| 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 to | | | | the case, you will also want to purchase an amp. But |
| start playing on? Well, the answer to that question | | | | what if you like rock music that makes use of both |
| depends on many things. It depends on what kind of | | | | acoustic and electric guitar? Then perhaps a |
| music you enjoy listening to, what kind of music you | | | | semi-hollow body guitar is the best choice. Or maybe |
| are looking to play, and what kind of level you wish to | | | | you 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 the | | | | best bet. |
| differences between Electric and Acoustic guitars. | | | | What Kind of Music Do You Want to Play?: Maybe |
| The main difference between an Electric and Acoustic | | | | you're a big rock fan, but would rather learn to play |
| guitar is the fact that the Electric must be plugged into | | | | mellow, acoustic-based songs. That's perfectly fine, |
| an amplifier in order to be heard loudly, while the | | | | and if that's the genre you wish to play, you definitely |
| Acoustic can be played and heard without the use of | | | | want to pick up an Acoustic or Acoustic-Electric guitar. |
| an amp. This is because Acoustic guitars have sound | | | | It's also possible that you're a big fan of acoustic-pop |
| holes, which produce the sound. Electric guitars, on the | | | | but want to start playing rock & roll. Do yourself a |
| other hand, don't have a sound hole and are thus | | | | favor and pick up a semi-hollow or hollow body guitar. |
| known as Hollow-body's. Electric hollow-body's can be | | | | What Level Do You Wish to Achieve?: Are you just |
| heard by the people playing them, but are inaudible to | | | | taking up the guitar for recreational purposes and not |
| others without the use of an amp. Additionally, there | | | | looking to form a band or master the instrument? The |
| are Electric guitars with the ability to be played both | | | | Electric guitar is probably a good choice. This is |
| acoustically and electrically because they have little | | | | because Electric guitars are much easier to start |
| sound holes. These are known as semi-hollow bodies | | | | playing on than Acoustics are. Electrics have thinner |
| and are very versatile because they can sound one | | | | strings (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 as | | | | mistakes can be easily covered up with Electric |
| Acoustic-Electric's, that can be played acoustically or | | | | guitars. However, you cannot expect to make |
| on an amp. However, these are very different from | | | | mistakes and be a pro. Acoustic guitars do not cover |
| semi-hollow bodies, because they sound pretty much | | | | up your mistakes at all--if anything, they highlight them. |
| the same unplugged or plugged--the only difference | | | | You are forced to play songs correctly and master |
| being that the Acoustic-Electric when plugged into the | | | | techniques 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 different | | | | you master it. A transition from Acoustic to Electric |
| types of Acoustic and Electric guitars, we can now | | | | guitar 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 Guitar | | | | about 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 music | | | | Well, there you have it. After you think deeply about |
| are most likely going to want to play it on guitar. That is | | | | the above topics, you should be able to decide what |
| why you must take this into consideration when looking | | | | type of guitar to get. Once you've made that decision, |
| for a guitar. Choosing the wrong type of guitar could | | | | you'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 | | | | |