Acoustic Vs. Electric Guitars: Which Guitar Is The Best To Start Learning With?

One of the most common questions I get from newstrings are thinner,
guitarists is, "shouldthough, and may feel a little sharper than the thicker
I begin on the acoustic or electric?" To be honest,acoustic strings.
there really is noBut, guitarists who start on electric and then pick up
right or wrong answer. But let's look at some of thethe acoustic sometimes
differences tofind they have to develop their hand strength a little
help us decide.First, the biggest question is what kindbefore they can get
of music do you like? If youcomfortable on the acoustic. One disadvantage of the
want to learn to play like Metallica or Greenday, thenelectric, is that it is
it's obviousnoisier. The pickups of an electric are much less
you need to get an electric guitar. If you want to playforgiving of mistakes than
like Jamesan acoustic is. Because an electric is sensitive to
Taylor or Dave Matthews, then an acoustic would beevery little nuance of
the best route to go.Parents, if you are helping yourtouch, finger placement and pressure, tiny mistakes
child decide what is best for them, bebeginners make will ring
sure to ask them what kind of music they want tomore clearly on an electric than on an acoustic.
learn. Also, ask themAnother disadvantage of the
if they know which kind of guitar they would like andelectric guitar is it's a little more expensive to get
why. Asking theseeverything you need to
questions has always helped me figure out whichstart on it. Not only do you have to buy the guitar but
guitar would be a betteryou have to buy an
fit for my students. Sometimes, people just want toamp and a guitar cable to go with it. On average it will
play the guitarcost $40-$80 more
because it's "cool"-- or because they want to be ato start on an electric than an acoustic of similar
rock star. Or, maybequality.The main advantage of an acoustic is it's
a friend is learning to play drums and they want toportability. The acoustic can go
start a bandalmost anywhere and be played anywhere. So you
together. In these cases I normally would recommendcan practice or perform wherever
an electric.Motivationyou'd like-- whether at home, on a trip, or around the
is the key here. Sometimes simply buying the wrongcampfire. There is no
kind of guitar, canextra equipment required, just pick it up and play.
make a child lose interest in playing and then you areAnother advantage of the
out the time andacoustic is the volume. I have never been asked to
money. I've seen many parents, even with the beststop playing my acoustic
intentions, have a childbecause of noise-- even when in the dorms at
start on acoustic when the child really wanted ancollege or playing in my apartment
electric and it normallyat two in the morning. I have been asked on several
ends the same way-- disinterest.So, besidesoccasions to turn down my
appearance, what are some of the important things toamp or to stop playing all together by a frustrated
consider?roommate or neighbor.
Generally, you can play the same things on eitherHowever, if your main concern with an electric is
guitar, and the basicsnoise, most amps have a
are the same. The guitar is tuned the same and all theheadphone jack you can use to keep others happy.
scales and chordsGetting a clean sound is a
you learn will be the same for either. However, thelittle easier on an acoustic than an electric. But,
sound is different.guitarists who start off
What sounds good on one may sound weak, out ofon acoustics and then switch to electrics may find the
place, or downright sillyrequired precision to
on the other. When a lot of people think of guitar, theycontrol the noise a little difficult to handle at first.
think of the guyAnother disadvantage of
who comes to the front of a stage in the middle of aan acoustic is it's a bit quiet when playing in a band
song and plays aunamplified. So playing
screaming solo. If this is the kind of playing you'rewith a band (especially drums) may require extra
looking to learn,equipment to be heard.So there you have it, the main
then you need an electric. If you're wanting to learn todifferences between starting on the acoustic guitar
strum chords,or starting on an electric guitar. What choice you
kind of like the Beatles, then get an acoustic. Electricsmake depends on:The look you want: Are you going
tend to be playedfor the rock star look?
louder, more aggressively and have a raunchier dirtyThe sound: Do you prefer the pure natural sound or
kind of sound.the crunchy distorted sound?
Acoustics tend to have a fuller, more natural soundThe tradeoff: Ease of pressing strings down, or more
and have a little moreforgiving of mistakes?
laid back kind of a feel.The main advantage of anPrice?
electric guitar when beginning to play is the stringPortability?In the end, most guitarists who stick with
gauge. Electric guitars usually have strings that areplaying a year or two, soon pick up the
much thinner thanother kind of guitar as well. So, what you start on
the strings of their hollow bodied brothers. This meansdepends on what is most
that it's a littleimportant to you.
bit easier to push the strings down on electric. The