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Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen! My name is Marcos Kazan, I'm a guitar player
Many of you may know me from Cifra Club
Some may have seen me play at São Paulo night in several pubs around
Many of you may know me from YouTube through my videos
Some from IG&T [A famous Brazilian guitar school]
Some through my Blog
I decided to make a series of videos
about guitar, about equipment
YouTube viewers had been asking a lot ...
...for me to talk about it and give some lessons maybe.
I decided to do a series of videos
talking about equipment, about guitar, how to learn, and everything else ...
With a focus mostly on the beginners
who want to learn how to play and step into the art of playing the guitar
As the first video
I decided to make a guide ...
... for the beginners with what to pick, what to buy and how to get started.
In the market nowadays we can find a huge range of equipment ...
... several guitars ...
... several amplifiers, several stompboxes.
So, what to buy when you're beginning?
Well, the very first thing
perhaps the most obvious
would be starting with a good guitar
So which guitar do we choose?
My suggestion for the newbie is
do not spend much money on the first guitar.
When we start studying music,
one thing is certain for everyone:
The musical taste changes with studying.
I mean, you get to studying music
and your personal taste in music will be changing itself.
All of a sudden a music style you did not like, you get to enjoy.
And music styles you like, you might lose your interest.
So do not spend much money on your first guitar.
So do not spend much money on your first guitar.
Your first guitar is for STUDYING.
Further on, if you develop yourself
Further on, if you develop yourself
you'll probably end up choosing
you'll probably end up choosing
styles that you are not used to listen during your first contact with the music study
styles that you are not used to listen during your first contact with the music study
I think the first guitar must be a versatile guitar.
Inexpensive, but versatile. What do I call versatile?
It is a guitar that you can take several different tones.
I do not know whether everyone watching already know about guitar or not.
Guitar is like a vehicle, like an automobile.
If you get to a store asking for an automobile ...
... the salesperson will ask you: "Allright! Do you want an economy car?
Do you want a truck? What are you gonna do with this car? "
Guitar is the same thing. There are different guitars for each musical style.
Guitar is the same thing. There are different guitars for each musical style.
Can a guitar made for one style perform on other style?
Shure it can! But each one will play a better role...
Shure it can! But each one will play a better role...
... in the musical style for which it was created for.
My suggestion for the beginners is a guitar with 3 pickups.
My suggestion for the beginners is a guitar with 3 pickups.
My suggestion for the beginners is a guitar with 3 pickups.
I would not suggest for beginners a guitar with only 2 pickups.
The beginner,
the guy who is starting out, need to acquire
the guy who is starting out, need to acquire
skill and understand what kind of tone a guitar can deliver and how this might work
skill and understand what kind of tone a guitar can deliver and how this might work
A three pickups guitar will give you a far greater versatility and you will further ...
A three pickups guitar will give you a far greater versatility and you will further ...
... explore the tones for later choosing what instrument you will want in the future
and what kind of tone you will want in the future
There are guitars with twin coil pickups like this one here, the Humbucker pickups.
There are guitars with twin coil pickups like this one here, the Humbucker pickups.
There are guitars with twin coil pickups like this one here, the Humbucker pickups.
And there are guitars with single pickups.
And there are guitars with single pickups.
That rather than having two coils, have only one.
I would suggest to anyone who is starting...
I would suggest to anyone who is starting...
... preferably a guitar which has the two types of pickups.
one humbucker and two single
or one single and two humbuckers
something like this. I, for example, started with a guitar like this
it had a single in the middle and two humbuckers, one at the arm and another at the bridge
That is my suggestion. At least one humbucker so you can ...
That is my suggestion. At least one humbucker so you can ...
That is my suggestion. At least one humbucker so you can ...
... go experimenting with different types of tone that a guitar can give you.
Many might say, "Oh but I started with a Les Paul, it has only two humbucker pickups"
All right, one can go with that.
"Oh, I started with a Strat. It has three single pickups!" All right, one can start out this way.
"Oh, I started with a Strat. It has three single pickups!" All right, one can start out this way.
But where one goes, the other is not going. Know what I mean?
But where one goes, the other is not going. Know what I mean?
Second part,
The second type of equipment that the beginner must acquire
The second type of equipment that the beginner must acquire
Very often the people who are starting out says: " I'm saving money to buy ..."
