Best way to start learning guitar: acoustic or electric (Page 1 of 2)

Acustic is the best way to learn, if you get an electric first, and like you said, is camaflages mistakes, so once you learn guitar, you wont be half as good, unless you learn with an acustic.

BUTTTT then, once you learn acustic you can go out and buy a electric!! <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_twisted.gif" border=0 alt="Twisted Evil">

rock-on!

ovation93

i think some people reading this might be slightly(very slightly)biased towards acoustic as this is on the acoustic forum. in fact, i really have no idea why im here because i play electric. however, i would just like to say in reply to the previous posts ,which said that electric guitar camoflauges mistakes because of the distortion, that electric guitarists dont have distortion on all the time. in fact, distortion really messes up some songs and when im learning a song i usually dont use my amp at first so i cant use distortion.

Just thought id tell you acoustic players <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile">

12345abcd3

As someone who learnned on an electric to begin with and now plays both, I feel it really depends on your musical goals. If you want to play Segovia's greatest hits then I recomend a good classical guitar. It has its own techneque, sound and feel which will be used in most of what you are wanting to play. If you want to be the next Robert Johnson then you would be better off learnning on an accoustic for the same reasons. If you want to play in the best Slayer cover band ever then why spend your time learning to use an instrument that you won't be using? You may as well be a body man starting with oil painting classes and then moving on to spray gun. Enough ranting I suppose. My point is, start on the instrument that is appropriat for the music you want to make. And if you are very serious and financially able, learn on both together. <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_cool.gif" border=0 alt="Cool">

"Nobody paints by ear so why would I play guitar by sight?"

10s are pretty middle of the road. I say try them and if you don't care for them use a different brand. bigdjindustriez really seem to like them as do several others.Not to tell you your bussiness but you should really change your strings a bit more often. I change mine aboutevery three months on my electric and a bit more often than that on my accustic. Also go ahead and wipe down your guitars body and neck and fretboard while you have it unstung.

"Nobody paints by ear so why would I play guitar by sight?"

Youre welcome and don't be shy. Thats why we are all here is to help eachother <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile">

"Nobody paints by ear so why would I play guitar by sight?"

Hi Old Doll!

Check this link (on changing strings):

<a href="http://guitar.about.com/library/weekly/aachangingstringsa.htm" target="_blank"> http://guitar.about.com/library/weekly/ … tringsa.ht m</a>

About how often to change its totaly up to you. My advice is not to change until you, yourself notice something about your old strings that bother you (dull sound, rusty or dirty etc).

I changed strings just because everyone recommends it. I have changed 3 times now in 1,5 month and I'm strating to realize I will never get the great sound back that my factory strings gave me...

/Missen

<table border="0" align="center" width="90%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td class="SmallText"><b>petermiss wrote on Wed, 04 April 2007 11&#58;21</b></td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
Hello!

I've been into the thougt "learn on an accoustic" too. Own both an accoustic and an electric, and im starting to shift a bit on that idea (for some of the stuff you try to learn). I use my accoustic 80-90% of the time and I still think thats the one that give me more finger strength and harder finger tips.

BUT I'm now struggling with the for ever discussed barred chords, and I must say that there is a point in learning the grips on the softer electric strings. Once I've learned the chord grips and shifts it's easy to take them to the accoustic.

This way is faster (and less frustrating) then strugling with them on the accoustic.

So my point is: Get your hand strength up (by playing or physical training) then you can play whatever guitar you like, you will be able to play an accoustic good (maybe with some sore fingers...)

/Missen
</td></tr></table>

My wife has an electric guitar. I find that the technique you mention worked well for me too.

Hi Petermiss,

thank you for the link,for changing strings, very informative..

I do feel they are a little Tacky when playing.

My first guitar had all nylon strings ! some how i liked the sound more ?

Or did i just get used to it ?  my new one has 3 of each type.

It Makes a completely different sound or is it me !!! come on all

u experts explain !

Thanks Pete.

Old Doll

what good is life if one can't get pissed off once in awhile? And no I'm not going to take up the piano, I can play the guitar just fine, I just hate solid body electrics.  Hollow bodies are fine, but anyways.  Glad I could make someone laugh at my misery

My Tanglewood is a metal string accoustic (my finger tips is like glass by now). I think the metal strings have a brighter crisper sound than the nylons. With that I don't mean the nylons sounds bad, they just have a more subtle ring to them. I suppose you can compare it to banging on a metal rod or a plastic, diffrent sounds...

I havn't seen any nylon guitars with all strings nylon (except some small children guitars). I think its more common with 3 nylons and 3 wound metal strings. One probable cause they use metals for the bass strings could be that the nylons would have to be thick (and hard to handle) to produce the bass tones.

All thoughts no facts...  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_razz.gif" border=0 alt="Razz">

/Missen

Thanks...

My wife and son came in with a gift this morning (that my 4 yaer old son opened befor I was awake...). The gift was a bottle of 16 year old Lagavullin single malt whiskey. I LOVE MY WIFE. Tonight will be a beer in one hand a whiskey in the other and the guitar (and wife) in between....  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_twisted.gif" border=0 alt="Twisted Evil">

/Missen

It depends... if you think your comfortable reaching over with an acoustic guitar or if you like to have a thin electric. You should go to a guitar store and try both out and see what you like better. Scince you asked what is the best way to start playing then i would agree with gitaardocphil.