Songwriters can use the iDea guitar to record and save the songs and riffs that they are developing as they pop into their heads. In a way, it lets you more solely focus on the inspirational aspects of songwriting. They can also use the preloaded rhythm tracks to accompany them in developing their music. The Ovation iDea can record from the guitar itself, from the built in microphone and from the auxiliary input jack.

Beginning guitarist can load their favorite songs to the MP3 player from their computer and play them back as they learn. Even better, the Ovation iDea comes preinstalled with jam tracks and audio lessons to aid in the development of the budding guitarist. Ovation has teamed up with WorkshopLive to fully integrate an online learning experience with the guitar. The training website features both video and audio lessons, jam tracks to load into the guitar's recorder and training and backing tracks specifically geared to the aspiring songwriter.

Files in the Ovation iDea can be deleted, rearranged, renamed and moved the same way that you can manipulate files on your computer. Complete songs, rhythm tracks and mixes from your other recording software can be downloaded and played from the guitar or through the headphones via the headphone jack. Several of the jam tracks and lessons come preinstalled on the guitar and others are available online.

While this guitar is not intended to replace your high-end, quality acoustic guitar, it is meant to be more of a niche product for several markets: a learning tool for the new guitarist and a utility device for the aspiring songwriter.

Ovation iDea Acoustic-Electric Guitar Features:

• Model: CC54i-PL
• Type: 6-string acoustic-electric
• Finish: PL satin platinum
• Top: Laminated spruce
• Bracing: Modified X
• Body: Mid-depth cutaway
• Sound holes: iDea elliptical
• Neck: Nato
• Neck finish: Satin platinum
• Fingerboard: Rosewood with black satin
• Inlays: 12th fret "i"
• Scale length: 25-1/4"
• Bridge: Rosewood with black satin
• Tuners: Black Ovation
• Preamp: Ovation iDea
• Pickup: Ovation slimline

Ovation iDea Acoustic-Electric Guitar Specifications:

• On-board controls:
• USB connection
• headphone jack
• Mic input jack
• Record button
• Repeat button
• Play/stop button
• Backlit menu screen with jog control
• Volume, bass, mid, and treble slider controls

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1

The first is that a cheaply made acoustic guitar is just that; a cheap acoustic guitar. The reason that it is lowly priced is because it is mass produced from inferior wood and components. There's also a lot of variability in the same model of a cheap guitar because of the poor construction practices and inferior labor that produces these guitars.

The second, and more important, point is that an acoustic guitar devalues right after it is purchased. This is analagous to the purchase of a used car. A new car is worth thousand less as soon as it's driven off of the lot. A used acoustic guitar is worth less as soon as it's taken out of the store. But that is great for the informed shopper because he or she is able to get it at a lower price. The added advantage, as mentioned here, is that the guitar is broken in and is more playable than when it left the store.

The point that I'd like to make is that when you go shopping for used acoustic gutars your object should not be to find one that is dirt cheap because it is used but to find a guitar that provides value. In a high-end, quality guitar that will generally result in a savings of 20%-40% depending on a number of factors.

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Vintage guitars can be an investment that will only increase in value if you target and build your carefully. This reasoning parallels collectors in more well know areas such as coin collecting and stamp collecting. However, you may wonder whether a guitar can really be a good investment and increase in value. After all,  most guitars seem the same to the uninformed guitar afficiondo. However, the well chosen guitar could be worth a lot of money to a collector. For instance, guitars that have been owned by popular guitarists or which are rare, collectible or unusual in their own right, can fetch very high prices in the collectible market. If you've done your research and priced the used electric or used acoustic guitar properly, you most always will realize a solid return due to its value appreciating.

Vintage guitar collections have consistently out-performed the stock market. This has proven to be an excellent strategy for several reasons: they are a real or tangible product, unlike the piece of paper that is a stock or bond; they can be fun to collect and a hobby that is enjoyed by a small by growing number of collectors; and they serve as attractive display pieces. For the most part, collectible vintage guitars don't lose value over time and in fact, gain value as they age providing that their condition is maintained and they possess collectible qualities to begin with. This generally means that they were superior guitars at the time of their production.

The superior action and tone of a real vintage guitar will most definitely be recognized by a knowledgeable player. This is truly the case with one of the most popular vintage guitar sought by collectors; the Gibson Les Paul. Gibson invented the modern electric guitar and  the Les Paul was one of the best electric guitars available in the sixties. While the Les Paul is still being produced today, they don't have the same quality of the original models that are made from mahogany, oak and other fine woods. You can also find original models made with mother of pearl and gold inlays.

