Acoustic Or Electric Guitar: Which Should You Get?

So you've chosen to take up the guitar. Good for you!hollow-body electric guitar is a wise choice. If that is
Now comes the hard part: which guitar is the best tothe case, you will also want to purchase an amp. But
start playing on? Well, the answer to that questionwhat if you like rock music that makes use of both
depends on many things. It depends on what kind ofacoustic and electric guitar? Then perhaps a
music you enjoy listening to, what kind of music yousemi-hollow body guitar is the best choice. Or maybe
are looking to play, and what kind of level you wish toyou don't like rock and instead enjoy country or mellow
reach--amateur or professional.music. Acoustic or Acoustic-Electric guitar is then your
Before we go over each topic, let us first discuss thebest bet.
differences between Electric and Acoustic guitars.What Kind of Music Do You Want to Play?: Maybe
The main difference between an Electric and Acousticyou're a big rock fan, but would rather learn to play
guitar is the fact that the Electric must be plugged intomellow, acoustic-based songs. That's perfectly fine,
an amplifier in order to be heard loudly, while theand if that's the genre you wish to play, you definitely
Acoustic can be played and heard without the use ofwant to pick up an Acoustic or Acoustic-Electric guitar.
an amp. This is because Acoustic guitars have soundIt's also possible that you're a big fan of acoustic-pop
holes, which produce the sound. Electric guitars, on thebut want to start playing rock & roll. Do yourself a
other hand, don't have a sound hole and are thusfavor and pick up a semi-hollow or hollow body guitar.
known as Hollow-body's. Electric hollow-body's can beWhat Level Do You Wish to Achieve?: Are you just
heard by the people playing them, but are inaudible totaking up the guitar for recreational purposes and not
others without the use of an amp. Additionally, therelooking to form a band or master the instrument? The
are Electric guitars with the ability to be played bothElectric guitar is probably a good choice. This is
acoustically and electrically because they have littlebecause Electric guitars are much easier to start
sound holes. These are known as semi-hollow bodiesplaying on than Acoustics are. Electrics have thinner
and are very versatile because they can sound onestrings (which are easier to start playing on) and, when
way unplugged and another way on an amp. Finally,plugged into an amp, allow room for error. Beginner
there are some Acoustic guitars, known asmistakes can be easily covered up with Electric
Acoustic-Electric's, that can be played acoustically orguitars. However, you cannot expect to make
on an amp. However, these are very different frommistakes and be a pro. Acoustic guitars do not cover
semi-hollow bodies, because they sound pretty muchup your mistakes at all--if anything, they highlight them.
the same unplugged or plugged--the only differenceYou are forced to play songs correctly and master
being that the Acoustic-Electric when plugged into thetechniques the right way. The learning curve of an
amp.Acoustic is steeper, but you will reap the rewards if
OK, now that we've briefly gone over the differentyou master it. A transition from Acoustic to Electric
types of Acoustic and Electric guitars, we can nowguitar will be incredibly easy, whereas a transition from
move on to the criteria for choosing a guitar.Electric to Acoustic guitar will be a bit harder. Thinking
The Music You Enjoy Helps You Decide What Guitarabout what you want to accomplish on the guitar is a
to Buy: Let's start off with the first topic. Obviously,big factor in your decision.
those who enjoy listening to a certain kind of musicWell, there you have it. After you think deeply about
are most likely going to want to play it on guitar. That isthe above topics, you should be able to decide what
why you must take this into consideration when lookingtype of guitar to get. Once you've made that decision,
for a guitar. Choosing the wrong type of guitar couldyou'll probably want to check out our articles on
lead to frustration and giving up the instrument all"Choosing the right Acoustic guitar" and "Choosing the
together. Do you enjoy rock music--metal, modern,right Electric guitar".
alternative and otherwise? Then chances are a