Our Beginner Gear List

It is really useful for singers to practice microphone technique. A classic microphone that a student will get many years of service out of is a Shure SM58. Keep in mind that you will also need an xlr cable. For a small monitor/amplifier, the Kustom PA50 is a great deal. For a monitor and small portable PA, we recommend the Alto Trouper.

Guitars

Should beginner guitarists start on an acoustic or an electric guitar? This is a question that we hear quite often and the answer is actually very simple. It is whichever excites and motivates the student  to practice! The fundamentals, such as string names, note locations, and chord formations are the same for both.

Acoustic Guitars

Pros: The biggest pro with beginning on an acoustic guitar is that the extra costs, such as amplifiers and cables, are eliminated. An acoustic guitar is fairly simple and basically arrives ready to play. There is no need to learn about how to work an electric guitar and amplifier. 

Cons: Acoustic strings are heavier and therefore a little harder to press down and play than their electric counterpart. Acoustic guitar bodies and necks are also larger, which can make them physically awkward and more challenging to hold. 

Recommendations:

1. 3/4 Sized Acoustic - a great option for young beginners.

2. Parlor Guitar - a full sized acoustic with a smaller body. Parlor guitars are known for their clear sound and portability and we think that they are a great option for many students!

3. Full sized - the Yamaha APX500 and Epiphone EL-00 are good mid-size acoustics and the Yamaha FG800 is a great full size dreadnought option. Yamaha also makes an acoustic package which includes some extra accessories like picks and a strap.

Electric Guitars

Pros: The pro of starting on an electric guitar is that they are physically easier to play than an acoustic. This is due to the fact that they have smaller bodies, thinner necks, and lighter gauge strings which feel softer and less challenging to press than those on an acoustic guitar. Electric guitars are also a little more durable and generally less sensitive to temperature and humidity changes. 

Cons: The initial investment of a guitar amplifier and cable. There is also a slight learning curve with this electric guitar gear.

Recommendations:

1. Squier Mustang - these are full sized, short-scale electric guitars that are much better than most ¾ electric options! Plus, students won’t grow out of them as quickly.

2. Squier Stratocaster - a classic style that will work well for years.

3. Yamaha PAC - a great all around, beginner electric.

The best electric option, if possible, is a Fender Standard Stratocaster or Standard Telecaster. These guitars are affordable and will pretty much last forever. Both the Standard Strat and Tele are also great options on the used market as these instruments are consistent and durable. 

Guitar Amps

For amps, the Orange Crush Series is a good start, as are some of the more affordable Fender amps. With these amp selections, you can choose a size (in general, larger wattage and size means louder) and also whether you prefer more of a traditional style amp with standard eq and drive settings or a slightly more expensive version with onboard effects and amp modeling options which give you more sound capabilities. Again, please do not hesitate to ask us any questions you may have!

Guitar Accessories:

Strings

For strings, we recommend D’Addario extra light (EJ 15) or light (EJ 16) for acoustic and D’Addario extra light (exl 120) and light (exl 110) for electric. The lighter the string, the easier it is to play. Guitar string changes are recommended at least 3 times per year. 

Tuners

Playing in tune is very important and clip on tuners are a really easy way to tune guitars and basses. Snark Clip On tuners are a great option and are sold in most music stores. There are also some great tuning apps for beginners such as guitar tuna.

Cables (electric guitar)

For electric guitar and bass you need a ¼ inch cable. These D'Addario ¼ inch cables are affordable and durable.

Picks and Capos are also recommended. There are many picks to choose from, but the industry standard is the Fender Pick shape and the medium thickness is a great choice to start with. Our favorite capo is the Shubb. Not only is it the choice of many pro players, but we also think it is the easiest for students to use!

Bass

Bass Guitars

A great bass for students to start with is a short scale bass. These are slightly smaller and more manageable for smaller hands. Some good, affordable options are the Squier Bronco Bass and Epiphone EB-O. 

Squier makes a some good beginner full sized basses as well:

Squier Affinity Series PJ

Squier Classic Vibe '60's Precision Bass

More full sized options are the Ibanez Talman and the Ibanez TMB100.

A more expensive option but an instrument that will truly last are the Fender Jazz Bass and Fender Precision Bass, which are the next level up from the Squier series.  Both the Fender Jazz bass and Precision bass are also great options on the used market as these instruments are consistent and durable. 

Bass Amps

Any of these amps will be a great start for the beginning bassist:

Ampeg BA-108v2 

Gallien-Krueger MB108

Fender Rumble 40

Bass Accessories:

Bass Strings

Rotosound Swing Bass 66 are good for a more old-school sound. D'Addario Nickel Wound and

GHS Bass Boomers are better for a more modern bass sound.  

Cables (Bass)

For electric guitar and bass you need a ¼ inch cable. These D'Addario ¼ inch cables are affordable and durable.