Fender is also another popular brand being sought by guitar collectors. The Fender Telecaster, Stratocaster, and Mustang are all great models that remain in demand. The most collectible and valuable of these models were made in the fifities and sixties. Fender guitars made after that time are often less valuable. Make sure that you research the guitar's value before you buy to make a decision that will perform as an investment.

Martin Guitars is the most noted acoustic guitar brand as far as vintage guitars go. Some of these original issue acoustic guitars are among the finest ever made due to their superior craftsmanship. Martin was an innovator and introduced the use of the X-bracing system in acoustic guitars. That added greatly to their durability and means that Martin Guitars have lasted for a longer period of time than the competition. Some original Martin guitars are almost a hundred years old now. Collectible Martin Guitars are sought by collectors through the sixties vintage. Guild guitars are great vintage instruments, but that are not as valuable on the whole as Martin acoustics because they are not as well known. However, older Guild acoustic guitars that are rare have and will continue to appreciate the same as the Martin guitar line.

So the next time you walk into a music store, a pawn shop, flea market or yard sale and see some used electric and used acoustic guitars, take a closer look. You may have stumbled across a piece of guitar history that will increase in value.

The strings on an acoustic guitar are also a little harder to properly fret so you can be sure that if you can play a chord on an acoustic guitar then you will also be able to play it on an electric guitar. The necks and string spacing are also generally a little bigger on acoustic guitars so your hand positioning and fingering technique will develop more quickly by the exercised dexterity that you will gain on an acoustic guitar.

Used acoustic gutars are a great way to start with and learn on because you will get a better quality guitar for your money. A used acoustic guitar will also be properly broken in and set up if you take care in your purchase and buy from an experienced guitar player that has properly cared for their acoustic guitar. Instead of paying a couple of hundred dollars for a new guitar that will be made of lower quality woods and components, the same amount of money will allow you to obtain a quality used acoustic guitar that will sound better and play better than a lower quality acoustic guitar.

Most serious acoustic guitar players will tell you that Martin and Taylor are the best acoustic guitars, followed closely by recommendations for Guild and Gibson acoustic guitars. Most of these companies offer low to mid-level guitars in their lineups that can be purchased new for $500-$1,000, but you can often find these same models selling for up to half of the cost of  new guitars by buying used acoustic guitars.

You will find Martin, Taylor, Guild and Gibson acoustic guitars being used by professionals at most music festivals and concert arenas. They are being played  because of the quality construction and the great tone that they possess. Spend your money on a lower entry model from these manufacturers and buy a used acoustic guitar, and you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you have a quality guitar to learn with that will lead to a more enjoyable and worthwhile experience.

Although there are other quality acoustic guitar brands out there than the brands that I mention, their boutique nature and lack of availalbility will generally result in a higher price in terms of both new and used acoustic guitars in these lines. Stick to a quality brand that is in ample supply in the secondary market and you will be able to play what the pros play at a fraction of the cost.

You will probably become frustrated along the way when learning to play an acoustic guitar, so take a step back and take a break when you need one. Just recognize that this is a challenge for almost everyone, have patience and enjoy the learning process.

Buying your first guitar is a prerequisite when learning because you will need to have your own guitar and not depend on a guitar that will be in your possession on a periodic basis. Each guitar is different as the more you play a single guitar and grow comfortable with it, the more you will gain confidence in the guitar istself and your ability to play it. There are two kinds of acoustic guitars that you can get; either a classic guitar that uses nylon strings or a more popular steel string acoustic guitar. Your choice is a matter of taste and music style so your choice will depend on the sound that you are trying to obtain. However, as a beginning guitarist you will probably find that a more contemporary steel stringed guitar may be a bit easier to learn with becasue the neck is somewhat smaller and easier to 'work'. On the downside, the strings may be a little more difficult to fret...so recognize that there is a trade off in your selection of a steel string guitar. Today's popular music across many genres is probably more associated with the steel stringed guitar since the sound is brighter and louder.

You'll also need to consider the body style of the acoustic guitar. Acoustic guitar body sizes are characterized by terms that extend from small to jumbo. Each size has a unique sound. A smaller body guitar will have more treble and midrange tonal characteristic and they are easier to hold. Lead guitarists also favor smaller or midsized acoustic guitars because they have a more balanced sound. Larger bodied guitars have more bass and are a little harder to hold for the average person. Since you are learning to play acoustic guitar, a midsize body shape is a great place to start with your first acoustic guitar because it has a balanced sound and is relatively comfortable to hold and play.

