So, you’ve started listening to rock music recently and you are planning to buy a guitar but you are unsure if you want an electric or an acoustic guitar.
Believe it or not, this happens to almost everyone before they make their first purchase, so they start searching the web before making their final decision.
Let’s break it down. First, let’s look at the differences between the acoustic and the electric guitars.
The Acoustic Guitar
People that never played a guitar before always think that you should start learning on an acoustic guitar, and then move to an electric guitar when you’ve mastered the acoustic version. This is usually a myth.
Acoustic guitars have some advantages over the electric ones when the point of focus are beginners. They are very easy to handle and carry around. If you go to your local guitar store right now and get an acoustic guitar, you will be able to play it as soon as you take it out of the gig bag – that is if it’s already pre-tuned.
Unlike on electric guitars, all you need to focus on is mastering your finger placement on the fretboard and the strings, so that makes the learning process easier.
They are easy to carry around because they do not require extra equipment such as amps, pedals etc. You can take your acoustic guitar with you if you go camping, go to a friends house or just about anywhere else. That makes practicing a lot easier and better.
One more important thing to note is that acoustic guitars are usually cheaper when compared to their electric versions. This means that if you start out with an acoustic version you won’t have to spend a lot of money on extra equipment.
The Electric Guitar
Just like the acoustic guitar, the electric guitar also has its own advantages over the other version.
Contrary to popular belief, acoustic guitars are NOT easier to play when compared to electric guitars.
Acoustic guitars usually have relatively higher action, which basically means that the strings on these guitars are a bit far from the fretboard. On electric guitars, the action is lower and that makes it easier to fret notes.
Electric guitars are also pretty easy to handle since their strings are lighter and their necks are thinner. This is an important fact because if you have smaller hands, you will have a better time with an electric guitar.
When parents are looking to buy their children a guitar, they usually try to stay away from electric guitars because they are very loud. If you are one of them, i understand where you are coming from. However, electric guitars have a volume knob which can be used to lower the volume. If that is not enough for you, you can also buy a pair of headphones, and that will eliminate all of the voice that comes out of the guitar. This makes practicing with an electric guitar very easy, since this way you can also do it during the night while everyone is sleeping.
Should You Start With An Electric Or An Acoustic Guitar?
This might not be what you are looking for, but the truth is that it’s different for everyone, and it depends on what you are really trying to achieve.
Based on the facts we mentioned above, you should consider which ones apply to you and decide based on that. Both of them have their pros & cons, and both of them can be a great companion in your way to becoming a rockstar!