Piano/Keyboards

Electric Keyboards

Several options are available for affordable beginner pianos. We recommend 76 keys or more so students can get used to the range of an actual piano. Two great, full sized 88 key options are the Yamaha P-45 and the Casio Privia. The Casio Privia also comes as a bundle with a stand, bench and foot pedals. Foot pedals are an important accessory for any piano student to have. Some options are the Casio SP20 and the Yamaha FC4A.

Upright Pianos

Our great piano technician, Bob Dowling, gave us the following advice. His website is bobdowlingpiano.com and includes a buyers guide and other piano advice. 

1. In general, stay away from spinet pianos. A console or studio upright is a much better bet.

2. Newer is better, but in piano years, 50 years old is still considered newer. 

3. Wait for a great deal on craigslist.org. A really decent vertical can be had for free or up to $1000 by a patient buyer. As mentioned before, buyer beware, and it’d may be a good idea to consult with Bob before purchasing. 

4. Some brands that make great products are Yamaha, Kawai, Baldwin, Everett, Sohmer and of course, Steinway. There are other great pianos made by other companies as well, or by these companies but under a slightly different name. 

Drums

Before purchasing an entire drum set, there are a few tools that are essential to helping a drummer learn fundamentals.

Sticks

Though there are variety of different types and it is tempting to get flashier looking sticks that have rubber grips, light up when they strike a drum, or have plastic tips, the best sticks to use

are good old fashioned wooden Vic Firth sticks. Vic Firth sticks are the most durable and also have the most balance which help create good technique.  

There are a variety of different sizes but we recommend the 5a and the 7a.

Practice Pads

Practice pads are a great, silent way to practice sticking skills. 

12” are more preferable, but the 6” works well too. 

Drum Set

We recommend consulting the student’s drum teacher if they feel ready for a drum kit, which can be a big investment and with a lot of different options. 

Beginner Drum Kit Package Recommendations:

1. Pearl Roadshow 4Pc - great starter kit for younger students as it has a small bass drum (18”). This package has everything you need to get started!

2. Pearl Roadshow 5pc - another great starter kit, but the bass drum is slightly larger (20”). It also has everything needed to get started!

3. Ludwig Evolution 5pc - a great starter kit with a full sized bass drum (22”). It also has everything needed to get started.

Standard Drum Kit Recommendations: 

1. Ludwig Breakbeats by Questlove - unbeatable in terms of price, quality, and portability.

2. Pearl Export EXX 5Pc - a good full sized kit that includes hardware and a kick drum pedal.

3. Gretsch Catalina - is another good full sized kit that students won’t grow out of. 

Drum Kit Accessories:

Some kits do not include hardware, which hold the snare drum, hi hat and cymbals. If any of these are needed, PDP makes a good product for the money.

For a kick drum pedal, Yamaha makes one that folds up, is lightweight and reliable.

The drum throne is a very important part of the drums as it really relates to a drummer's comfort.

Cymbals

For cymbals, there are an abundant amount of options that can get really pricey. Most drummers claim that their cymbals are the defining part of their sound. A good place to start is a cymbal package, but acquiring cymbals are a never ending quest for drummers. 

Saxophones

Where to buy

Great stores where you can try the saxophones and mouthpieces are Sam Ash and Roberto's Winds in Manhattan. Good online stores are www.saxquest.com or www.wwbw.com.

Buying

If you consider buying, it is best to try different models out in a shop. Buying a new saxophone can be very expensive (I don't recommend cheap models off craigslist etc.) New horns can cost up to 10 times as much as their used counterparts (not necessarily the same manufacturer and model, but a comparable professional horn). Here are some different options:

Recommended Models:

Alto:

• Yamaha (any model,YAS-52)

• Selmer (any series)

• Jupiter (767GL)

• Roberto's Winds Intermediate Alto Sax

Tenor:

• Yamaha (any model, YTS-52 is a good example)

• Selmer (any series)

• Jupiter (JTS700)

• Roberto's Winds Intermediate Tenor Sax

Rentals

Renting a new saxophone with a buying option is a great way to get to know the instrument without paying full price up front. Most shops offer this option.

Used

A good option is trying to find any of the above models in a good used condition. Sam Ash and Roberto's both have used models as well as good online

stores like Saxquest.com.

Vintage

You can find great sounding vintage horns for a good price. Sometimes the mechanics aren't as comfortable as new ones but usually they are better sounding than new models. It is really important to make sure the sax is in good condition, the pads are intact and not leaking. Recommended vintage brands are CONN, Buescher, King, Selmer, Buffet

Reeds

A good size to start off with is 2 1/2 strength.  Recommended brands are Rico, Vandoren, LaVoz.

Neckstrap

It is very important to get a strap that has a hook that closes completely and ideally has soft padding for the neck. I recommend the neotech Soft Sax Strap and if the saxophone is too heavy or the neck hurts, the JazzLab Saxholder Harness is a good option. 

Mouthpieces

For intermediate and advanced saxophonists, one of the most important things concerning saxophone is a good mouthpiece. It can make a huge difference and might be even more important than the saxophone itself. Replacing the mouthpiece is also a cheaper option to improve your sound rather than buying a new saxophone. You definitely should try them out before buying and choose what feels best for you.

Thanks!