Do I buy an electric or an accoustic guitar and why?

Question

I'm 15 years old and I really want to learn how to play the guitar. Not knowing much about them, I want to know whether to get an electric guitar or an accoustci guitar, and what the advantages and disadvantages are.

Answer 1

personally an accoustic i learnt to play guitar in my local park i didnt annoy anyone and could play anywhere yu cant play an electric one when there is a power cut xx

Answer 2

I have both, none of which are high end material, both starter guitars.

The electric guitar is good because using the amp you can get loads of effects and a loud sound should you need it. It's also better in that most songs these days use distorted guitars and sounds which are very characteristic of the electric guitar.

A steel strung acoustic guitar is god because you can play it wherever you want, from in bed to in the park! It's also got a much fuller sound than an electric guitar so when you are playing it sounds very professional.

Essentially you can play the same things on both guitars, apart from sone techniques such a pinch harmonics and tapping since these aren't well achieved on an acoustic guitar.

The bad things about an electric guitar is that it will cost you alot: you need to buy not only the guitar but the amp, eventually effects pedals, leads, strings, straps and so on. And then it'll be almost imperative to upgrade these as you improve and realise what sound you want to achieve.

The bad things about an acoustic guitar are that it's got a big body, and you are limited to the one sound from it.

Personally I'd go for the electric guitar as a starter since you can play it at anytime through the headphone jack in the amp and you can get a clean sound from all amps but it, on a starter amp at least, will sound feeble. You can play with a lot more effects and try to get a much different sound with an electric guitar over an acoustic.

I'd say that getting an acoustic somewhere down the line is essential too, since it's a sound which is very full and natural and offers a much more rewarding experience to play.

Answer 3

It really depends on what type of music you want to play. Most people who play guitar have one of each, but if you're on a budget you'll have to pick one. The advantage of an acoustic is you can play it anywhere at any time and don't need an amplifier to hear it. The disadvantages are (a) it's harder on your fingers than an electric, which could be a real concern for a beginner, and (b) you can't exactly play ripping Metallica licks on an acoustic. The advantage to an electric is it's easier to play and easier to learn on. Disadvantages are (a) you need an amplifier, and (b) if you want to play an acoustic song like "Stairway to Heaven" or something like that, it just doesn't sound right on an electric. My advice would be to start on an acoustic, just because you don't need an amp and it'll really get your fingers in shape for playing electric if you ever decide to go that route. Check out the following website for some of the best deals on electric AND acoustic guitars (or starter packs):

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/

Answer 4

♥Many people say that electric guitars are easier. But they do need to be applified to be heard well. Don't spend all your money on a electric guitar. My guitar which is accoustic is one of the best you can get. Its from Canada. Wonderful wood and great sounding. Its not overly loud but I can make it by playing hartder on the strings. My guitar teacher kept commenting on my guitar. I personally prefer accoustic. But it also depends on what type of music you are going to play. Softer songs are good for accoustic. But have no fear they can play anything. electirc guitars are somehwhat better for louder rock songs. But they can play anything as well. at first I'd say buy an accoustic. Since knowing 15 year olds they start and stop some things. You may not even like guitar. I'd say go for accoustic. ♥

Answer 5

Both guitars play the same in theory. However, electric guitars, especially rock guitars like the Fender Strat, have a very accurate, flat action. Electric guitars are very forgiving to inaccurate players, especially when you use effects like distortion. Acoustic guitars are more demanding and not so forgiving to poor players. If you sound awful the acoustic guitar will find you out.

I would get both and pay particular attention to the acoustic. If you want to learn you may as well go for the slightly more difficult one!

If you can only afford one axe, get an acoustic, or an electric-acoustic. Acoustic guitars can be played anywhere and require no power supply, amps etc.

Answer 6

When you're first learning, always go acoustic. It's actually harder to play and to learn but if you learn on the electric you may give up too easily when you try to learn acoustic. Plus you can't train classically on an electric guitar and that's the best foundation to have. It's much easier to make the transition from acoustic to electric and then be able to do both than the other way around.

Oh, and personally I prefer the electic acoustic where you can plug in :-) LOVE that sound.

Good luck!

Answer 7

If you're just starting out, I would get an accoustic guitar. You can always get an electric guitar later. They both play the same, just the sound and volume is different. It all comes down to the type of music you want to express.

If you play an electric guitar during the infancy of your learning stages, you're sure to have dogs barking, and neighbors complaining. I would start out with an accoustic.

Answer 8

I have both and started with a yamaha f310 acoustic(i think thats the model number) and it was good to learn on, i only decided to get an electric guitar because i got more into metal and rock and decided i would get an ibanez guitar to practise on. I think it depends what kind of things you want to learn and the style of music you will be playing. I dont see the advantages or disadvantages of learning on either really, they both do the job and are both great instruments to learn and be able to play. Dont forget, with an electric they are generally more expensive and you will need an amp.

Answer 9

I always recommend to beginning players to use an acoustic rather than an electric guitar. Why? Because it takes a certain discipline besides building up those dreaded calluses and chord formations.

What can be played on electric guitars can also be played on acoustics. That is why many professional guitarists are putting aside their electrics and opting for acoustic delivery--one example is Doyle Dykes who sponsors Taylor guitars.

He is an excellent player in the harmonics theme and chordal movements. Far too many electric guitar players get caught up in the gizmos, the foot pedals, and the distortions that an amplifier can deliver rather than concentrating on true music on the fretboard of an acoustic guitar. One doesn't have to have glitzy amplification to play ear-pleasing music on the acoustic.

I note that many of the responses before mine also recommend an acoustic for the beginner. So that should say something to you.

Answer 10

there are lots of things to consider...the first being..can you read music?
Have you any musical talent?
Who is paying for it?
My son had played the drums for 8 years, and i bought him an inexpensive guitar , (from The Works,) It was all he needed to learn on, and make sure that he did want to learn, as he already read music, he learnt quickly.
I would say buy an inexpensive guitar in the first place, as even guitar "kits" of electric guitars...are around £100. If you are only 15, a lot of money to lay out....if you find that it is not what you want to do.
After learning on the cheaper model...get someone to buy you an electric one..or help buy it you at Xmas! :)

Answer 11

A couple of months ago I advised a student of mine to by an acoustic to start with and she insisted that she wanted electric, so that's what she bought, but every time she came to my house for lessons she loved the acoustic that I had bought, (I play classical, and just recently bought an acoustic) and I said see I told you, she thought oh how cool I'm gonna sound with this rock guitar, well she didn't. For her birthday I bought her that acoustic guitar and she's very happy with it. Her electric she couldn't play when she wanted to at night because it was too loud, and I said I told you, with the acoustic you can play any time of the day or night and your not bothering anyone, also after a bit she thought it was a pain to hook up everything, she just wanted to sit on her bed and play, and the electric sounded like **** played without the amp ! Your only fifteen, I know the electric sounds cool, but learn to play a little first, you may not even like it, or find it too difficult. Another option is to get what I just bought and I love it, the Yamaha acoustic electric that sounds just as good with or without the amp, and at the Guitar Center they have a really nice one for $250.00. Be forwarned they all sound a little different so try out quite a few, make sure that you like the feel, action, and sound. Make sure you ask the clerk for a method and cord book, they all play so they can recommend a decent one, try to get one that has a Cd in the back so that you can follow your progress. I like all beginners to get a teacher, but I know a lot of kids can't afford them. If you do get one and get started and you find that you do like it, get back to me and I'll send you a lot of great sites !!!!!!!!! P.S. My students doing well, she's learning the finger style rendition of "Tears in Heaven" on acoustic !!!!!