Electric or Acoustic guitar which is easiest or what would you reccomend?

Question

What is the best to start out on?

Answer 1

An electric guitar is much easier to play than an acoustic guitar. The action (how easy the strings are to press down to the frets) on an electric is usually a lot better than an acoustic. The neck of an electric is also usually narrower than an acoustic, making it easier to play. Also, since a lot of music is played on an electric guitar with effects (like distortion), an electric can be very forgiving when you don't quite have your fingers in the right place.

So - and this may sound like it goes against what I just said - I would recommend you learn to play using an acoustic guitar. Playing an acoustic guitar forces you to play it right. With the wider neck, you learn to get your fingers in the right place, you learn how much pressure to put on the strings, and you learn how to strum or pick the strings correctly. Also, when not amplified, an electric guitar sounds a bit out of tune and you may not know if you're playing something right.

After you get used to an acoustic guitar, you can switch to an electric and see for yourself how much easier it is to play. But, if you start with an electric and switch to an acoustic, you might get frustrated and disappointed by how much harder it is to play.

Answer 2

Personally I would recommend starting with an acoustic and then switching to electric but you don't have to do that. Here are the pros and cons:

Electric guitars have smaller necks and the strings are easier to fret and you can get a good one cheaper. You have to buy an amp though and that can offset the savings.

Acoustic guitars have a different sound and you can play them without an amp. Switching from acoustic to electric is easier than the other way around. Playing an acoustic will actually help you develop better technique since it's easier to cheat with an electric.

You should go to the guitar store and try to play as many guitars in your price range that you can find. Choose the one that sounds and feels the best. If you know someone who plays then see if you can get them to come along to help. You don't have to spend a lot of money but don't buy the cheapest thing that you can find just because of the price. That is the best advice I could give.

Go online and find a bunch in your price range and write down or print out the make and model numbers. (The store prices will be higher usually) You can use the paper to take notes about what you played and whether you liked it or not.

One more thing to consider is what kind of music you want to play. Some music sounds better with an acoustic and some with electric. Classical and folk and some old blues are all made with acoustics. Heavy stuff, rock and roll, hard blues are all made with electrics. Also what do you want to do? Do you want to get good and join or start a band? Do you just want to mess around playing songs at home in your living room?

Answer 3

I've been teaching guitar for thirty five years and I always tell my students to first get an acoustic guitar to start with, electric doesn't sound very good until you know how to play it.....some who didn't listen were sorry later on, one member of my family didn't listen and later on wanted and acoustic so I got her one for her birthday, and she was much happier !!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 4

You can get an electric acoustic guitar, learn it and have the best of both worlds.

Answer 5

Best to learn on acoustic I think. It'll build up finger strength.

Answer 6

electric is easier but it seems to me that if you taclke 12 string acoustic first and master it electric would be super easy atleast thats what i think

Answer 7

an acoustic is easier to learn on.