The Beginners Guitar Dilemma – Electric Or Acoustic?
For any beginner starting to play guitar the question is often raised whether you should start on acoustic guitar or electric guitar. For some, this will be a simple choice as they will be drawn to one or the other based on the type of music they like.
But the question still stands about which is the better to learn on? Which provides a foundation in technique that will form a basis for improving guitar skills? If you are going to teach yourself guitar then which guitar type does not hide your faults?
There are good and bad elements to both at different stages of a guitarist learning so any assessment needs to take into account the short and long term benefits of each. I have taught several other guitarists and have noticed that you can tell from a guitarist’s technique whether they started on electric or acoustic just by watching them play.
So here are the pros and cons we saw of each approach.
Starting On Electric Guitar
Pros
* Easier to play using the narrower gauge strings and narrower guitar neck.
* Amplification makes it easier to develop a subtlety of playing as it permits various nuances in your play (e.g. vibrato).
* It is possible to practice using earphones (neighbors will appreciate this).
Cons
* Muscle strength in the fingers does not increase to the same extent as when playing acoustic.
* Using effects hides faults (string buzz, poor left hand placement).
* Strong tendency for incorrect placement of the left thumb on the guitar neck.
Learning On Acoustic Guitar
Pros
* Lower startup costs.
* Doesn’t require an amp, so allows you to play anywhere.
* Finger muscle strength is building up from day one.
Cons
* Strong temptation to only strum through songs, so beginners should also learn finger picking styles.
* Guitar solos require great dexterity and can get ‘lost in the mix’ if playing in a group.
* Using earphones with an acoustic guitar is not an option.
Guitarists who start to learn on electric build up speed of playing solos and chord changes which is to be admired, but it is often at the cost of good playing technique. Playing the electric guitar hides faults like incorrect placement of the thumb and not holding down strings solidly. This can result in strings buzzing or being muted during play.
By comparison, starting out on an acoustic guitar builds up finger strength, fosters better hand placement on the frets and nurtures clear sounding play.
That said, if you can saddle the cost of buying both electric and acoustic guitars then you could balance out the beginners training on each instrument and they will benefit from both approaches.
Are you frustrated with the lack of progress from your current guitar tuition/guitar course? Read Ed’s review of Jamorama online guitar lessons at http://www.teachyourselfguitarthemodernway.com
