Acoustic or Electric Guitar| Which One Should You Start With?
If you recently started learning the guitar, or have been playing for awhile, you have probably heard it said that starting on an acoustic guitar is better than an electric. This reasoning is due to the fact that acoustic guitars require more finger strength to play effectively, and if you can play on an acoustic, the switch to electric will be trouble-free. This perspective is why the acoustic guitar tends to be the more popular instrument choice for beginners.
Before I continue, I would like to share a bit about myself, as it will provide greater context for my points in the rest of the article. My name is Matt and I have been playing guitar for roughly 9 years. I currently study at Berklee College of Music, dual majoring in both Performance and Music Therapy. I specialize in fingerstyle guitar, but have primarily played electric throughout my Berklee journey.
Most articles weighing the pros and cons between acoustic and electric guitars discuss differences in string gauge, size and portability, sound, and ease of playability. While these initial features are important considerations, most articles typically do not discuss the long term consequences of one’s starter guitar choice. An article by Andertons Music Co. states that beginning on acoustic guitar “will give you greater finger strength and force you to have the discipline to learn chords for songs with strumming in them.” When starting out, this statement sounds quite appealing; however, not much is discussed about the negative repercussions when transitioning to the electric guitar.
After having played acoustic guitar for many years, the initial reward of increased finger strength changed from a valuable asset to a hurdle that would impede my growth as an electric guitarist. Tension is not something a musician wants to experience when playing any instrument, and the guitar is no exception. Because acoustic guitar strings traditionally have heavier gauges, the amount of pressure needed to produce sound is more significant than on an electric guitar.
When you start learning guitar on an acoustic, it trains you to apply a certain amount of pressure on the fretboard. After years of playing, this amount of force applied becomes second nature, and your hand will adapt without thinking. The problem arises when you want to switch to electric. Sure, you’ll be able to play well enough, but your hand has become accustomed to the pressure of acoustic strings, and you will instinctively use more pressure than necessary. This is harmful for playing fast, tone, dynamics, and will overall stiffen your playing.
During my time at Berklee, I was fortunate enough to study under the tutelage of Tomo Fujita, a professor, influencer, and innovator of funk guitar with his signature clean tone. When I performed for him, he recognized how much extra pressure I was using almost instantaneously. Thankfully, he taught me a great method for retraining my fretting hand.
Tomo’s method to combat this habit is to play electric guitar plugged in using a clean tone (neck or middle pickup) so you can clearly hear your playing with no effects. The amp volume should be relatively high so that you can produce a clean sound with little to no effort. In your practice, whether it be warm-ups, scales, or songs, the goal is to be mindful of the pressure being applied from your fretting hand. You will instantly notice how little effort is needed to produce a clear sound. After having used this method of practice for roughly 3 months, my playing improved significantly! I had better control over my dynamics, tone, transitions, and my overall playing became much smoother.
So ultimately, which guitar is the better option to start with? The answer is that there is no “better option.” It all comes down to preference. Both acoustic and electric guitars have unique differences that will draw players to one or the other. The purpose of this article is to serve as an extra precaution to aspiring guitarists looking to pick up either instrument. Hopefully my story can help someone down the line, whether that be awareness of an additional instrument consideration, or the knowledge of how to break a bad tension habit.
References
“Acoustic vs Electric Guitar: Which Is Better for Beginners? - Pickup Music.” Acoustic vs Electric Guitar: Which Is Better for Beginners? - Pickup Music, www.pickupmusic.com/blog/acoustic-vs-electric-guitar-which-is-better-for-beginners. Accessed 28 Dec. 2023.
Nemeroff, Ben. “Acoustic vs Electric Guitars for Beginners.” Fender, Fender, 6 Feb. 2023, www.fender.com/articles/instruments/acoustic-vs-electric-guitar.
“Should I Learn Acoustic Guitar or Electric Guitar?” Andertons Music Co., www.andertons.co.uk/should-i-learn-acoustic-guitar-or-electric-guitar#:~:text=People%20all%20 over%20the%20world,songs%20with%20strumming%20in%20them. Accessed 28 Dec. 2023.
