First things first, there are wood guitars and then there are laminate wood guitars. There are a few key differences between the two, primarily quality and price. While either type of guitar is perfectly suitable for a variety of musical needs from guitar lessons to at-home jam sessions and professional concerts, you’ll find that laminate guitars are less expensive, but do not resonate as well as solid wood guitars. The reason for this is that solid wood guitars are made with pure sheets of high-quality wood whereas a laminate wood guitar is made from layers of thin processed wood. It should be no surprise then that solid wood guitars are generally more durable than laminate wood guitars and have a longer shelf life. But fear not, there’s no wrong choice when it comes to guitars! Instead, it all boils down to preference and need.

Once you’ve decided on a solid wood guitar versus a laminate wood guitar, the next choice you’ll need to make is the type of guitar wood you want. While a guitar can be made from any number of woods, below is a list of some of the most popular choices.

Types of Guitar Wood

Spruce
Spruce is by far the most common type of wood used for guitars, especially for the tops of guitars. Its popularity is due to the fact that it suits almost every guitarist’s musical style. It produces a very consistent sound with an overall smooth and classic tone. Compared to other types of guitar wood, spruce is known to be milder in sound, but versatile enough for most guitar players.

Maple
Maple is another standard choice among guitarists. Unlike spruce, maple wood guitars have a brighter, crisper sound. Because of this, they work well when plugged into amplifiers, making them a good choice for guitar players who frequently perform at large venues. Maple is also known for being a sturdy wood which is why it is commonly used for necks and fretboards rather than the main body of a guitar.

Cedar
A gorgeous golden brown in color, cedarwood makes for a visually appealing—and sounding—material for guitars. In comparison to spruce and maple, cedar has a slightly heavier, more mellow tone. It’s most often used only for the tops of guitars.

Mahogany
Mahogany, on the other hand, is generally used for guitar backs and sides. It’s dark in color, making it one of the most recognizable woods. It’s also very dense which contributes to its warm, rich tones. 

It’s important to note that the list above is not an extensive list of guitar woods; there are many other types of woods used in guitar building, such as rosewood, alder, walnut, basswood, etc. To determine which guitar wood material is right for you, you’ll need to test out a few. Stop by a local guitar shop in Phoenix or Scottsdale to experiment with various guitars to find the one that suits you best.

Once you’ve settled on a guitar, don’t forget to sign up for guitar lessons at Scottsdale Music Academy to put your shiny new instrument to use!

It’s no secret that life is busier than ever for most people these days. From school to work plus family time and everything in between, it can often seem like there are not enough hours in the day to fit everything in. As a result, many people focus solely on “must-dos” instead of making time for hobbies or leisure activities, such as guitar lessons, sports, or photography. Yet, research has shown that hobbies can tremendously enrich our lives and are beneficial for both the mind and body.

So, instead of neglecting your passions because you “don’t have time,” find ways to prioritize your hobbies and fit them into your schedule. Don’t worry, it’s easier than you think! With some thoughtful planning and a little bit of multitasking, you’ll find you have more time than meets the eye!

Here are three easy ways to make time for hobbies, even with a jam-packed schedule

1. Be Smart With Your Time

The fact of the matter is most of us have enough free time to fit in all the things we love, but we simply don’t utilize our time efficiently. To make the most of your time, you first need to figure out where time is being wasted and adjust accordingly. No matter how busy you are, chances are not all 24 hours in your day are productive hours. Think about the time spent scrolling through Instagram or watching yet another show on Netflix. You could use that mindless downtime to focus on your hobbies instead! 

2. Double Up

Another great way to make time for hobbies is simply through multitasking and sneaking it in whenever you can. For most people, devoting huge chunks of uninterrupted time to a hobby is not realistic. Instead, find ways to work your hobby into your existing schedule by pairing it with another task. For example, if you commute to work or school, use that time to work on your hobby. Or if your hobby is portable, reserve part of your lunch break to work on it instead. Group activities together, and you’ll soon discover loads of hidden free time!

3. Choose Wisely

To incorporate a hobby into your already hectic schedule, you’ll want to choose wisely. In general, you should find a hobby you’re actually interested in and that fits your needs and lifestyle. Consider hobbies that can be learned at your own pace or that can be done from home, such as online music lessons. The more convenient and flexible your hobby is, the easier it will be to integrate it into your weekly routine.

Don’t waste another minute wishing you had extra time to pursue your interests; Optimize your current schedule so you can do more and ultimately help make time for fun-filled hobbies.