+ Am I too young/old to learn the classical guitar?

You can never be too old to start something new. Learning a new instrument is a very rewarding experience, particularly classical guitar because some beautiful music has been composed for this instrument. Toby's Music Lessons teaches students from the ages of six upwards. One point is playing the guitar does require finger dexterity so if you suffer from arthritis in the hands, see if you can play a guitar without any pains first before committing to lessons.

+ How long will it take me to learn the guitar?

The wonderful thing about learning music is that there is always something new to learn. The best musicians in the world will say that they are still learning every day. Go at your own pace, learn the music you like and appreciate other people’s perspectives. Music is not a competition – it’s an art. It’s an old saying but when it comes to music, the more you know, the more you realise you don’t know. A great book that illustrates this point is ‘Zen Guitar’ by Philip Toshio Sudo.

+ Is classical guitar harder to learn than electric/acoustic/bass guitar?

It’s about the same. Swings and roundabouts really. With classical guitar, you will be learning to read notation and play classical pieces which take time, but are very rewarding. Learning classical guitar can suit people with more analytical minds.

+ Why do classical guitars range in value so much?

There are many factors; the quality of woods, the quality of hardware, and the quality of the construction. A handmade guitar can take an expert luthier over 100 hours to construct. Cheaper guitars are factory made and they can produce hundreds in a week but they use cheaper parts and may not have the same attention to detail than more expensive guitars.

+ What is the difference between cedar and spruce tops?

This is the type of wood that the top of the guitar's body is made out of. There are two types of tops on classical guitars.

Spruce = blonde colour

Cedar = reddish/brown colour

Cedar gives a warm tone, spruce gives a bright tone. Spruce has always been the traditional wood for guitars and cedar become popular in the 1950’s.

+ What is the ‘action’ of a guitar?

The action of a guitar refers to how high the strings are from the fretboard. Ideally, you want quite a low action because the higher the strings are, the harder the guitar will be to play. To lower the action on a classical guitar you would need to file down the bridge saddle.

+ What is a ‘solid top’ and ‘solid sides’ guitar?

This is a key difference between cheaper and more expensive classical guitars; solid top and sides means they are constructed using a solid piece of tone wood. On cheaper guitars, they use a thin laminate of tone wood glued onto cheaper wood. Solid top and side guitars have better projection, better tone and they get better over time as the wood matures. However they are more expensive.

+ How should I care for my classical guitar?

Classical guitars are sensitive to humidity and temperature. Excessive dryness and heat will weaken, warp, and crack the wood. Also, sudden temperature changes may damage the guitar. Do not put a guitar in the attic, basement, or anywhere else that is noticeably colder/hotter/dryer/damper than the rest of the house, do not store it near a radiator, and do not leave it in the car overnight. If your classical guitar has a rosewood fingerboard, you will need to condition it with lemon oil. There is a good cleaning kit on my Recommended Equipment page.

+ Do I need a footstool?

Yes for classical guitar. The footstool or leg rest keeps the guitar in a proper position for playing. Classical guitar has technically-demanding, fast-paced pieces and if you tried to play them without the guitar in the right position it could damage your hands and wrists. You can use a leg rest rather than a footstool.Have a look at the footstools and rests on the Recommended Equipment page.

+ Will loud music damage my hearing?

Yes. Prolonged loud noises will damage your hearing. Always use earplugs when playing live with a lot of other musicians. Hearing is the key sense for playing and reacting to music. Take care of your ears and use plugs!