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