• Registered: 2006-11-18
  • Posts: 8

Topic: Acoustic to Electric transition...advice

I´m a beginner acoustic player (1 year more or less), but I´ve had supervision from experienced players wich I think definitly busted my progression. I can play lots of chords and scales, and almost all the bar chords figures also.


I am happy with my evolution on one side but the more I learn the more I realise there´s so much more to learn and experiment, and the more I realise that I´m a million miles away from playing well, every the day I feel a bigger urge to learn more, play more, listen to more music! it´s crazy it´s like I´m addicted!


Anyway, like 99% of anyone who´s ever picked up a guitar I started to listen to Jimi Hendrix, like a year ago or so...and I feel a great deal of atraction towards the electric guitar, my brother has one so I want to start to play the electric guitar also...I would like to know if any of you also made that transition (acoustic - electric) and what advice do you have to someone wishing to do it successfully. Is it to soon to start with the electric guitar? I always finger pick in the acoustic so I´m not at all familiar with a pick, wich I consider a large handicap...


anyway, sorry about the long read and i hope someone can post some advice here.


thanks

  • Registered: 2006-08-15
  • Posts: 51

Re: Acoustic to Electric transition...advice

Hey there batal,


Transitioning from an acoustic to an electric really isnt all that hard. The main difference between the two is the feel of the strings. Electric strings are generally more flexible and forgiving, easier to play. Acoustic strings are generally stiffer and give a lot of volume.


Transitioning from fingerpicking to using a plectrum (fancy name for a pick) isnt all that hard. Try using a wide range of pick gauges until you find one thats comfortable (i personally prefer very light gauge picks for rythym playing and heavier gauge for soloing).


Do whatever is most comfortable when you start out, and it should work out in the end.


Welcome!

  • Registered: 2006-11-18
  • Posts: 8

Re: Acoustic to Electric transition...advice

Thanks for the reply!


I&#180;ve bought a pick, I chose a medium because i really didn&#180;t know what to buy  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_rolleyes.gif" border=0 alt="Rolling Eyes"> but I know guitar players usually have more then one pick so i guess it won&#180;t hurt to keep it.


Im gonna start by learning some The Strokes songs for 2 reasons: first reason they rock!!  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_twisted.gif" border=0 alt="Twisted Evil">  second reason some of their songs don&#180;t seem to hard...solos apart...

  • Poli
  • Junior Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2006-10-11
  • Posts: 9

Re: Acoustic to Electric transition...advice

I Know what it's like, I've learnt on acoustic guitar but I have also played electric guitar for the entire duration of learning, the biggest differences I find between the two are the strings, general thiner and lighter, and size, the electric guitar is gererally smaller in body which caused me to feel uncomfortable when playing at first. The best advice I can give is Keep playing the acoustic and borrow your brothers electric to play occasionally, and practice, A lot. It shouldn't be too difficult. as for picks can't help you I use a large variety of Pick for Bass, acoustic and electric it is purely down to preference, you may howver prefer smaller pick because you'll be used to having your fingers closer to the strings because you played acoustic and used your fingers to play.


Have Fun

  • Registered: 2006-11-18
  • Posts: 8

Re: Acoustic to Electric transition...advice

That sounds logical, off course, I should&#180;ve bought a smaller pick  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_confused.gif" border=0 alt="Confused"> heheh I&#180;ll go buy one as soon as I can...I practice everyday on the acoustic! I can&#180;t get enough of it  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_eek.gif" border=0 alt="Shocked"> I&#180;m so sorry I didn&#180;t start sooner (I&#180;m 25 now) but I&#180;m making up for the time lost by practicing every single day, sometimes I get home really late and really tired and still grab the guitar, even if it&#180;s just for 5 minutes, like i&#180;ll do a scale or improvise a solo (crap most of the time) or something like that...


I wish the day would had 72 hours it would be 24 acoustic, 24 electric and 24 girlfriend   



Thanks for the advice!

  • From: Ohio
  • Registered: 2006-10-02
  • Posts: 230

Re: Acoustic to Electric transition...advice

i just made the transition myself.  its pretty crazy, just when you think you have all the basics of guitar pretty much covered you get an electric and there is soooom much new stuff to learn, especially since now its not just how you play the guitar that makes the difference, there's an amp with tons of knobs that open up billioons of new doors!! now i spend a lot more time on the guitar than before, you're right its addicting!!!


also try doing acoustic stuff on your electric, it can sound really cool!


~good luck

If you spend your life judging people, how will you ever have time to love them ♥
  • From: Pico Rivera, Calif. U.S.A.
  • Registered: 2006-10-26
  • Posts: 785

Re: Acoustic to Electric transition...advice

The transition is basically the same as playing acoustic. The difference is the scale of the guitar neck also the action. The electric will present more tones based upon the type of pickups in the guitar and the various settings and type of amp you play through.

The benefits of playing an acoustic first is hand stregnth, it is usually tuffer on your hands playing acoustics (is it cheap, modrate or Taylor type acoustic). You'll also notice that you have more speed on an electric guitar versus an acoustic because of the heavier gauge strings and action height.

Play both types of guitars you'll notice the time you have put in practicing the acoustic when your playing the electric.


Good luck.

Bootleger

Bootlegger guitars.

  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 18

Re: Acoustic to Electric transition...advice

The guys who have the harder time are the ones who start on electric and then move to acoustic.  Acoustic guitars require more strength to press down the strings and the necks are usually wider.  It is usually much more difficult to play fast on acoustic because of this.  Don't freak out if stuff that sounded good on acoustic sounds like crap on electric- they are almost completely different instruments.

  • Registered: 2007-01-09
  • Posts: 15

Re: Acoustic to Electric transition...advice

Hi,


I just recently made the change as well. One thing that I would suggest is to learn the bar chords and power chords. Open chords sound bad on electric (with distortion)for the most part. I would also say that palm muting is key, I didn't do as much of it when I played acoustic, but now it's very common place.

  • Registered: 2006-10-26
  • Posts: 12

Re: Acoustic to Electric transition...advice

when i switched i tried to beat on the electric like i would my acoustic. that was a bad idea.(i didnt know how to use a pick at the time.) in about 5 minutes i broke my G and high E strings. ive learned that the best thing to do is treat the electric like a woman. be VERY GENTLE. and practice sweep picking.

  • From: Murphysboro Il
  • Registered: 2007-02-10
  • Posts: 292

Re: Acoustic to Electric transition...advice

Batal,

Contrary to popular myth, electric guitar is not an advanced instrument that you move on to after learning the basics on an accustic. Each one has it's own technique and sound. As far as picks go, if you don't feel comfortable with one then dont use one. Buddy guy plays almost all electric and he doesn't use a pick. I think every guitarist should have an electric, an accustic and maybe even a hollow body electric. If you get an electric bite the bullet and get a good amp. a 40 - 100 watt fender or peavy amp will do just fine.

    Good Luck !!!!!

                                    - Mike

"Nobody paints by ear so why would I play guitar by sight?" hmm
  • Registered: 2007-03-05
  • Posts: 10

Re: Acoustic to Electric transition...advice

Tell me about it I am 29