Original Articles

If you are on a tight budget you will get a better acoustic guitar for your money than electric, mainly because you have to retain some of your budget for the amplifier. However, that apart, there are pros and cons whatever type of guitar you choose to buy.

Much will be connected with the type of music you want to play. If you want to be a classical guitarist, then obviously you will not purchase an electric guitar and vice versa if you want to be a rock guitarist. In distinguishing between electrical and acoustic, we are not applying the term ‘electric’ to an acoustic guitar fitted with a piezoelectric pick-up, but only to what is commonly accepted by the term ‘electric guitar’ with permanent magnetic pick-ups in whatever configuration they come in.

In discussing these pros and cons then, we shall assume that it is a straight choice, and that the style of music you want to play is irrelevant. So what are the positive aspects of opting for an acoustic guitar rather than going electric?

First convenience. You can play an acoustic guitar anywhere, whereas your electric guitar would need an electrical socket and an amplifier. You can play an electric guitar without using the amp, but it sounds very tinny and much quieter than an acoustic guitar, so that won’t be considered here as an option. The same is true of a classical guitar that we shall keep distinct from a normal acoustic, because you would only purchase a classical guitar were you serious about the classical or flamenco style of music. If you don’t know the difference, then you aren’t ready for a classical guitar which must be strung with nylon for the thinner strings.

It is easier to learn how to play with an acoustic guitar because you get instant music as opposed to having to set up and plug in your electric guitar. An acoustic is ideally suited to learning the basics which involves proper fingering, use of frets and learning chords. It has been said that you don’t need to know chords to play a guitar, and while that is true, you certainly have to know chords to play properly and to play well. Unless you think you are Jimi Hendrix, you won’t get far with your guitar playing without understanding note combinations and how to finger and play them.

One of the cons of buying an acoustic rather than an electric guitar is actually a pro. If you can learn to play acoustic, you will certainly be able to play electric, so while electric might appear to have the glamour and to be the best option if you can afford it, in fact an acoustic guitar will do more in helping you to understand the instrument and strengthening your hands and fingers to be able to play properly.

The reason for that is that the strings on an acoustic are usually of a heavier gauge than electric that uses light gauge strings. You therefore need more pressure to fret chords with an acoustic guitar and you will initially find it more difficult to play, but you will condition your fingertips and hand muscles a lot quicker. Electric guitar players have it easier in that respect, and it is a matter of viewpoint if you consider that a positive or a negative. What appears to be fact is that players who learn on an acoustic tend to have more knowledge of the instrument that those that go electric immediately.

Perhaps it would be better to buy an acoustic guitar until you have learned to play, and then decide if you want to go electric. You will find the transition a lot easier than if switching from electric to acoustic. That comes from personal experience. However, if you want a starter guitar for your kids, then it has to be electric since they will hurt their fingers less with that. They will also get excited at hearing the volume at which they can play. However, I would recommend to anybody that whatever guitar they buy – acoustic or electric – they try both, and also have a go at the classical guitar which is strictly an acoustic guitar, but one that is of a specific design. One, incidentally, that is unsuitable for steel strings other than the wire wound ones (Bottom E, A and D).

There really is no answer to the question whether you should buy an acoustic guitar or an electric one. It depends upon what you want from your guitar, but if you want to learn how to play guitar properly, and are prepared to suffer the pain that the best guitarists have to suffer while they are learning then go for acoustic. If you want an easier time, and intend to stick with electric for that band you are hoping to start up, then start with electric. It really is up to you.