If you’re thinking about learning to play the guitar but aren’t sure which you should start with first: acoustic or electric, this guide is for you. Many new guitarists struggle with deciding if one is better than the other when starting out.
Being a complete novice to the guitar can make you unsure of the differences between the two and whether one is easier or preferable to begin learning on. You want to make the right choice and give yourself the best chance of learning comfortably (and becoming good!).
In this guide we will look at the differences that the two types of guitar have, the pro’s and con’s of learning on each and which is ultimately the best depending on what you want to achieve.
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The simple answer is you should learn on whichever you want to. When it comes to the basics both guitars are very similar and the fundamental techniques are universal so there really isn’t enough of a difference to matter.
What I would say though is that the greatest motivator to learning to play the guitar is the music that inspires and speaks to you.
If you’re a huge fan of rock or metal and it’s that music that has made you want to play guitar then it makes sense to start with the electric. If however you aspire to be a singer songwriter and are influenced by people like Ed Sheeran, Bob Dylan or Paul Simon etc. then the acoustic is obviously where you should begin. Maybe you love classical guitar, in which case a nylon string classical guitar will be for you.
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Nothing is going to make you give up learning to play faster than choosing a guitar based on what is easier or considered ‘correct’ rather than one that allows you to play the music you love.
So in terms of which is the right choice – there isn’t one. Either will be absolutely fine and thousands of people before you will have started on both and gone on to be great guitarists. The only thing that matters is you have a passion and drive for music and learning to play.
However, if you are genuinely happy with either and still not sure which would be best then keep reading as we will break down the pros and cons of both and hopefully help you make a final decision.
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Let’s look at the positives of learning to play the electric guitar first and why it might be better suited to you.
One major difference between the electric and acoustic guitar is the strings they use. An electric guitar’s strings are much thinner than the acoustic.
As the strings are thinner you will find it easier to hold them down when you’re first learning. You also have to go through a little pain to build calluses on your fingers when you’re starting out. This will be easier and less painful with the thinner electric strings.
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The action of a guitar is how far the strings are from the fretboard. A low action means they’re much closer to the fretboard and is often found on the guitars of those playing very fast, technical music. Having low action means you can move faster across and around the fretboard. The downside to lower action is you’re far more likely to get fret buzz.
Higher action is more difficult to play but has a better tone and sounds better when bending the strings. Often blues guitarists will have higher action for those reasons.
Electric guitars will almost always have a lower action than an acoustic. When you’re new to the guitar it can be easier to have the strings closer to the fretboard as it requires less effort to hold them down.
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Guitar necks come in different sizes and shapes. Electric guitars tend to have thinner necks than acoustics which are wider and fatter.
If you’re just starting to learn the guitar then having a thinner neck that you can get your fingers round and find more comfortable could be the way to go.
As an electric guitar is a solid block of wood (assuming it isn’t chambered). That makes it heavy. An acoustic is hollow and so much, much lighter.
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When you’re starting out it can be difficult to hold and get the right position with the guitar. Having a heavier electric can make that more of a struggle than the lighter acoustic.
Play it unplugged but you lose any of the feel and dynamics of playing through a proper amplifier. That’s the way electric guitars were designed to be played.
An acoustic on the other hand needs nothing. If you prefer to play with a pick then that’s about all you would need, and even that’s not 100% necessary.
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So the electric guitar certainly requires buying more to begin with and needing all the bits and pieces compared to the acoustic.
Vibration of the strings. So as a beginner you get a lot of unwanted noise until you learn to control and “mute” the strings you aren’t playing.
This is an added bit of technique you need to learn when playing the electric that you don’t with the acoustic guitar. For beginners it can be very frustrating to struggle with the basics of forming chords, holding down the strings and getting them to sound right without the extra annoyance of this unwanted noise.
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Within the guitar community there is a phenomenon named GAS – which stands for Guitar Acquisition Syndrome. It refers to those who as they become more immersed in the world of playing the guitar can’t stop buying (or acquiring) guitars and guitar related gear.
It’s talked about like it’s an illness and addiction, and whilst it’s meant as a joke there is some truth behind it. If you become a keen guitarist there’s a good chance you will find yourself wanting to own multiple guitars, amps and pedals.
And what that leads to is a sort of paralysis when it comes to playing and learning. Instead of sitting down and practicing you end up fiddling with your different guitars, messing with your amp settings and tweaking the controls on your pedals. All time wasted when you could and should be playing!
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This is far, far more common with electric guitars and guitarists. The acoustic is fairly solitary and you can’t waste much time fiddling with it. You just play.
But the electric is notorious for the hours you can procrastinate and spend doing nothing but messing around rather than something productive. So beware!
The acoustic definitely has its plus points too for learning first on. Let’s look at why you might want to start learning on the acoustic guitar.
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As mentioned earlier the electric guitar needs a lot of extra gear to get started. The acoustic guitar is very straightforward. As long as it’s got some strings on it then you’re good to go.
You can strum or fingerpick without a plectrum, you don’t need an amp as the acoustic amplifies itself, and there’s no need for any cables to plug it in. All you have to do is sit down and start playing.
It’s also simpler to take with you and play. Gigging musicians have to travel with or transfer not only their electric guitar but heavy amplifier(s). If you’re only playing acoustic you can just put it in its case and set off.
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And you’re probably familiar with people playing guitar around a campfire. That’s only really possible with an acoustic guitar as again, the electric needs an amplifier and a power source.
If you just want to be able to ‘pick up and play’ then the acoustic guitar may be the choice for you.
Most beginner songs are well suited to the acoustic guitar as they just involve strumming 2 or 3 chords. You can strum and sing along with yourself or strum with friends.
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The electric is similar but can be more “riff” based which might be harder to learn at first. And whilst riffs might sound good they are a limited to playing on your own until you’ve mastered a full song.
As mentioned earlier, acoustic guitar strings are much thicker. When you’re new to playing the guitar holding down those thick strings can be hard and painful.
Not all acoustic guitars are big – famously Ed Sheeran uses a Little Martin which is a much smaller acoustic – but the majority are larger and can be slightly awkward to play (at first at least).
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The electric guitar may be heavier but it’s a smaller and easier shape to sit with. Most find it simpler to hold and and get comfortable with because of the ergonomics.
One aspect we haven’t talked about is budget. A guitar isn’t a small purchase. Top quality instruments can be very expensive. Even the basic models aren’t cheap.
So if you’re on a tight budget or are worried you might find the guitar isn’t for you and give up it’s understandable you don’t want to spend too much.
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In the past acoustic guitars tended to be the more affordable of the two, and cheaper electrics were dreadful. However, you can now find really good quality entry level electrics that are far better than they
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