Help with my new acoustic guitar?

Question

I have been playing electric guitar for a couple years so i decided to buy an acoustic. I bought the cheap mexican martin the DX100. My problem is that the strings on it have a lot more tension than on my electric and I can't play it as well. Is there a way I fix this besides tuning down? Or do I have to just get used to It.

Answer 1

You could get different strings that have different gauges. It affects the tension of the strings. It might help.

Answer 2

The fact is that electric and acoustic guitars are two different instruments. The action on an acoustic is totally different, to the point where the style and body mechanics differ as much as the clarinet and the saxophone.

You will need to build up your calluses and finger strength, particularly for the barre chords. Light gauge strings help some, but mainly you just have to work at it until it comes.

I personally play an Amalio Bourget flamenco and a Celtic Cross resophonic. The former, having nylon strings, is much easier to play. The latter has steel strings, and is a lot more work. Still, if you want the sound, you pay the price.

As for your Martin, call it less expensive. No Martin is cheap, and that model plays pretty well. Better than average for a carry around instrument.

Answer 3

I assume that the store where you bought your guitar did a proper set-up on it before putting it out on display for sale -- or at the very least, that they set it up for you before you took it home?

If they didn't, you might want to take it to a luthier for a set-up; it may be that the action could be lowered.

If you have medium gauge strings on your guitar, try changing them for light gauge strings; that will make it a little easier to play.

Remember, though, that even light gauge acoustic strings are still heavier than most electric guitar strings and will still have higher tension than you're used to on your electric.

Finally, you'll just have to get used to it. This is why some people recommend starting out on an acoustic when you first take up the guitar -- if you get used to the higher string tension and heavier strings of an acoustic first, then when you switch to electric, the electric guitar is much easier by comparison.

Answer 4

Yeah. Put lighter gauge strings on it and see if the bridge can be lowered to improve the action. There's no reason why an acoustic should be that much harder to play than an electric.
I play both, and I do a lot of 12 -string work. Hope this helps

Answer 5

Strings come in several gauges. You probably have heavy gauge strings. Try medium or even light gauge strings. The heavier the string, the better it sounds. The lighter the string, the easier it is to play. Try a lighter gauge until you get used to it, then switch up. I have three Martin guitars and I used medium gauge on all of them.

Answer 6

Try some lighter gauge strings. I use higher gauge strings on my electric guitar to avoid that problem in the future. But, be careful, that can cause bowing.