a huge part in the metal genre of music. Built for guitarists and bassists, Laney specialises in giving an alternative tone for musicians to play with. Laney features a number of different amp combinations, including amp heads, cabinets, combos and rackmount systems for the ultimate in versatility.

One of the most popular series of Laney amps has to be the VC series and in particular the VC15-110. This 15-watt combo has all of the rich, warm blues tones you could imagine in a single box, as well as featuring multi-channels with equalisation options to boot. This ‘Class A’ all valve head is perfect for blues with a bite and brings out an amazing sonic performance when fully cranked!

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Marshall Guitar Amps

As one of the most famous guitar amps in the world, Marshall is known for its range of tone, versatility, high-quality manufacture and dependability. It is little wonder why so many choose a small Marshall combo as their first guitar amp, as well as the classic full stack for stadium rocking sounds!

Marshall has a range of vintage series amps that include all valve construction, as well as being made to the exacting specifications of the original units. The Marshall MG series of solid state amps that are built for great tone at great prices, including the Marshall MG30CFX which features a 30watt combo amp, multiple channels and a fluid and brilliant equaliser panel. Being one of the fastest selling guitars amps Melbourne shops stock, get in there fast to reserve your new amp!

If you want to upgrade to something a bit more modern, then the Marshall CODE series of amplifiers will be a perfect choice for the modern guitarist. Featuring amp modelling based on a rich history of Marshall amps, as well as Bluetooth functionality, the CODE series is a great way to get into digital home recording for the ultimate in versatility.

Whatever amp you choose to purchase next, don’t forget to purchase great quality oxygen-free cables for better quality, as well as test the amp with a range of guitars that suits your style. You’ll find Guitar Paradise offers help with the selection of your accessories, being the number one shop for guitar amps Melbourne wide. Choose the amp that best matches your mood, and goes for versatility if you want to enjoy the amp for many years to come!

Top 5 Guitar Amps for Beginners

Most beginner guitarists who are just starting out go for an acoustic guitar, but often it doesn’t hurt to go straight for the electric if that’s what you’re passionate about learning! The difference is that it requires a slightly higher investment on your part, but if you’re committed to seeing it through and making an effort to learn fast, it can be well worth it.

Thankfully, you can pick up fairly cheap guitar amps around Melbourne if you’re looking in the right places. If you have just bought yourself an axe, it’s probably worth buying something on the small side that is inexpensive. Chances are it’ll take a little while to get to the point where you can appreciate the sound that a top quality amp produces. Here are a few we’d recommend with average prices.

Orange Micro Crush ($79-$90)

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One of the cheapest reliable battery-powered amps out there, the Orange Micro Crush is an award-winning amplifier suitable for players of all skill levels. It ticks all the boxes for things you want in a first amplifier, including practicability, affordability and performance.

While it’s only 5 inches tall, the Micro Crush produces a pretty solid sound and even has an overdrive feature. It can be transported very easily and also comes with a chromatic tuner, which is handy while you’re learning to tune by yourself. 

Fender Mustang Mini ($179-$200)

In the same class as the Micro Crush, the Mustang Mini is also a lightweight, portable and battery powered amplifier that packs in enough features and sound options to make the perfect practice amp. While it’s a slightly more expensive option, this amp comes with a bunch of additional features and of course, Fender’s world-renowned tone technology.

Weighing on just over 3kgs, the Mustang Mini can be battery powered or plugged into the wall, has USB and digital recording output ports, a built-in tuner and more effects and sound options to keep you amused for years to come. If you find a sound you like, you can also save it and use later with the push of a button. What more could you want as a beginner guitarist?

Roland CUBE-80GX ($600-700)

If you’re looking to learn and potentially do some home recording in the future, but don’t want to fork out the big bucks just yet, the Cube-80GX is probably a good move. Producing a reliable sound and tone, this model has an impressive 80 watts of power behind it and is often relied on for stage performances. So there’s no lack of power here.
Additionally, this model also has iOS compatibility, meaning you can plug it straight into your iPhone or Mac and record straight onto an app.

Line-6 Spider IV 75 ($600-$800)

This model has as many effects and preset tones as you could ever want and is generally seen as one of the more versatile amps on the market. While it’s particularly popular with heavy rock artists, it can be used to produce just about anything you want out of it and has easy, adjustable FX options, great for beginners. It’s as easy as turning a dial and you’re browsing through a bunch of different sounds.

You might describe it as the most comprehensive and fully loaded amp on this list. Add that to the fact that the previous Spider 3 line was the best-selling amp in Australia, and you’ve got more than a bunch of good reasons to make this you're first.

Marshall DSL15C ($799-$900)

Marshall amplifiers have more or less become the standard to which other amps are held to and the most widely used by professionals. The DSL range has been critically acclaimed for decades and used by some of the biggest names in music. So it’s certainly a good place to start!

If you’re willing to fork out a little more, you can pick up the excellent all-around DSL15C, an amp that performs well across the board with an amazing tonal range. As far as value for money goes, this is the pick of the bunch and is a good option no matter what sound you want to create. Plus, it’s likely that this will still get the job done 5 or even 10 years down the track when you’re a much more accomplished guitarist - it can even get the job done as a stage amp if necessary.

So there you have it - our top pick guitar amplifiers for beginners! If you need help figuring out which one is for you, drop Guitar Paradise a line, we’d be glad to help you out.