"Guitar or Bust!" or "What Gives?"

In order to learn to play the guitar, it is best to have one to practice on. Off I went yesterday to find one at the Pawn shop where I figured I could get something used. Sure enough, there were a few to choose from. My brother-in-law gave me some pointers on what to look for, and that (even though I fell in love with the sound of it immediately) a 12 string would be a better second instrument than a first. So, I bought the Oscar Schmidt Washburn 6 string.

I also went ahead and bought my 2nd instrument--the 12 string (Ventura Bruno CW-160) is mine now too! Love it!!

Clearly, the next thing I needed was a set of instructions, like what notes are the strings supposed to be tuned to? Staying with the theme of second hand purchase, I went to the ARC thrift store and found a few beginning guitar books. Also found a piano worth checking out more thoroughly--to be continued later.

24 hours later, both guitars tuned once anyway, and my fingers sore from practicing the exercises in the book dutifully on the 6 string--I look at the instruments side-by-side a little more closely. Hmmm. The 12 string is strung opposite from the 6. I must need more information on how to tune it! So I looked it up online, and sure enough, it was tuned right. Dang it, the strings are strung for a leftie! I sit down to figure out how to flip them. Whoops. The grooves in the nut for strings are clearly cut for the way it is strung right now. What the heck gives?!?!?! Totally scratching my head here. I go back to my gently used beginner guitar book and study the diagrams a little more closely. Turns out, the 12 string is strung right. So is the 6 string. However, the 6 string is actually a LEFTY guitar! Go figure.

In the end, I'm glad I bought the 12 string Ventura...at least I have something to practice on until I sell the lefty and buy a right right righty 6 string. Goes to show that even a simple trip to the pawn shop for a guitar can provide days worth of adventure and entertainment!