Unanswered Questions 2: Genres, Pedals, Secondhand Guitars and Orientation
- The American Guitar Academy
- Jul 18
- 4 min read
Recently I put a blog post together answering some questions that many people would be too worried to ask. I thought it would be a good idea to make this a regular feature as I always seem to come across students that need them answering!
Today we will cover a few things that I have covered in detail in their own blog posts before, so I will link those and give you a brief overview.
Is Rock the Best Genre?
There is no such thing as the ‘best genre’. Musicians should remain versatile to the point of at least appreciating all styles of music, not necessarily liking it. I believe there is an extraordinary amount of gatekeeping for every genre and I find it slightly grating when someone refuses to at least try and listen to a style of music.
From a purely financial viewpoint, ‘pop’ music is so called because it is popular, so it stands to reason that it will be the best in terms of money involved - that still doesn’t make it the best overall. It would be unwise to start a pop music career with the goal of making money, as the market is so saturated and a majority of the success is reserved for an elite few.
Do I Need This Pedal to Play This Song?
It is an incredibly useful skill to be able to shape your tone given the equipment that you have to hand. There is usually a way you can adjust settings, both on the amplifier, on the guitar and with pedals you already own, to come close enough to a particular sound.
On the other hand, some songs use a specific pedal type that you can’t really emulate through other means. For example, Thundercat uses a specific Low-Pass Envelope Filter on the song ‘Them Changes’, and Ritchie Sambora of Bon Jovi fame used a talkbox on the song ‘It’s My Life’ - it is impossible to replicate these without the specific effect. So, the answer is that you might need a specific pedal to replicate the sound of a song, but you don’t need to most of the time.
Here is a blog post I wrote that goes into detail on effects pedals a bit more:
Shall I Buy a Brand New Guitar?
There is something special about buying a new guitar, and something equally as special about finding something really cool and perfect for your needs on the second-hand market.
Many stores offer warranty agreements for new and used items, but you are likely to get a longer term with a new product from most retailers. However, buying second-hand on the private market has no such agreement. This is, of course, balanced out by a lower price - there are so many things to consider and options to weigh up.
Have a look at this blog post I wrote about buying guitars. There is plenty of information on there to help you out!
I Am Left-Handed. Shall I Buy a Left-Handed Guitar?
The costs associated with business and manufacturing are a mystery to me, but something I do understand is the economy of scale. This means that something will cost less if it can be manufactured in larger quantities. Mass-produced guitars are typically of the right-hand orientation because that makes up 90% of the market. As a result, less left-handed guitars are made and therefore are generally more expensive. One exception to this rule is when guitars start to enter the realm of custom made instruments - being made from, or as close as possible to, scratch means orientation no longer has any bearing on the end cost.
It is my recommendation that a complete beginner chooses a right-handed guitar, regardless of their dominant hand preferences. This is because the student in question will face difficulties as a learner anyway - they can always swap over later down the line if necessary.
My Favorite Guitarist Started Playing When They Were Three Years Old. Is It Too Late for Me?
I answered this question in detail a few months ago, I will link the post below. Everyone begins their journey at a different point along the winding path of music. There is no sense in comparing yourself to your idols - you may not be ready like Guthrie Govan was at the age of three!
You must also consider your reasons for wanting to play the guitar. Too many people heavily influence their child’s decision to learn an instrument, so the best time is when you’re both old enough to make the decision by yourself and that you’re sure it’s the right thing to do!
Here is the link to the blog post mentioned previously:
Can’t I Just Use Fender Play, Yousician or Something Similar to Learn?
The short answer? No.
The long answer? Definitely not.
Similar to how Duolingo is for those learning a new language, you simply can’t replace experience and proper instruction with an app or website. You can’t get specific feedback, although they try to market that as a benefit, and it is impossible to pick a specific pathway for a student - they tend to offer a blanket approach to learning.
The upside to apps like these is that they can supplement your learning, though not a replacement. I don’t like to tell people that they are wrong, and today is no exception. Those who swear by these apps are misguided and fooled by a false sense of learning. That being said, if it inspires someone to start learning properly then I certainly can’t complain!
Final Thoughts
I think a lot of the points covered in the questions today are all valid, and all of us have pondered them at least once in our lives. Hopefully you can take away some of the advice, or pass it on to others if you can!
As always, these questions are answered in a broad fashion, to cover the majority of players. Specific answers might require you to speak to your teacher or one of the fantastic team of teachers at The American Guitar Academy.
