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.

Guitars Are Like Shoes : A Guide To Buying Your 1st Guitar

When shopping for a guitar you will quickly notice that there is more to it than a block of wood with some strings on it.  When looking to buy a guitar either for yourself or a child, think about shoes.  You want the right guitar for the occasion. 

Size:  Have you ever seen a child try to wear their parent’s shoes?  My kids do that & end up tripping all over the place.  Just like it’s hard to walk in shoes that are too big, it’s also difficult to play a guitar that’s too big. 

Here is a chart that will help you match the guitarist with the right guitar.

Style: While some people prefer boots & others prefer sneakers, most people own both.  That’s how I feel about acoustic guitars vs. electric guitars.  The difference is in style & tone but you don’t have to commit to just one or the other.  The basic layout of the two is the same and most guitar players will hop from one to the other depending on mood or to compliment the style of a particular song.  So if the guitarist prefers to play Taylor Swift, then an acoustic guitar would be a smart purchase.  On the other hand, if AC/DC is your inspiration then look into an electric guitar. 

Budget: I already mentioned that acoustic guitars are generally more affordable.  An entry level model can purchased for $100-$200. 

With Electric guitars keep in mind that they are more versatile than acoustic guitars but require an amplifier & instrument cable.  This means that you will need to invest in some additional equipment & you won’t be playing it around the campfire since the amplifier will need to be plugged in.  You can find package deals & save a few bucks, but expect to pay $200-$400.

In either case you can spend less but you also can easily spend more. Be careful going too cheap as these low quality guitars can be more difficult to play resulting in the student quitting in frustration.  Of course you can buy used off craigslist.org or even some retail shops.  My students often email me links to what they find to get my input before they buy.  If you have an instructor, ask them if they would be willing to help you too.

So basically the guitar needs to be the right size, fit your personal style, and fit your budget.  Choose the right guitar for your situation and get with a great instructor that will walk you through the steps in learning to play it.

I have so many more great tips I want to share with you.  Subscribe to this blog and I will help you on your musical walk.