[For Beginners] Choosing a Guitar or Bass: First, Learn About "String Height"
Points that beginners should check
1. Ease of playing = less likely to give up
For those who have just started playing guitar or bass, ease of playing is the most important thing.
Instruments that are difficult to fret or hard to get sound out of can easily become a source of practice stress
Choosing an instrument where the strings are easy to press and produce a clear sound allows you to feel the joy of playing your first song
Among these factors of "ease of playing," what beginners should pay special attention to is string height.
2. What is string height?
String height is the distance between the strings and the top of the frets.
Too high → Fingers get tired easily, and chords are hard to press
Too low → Strings hit the fretboard, causing the sound to buzz (fret buzz)
Furthermore, nut height also affects string height. If the nut is too high, chords on the 1st to 3rd frets (like the F chord) become difficult to press, so be careful.
For beginners, a slightly lower, easier-to-press string height is recommended to help prevent giving up.
3. Beginner guitars are sometimes not actually for beginners
Guitars sold in stores as "for beginners" may be affordable, but they are not necessarily easy to play.
The string height is often high and difficult to press
There are few adjustable parts (like the bridge or nut), making maintenance difficult
Shipping standards are sometimes set high to withstand shocks during transport and humidity changes
In other words, low price does not equal beginner-friendly, so it is important to choose based on whether it is actually "easy to press."
4. How to measure string height (simple check)
Measure the gap between the string and the fret at the 12th fret of the 6th string using a ruler or a dedicated gauge
Guideline: Approx. 2.0–2.5mm for the 6th string, and approx. 1.5–2.0mm for the 1st string
If it is too high or too low, it can be adjusted via the bridge or truss rod
The nut requires professional modification, so beginners should consult a shop rather than trying it themselves
When trying out an instrument, it is enough to just check if you can press the strings lightly and get a clear sound without stress. If possible, it is reassuring to choose with a friend who is used to playing.
As an aside, those who improve and buy a better second guitar very often say, "I should have just bought this from the start, haha."
Even so, many people keep their first guitar for sentimental reasons. (Smile)
Summary
String height = ease of playing = less likely to give up
For beginners, a "lower string height" that is easy to press is important
Check not only the bridge side but also the height at the nut side
Next time, based on this "string height and ease of pressing," I will introduce recommended guitar models for beginners.
[Afterword: A Former Shop Clerk's Experience]
When I worked at a music store, it was a common occurrence for people to bring in a guitar with rusty strings, saying, "I'm going to start playing with this guitar that was sleeping in my dad's closet!"
I was very happy that they had developed a new interest, and I would inspect the instrument with enthusiasm, but because of years of humidity changes and lack of maintenance, they were often guitars that were hard to press even after restringing—guitars that tested pure arm strength and fingertip durability more than fretting technique.
(In the case of acoustic guitars, there were even some masterpieces that made me think, "If I put strings on this, the bridge will peel off...")
From this experience, I realized that "for beginners" does not always mean "easy to play." When choosing a guitar, please pay attention to the string height and check it carefully.