What’s the Best Guitar Shape for Starters to Shred?
If you’re a beginner looking to shred on the guitar, you may be wondering what guitar shape would be best for you. Guitar shapes come in all shapes and sizes, and each has its unique features that make them suitable for certain playing styles. In this blog post, we’ll explore the different guitar shapes that could be best for beginners who want to shred.
Stratocaster
The Stratocaster is one of the most iconic guitar shapes in the world, and for good reason. The Strat’s contoured body gives it a comfortable feel, making it one of the most player-friendly guitars around. With its recognizable shape, the Stratocaster is versatile, suitable for many different genres, from blues to rock to metal to jazz.
One of the Strat’s signature features is its three single-coil pickups, which give it a bright, twangy sound. This sound is perfect for soloing, as it has plenty of bite and attack, making notes stand out in the mix. The Stratocaster’s bolt-on neck allows for quick and easy access to the upper frets, allowing you to shred with ease.
Les Paul
Another iconic guitar shape is the Les Paul. The Les Paul’s weight and thickness give it a dense, warm sound that’s perfect for rock and blues. The Les Paul’s sustain is legendary, thanks to its set neck construction, which offers a more substantial connection between the neck and body, improving resonance.
The Les Paul has a more substantial body than the Stratocaster, which can take some getting used to when playing standing up. However, the Les Paul’s rounded shape makes it very comfortable to play seated. Additionally, its two humbucking pickups deliver a strong, full-bodied sound that’s perfect for soloing, delivering creamy, smooth overtones.
SG
The SG guitar shape has been a favorite of rock and metal guitarists for decades. Its slim, lightweight body makes it perfect for fast playing, and its shape allows access to the upper frets, making it perfect for shredding. SG is short for “solid guitar,” and it certainly lives up to its name.
The SG’s thin body doesn’t offer much sustain compared to the Les Paul, but what it lacks in sustain, it makes up for in speed. The SG’s double-cutaway design allows for unrestricted access to the upper frets, letting you fly up and down the neck with ease. Additionally, its two humbucking pickups provide an edgy, punchy tone that’s perfect for shredding.
Ibanez RG
The Ibanez RG is another guitar shape that’s been popular with shredders for many years. Ibanez has been in the business of making high-performance guitars for over 30 years, and the RG is the pinnacle of their shredder guitar lineup.
The RG’s sleek, modern design features thin necks, flat fingerboards, and lightweight bodies, making it perfect for fast playing. The RG’s guitar shape is slimmer than the SG, making it feel effortless to play while standing up. Its double-humbucking pickup configuration delivers a hi-fi, high-gain tone, ideal for soloing.
Super Strats
Super Strats are a modern take on the classic Stratocaster shape, designed specifically with shredding in mind. Their sleek, streamlined bodies are typically made of lightweight materials, like basswood or alder. Super Strats also feature fast necks, flat fingerboards, and high-performance pickups.
Super Strats are perfect for beginners who want a guitar shape that’s versatile enough to handle a wide range of musical styles while being optimized for shredding and lead playing. These guitars typically incorporate locking nuts, locking tremolos, and floating bridges to improve tuning stability and make playing dive bombs a breeze.
Conclusion
Choosing the right guitar shape for shredding depends on your specific needs, playing style, and personal preference. Ultimately it comes down to evaluating what kind of music you want to play and finding a guitar shape that feels comfortable, is easy to play, and is optimized for shredding.
Regardless of the guitar shape you choose, always remember that regular practice and dedication are the keys to becoming a great shredder. With the right guitar shape, practicing daily, and honing your techniques, there’s no reason why you can’t become a shredding powerhouse. Happy shredding!
And that concludes our overview of the best guitar shapes for shredding. Do you agree with our top picks, or do you have a favorite guitar shape? Let us know in the comments below!
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