| One of the most common questions I get
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| | and then pick up the acoustic sometimes
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| from new guitarists is, "should
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| | find they have to develop their hand
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| I begin on the acoustic or electric?"
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| | strength a little before they can get
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| To be honest, there really is no
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| | comfortable on the acoustic. One
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| right or wrong answer. But let's look
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| | disadvantage of the electric, is that it
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| at some of the differences to
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| | is
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| help us decide.First, the biggest
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| | noisier. The pickups of an electric are
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| question is what kind of music do you
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| | much less forgiving of mistakes than
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| like? If you
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| | an acoustic is. Because an electric is
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| want to learn to play like Metallica or
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| | sensitive to every little nuance of
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| Greenday, then it's obvious
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| | touch, finger placement and pressure,
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| you need to get an electric guitar. If
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| | tiny mistakes beginners make will ring
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| you want to play like James
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| | more clearly on an electric than on an
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| Taylor or Dave Matthews, then an
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| | acoustic. Another disadvantage of the
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| acoustic would be the best route to
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| | electric guitar is it's a little more
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| go.Parents, if you are helping your child
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| | expensive to get everything you need to
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| decide what is best for them, be
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| | start on it. Not only do you have to
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| sure to ask them what kind of music they
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| | buy the guitar but you have to buy an
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| want to learn. Also, ask them
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| | amp and a guitar cable to go with it.
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| if they know which kind of guitar they
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| | On average it will cost $40-$80 more
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| would like and why. Asking these
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| | to start on an electric than an acoustic
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| questions has always helped me figure
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| | of similar quality.The main advantage of
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| out which guitar would be a better
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| | an acoustic is it's portability. The
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| fit for my students. Sometimes, people
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| | acoustic can go
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| just want to play the guitar
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| | almost anywhere and be played anywhere.
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| because it's "cool"-- or because they
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| | So you can practice or perform wherever
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| want to be a rock star. Or, maybe
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| | you'd like-- whether at home, on a trip,
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| a friend is learning to play drums and
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| | or around the campfire. There is no
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| they want to start a band
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| | extra equipment required, just pick it
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| together. In these cases I normally
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| | up and play. Another advantage of the
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| would recommend an electric.Motivation
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| | acoustic is the volume. I have never
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| is the key here. Sometimes simply
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| | been asked to stop playing my acoustic
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| buying the wrong kind of guitar, can
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| | because of noise-- even when in the
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| make a child lose interest in playing
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| | dorms at college or playing in my
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| and then you are out the time and
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| | apartment
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| money. I've seen many parents, even
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| | at two in the morning. I have been
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| with the best intentions, have a child
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| | asked on several occasions to turn down
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| start on acoustic when the child really
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| | my
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| wanted an electric and it normally
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| | amp or to stop playing all together by a
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| ends the same way-- disinterest.So,
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| | frustrated roommate or neighbor.
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| besides appearance, what are some of the
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| | However, if your main concern with an
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| important things to consider?
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| | electric is noise, most amps have a
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| Generally, you can play the same things
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| | headphone jack you can use to keep
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| on either guitar, and the basics
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| | others happy. Getting a clean sound is a
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| are the same. The guitar is tuned the
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| |
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| same and all the scales and chords
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| | little easier on an acoustic than an
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| you learn will be the same for either.
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| | electric. But, guitarists who start off
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| However, the sound is different.
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| | on acoustics and then switch to
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| What sounds good on one may sound weak,
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| | electrics may find the required precision
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| out of place, or downright silly
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| | to
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| on the other. When a lot of people
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| | control the noise a little difficult to
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| think of guitar, they think of the guy
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| | handle at first. Another disadvantage of
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| who comes to the front of a stage in the
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| | an acoustic is it's a bit quiet when
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| middle of a song and plays a
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| | playing in a band unamplified. So
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| screaming solo. If this is the kind of
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| | playing
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| playing you're looking to learn,
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| | with a band (especially drums) may
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| then you need an electric. If you're
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| | require extra equipment to be heard.So
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| wanting to learn to strum chords,
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| | there you have it, the main differences
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| kind of like the Beatles, then get an
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| | between starting on the acoustic guitar
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| acoustic. Electrics tend to be played
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| | or starting on an electric guitar. What
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| louder, more aggressively and have a
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| | choice you make depends on:The look you
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| raunchier dirty kind of sound.
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| | want: Are you going for the rock star
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| Acoustics tend to have a fuller, more
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| | look?
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| natural sound and have a little more
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| | The sound: Do you prefer the pure
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| laid back kind of a feel.The main
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| | natural sound or the crunchy distorted
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| advantage of an electric guitar when
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| | sound?
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| beginning to play is the string
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| | The tradeoff: Ease of pressing strings
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| gauge. Electric guitars usually have
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| | down, or more forgiving of mistakes?
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| strings that are much thinner than
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| | Price?
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| the strings of their hollow bodied
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| | Portability?In the end, most guitarists
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| brothers. This means that it's a little
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| | who stick with playing a year or two,
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| bit easier to push the strings down on
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| | soon pick up the
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| electric. The strings are thinner,
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| | other kind of guitar as well. So, what
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| though, and may feel a little sharper
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| | you start on depends on what is most
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| than the thicker acoustic strings.
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| | important to you.
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| But, guitarists who start on electric
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