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Starting Out – Guitar Purchase
Good afternoon all. I am excited to start playing and am brand new to the guitar. I have an old Alvarez guitar I can use but thought I may invest in something that is fit to me. This begs the question I am sure has already been answered but I can not find it. If I am to buy a new guitar should it definitely be an acoustic to learn or is electric fine to start out on?
I have looked online and, as you can imagine, the opinions vary widely with many saying learn on acoustic and it will transfer. Does anyone have experience in this area or thoughts/opinions on the matter?
Thanks for your time and I hope I will be recording a video of me attempting to play soon.
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6 Replies
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Hi @tmadden17gmail-com and welcome to the guitar kingdom!!!
Many many people before you have asked this same question, and there is no real “correct” answer. It all depends on your taste in music (which will likely dictate what songs you’d like to learn/play), your playing style, and even your learning style.
Beginners sometimes enjoy the “soft” string feeling of an electric guitar, or even a nylon string. Those first few weeks can be rough until you develop some callouses on your fretting hand.
On the flipside, there are those who say, “You can’t really play it until you can play it on an acoustic”. Meaning that acoustic guitars demand a much stronger, cleaner fretting technique to get clean tone with certain songs/chords etc. You might be able to learn the basics more quickly on an electric guitar, but don’t expect to just pick up an acoustic guitar and play what you’ve learned on an electric guitar.
If you are wanting to start playing songs quickly, you might join the electric guitar camp right at the beginning. Your fingers will still be sore but not as bad. Also you will find it easier to learn chords etc. (I use my electric guitar unplugged for quiet practice.)
If you decide to learn on your current acoustic guitar it might be worth your while to take it to your nearest luthier (usually found at guitar stores) and ask for a set up. They will tweak your guitar so that the action (string height above the fretboard) is optimal for easier play. This should only cost around $40 or so and usually includes new strings.
Also, nothing wrong with learning to play guitar on BOTH acoustic and electric, ha!!!
Good luck and best wishes on your guitar journey!
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I wanted to follow up and thank you again. I went to a music store yesterday and put away all of my preconceived notions and just handled and felt all different types of guitars. I walked out with a new Martin D10 and absolutely love it. Thank you for helping me along the way on my journey! 😀
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Congrats on your new guitar! 🙂
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Yaaaay, happy NGD to you!! (New Guitar Day)
Congrats on your new guitar, enjoy it!!
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This is hugely helpful and I really appreciate the reply. I am going to a guitar store with a good reputation at the local university and will bring my guitar for a check up. I think I will probably gravitate toward an electric but I’m going to play around with a bunch of guitars tomorrow and see what feels right.
Loving this forum!
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I am learning also and picked up a 2005 Larivee D03 dreadnought several years ago when I wanted to learn but the body is thick and makes it a little tough to get around to pick. Not impossible but my picking arm gets tired. I’m a lefty so heading to look at some Taylor 314 and 414 series as the body is thinner. Our church choir member plays a 314ce. I held it and it seemed better than the bid dread. I will keep the Larivee because it’s such a well built guitar and in pristine condition but I think I’ll learn on something thinner bodied then I can work up to the Larivee and be able to play both later. I have electrics also which are easier but I love the sound of acoustics.
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