The News is…

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 start learning on? Which provides a foundation in guitar technique that will form a strong basis for improving guitar skills? If you are going to teach yourself guitar then which is going to be more honest about your playing ability (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 advantages and disadvantages of both.

Starting On Electric Guitar

Pros

* The narrower gauge strings and guitar neck make it easier to play.

* Develop a subtlety of playing. Amplification of what you play highlights various effects and nuances in your play (for hammer ons, vibrato, etc.).

* It is possible to practice using earphones.

Cons

* Don’t build up muscle strength in the fingers.

* 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, so you can play and practice 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 can get ‘lost in the mix’ if playing in a group which may put off some beginners.

* No option to play using earphones.

From my perspective, guitarists who start out on electric build up a speed of playing (solos, chord changes, etc.) which is admirable, but it is often at the cost of good playing technique. Playing the electric guitar hides a number of faults such as incorrect placement of the thumb and not holding down strings solidly that results in strings buzzing or being muted during play (this is highly noticeable when recording an electric).

By comparison, starting out on acoustic builds up finger strength, nurtures better hand placement on the frets and fosters 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.

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