An acoustic guitar is not just a box of wood with some strings. It should be a very important thing to you. It is not meant to just be placed in the corner and left to collect dust. Here are a few tips and tricks to keep your guitar playing and sounding the best it can.
The first thing you should do is buy a proper guitar stand for your six string companion. Leaning in the corner is not an ideal way to store your guitar, there are way too many ways for it to fall or get damaged. Head to your local guitar shop or browse online and drop some money on a decent guitar stand. These range from just standard floor stands to really nice ones that allow you to hang your guitar on the wall and display it proudly. This way you can make sure that your guitar is as safe as it can be while being out in the open.
Second you should buy a case for your guitar if you need to transport it. Again, your guitar is an expensive instrument and you don't want it to get damaged. You can either buy a fairly inexpensive gig case, which is basically like a duffel bag for your guitar, or you can spend a little bit more money and get a hard shell case. A hard shell is preferred over a gig case because it is more solid, thus better for the guitar. Talk to your guitar instructor to see if he or she has any advice on the matter.
Third, I think it is important to keep your guitar looking nice all the time, so buy some acoustic guitar polish. I opted to go with wall hanging stands for my guitars and I display them in my home. So because of that I always make sure they are polished and clean.
Fourth, make sure you replace your stings often. I try to replace mine about ever month. It is not that expensive and the guitar just sounds better with fresh strings. A good acoustic guitar instructor will show you how to replace your strings. It is not hard, however, for the novice it can be a little time-consuming.
Lastly, and I think most importantly, name your guitar. I have owned several guitars in my life and they all hold a special place in my heart. Thus they all deserve a name. My favorite guitar is a blue acoustic/electric named Bessa. It makes your relationship with your guitar more personal and your guitar becomes more than just an instrument.
Follow these few tips to make sure the life of your acoustic guitar is a happy one. A lot of times a guitar becomes almost an extension of the player, so take of if it like you would yourself. Happy strumming.
Benjamin J. Cloyd is a guitar instructor and has a website called best acoustic songs where you can find and print great songs for beginners to intermediate to advanced. He is also a guitar teacher in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
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