I think you must have all this in mind
What are raising money to buy?
The second part, of course: Pick
There are several kinds, several shapes
Buy some of different thicknesses. The differences between the picks...
... are it´s thickness or it´s hardness.
Fender, if I remember correctly, differentiates by the hardness
And Dunlop, by thickness.
Buy picks from several formats and several thicknesses.
I personally really like Dunlop.
but it is personal liking, I have friends who are very fond of Fender
or even other brands
this is personal liking
I particularly like
and adapted myself
with Dunlop 1.14mm
personal taste
Try experimenting with several and find out which is best for your style
Another important part of your equipment is the Amplifier
About the Amp, different from the guitar where I told you not spending too much money on the first
The Amp will follow you for longer.
The Amp will follow you for longer.
The Amp will follow you for longer.
When you are putting your budget to see what to buy, I would suggest...
When you are putting your budget to see what to buy, I would suggest...
I would suggest acquiring
a quality Amp
not those small amplifiers for studing
it is very important that you listen well what you are doing
listen well the sound that you are getting
The Amp will follow you for a bit longer
It must not be anything too powerful. It must not be anything absurd.
I personally do not really like amplifiers with more than 30 watt.
I personally do not really like amplifiers with more than 30 watt.
I even started with a 25 watt amplifier that accompanies me until today.
I built other amplifiers later, I'm an electronics engineer and also make my own equipment
I built other amplifiers later, I'm an electronics engineer and also make my own equipment
I built other amplifiers later, I'm an electronics engineer and also make my own equipment
I first started with a 25 watt Laney that accompanied me on many gigs
Another important thing: In a concert
For those who are thinking about pursuing a professional career
It is not interesting to have a very powerful amp
The cool thing is that the public listen to your sound
through the sound distribution system, the PA
and not directly from your amp
Otherwise, the sound is not distributed properly throughout the place. Later I'll make a video explaining how it works.
Otherwise, the sound is not distributed properly throughout the place. Later I'll make a video explaining how it works.
Don´t go for amps with much more than 30 watts.
30, maybe 20 watts is a good call to begin with.
Your first amplifier must have a nice clean tone, for you to listen well what you are doing.
and also, for later, to get nice tone from your effects.
and also, for later, to get nice tone from your effects.
There is no need to worry about the amp having good distortion early on.
There is no need to worry about the amp having good distortion early on.
For you who are starting out, is how I said earlier:
Your musical taste will change during the development of your musical studies.
Your musical taste will change during the development of your musical studies.
Do not worry so much about the amp having a good drive. What is important is having a nice clean tone.
Do not worry so much about the amp having a good drive. What is important is having a nice clean tone.
For you being able to listen properly
So distortion is not something essential. Is it interesting to have it? Yes
So distortion is not something essential. Is it interesting to have it? Yes
But if it doesn´t, you can always buy a distortion stompbox and use it
The important thing is having a nice clean tone.
Another very important piece of equipment and a lot of people are overlooking: The Cables.
Another very important piece of equipment and a lot of people are overlooking: The Cables.
Those cables that ships with new amp and guitar, FORGET´em! That´s crap!
It only serves to get you listening to Christian radio and sertanejo radio while you play.
It only serves to get you listening to Christian radio and sertanejo radio while you play.
Nothing against evangelicals or anything against sertanejos
But while you're studying music is not cool that your amp picks up radio.
But while you're studying music is not cool that your amp picks up radio.
So it is very important to buy good quality cable for your very first setup.
So it is very important to buy good quality cable for your very first setup.
So it is very important to buy good quality cable for your very first setup.
It doesn´t really need to be a recording studio grade cable or anything near it.
It doesn´t really need to be a recording studio grade cable or anything near it.
It doesn´t really need to be a recording studio grade cable or anything near it.
But some good shielded cable is fair enough.
Nowadays there are several good brands on the market such as Planet Waves and Santo Angelo
I have used Santo Angelo for many years, those are very good cables!
Planet Waves also, I'm now starting to use´em and they are fantastic!
Not so expensive
It is worth investing a little bit on it.
Another part which I consider essential
that almost everyone overlooks at first but is essential in the guitar study is the Metronome.
that almost everyone overlooks at first but is essential in the guitar study is the Metronome.
The metronome is a device that keeps doing this:
[Tic...Toc...Toc...Toc...]
This little sound while you play.