The quality of acoustic guitars varies by brand and model. Minor tonal characteristics can also vary slightly within the same model, but this is usually not noticeable to the human ear. After you have decided on the type and size of the acoustic guitar that you wish to play, try out some guitars in your price range to see which one you like and are most comfortable with. Also, take along someone that is an experienced guitar player and get their opinions on the guitars sound and quality.

Look to purchase the best acoustic guitar that you can afford. Try to avoid purchasing a new guitar that costs less than $200 since the cheap price reflects its' cheap quality. Save your money until you can budget at least $200 for your first guitar.  A quality guitar will be easier to play and will sound better. You will enjoy playing a good guitar more and this will result in your looking forward to practice and an increased desire to learn. You can find many quality acoustic guitars for under $500 new. Some quality brands to consider are Seagull, Ibanez, Alvarez and Yamaha. Higher quality guitars such as Martin and Taylor may also be available used in this price range.

Actually, used acoustic guitars are highly recommended because you can save a significant amount of money over the cost of a new acoustic guitar. It is not uncommon to find used acoustic guitars selling for half of their retail cost. You can stretch your dollar further by buying a basic or lower entry model acoustic guitar. You do not need to spend the extra money for an electronics package, exotic woods or upgraded cosmetics. Avoid most models labeled as Artist versions since the extra money that you will be paying for them will not translate into a better sounding or playing guitar, although the cosmetics and details will generally be upgrades. Again, take an an experienced guitar player with you before you purchase your first guitar, whether it be new or used.

A good guitar teacher can be an invaluable resource in your guitar learning process, but this can also be an expensive proposition. You may also simply prefer to learn on your own at your own pace. This is actually a reasonable approach for many 'students' because the fundamental chords and scales are easily self taught from instructional books. When you have 'mastered' teh basics, you may then give further consideration to a guitar teacher because some of the more advanced subjects are not easily learned from books and visual tips and help with technique can more easily be garnished from an instructor. However, for those that are learning on their own I will provide some tips and guidelines to help you get the most out of your practice time.

Practice as many times that you can for at least thirty minutes at a time. Learning guitar is a process by which you learn a new note, chord, scale, progression, song, etc. and then you practice it until you care comfortable playing it. Therefore, the more often that you practice and play, the sooner you will learn. Take your time when you practice and ensure that you are correctly playing and understanding the material that you are trying to learn. Don't practice or repeat bad or incorrect methods as you don't want to ingrain these into your brain. So, take your time when you practice and accept this as a challenge that will be overcome through your diligence.

Finally, before you even start your study and practice of  the acoustic guitar, take some time to learn about the individual parts of your acoustic guitar, how the guitar is constructed and how the different parts of the guitar work together to produce sound. Also, make sure that you know how to tune your guitar before you start. You can either buy an electronic tuner or use one of the online tuners to get this done. You can also match the low E string and use a fretting method to tune the rest of the strings off of this one.

When you are learning and practicing the acoustic guitar, learn the different major chords and then the variations of that chord. To break up your study of the chords and to introduce another topic, learn and practice your scales. This will give you a well rounded familiarity with the frets on the guitar and it will build up strength in your fingers and hands.

These are just some basic pieces of advice for the newbie wishing to learn to play the acoustic guitar. I hope that you find this information useful as an introduction to your learning process and that your guitar study is both rewarding and pleasurable.

The main difference between the classical acoustic guitar and the contemporary acoustic guitar is that the former is strung with nylon strings and the latter is strung with steel strings. Due to the steel strings in the contemporary guitar, it has a brighter sound and a louder volume which is more appealing to the contempory music of most genres. Today's acoustic guitars also have a larger body size, a reinforced and stronger structure and a more narrow neck than the classical guitar style. It also has a narrower neck that makes playing easier and faster, especially for the less accomplished guitar player. The bracing structure of the acoustic guitar is a major consideration for the contemporary acoustic guitar over its' classical version because it can withstand the increased tension on the neck and body placed on it by the stronger and heavier steel strings.

Acoustic electric guitars have been produced for approximately fifty or sixty years and are an extension of the contemporary acoustic guitar. These guitars are simply acoustic guitars that come supplied from the factory with an electronics package, in the form of pickups and/or a microphone, preinstalled. Many acoustic electric guitars also come equipped with a preamp and a blending system. Although acoustic electric guitars are generally built with the electronic components, most acoustic guitars can be retrofitted to include an electronics package. However, a luthier is required for this conversion in most cases because of the woodworking involved to accomodate the components.

