Which guitar-electric or acoustic?

Question

I want to learn how to play the guitar. I like how the sound of an acoustic guitar is pue , but I also like how the electric guitar is in bands and all the main melodies. I like them both. I can't decide which one I should get. Any thoughts?

If age matters, I am 13.

When it says pue, I meant pure.

Answer 1

I started my son on an electric (strat copy) , and after he learned the basics I let him "graduate" to an acoustic. There are several reasons for this. First and most important, an electric is much easier to play, so the beginner doesn't get discouraged. A decent "student grade" electric is CHEAPER than an equivalent acoustic. Electrics are QUIETER than acoustics so practice doesn't annoy the family. (You simply don't plug it in - you can hear it enough to practice - or you can use headphones.) A solid body electric is a very sturdy guitar - bumps, drops and hits that would severely damage an acoustic will do little more than scratch the paint on a solid body electric.
When your skills reach a moderate level you can (and should) work extensively on an acoustic. It'll do wonders to strengthen your hands and build your callouses.
By the time you reach a high level of skill you'll probably think of them almost as completely different instruments, for in many ways they are. The sound of an acoustic, the subtle nodes and overtones, can't be duplicated electronically. The virtues of the electric are ease and speed of play, the ability to adjust the sound, and sustain sustain sustain that allows you to choke and slide and bend and twist a note WAY beyond what you can do on an acoustic.
By the time you become a skilled guitarist you'll probably own at least one of each anyway...

Answer 2

I'm gonna have to disagree with the majority. I would recommend starting on an electric guitar. You can get a cheap electric guitar and amp for the same price as a cheap acoustic guitar and the electric will be much easier to play. Granted you won't build your "hand strength" as much as an acoustic, but if you are playing correctly you won't need hardly any hand strength anyway. A major factor in your decision should also be what kind of music you want to play. If loud, distorted guitars is what you want to do, then don't buy an acoustic guitar. The acoustic may be a better learning tool, but if you don't enjoy it, you won't keep up with it.

Answer 3

You can't go wrong by starting with acoustic.
Lot's of top musicians play both electric and acoustic.
The action on acoustic is tougher but it will
develop your hand strength. Clapton plays acoustic
and electric as well as Paul McCartney. The foundation you
build on acoustic will translate directly to electric. So, your efforts learning acoustic will not be wasted. In fact, electric will probably come easier as you don't have to fight the action as much. If you are serious. I would advise taking a classical guitar class for a year and learn that technique. Randy Rhodes studied classical guitar and other top players have. If you start early learning best technique and theory, you'll grow by leaps later on. The classical guitar has a wider neck and a different technique but the principles are the foundation of all other music.

Answer 4

Always start with an acoustic.


Then proceed to electric, you'll learn skills that will be very beneficial to you and become a FAR better guitar player in the long term.

Answer 5

Get an acoustic first, for a couple of reasons. First, it won't annoy your parents as much and you don't have to buy an amp, cables, etc. Second, it's better to learn on an acoustic, because it makes it easier to play an electric later, because acoustic makes your hands stronger.

I learned on a Spanish-style, which is the hardest to play.

Answer 6

An electric guitar picks up fainter sounds and amplifies them so is more forgiving of bad fingering. It is also quieter to play than an acoustic if you plug headphones into your amp - so you won't disturb others in your house. An acoustic is a less expensive investment if you aren't sure you are serious about playing. It will also force you to finger more strongly and precisely.

Answer 7

Most people start with an acoustic -- it's best for learning and it's more versatile because you can play it anywhere. Make your second guitar an electric one.

Answer 8

get a Fender Stratacoustic, its a wonder sounding guitar, I have one and also a telecoustic. basically they are the acoustic/electric versions of those guitars. they play wonderfully. But start out with lite strings.

Answer 9

get the best of both wolrds with an electric-acoustic guitar.

Answer 10

i started with electric and so did all of my friends but to help u learn electric you should start with acoustic. ya it sounds insane i know but trust me