Acoustic Guitar vs Electric Guitar: Which one is easier to play and which one should you start learning on. This is one question that often gets asked by every beginner. So what should you buy – an Acoustic Guitar or Electric Guitar?
Acoustic Guitars vs Electric Guitars: Pros & Cons of Each
Here are some pros and cons of each (with a bit on how they evolved):
- The acoustic guitar is definitely among the earliest type that was invented, the electrics came long after. Despite the popularity of electric guitars, acoustic are still alive, and always will be.
- Anyone who understands the basics of the fretboard should be able to play both – electric or acoustic. Most experienced guitar players own both, though each of them have their own preferences.
- Electrics gives you lot of control over what sort of tone you want to get out of the guitar. You can select from a range of pickups, capacitors, pedals, whammy bars, Pignoses to Mesa Boogies, to get the sound you desire.
Acoustic vs electric Guitar in country music - You may have the most beautiful & expensive acoustic guitar, but you’re not going to take it out to the campfire or put a pickup in the soundhole and run it through an amp by way of a distortion pedal. The happiest acoustic guitars are the comparatively cheaper ones (Yamaha, Takamine, Washburn), people don’t mind taking these out for camping or for small gigs. Its different with the electric guitars though, as guitar players love to show them-off. Other people get to look at them, push their buttons, and most of the time their owners are fine with others doing that.
- You cannot alter the sound of the Acoustic guitar much, probably a bit by changing the strings. Its also difficult to fiddle with the build of the acoustic, Nobody would try altering the various removable parts on their Collings, or strip the finish from their Brazilian Rosewood acoustic.
- What should children start learning on – acoustic or electric guitar? Again, it depends on what they like. However, make sure they don’t spend their entire time just fiddling with the various controls/electronics, instead of practicing, if they choose an electric.
Watch: How To Choose A Guitar (electric or acoustic) guitar
Who Prefers What?
Usually, its observed that most kids and teens (the younger lot) love the sound of the electric guitar and want to start learning the electric guitar, whereas the matured lot (those who serious about classical music, older men and women) prefer the soothing sound of the acoustic guitar and prefer learning to play the acoustic/classical guitar.
How the Sound is Produced?
An acoustic guitar produces rich & mellow sounds (without amps) and doesn’t require amps to create an audible sound, whereas the electric ones require amplifiers (which adds to the cost).
Also Read: Parts of a Guitar – Diagram showing all Guitar Parts.
Which One is Easier to Play?
An acoustic guitar is comparatively harder to play (physically) because of the relatively heavier gauge strings, the higher action and wider neck.
Watch: Learn to Play Electric or Acoustic Guitar for Beginners?
Which One to Choose: Acoustic Guitar or Electric Guitar
What you choose depends on your personal preferences and the style of music you like to play (though your family members & the neighborhood are not going to like it, if you practice or jam with friends at home, on electric guitars :).
Most experienced guitar players & teachers suggest that if you seriously want to learn guitar, then acoustic is a better choice. It’s hard to learn initially, but later on, it makes it much easier to shift to other types such as the electric guitar.
Children love the sound of an electric guitar, these have a much different sound (compared to an acoustic) and require an amplifier to get the full sound.
But then, they are likely to get distracted with the various special sound effects available on the electric versions. Students should spend more time learning to play rather than fiddle with the various settings of the amplifiers (on electric guitars) all the time (parents should take note of this factor).
Most grownup kids usually start on an acoustic guitar before moving to an electric (though there’s no hard and fast rule as such). However, if you (or your child) want to start learning the electric guitar, nothing should stop you either.
More Things to Keep in Mind
- When buying a Guitar with Strings, make sure the action of their guitar is not too high. High action is hard for finger pressing.
- Also think about the thinner neck which is easy for kids to hold and move finger through the fretboard.
- If possible, choose nylon string guitar because the nylon strings are softer than steel strings. But nylon string guitars have different tone from steel string guitars; just make sure you like the sound.
- Electric guitars are also easy to learn for their lower action and thinner neck than acoustic guitars. But you need to buy an amp for electric guitar and that means more money to spend.
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KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.
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