Acoustic vs. Electric Guitar - What's the difference?

A common question I get from students is on the subject of acoustic vs. electric guitars.

Here are the answers to the top 3 questions I get on this subject. 

Q: What's the differance between acoustic and electric guitars?
Acoustic guitars are lighter but bulkier. It has a natural and organic sound and you don't need to plug it in to an amp. Electric guitars have thinner bodies but weigh more. Their tone can be sculpted using tone knobs and effect pedals and processors. They need to be plugged into and amp so while great for playing in bands they are not suited for campfire sing-a-longs.

Q: Should I start out on an acoustic or electric guitar?
Start off on the guitar you are more likely to play. It doesn't matter which you start on because the skills you learn as a beginner apply to both forms of guitar. The techniques are the same, the strings are tuned the same, and the fretboard is laid out the same. As a matter of fact, most guitar players own both. The most important thing is that you own a guitar that you want to play everyday.

Now having said that, there are some other factors to consider such as budget, style of music you prefer, and lifestyle.  I write more about this is my blog post titled, "Guitars are like shoes".  Click here to read more about buying a guitar.

Q: Do you teach acoustic or electric guitar lessons?
Anybody who plays the guitar should be able to teach on either. It's a matter of tone and feel but like I said, it's the same layout.

Are you in the market to buy your first guitar? Click here before you buy to get some great tips.