Should I start learning how to play guitar on an acoustic guitar or an electric guitar?

Insomnia: Should I start learning how to play guitar on an acoustic guitar or an electric guitar?
I’m gonna be buying my first guitar soon, and I’m wondering which I should start out playing with first. I have absolutely no experience playing guitar, except for Guitar Hero which shouldn’t count. Any suggestions? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answers and Views:

Answer by dream_weaver
It doesn’t really matter which – it’s easier to play electric in some ways as it hurts your fingers less (though you quickly build a tolerance to this) but it’s more expensive as you need more equipment than with acoustic. This is a problem if you decide the guitar’s not for you and have wasted a ton of cash on an amp etc

What kind of music you are into can make a difference though – if you like metal you’re unlikely to get the sound you want out of an acoustic and if you like folk then there’s no need to splash out on an electric

Either way just make sure you don’t buy the very cheapest instrument and if you go acoustic check the action (how high the strings are above the fretboard) isn’t too high or you’ll waste a lot of time playing an instrument that sounds dreadful and it’s likely to put you off

Answer by Logan
guitar hero is not gonna help at all…. i would start with an acoustic guitar- thats what i started with

Answer by Han
It’s really about what kind of guitar playing you want to do, both are quite different and have different techniques….

If i were to suggest, i would say acoustic, as it has a natural sound. What i mean by this, is the electric is quite unforgiving in terms of it picks up every movement in the amp and if you’re trying to find your way around it might put you off a bit.

It’s completely up to you and everyone will tell you different, but as a guitar player i would suggest acoustic first and then when you have confidence, pick up the electric 🙂

Yes, the acoustic hurts your fingers more at first, but if you do go for it, maybe use some lighter strings whilst your fingers build up their pads.

Answer by gtarczar
Start with a steel string acoustic guitar. Most music stores have good quality instruments starting at about $ 100. Do not buy from a big box store like wal-mart or target, the instruments they sell are inferior quality.
I strongly suggest that you take lessons. Over 90% of all people who try to teach themselves end up quitting due to frustration and lack of direction. a good teacher can show you the proper way to play and keep you motivated.

Answer by Guest
I prefer the acoustic guitar because it builds up calluses faster so if you ever wanted to switch over to the electric guitar, you could definitely do that. The acoustic guitar is also my personal favorite because you don’t have to plug it into an amplifier and adjust a bunch of settings and dials.

It’s completely up to you though because it depends on what style of music you plan on playing!

Answer by joseldev
I am not a guitar teacher but I know a few guitar-teachers in my guitar ensemble group that recommend an acoustic nylon strings guitar for beginner students regardless of age.

Most of the beginner students that come to them already have a guitar but if the student request advice in buying a new guitar they recommend the nylon string acoustic as the best choice for a beginner.Their reason for this advice:
1:Nylon strings are much easier on the fingers than the steel strings guitars – acoustics or flat-board electrics.

2:With nylon strings the student learn to use the fingers (no picks) and they become familiarize with the playing melody lines much quicker when the music requires more single note sequence playing (arpeggios)

3:In their experience, it is easier to learn to play with a pick after you have learned to use your strumming of strings with bare fingers than learning the finger playing after you have only used a pick to play.

4:Acoustic steel strings require a lot more pressure to produce a sound – much more than in the steel strings of the “flat-board” electric guitar- where with the nylon strings it is easier for producing of a clear sound.

The other difference between the two acoustic models:
Nylon strings guitars have a wider neck (approx. 2.1″) and the strings have more separation between each other.
This could be a problem for players with short fingers when tying to reach the 6th string unless they get a short-scale and narrower than 2.1″ neck guitar.

Steel strings guitars have a narrower neck with the strings closer to each other. Players that primarily are back-up chord players tend to prefer this setup better.
The sound projected from steel strings tends to be brighter/metallic while the sound from the nylon strings tends to be more mellower.

Either guitar type can play any genre of music but guitarist that play mostly melody lines and classical music tend to favor the nylon strings instrument ( also know as the classical guitar).

Overall sizes are about the same with the nylon guitar a little bit smaller about 1″ to 2″ overall for the full size guitars.
Both standard size guitars have the same scale length :string distance from the Nut to the saddle: of approx. 25.6″.
In the USA steel string guitars outsell the nylon strings instrument by a large margin. In Europe and S.America the nylons have a small edge.

In the final analysis, is a matter of a personal choice considering the ultimate goal of the student as a player.
Whatever your final choice is, Enjoy your guitar

Answer by sharkie
would say acoustic simply it will get your fingers broke in faster =)

Answer by Dee
I recommend acoustic. An acoustic guitar can be less expensive than an electric one and also requires less maintenance, the strings do not need to be changed that often and if you buy nylon strings they will not get rusty.

Second reason to buy an acoustic guitar first is so you can get used to it, and most of the time it is better for your fingers, the strings are softer, or at least they feel softer than an electric guitar strings.

I’d recommend getting an acoustic guitar first, dominate it and get comfortable with it and a few months later you can buy an electric guitar.

Cheers’

‘

Answer by gdunc
You should play the acoustic guitar when you’re starting out. This is because acoustic guitar you can do so many things with it and it will help you with your techniques.

You shouldn’t start with electric guitar because it is more expensive. It is true that electric guitar doesn’t hurt your fingers as much whereas acoustic does. However, acoustic has a much more beautiful sound than electric since you don’t need stereos which will also cost you more money than acoustic.

GOOD LUCK!

Answer by mguitar95
I think that playing acoustic first is worse, as it hurts your fingers more. The strings are of a higher gauge (basically thicker) and you can’t change the string height (known as action) easily. Electric guitars are more versatile, and cheap ones are generally better than cheap acoustics.

Answer by Realism Studios animations
if i were you i would chose an acoustic guitar because the strings are closer together but get a steel stringed guitar.

if you need more help go to www.how2playguitar.info