The bodies of inferior and cheaper acoustic guitars are typically made from laminated tonewood, more commonly called plywood. However, the better quality and more expensive acoustics are made from better pieces of solid wood. Most commonly spruce is used in this construction due to its' tonal characteristics, but other woods like cedar are sometimes used. The wood from which the top and body are made is a major factor in the guitar's design do to the sound and expression of the guitar. Spruce top wood is popular due to its' bright and clear tonal qualities.

The neck of an acoustic guitar is usually made from maple, mahogany, or rosewood. However, some guitar necks are fabricated from different woods and the quality of the wood is a an important but secondary consideration to the type of wood itself. On the neck of the acoustic guitar is the fretboard. Most fretboards on the acoustic guitar are made of rosewood or ebony. More expensive acoustic guitars have fretboards made of higher quality woods. Usually the fretboard and the neck are constructed of differet woods.

The vibration of the strings is amplified through the soundhole of the guitar and is amplified inside of the guitar's body. This soundhole is analogous to your mouth and is where all sound that you hear comes from. If you look inside the soundhole of the acoustic guitar, you'll see the interior of the body and be able to observe some of the guitar's construction details. There are braces and linings, all essential to keeping the guitar intact and playable. X-bracing is a relativley newer constructure feature on acoustic guitars and is employed as a bracing system because it is strong and durable. It is typically used on today's acoustic guitars because it is heavy and strong enough to withstand the pressure of steel strings and it has a good strength to weight ratio.

On the body of the guitar below the soundhole is the bridge. This is where the bottom of the strings rest. The strings are inserted into the small holes and the bridge pegs hold them in place via a pressure fit. The nut, usually made of plastic or bone, is at the top of the neck and holds the strings in slots that are cut into it to maintain proper spacing before the strings are routed to the tuners.

The headstock of the Acoustic guitar features the tuners. The six tuners are usually situated three on each side of the headstock but other configurations are not uncommon. A quality Acoustic guitars will have die-cast tuners and Grover tuners are a quality brand that is favored because they will maintain the tuning of the guitar string for a longer period of time.

Like their Electric counterparts, Acoustic guitars are tuned in the standard E A D G B E tuning and most acoustic guitars are configured with six strings, while twelve string acoustic guitars are popular due to their increased harmonics.

The Acoustic guitar remains a very popular musical instrument that is popularized to each new generation by its' prevalence in most music genres. It is used in almost every style of music: rock, pop, country, blues, etc. Acoustic guitars are great instruments for both beginners looking to learn to play guitar and to skilled professionals. Generally speaking, acoustic guitars made from quality and solid woods in the necks such as maple or mahogany and bodies made with solid spruce top will provide a clearer and more pleasant tone. A quality acoustic guitar will cost approximately five hundred dollars or more, but great values can be found by purchasing a used acoustic guitar at significant price reductions over the cost of a new acoustic guitar.

The acoustic guitar is a better choice for learning that an electric guitar for several reasons and it's probably the instrument that most guitarists first learned to play. It is portable and does not require an amplifier or electricity, so you can pick it up and play it anywhere. This is important when you are first learning because you need to pick up the guitar whenever you are motivated to learn. Your acoustic guitar will be with you at the ready whether you are in your dorm room, on a camping trip or even traveling in a car. The other important consideration is that the acoustic guitar is less forgiving that an electric guitar. The strings are a little harder to press against the fretboard properly and the neck is probably a little larger. When you can play a chord cleanly on an acoustic guitar you can be assured that you will also be able to play it on an electric guitar.

The very first thing that you will need when learning to play the acoustic guitar is obviously the guitar itself. You should learn to play on a quality acoustic guitar. This is important, not because it will sound better, but because it will play better and be easier for you to play correctly. The interface between you and the music is the guitar neck and a quality acoustic guitar will have a superior neck and fretboard to a cheaply made guitar. The better hardware of a decent guitar will enable to you set a proper string height that will be easier to play and it will maintain the proper tension and stay in tune for longer periods of time without adjustment. And a quality acoustic guitar will sound better because the woods and materials of construction are of a better quality and the soundboard's bracing system will provide better acoustics.

