What type of guitar is good for beginners? Clasical or acoustic?

Hi!

I'm really a rookie myself but maybe my thougts could be worth something...  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_razz.gif" border=0 alt="Razz">

I don't think classic or standard accoustic make so much difference. What I should think about is the choises between nylon strings, metal strings, acoustic or electric guitars.

The nylon stringed often have a wider neck and the strings are MUCH kinder to your fingers (the metals eat your fingertips for a long time before you get thicker skin). The metal strings however gives the gutar a richer, crisper sound.

Electric guitar amps sometimes has an accoustic preset that make the guitar sound as a standard accoustic. The electric guitar is often easier to play (you dont have to use the same force to press the strings) BUT then again, less effort dont build up and train your hand/fingers as much.

An electric in accoustic mode is not able to give you the rich sound of an accoustic (simply because there is no resonace box, its a dead plank)

I own a Tanglewood accoustic and an Ibanez electric. I use the accoustic for 90% of my training time, because its harder and thus give me more training.

My personal opinion is to start with a metal string accoustic, because that's the hardest you can do. If you master that one you can change "down" to any of the others with relative ease. It's harder to learn on an electric or nylon string and then try to go "up" to an accoustic metal string.

So you should analyse what you want to do with your guitar and choose accordingly.

There are also accoustics with built in microphones, but I can only se the use of that if you play live or in a band and need to pump up your volume. Also think about that the electronics cost money, so a guitar without mic for the same prize should be a better guitar.

Hope that was any help...

/Missen

Ref the previous point. I also like some classical pieces and try to play them however, some pieces are virtually impossible on my Freshman with steel strings. Even though they are only size 10's the tension in the strings means I cannot play with my fingers over 6 or 7 frets whilst holding a bar. Even something pretty simple like cavatina is a real struggle if youo have normal size hands like me.

In a nutshell I would encourage anyone whom just wants to play classical or classical sounds pieces to go for nylon. Anyone else go for steel and build up the strength you need.

Adios

there are actually 4 major types of acoustic guitar...6 string, 12 string, classical AND 7 string which is actually widely used today.  As for learning on a "classical" or acoustic guitar...they are pretty much the same thing.  With of course the exception of a wider neck and different headstock on a classical.  I have used steel strings on a classical model guitar before and it sounded fine.  And vise verse (you can put nylons on a regular dreadnought type of guitar)  Hope that helps.