Need an easy instrument to strum on

Wistasona · Post by **Wistasona** » Fri May 31, 2019 3:09 pm

Hi everybody! I need your recommendations, I guess.

I am in my 70's and need some advice on what stringed instrument to pursue for easy strumming along as I sing folk songs and favorite old singers like Elvis and the Everly Brothers. Strictly for my own enjoyment. I was a very novice 6 string guitar player almost 50 years ago. When I tried both steel and nylon string 6 strings recently I realized I have no muscle memory, have lost strength and flexibility in my fingers.

I started researching 4 strings which then took me to ukuleles so I got overwhelmed quickly. I am starting from scratch and welcome any advice, so:
Tenor 4 string, cigar box, ukulele (if so, which size?)? I even saw a 3 string being played on YouTube. Suggestions?

Easiest to play?

Steel, nylon or steel over nylon?

String notes? Anything where I can get away with mostly only needing to use 2 fingers?

Specific models and brands?

Thanks in advance!

Thomas · Post by **Thomas** » Fri May 31, 2019 3:15 pm

Get a parlour guitar, they're fairly inexpensive, small bodied and shorter scale so easier to play, and they sound great. A secondhand Gretsch Jim Dandy would cost around 80-100.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Fri May 31, 2019 3:47 pm

Not really an answer, just more to get confused about, but have you thought about playing slide guitar?

kingkiller · Post by **kingkiller** » Fri May 31, 2019 3:48 pm

Steel string would probably be easier to play once you start to learn a bit more, nylon string guitars tend to have necks that are a little bit wider so fretting becomes a bit more difficult. Best of luck!

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Fri May 31, 2019 4:54 pm

Try tuning something up to open chords instead of standard tuning. Could be a ukulele or even a cigar box guitar. Banjo also seems easy to play with the small necks and light strings

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Fri May 31, 2019 5:04 pm

There are these Loog learner instruments

And while decidedly not a "strummer", there are these "church basses" with 2 strings and 5 frets

As far as regular small/cheap stuff goes, I'm frequently tempted by the $150-$200 lines of Recording King acoustics, which are pretty pawnshoppy parlor guitars (though they also make dreadnought and 000 models)

[youtube][/youtube]

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Fri May 31, 2019 7:42 pm

Buy a telecaster. Play in drop D with a capo

It's what everyone else does to cheat and use 1 finger....you can too!

NickS · Post by **NickS** » Fri May 31, 2019 8:34 pm

There's a chap local to me who is "Dan" in the band "Dandy Man" (geddit?) and he uses a 4-string tenor very effectively. It could be cheaper to put only 4 strings on a six-string. Comfort could be a major consideration; nylon will be easiest on the fingers to start with but most nylon-string guitars have a wide flat fretboard and you may find the neck on a steel-string more comfortable. Can you get to a music shop to try?

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Sat Jun 01, 2019 12:09 am

A dulcimer might be right up your alley. Tuned in a chord, fretted so that all positions are in key, and easy to play.

George · Post by **George** » Sat Jun 01, 2019 7:15 am

Silk and steel strings are much easier to fret than other steel acoustic sets.

You could also detune whatever instrument you decide on and use a capo so the strings are looser

Open tuning may also be useful to look in to

sunshiner · Post by **sunshiner** » Sat Jun 01, 2019 7:31 am

Lighter gauge of strings on Affinity Squiers. Their necks are somewhat narrow, if you put 7s or 8s and tune a half step lower you'll be good I think

Post by **Doog** » Sat Jun 01, 2019 8:23 am

paul_ wrote:
And while decidedly not a "strummer", there are these "church basses" with 2 strings and 5 frets

lol I had to research to make sure that was indeed a fake

http://babylonbee.com/news/fender-intr ... h-bassists

Pearlman actually began testing these designs in churches across the country over the past few months, but no one noticed.

sunshiner · Post by **sunshiner** » Sat Jun 01, 2019 9:15 am

lol wtf? I thought it was a joke

However there should be three strings. They completely failed and should be anathematized

Fakir Mustache · Post by **Fakir Mustache** » Sat Jun 01, 2019 9:27 am

Doog wrote:
paul_ wrote:
And while decidedly not a "strummer", there are these "church basses" with 2 strings and 5 frets

lol I had to research to make sure that was indeed a fake

http://babylonbee.com/news/fender-intr ... h-bassists

Pearlman actually began testing these designs in churches across the country over the past few months, but no one noticed.

The fret distance is too long for that kind of scale.

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Sat Jun 01, 2019 8:19 pm

Oh damn, I thought it was real because of the alt-rock cross.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Sat Jun 01, 2019 8:25 pm

George wrote:Silk and steel strings are much easier to fret than other steel acoustic sets.

seconded, thought to come back to this thread to say this, I use them on my old Stella parlor guitar.

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Sun Jun 02, 2019 12:32 am

Used those on my Martin for awhile after being converted by a friend til I missed the volume, they're swanky and especially nice for fingerpicking.

Post by **Doog** » Mon Jun 03, 2019 11:28 am

sunshiner wrote:lol wtf? I thought it was a joke

Uh, it is.

sunshiner · Post by **sunshiner** » Mon Jun 03, 2019 11:56 am

sunshiner wrote:Doog should be anathematized

George · Post by **George** » Mon Jun 03, 2019 1:44 pm

paul_ wrote:Used those on my Martin for awhile after being converted by a friend til I missed the volume, they're swanky and especially nice for fingerpicking.

Very true about volume and something to bear in mind. I instantly get drowned out by other guitars, especially because I fingerpick, but I mainly play on my own or plugged in.