Electric vs. Acoustic: the best guitar for a beginner?

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Electric vs. Acoustic: the best guitar for a beginner?; Free article, hope you like it
Topic Started: Jan 16 2007, 09:09 PM (1,243 Views)
GuitaristExpertI	Jan 16 2007, 09:09 PM Post #1
Unregistered	You want to learn how to play the guitar, but don’t know whether which guitar you should use. An acoustic guitar might appear simpler to handle but on the hand an electric guitar probably looks much cooler. So what do you do? What do you base your decision on? Is there a correct answer? The debate continues… How Is The Acoustic Different From An Electric? An acoustic guitar is the most commonly used guitar. The sound is produced by the resonance produced due to the vibration of the strings. An electric guitar is not hollow, so the resultant sound is different and much quieter than an acoustic. Of course, there is no doubt about the fact that an acoustic guitar is a little harder to play than an electric guitar. The strings on an acoustic guitar need to be pressed down much harder to produce sound. While an acoustic guitar is generally used to play chords, a lead guitarist would choose an electric guitar (more here). What Kind Of Music Do You Want To Play? This is the most important question which needs to be addressed. When you start playing the guitar, you obviously look up to someone. When you’re learning to play the instrument, you probably dream about sounding like someone. You need to be sure about this before you buy a guitar. If you want to produce sound like Dave Matthews or Bob Dylan, then your choice would be an acoustic. But then, your ideal guitarist might be James Hetfield or Joe Satriani. You would then need to learn how to play with an electric guitar. This is necessary because motivation is important in maintaining the interest and passion for the instrument. The basics of both guitars are the same – the chords, the scales, the tuning are the same. Only the sound is different and when you like the sound your guitar produces, you’re bound to want to play it more (more here). How Easy Do You Want Life? Playing an instrument is no cake-walk, but of course you might be looking for the easiest way out. This determines the guitar you need as well. If you want to learn the instrument faster, the electric guitar is probably better for you. It is easier to press down the strings on an electric guitar because its strings are thinner. But if time and patience are not issues for you and you want to sound like The Beatles, then of course you should pick up an acoustic. Also, if you start with an electric, you might need more hand strength when you start playing an acoustic (more here). So Why Do Most Start With An Acoustic? An acoustic guitar is generally used by learners because it produces a cleaner sound. Also, when you’re a beginner, you’re bound to make a lot of mistakes and because the pickup on an electric is much better, it seems to amplify every little sound made by the player. The sound on an acoustic is much more subdued. This of course is considered a big advantage of acoustic guitars. An electric guitar has to be played with an amplifier, and often you might be disturbing your neighbors! With an acoustic guitar, it’s very rare that someone will ask you to “turn it down” because you’re not very loud in the first place. Also, acoustic guitars are cheaper than electric guitars. An electric guitar is accompanied with its amplifier and cable, without which it is pretty useless. Thus starting with an electric might turn out to be more expensive than an acoustic, and people generally don’t want to pay a bomb for their first guitar. Also, an acoustic guitar is more portable. An electric guitar is heavier, and of course, its amplifier needs to be carried as well. Hence, the acoustic is often preferred for this reason because you can take it and perform wherever you like without worrying about an electricity source. Yet, at the end of the day, based on all the factors above, it’s your choice, and there is no right and wrong answer. -- More lessons? Visit my guitar site now!
Unregistered


Bullet	Jan 20 2007, 11:25 AM Post #2
Admin Posts: 1,912 Group: Admin Member #183 Joined: January 13, 2007	thanks for your advise, I don't mind you advertising your site if you post more lessons and articles here



roast	Jan 26 2007, 11:11 PM Post #3
Board Lord Posts: 1,976 Group: Co-Admin Member #59 Joined: September 2, 2006	Nice article, keep it up man.



mynameisDavid	Aug 5 2007, 06:01 PM Post #4
Member Posts: 1,102 Group: Moderator Member #294 Joined: March 2, 2007	electric guitars all the way you just turn your amp down... you realize your mistakes and its thinner thus being easier to wrap your arm around acoustics are less durable and you cant do half the stuff you could on an electric you could also do the same sounds on a clear channel on an amp
	CHECK OUT MY BAND! Bands we've shared the stage with: TBD! (for now...) http://www.reverbnation.com/newasylum


