The Beginner Guitarist’s Predicament – Electric Or Acoustic?
For any learner starting to play guitar the question is often raised whether they should start on acoustic or electric guitar. For some, this choice is easy as they will be drawn to one 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 advantages and disadvantages 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. Over the years I have taught other guitarists using whatever guitar they had to hand. I noticed that you can nearly tell from a guitarist’s technique whether they started on electric or acoustic just by watching them play.
So here are the advantages and disadvantages of each approach.
Beginning 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.
Cons
* Muscle strength in the fingers does not increase to the same extent as when playing acoustic.
* The use of effects/distortion hides a multitude of 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.
* An amp is not required, which allows you to play and practice anywhere.
* Builds up finger muscle strength.
Cons
* Strong temptation to only strum through songs, so beginners should also learn finger picking styles.
* Guitar solos can get lost if playing in a group which may put off some beginners.
* Using earphones with an acoustic is not an option.
Guitarists who start out on electric build up speed of playing solos and chord changes which is admirable, but it is often at the cost of proper playing technique. Playing the electric guitar hides faults such as incorrect placement of the thumb and not holding down strings solidly. This results in strings buzzing or being muted during play.
By comparison, starting out on acoustic builds up finger strength, nurtures better hand placement on the frets and fosters clear sounding play.
Of course, if you can take the cost of purchasing both electric and acoustic guitars then you could balance out the beginners training on each instrument and they will benefit from both approaches.
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