A new high end guitar can cost you well over a thousand dollars, but you can purchase a reasonable quality guitar for five or six hundred dollars new. But you can save money by buying a used acoustic guitar for around half that price. Used acoustic guitars are available in the local classifieds, on craigslist, at your music store, in the pawn shops and on eBay. Craigslist and eBay will probably have the best selection. However, the price of the used acoustic guitar on craigslist is set by the seller and often times sellers have unreasonable expectations and value their used guitars too highley. On the other hand, used acoustic guitars on eBay will have their prices determined by the buying market when purchased through the auction format and will more or less reflect the truer price of that used acoustic guitar.

But whether you are buying a new or used acoustic guitar you will first have to do some research to determine the type of acoustic guitar that you want in regards to style or even brand and specific model. Visit the online forums and various newsgroups and read what the owners of specific guitars have to say about them and if they review them favorably. If you decide that you want to save money by buying a used acoustic guitar, make sure you are able to check out the guitar before you buy it. Examine the guitar for any visible damage or other imperfections, but don't be overly concerned with scratches or dings as these will not affect the playability and tone of the guitar and will in fact lead to a lower price due to the cosmetic defects. However, make absolutely sure that the used guitar is structurally sound and that there are no cracks in the body and that the neck is properly set. Also, cracks in the finish and a bulging or sunken soundboard may indicate that the guitar has developed problems from too much or too little humidity. If the action, pitch and intonation of the guitar are not properly set on a used guitar, they can usually be adjusted by a luthier or even a knowledgeable friend later on. If you are uncomfortable in your ability to assess the condition of a used guitar you should find an experienced guitar player to evaluate the guitar for you.

Now that you've found your guitar, it's time to start learning to play it. This will depend on your personality and your budget. A qualified guitar teacher can help you get started, but your learning will be more structured and rigid. It will be class and your homework will be to learn the assignments given you and demonstrate that you've mastered them at your next lesson. This is a fine and quite acceptable approach, but most budding guitarists will like the home study course better because it is less rigid and quite frankly a lot more fun. With this approach, you can learn the scales and chords and progress to a more structured class with an instructor when you either want to learn the music theory behind what you're doing or need to progress to more difficult subjects that you can't master on your own.

With the home study course all you will need to get started are some good instruction books on learning to play the guitar. You can ask your friends for ideas or go to Amazon.com or the online music stores and read the reviews regarding what is taught in the manual and how it is presented. This method will provide a flexible and comfortable way for you to learn scales and chords and will enable you to start playing. Your repertoire will be limited at first because you will start learning the major chords, but as you progress and learn the chord variations you will be able to expand your song list. Also, as your library of chords grows it will become easier to expand into a new chord when you run into it because you may only find one or two new chords that will need to be learned to play a new song.

As you learn the guitar, you will need to practice. And as Alan Iverson has said, "We talkin' 'bout practice!" Learning the correct way to practice is a very important aspect of your acoustic guitar playing success. This is especially true as you are learning scales and new chords because you will need to concentrate so try to find a quiet and private environment to do this. But practice can be fun if you find a routine to allow it to be. For instance, when learning a new chord spend the serious time learning the chord and getting it to sound right. Play it several times, switch to a chord that you can play well, then switch back to the chord that you are learning. Repeat this until the fingering of the new chord is engrained and add another chord or two that you are comfortable with and play a chord progression. Finally, play a song that is predominated by chords that are in your knowledge base but includes a chord or two of the 'difficult' chords that you are trying to learn. You will find great satisfaction when you can play the song completely and cleanly.

Find the routine and the learning method that suits you best and stick to it. Don't let your learning routine become boring and monotonous. When you run into a problem, work on it slowly and deliberately. At times you will probably become discouraged by your lack of progress. When this happens, put down the guitar a take a break. When you are refreshed, play something that you already know how to play and then return to your problem. This may take several iterations, but you will eventually break through and master it.
Don't give yourself tasks that are too difficult when you are first learning. It takes time to learn the chords and their variations, so start with the major chords and only the major chords to start with. These will be your base to expand upon when you move into the variations of the major chords and are ready for the minor chords, the diminished chords, the sevenths and so on. So start off slow and easy to build your foundation and take on the more difficult things when you have mastered the basics. Make sure that you set goals for yourself that are attainable at the level of playing that you are at. This will engrain confidence and enhance your further progress in learning to play acoustic guitar.

No matter what else you take from this article, the most important point is to be persistent in your learning program. It does not matter whether it takes you a day, a week or a month to learn a new chord. Just don't give up on it until you've got it down. It will only be a matter of time before you become a good guitar player if you put in the effort, and of course, the practice.