How to Take Care of a Guitar as a Beginner

Learning to play the guitar is an exciting and rewarding experience for many. However, as a beginner, it's crucial to learn how to play and adequately take care of your instrument! Looking after your guitar correctly ensures that it stays in excellent condition aesthetically and helps the instrument sound and play its best. Keep reading, as we will provide tips and advice on how to take care of your guitar as a beginner. From cleaning and storage to tuning and maintaining it, we've got you covered with all the information you need!

Cleaning and Storing Your Guitar

First on the list is one of the most critical steps, keeping your guitar clean and properly stored. Knowing how to do this is crucial for maintaining your guitar's appearance and sound quality. As a beginner, it may take some practice; however, once you get the hang of it, keeping up with a regular cleaning schedule and adequately storing it each day will become a habit. Here are some of the main tips on how to clean and store your guitar: 

1. Wipe down your guitar after each use: This may seem like a chore. However, it is crucial. Use a soft and dry cloth to wipe down your guitar after using it. This will help remove any sweat, dirt, or oil that accumulated while you were playing. 
2. Store your guitar in a case or stand: Leaving it around can increase the chance of debris building up and accidentally damaging it. Store your guitar in a case or on a stand to protect it when you are not playing it. 
3. Avoid storing your guitar in harsh temperatures and humidity: Make sure to keep your guitar in a room or area with moderate temperature and humidity levels, as they can warp or crack under extreme conditions. 

Tuning

Tuning is an essential aspect of taking care of your guitar for several reasons, including: 

• Tuning your guitar regularly will ensure that the instrument always produces the right notes and sounds in tune with other instruments or music you are playing along with. 
• It helps prolong the life of your guitar strings by preventing unnecessary wear and tear that can be caused due to playing an out-of-tune instrument. 
• Playing an out-of-tune guitar can also hinder your playing technique, as you will mistake the wrong notes for the proper ones. 

Learning how to tune your guitar may take a while. However, there are two ways that you can make the process of learning how to tune easier. The first way is to invest in a tuner. A tuner is a must for any beginner guitarist. The second way is to ask a professional instructor to teach you how to tune your guitar manually. While tuners are helpful, you should get started learning how to do it manually right away; it will come in handy if you don't have a tuner available in the future.

Make Sure the Strings are Kept in Good Condition

Your strings are one of the most critical elements of your guitar; therefore, keeping them in good condition is crucial for maintaining its sound quality and longevity! Unfortunately, it's common for strings to accumulate dirt, sweat, and other debris over time, eventually corroding the metal and affecting the guitar's tone.

In addition, old or worn-out strings will cause tuning instability and seriously affect intonation, making it difficult to play in tune. Make sure to change your lines regularly and keep them clean to ensure that your guitar stays in good condition and continues to produce the best possible sound. 

Use the Right Tools for Maintenance

Just like any type of machine, using the right tools for guitar maintenance is essential as it will prevent damage and prolong the life of your instrument. Some of the proper tools to use for maintaining your guitar include: 

1. Using a microfiber cloth to clean your guitar is much safer than using a regular or paper towel, which can scratch the finish. 
2. Adjusting the guitar's hardware using the appropriate size and type of screwdriver. This will prevent damage to the screws and the guitar's body. 
3. Use suitable polish and cleaning solutions to protect your guitar's finish and prevent it from becoming dull or faded.
   

Ensure a Long-Life For Your Guitar with the Help of a Professional 

As a guitar owner, it's essential to maintain your instrument to ensure you get the best possible sound. However, as a beginner, sometimes it's best to seek the help of a professional. Experienced guitar technicians have the necessary knowledge, skills, and tools to maintain the health of your guitar and optimize its sound quality. They can easily identify issues that may arise and provide the necessary solution to keep your guitar in outstanding condition. 

In addition to helping you maintain your guitar, a professional technician will be able to guide you on the best practices to follow when it comes to properly maintaining and caring for your guitar. This will give you the knowledge of how to do it on your own as soon as you have a grasp on the procedure. If you are taking guitar lessons with an instructor, they will also be able to show you and give you advice on the best way to increase the lifespan of your guitar. 

Guitar Lessons for Children, Teens, and Adults in Glenview, IL

Now you know all the ways to properly take care of your guitar as a beginner, it's time to find the best place to practice and master your instrument. Twelve Tone Music School is a leading center for beginner guitarists. Their state-of-the-art facilities, combined with their professional, knowledgeable, and experienced instructors, give students all of the tools they need to be successful in learning the guitar. Enroll today at Twelve Tone Music School.