Don’t let your shyness stop you from thriving in guitar stores!
Guitar shops can be anxiety-inducing. Whether you’re nervous about a lack of knowledge or you are afraid of getting upsold on useless gear, Acoustic Life has you covered. We’re giving you 5 tips to own your guitar store experience.
If you like this advice or you want to hear more of Tony, be sure to check the Acoustic Tuesday Show or some of Tony’s free guitar lessons right here on Acoustic Life. If you want more guidance and even more online guitar lessons, request an invite for Tony’s Acoustic Challenge — one of the best online guitar lesson platforms on the internet!
5. Bring a Friend (Guitar Buddies…Unite!)
There’s something comforting about being with friends. Having a friend venture with you to a guitar store can lighten the mood while making the experience more fun. Whether your friend knows more about guitars and gear than you or less, having a friend with you brings down the anxiety levels.
When you go with a friend, you won’t be stuck talking to a salesman or a staff member. Instead, you can create a dialogue that won’t be a one-sided pitch. Using your friend as a buffer will reduce anxiety and provide an unbiased opinion.
4. Call a Guitar Store Ahead
Think of calling the store as a stress-free way of making the first contact. When you call the store, you can confirm if they have what you are looking for. In addition, you can learn the name of a sales associate and ask them if they can help you when you arrive. When you schedule an informal meeting with a salesperson, you establish a connection that helps them help you more. In a way, calling ahead can put you and the salesperson on the same page.
3. Ask Questions (and Remember, No Question is Stupid!)
Asking questions can seem intimidating at first. If you’ve followed the previous two tips, asking questions about the guitar or gear you are looking at won’t be as stressful. Asking questions can also cut down on unnecessary trips to the guitar store.
Don’t be afraid to ask the sales staff if you can demo guitars or gear. Alternatively, you can ask them to demo certain products if you are too anxious or nervous. This is part of their job if you are at a reputable guitar store.
When you ask about guitars and gear that are compatible with your needs, you will leave the store more informed and ultimately better equipped to make future purchasing decisions.
2. Be Honest About What You Are Looking For
When you are honest with a salesperson, it makes it easier for the salesperson to help you. If you tell the salesperson you are looking for a blues-oriented guitar, they might make assumptions about your skills, income, and desires. However, if you tell them you are learning the guitar and you want to play the blues, they can help you more.
If you are going to the guitar store to try out gear — and you have no intention of buying — be sure to let the staff know you are just trying out gear. Guitar stores are designed to offer you experiences, not just sell products. When you explain what exactly you are wanting to try out, a salesperson may point you in the right direction.
1. Listen and Learn
When you go to a guitar store, be sure to listen and learn. If you walk into the store closed-minded, you are missing out on making connections and learning important lessons. The salesperson may be younger than you, older than you, less of a guitar geek than you, or even more of a guitar geek — either way, connecting with guitar geeks is one of the best ways to learn the guitar and continue learning new techniques, mechanics, and guitar knowledge.
Online Guitar Lessons Designed for Guitar Geeks
We know you are going to be trying out some of our tips to owning your guitar store experience, which is why we think Tony’s Acoustic Challenge is perfect for you. If you like learning guitar online or you are looking for guided online guitar lessons, Tony’s Acoustic Challenge has you covered.
With thousands of members to help you learn more and geek out over guitar knowledge, Tony’s Acoustic Challenge is the start of your acoustic guitar journey. Request an invite today and join one of the largest acoustic guitar communities online!
I bought my first accoustic electric guitar from a major music store in Manchester UK. Having no musical knowledge whatsoever, and unable to play a note. Twelve months later and really making no progress I took my guitar to a small local music shop only to be informed that my guitar had never been setup and that no musician would be able to play it.
Once it had been fitted with lighter strings , the neck and knock recut it is now a very sweet instrument. Beginers beware.
My husband and I watched this together over our morning coffee and had a long conversation about our different experiences in guitar stores and how the staff impacts your decision to return. Great video that we can all relate to and how important this would be for music stores to share with their staff to better help customers. Well done! I know of two very professional, accomplished female musicians/performers who have had condescending experiences they have shared due to being “older” female customers, basically judgement was passed before the sales person knew their ability/knowledge levels. You do a great job of identifying topics that are so relevant to all of us, novice and experienced, thank you!
Wow you went to that store in Arlington Heights Il? So did I once, it was near my workplace– and felt the same kind of feeling…love the tips, I still get anxiety before going to a chain and even a privately owned smaller shop. The call ahead tip was both insightful and comforting. Thanks for the real world advice with these 5 tips.
question—to Tony, staff, or readers….any advice/tips on, once comfortable in the shop, the best way to approach getting a discount off the retail price? Whether it be in a chain or privately owned small shop…that part of any guitar store always gets me anxious, especially when it comes to buying the big ticket item, like a new guitar…what are folks experience with how you approach, broach or bring up that topic in the Guitar Store Visit phase…have you found most places are open to it, or give you the “eye roll” Tony mentioned…thanks everyone.
All good stuff, but let me add some more to think about. Once I’m in the door and have engaged with a salesperson I always ask before playing anything. Usually the salesperson will suggest several instruments and set them out for me. I ask if it’s OK to capo the instrument. All of this is pretty normal. Here’s my tip. I always take a microfibre cloth with me. I wipe any guitar I play down before and after I play it. Believe me, they will remember you the next time you stop in. Most of the people working in guitar stores are also working musicians, so I ask about what they play or do musically. One guy I asked did some amazing fingerpicking on a Ukelele! I have a little advantage in that I look like I can afford whatever I want — not true, of course, but it doesn’t hurt 😉
Well said Tony. Interestingly I can have this feeling come over me in my usual guitar shop (6 yrs now) after I’ve been there for a while checking out things. It is really strange sometimes to have it just pop up out of nowhere. It might be connected to not knowing anyone there anymore. Gonna make some contacts and see if that changes things. TY
Great topic and good info, thanks Tony