Many people say: "Oh, I want to learn how to play. I don´t want to learn theory. Those exercises? That´s boring!"
Many people say: "Oh, I want to learn how to play. I don´t want to learn theory. Those exercises? That´s boring!"
Many people say: "Oh, I want to learn how to play. I don´t want to learn theory. Those exercises? That´s boring!"
Dude! If you do not study theory, if you do not exercise
if you do not train for real
You will be left behind.
If you don´t wanna be just one amateur guitar player for the weekend around some friends.
If you don´t wanna be just one amateur guitar player for the weekend around some friends.
If you want to play for real for the rest of your live, you´ll have to study.
And the Metronome will greatly speed up your study, especially when you do those exercises to loosen your fingers...
And the Metronome will greatly speed up your study, especially when you do those exercises to loosen your fingers...
And the Metronome will greatly speed up your study, especially when you do those exercises to loosen your fingers....
... training scales, even playing music. When we´re playing, we think that the timming is right.
... training scales, even playing music. When we´re playing, we think that the timming is right.
but if you record yourself playing, you´ll see that sometimes it´s a mess.
but if you record yourself playing, you´ll see that sometimes it´s a mess.
The metronome helps you to get the time just right.
The metronome helps you to get the time just right.
Getting it straight in time as you play.
It is very hard to keep in time while playing without the Metronome.
It is very hard to keep in time while playing without the Metronome.
What do differentiates a good player from an excellent musician
What do differentiates a good player from an excellent musician
is just the ability to keep the cadence, and the metronome is essential for learning it
is just the ability to keep the cadence, and the metronome is essential for learning it
You will find on the internet
You will find on the internet
several exercises to loosen your finger
to train chromatism
to train scales and everything else. If you are not with the Metronome by your side, you won´t do it right.
Especially, for the Heavy Metal guys
those willin to sweep, and arpeggiate
without a metronome, just forget it!
Another very important thing as well, other cool equipment
Another very important thing as well, other cool equipment
very important for the beginner is the tuner.
very important for the beginner is the tuner.
Today we have several types of tuners. I really like these contact tuners.
It´s grips somewhere on your guitar
It´s grips somewhere on your guitar
and by the instrument vibration it says whether it´s tunned or not and the pitch.
and by the instrument vibration it says whether it´s tunned or not and the pitch.
This one for example ...
It´s a cheap piece of equipment. Mine, I´ve got it for just some bucks.
It is vital, I leave it in my backpack ...
Jack of all trades!
Avoid using those software tuners.
Avoid using those software tuners.
They are available for computer and smartphone.
They are available for computer and smartphone.
With the mobile verion, I have not goten very successful yet.
With the mobile verion, I have not goten very successful yet.
They are still in development, so I still haven´t got very lucky with them yet.
And the computer ones... C´mon, you won´t carry your computer everywhere.
And the computer ones... C´mon, you won´t carry your computer everywhere.
Will you carry your computer to a studio when playing with your friends?
You really won´t want to carry yout computer with you to your guitar class.
It´s not an expensive piece of equipment. It´s worth having one in the backpack.
And finally, very important and many people forget about. The Strap.
To hang ...
The strap, that holds here on this Strap Button
The strap, that holds here on this Strap Button
It helps you playing standing up.
For those who wanna play with friends, at the studio, on a gig... It´s very important!
For those who wanna play with friends, at the studio, on a gig... It´s very important!
So, you have it there...
when choosing your equipment, keep in mind all that I said...
Make your budget to buy it.
Refer someone who is already experienced, someone who already plays it.
Refer someone who is already experienced, someone who already plays it.
Before choosing your equipment
If you have a close friend who´s already into guitar playing, go with him to the store.
So, that´s it! When assembling your budget for your first equipment...
... your guitar, your amp ...
... mind it: Guitar, Picks
Amp, Cable
Metronome, Tuner and Strap That´s what you´ll need to start playing.
Perhaps if there´s no distortion feature on your amp
Perhaps if there´s no distortion feature on your amp
you might wanna go for an Overdrive stompbox
or for a Distortion stompbox
don´t go spending too much money early on
Thank you very much for watching this video
for being together!
If you like it, please subscribe it! There are more videos coming on later...
Keep in touch!
Keep in touch!
Send in your questions, will be happy to answer!
Hugs to everyone, stay well!