guitars--- acoustic or electric....... which one is better to learn?!?

Question

thanks ya for cheking out my question page............the main thing is i wanna learn guitar.........now i wanna know the differences,advantages an disadvantages in leaning acoustic or electric and which one is better...............which one is easier and most of all thich one sounds fab...........pls help and help and help and help.............

Answer 1

I'd have to say get the best acoustic guitar you can afford.

If possible, make sure to get an acoustic with a "solid top." This means the top of the guitar is one piece. Solid tops cost a bit more, but they will mellow and actually improve with age.

Plan on spending around $250-300 dollars for a low end, no frills acoustic. Guitar player has had good reviews of Fender acoustics around that price range, and Ovation makes a cheaper line called "Applause" that has excellent action. Action meaning, how difficult it is to press strings down.

You can purchase an acoustic/electric. This means it's an acoustic guitar, but it also has the capability of being played through an amplifier...there are all price ranges in this category, also.

Remember...you have to be a good rhythm player before you can be a good lead player...so do not neglect rhythm guitar in hopes of being the next Clapton.

One final bit of advice....you will improve 10 times as fast if you play with other musicians then if you sit alone in your room and practice. And you must record yourself! Listen to your recordings and you can hear what areas of your singing and playing need improvement.

Best of luck and DO NOT forget that SOLID TOP! A solid top will be around forever and you'll appreciate returning to your old friend through the years. Non solid tops will not last.

Best of luck...from a part time professional musician for more years than I care to remember...LOL. ( Suffice it to say I saw the Beatles..ahem)

Answer 2

There is not an advantage or disadvantage to one or another... it's all personal preference. What kind of music do you want to play? Obviously, if you like acoustic music, you would want to play acoustic... If you want to play punk rock (for example) then you might want to choose an electric.

I will tell you that an electric guitar is physically easier to play, because, in general, the string tension is much less on electric, than acoustic. BUT... the electric is a whole other beast because you also have to learn to control you amp. So while it may be physically easier to play, it is actually the harder instrument to master. (Acoustics are much more "forgiving" than electrics)

I would recommend you get a nice acoustic guitar, maybe a Gibson or a Washburn (if you're serious about playing you don't want to get something too cheap, because you'll just end up buying the higher priced one later anyway. Plus higher quality guitars sound better and are easier to play) and take lessons from someone who will teach you what you want to learn.

Answer 3

Part of it is personal preference, but I would recommend starting with acoustic because you don't have to worry about buying amplifers, cords, etc., just yet. You can always add an electric guitar later on after you've learned the basics (and electric is fun). If you can afford it, you should get a very good quality guitar. Cheap guitars are actually more difficult to play -- you have to push harder on the strings. I have a cheap parlor guitar I bought at an auction for $35 and a very expensive Martin guitar that was given to me as a present. The Martin is so much easier to play. Also, use the resources of your local music store -- those guys and gals love to talk about guitars and they'll give good advice if they're reputable because they want to keep your business.

By the way, both acoustic and electric sound fab. The great thing about electric is that you can make all kinds of sounds by adjusting the various knobs on the guitar and the ams.

Answer 4

Electric guitars may be easier to learn on but acoustic guitars will make your fingers much stronger. I always practice on an acoustic to keep my finger-strength and dexterity at a maximum.

Answer 5

acoustic .
because acoustic guitars are lighter and don't need that much electrical add ons compared to electrical.On top of that, electrical guitars have electrical problems and higher cost of maintenance

Answer 6

Acoustic...simple fact is...noone other than you can hear all those mistakes, and believe me there will be plenty !!...Once you got the hang of the chords and using the frett then switch to electric and turn it up...no embarrassment this way....(electric is easy on the fingers, different strings and they are much closer to the bridge....its the embarrassment factor I would be looking at)...good luck, rock on!!...

Answer 7

best learn acoustic before electric, and acoustic is easier to play in a power outage.

Answer 8

Electric guitar is easier to learn on. Without a doubt.

Answer 9

i think you should go for acoustic guitar because its good for beginners it is harmless light weight and u can play the guitar anywhere anytime. u can carry it when u carry yr guitar people would know that your are music artist

Answer 10

start with acoustic, you can take it anywhere you go without having to drag around an amp and be looking for a power source