+ Rob S	Aug 5 2007, 08:35 PM Post #5
Retired Posts: 918 Group: Retired Member #770 Joined: July 6, 2007	Er.....Tell THAT to Tommy Emmanual then! Sorry :rolleyes:
	"Drunk" is feeling sophisticated even though you can't say it!


mynameisDavid	Aug 15 2007, 03:03 AM Post #6
Member Posts: 1,102 Group: Moderator Member #294 Joined: March 2, 2007	h ehe okay whats his e-mail =D
	CHECK OUT MY BAND! Bands we've shared the stage with: TBD! (for now...) http://www.reverbnation.com/newasylum


+ Rob S	Aug 15 2007, 11:11 AM Post #7
Retired Posts: 918 Group: Retired Member #770 Joined: July 6, 2007	mynameisDavid Aug 15 2007, 03:03 AM h ehe okay whats his e-mail =D Lordy!! :rolleyes: I REALLY Hope You Are Joking?
	"Drunk" is feeling sophisticated even though you can't say it!


mynameisDavid	Aug 15 2007, 07:07 PM Post #8
Member Posts: 1,102 Group: Moderator Member #294 Joined: March 2, 2007	Rob S Aug 15 2007, 11:11 AM mynameisDavid Aug 15 2007, 03:03 AM h ehe okay whats his e-mail =D Lordy!! :rolleyes: I REALLY Hope You Are Joking? No.....LOL isnt he the guy in the info mercials about acoustic? or.... is it the guy thats crazy fast or wich is more widely used acoustic or electric
	CHECK OUT MY BAND! Bands we've shared the stage with: TBD! (for now...) http://www.reverbnation.com/newasylum


+ Rob S	Aug 15 2007, 07:38 PM Post #9
Retired Posts: 918 Group: Retired Member #770 Joined: July 6, 2007	Try this and then have a look at some more youtube? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuuBKuPZUuI...related&search=
	"Drunk" is feeling sophisticated even though you can't say it!


danb	Aug 22 2007, 08:44 AM Post #10
Advanced Member Posts: 110 Group: Members Member #1,118 Joined: August 17, 2007	Im getting my first guitar and Ive gone for Electric. Not just becuase i wana play rock music more but i dont know, they just look more appealing and you can do more with them.. eeeer lol, dont flame me.
	Soon to have my first Guitar- > Ibanez SA-120 in Sexy Charcoal Brown > Roland Cube 15x


mynameisDavid	Aug 24 2007, 05:26 PM Post #11
Member Posts: 1,102 Group: Moderator Member #294 Joined: March 2, 2007	Rob S Aug 15 2007, 07:38 PM Try this and then have a look at some more youtube? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuuBKuPZUuI...related&search= like i said wouldnt sound good on electric
	CHECK OUT MY BAND! Bands we've shared the stage with: TBD! (for now...) http://www.reverbnation.com/newasylum


rejected_people	Sep 6 2007, 11:08 PM Post #12
Member Posts: 45 Group: Members Member #1,438 Joined: September 6, 2007	i think electrics fine aslong as the amp is reasonable. i realy hate the sound of a 10 watt practice amp!!



haze1982	Sep 7 2007, 04:52 PM Post #13
Advanced Member Posts: 233 Group: Members Member #58 Joined: August 30, 2006	or go for an electric and a acoustic if you can so that you can have a go at each, always good to have a choice



x.Louise	Sep 11 2007, 10:06 AM Post #14
Member Posts: 95 Group: Members Member #510 Joined: May 19, 2007	Nice article I'd like to add on a personal note. And I'm totally serious. For a total beginner looking for an acoustic. Seriously. no laughing... buy the acoustic in Argos, its like under £40 but it is serisouly sick. I love the thing. And I recently changed the strings after like 2 years and it plays so sweet. I love it ^^ yup runs to collect money from Argos ha I wish
	Louise xox Westfield SG- R.I.P Dean Vendetta Rocket 10 amp- badass... -.- Behrginer Ultra Metal


JoDuncan	Sep 11 2007, 05:36 PM Post #15
Advanced Member Posts: 143 Group: Members Member #189 Joined: January 17, 2007	I escorted a friend of mine to buy an Art and Lutherie acoustic for around £200. If you're gonna do acoustic, do it right! And i recommend an acoustic for beginners, save you feckin about with effects until you are good enough! 2 years is a little on the long side to wait for a string change!! peace and love jo


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