Buying your first guitar or keyboard in Asansol is easy once you know what to check before you pay. This is the advice I give my own students in Chelidanga.
Shop or online?
Asansol has several music shops, mostly around Hutton Road and in Chelidanga. In a shop you can hold the instrument, hear it and check it before paying, and a good shop will adjust the strings for you. Online stores often have lower prices and a wider choice, but you cannot check the instrument first, and returning a guitar with high strings or a keyboard with a dead key is a hassle.
For a first guitar, a shop visit is usually worth it. For a keyboard, where models are standard, buying online is lower risk once you know exactly which model you want.
Buying a guitar: what to check
- Action. The strings should sit close to the fretboard. High strings make every chord painful and are one of the most common reasons beginners quit.
- Tuning. Ask the shop to tune it, play for a few minutes, then check the tuning again.
- Neck. Look down the neck from the headstock. It should be straight, not twisted.
- Frets. Run a finger along the edge of the neck. Sharp fret ends should not catch.
- Size. Younger children are often more comfortable with a 3/4 size guitar.
Not sure whether to choose acoustic, electric or classical? Read the best guitar for beginners in India.
Buying a keyboard: what to check
- At least 61 full-size keys. Mini keys make the move to a piano harder later.
- Touch-sensitive keys, so playing harder sounds louder.
- A power adapter in the box, not batteries alone.
- A stand or table at elbow height, and a stool.
- Every key working. Press each one before you pay: none should stick or stay silent.
Planning to study classical piano seriously? A digital piano with 88 weighted keys is the better long-term buy. See piano classes in Asansol.
The accessories you actually need
- Guitar: a clip-on tuner or tuner app, a few medium picks, a gig bag and a spare set of strings.
- Keyboard: a stand, a stool and, if you practise at night, headphones.
New to tuning? Follow the step-by-step guide to tuning a guitar.
Three mistakes to avoid
- Buying the cheapest instrument in the shop. A guitar that will not stay in tune makes practice miserable. Spend enough for a reliable instrument from a known brand.
- Buying the most expensive one. You do not need it to start. Upgrade once you know what you like.
- Buying before you have asked a teacher. If you are joining lessons in Asansol, message me before you go to the shop and I will tell you what to look for.
Ready to start? See guitar classes in Asansol, keyboard classes in Asansol, or ask me before you buy.
