Of the many questions I receive, the one that most often pops up is: Should I buy the Acoustic or Electric guitar? Some people swear by the acoustic guitar, and others just love playing on the electric.
There is no hard and fast rule that acoustic guitars can only be used in country, and electrics can only be found in rock and metal.
Let's learn a bit about the two types, then you can decide.
Acoustic Guitar When a person thinks about the guitar, this is the first one that comes to the mind.
Acoustic guitars have 6 strings.
The strings are of a heavier gauge than the electric guitar strings.
These type of guitars are hollow, and have a "sound hole" on the face.
It's just a hole.
Nothing special! But the effect it gives is awesome.
Since the acoustic guitar is hollow, when you strike the strings, they produce a loud sound.
Loud enough for 10 people to be singing at the top of their voices, and still be heard clearly! These guitars are commonly associated with classical and country music, but it can be used for all genres.
Acoustic guitars are notably harder to play than the electrics, as the strings are harder to press down, and the neck is usually wider, which makes it harder for the left hand to move smoothly.
Electric Guitars Electric guitars are a bit more hi-tech that acoustic guitars.
They have quite a few knobs to deal with.
Since electric guitars are solid, they produce a very soft, barely audible sound when the strings are struck.
That is why we need amplifiers if we wish to play the electric guitar.
Electric guitars are much easier to play than the acoustic guitar.
It is easier to press down on the strings, thus allowing you t move around the neck faster and fluidly.
Also, sore fingers are not as much of an issue on the electric, as on the acoustic.
Electric guitars are versatile instruments, mainly due to you being able to control the tone of the sound that comes out of the amplifier.
You can make it clean, which means there is no distortion, and sounds like an acoustic guitar, or you can add distortion to it.
You can also control the volume, so if you want to sing while playing, you can make the guitar a little bit softer, so that your voice stands out.
Or you can blow your neighbor's (and your) eardrums out.
Your choice! Electric guitars can be used to play lead guitar, or to strum chords, making it ideal for almost all genres.
So, which one? Pros of Electric guitars -Easy to play -Versatile -Controllable tone Cons -Expensive, compared to acoustic guitars -Non-portable (You just can't carry your amplifier around!) -Electronic wiring can sometimes go haywire Pros of Acoustic guitar -Sounds great -Portable -Relatively cheap Cons -Cannot be amplified (So, you can't really hear the guitar in, say, a party with 50 people) -Hard to play -Non-controllable tone Verdict? I'm just going out on a limb here, but if you're a beginner, you're better off buying an electric.
You won't get frustrated while playing it, and you can use it for all genres.
I'd suggest getting one of those guitar starter packs.
They offer good value for a low price! Don't rush into buying a guitar.
Take your time, go to the shop, take a look at the guitars, read reviews, and then make your decision.
Good luck!
There is no hard and fast rule that acoustic guitars can only be used in country, and electrics can only be found in rock and metal.
Let's learn a bit about the two types, then you can decide.
Acoustic Guitar When a person thinks about the guitar, this is the first one that comes to the mind.
Acoustic guitars have 6 strings.
The strings are of a heavier gauge than the electric guitar strings.
These type of guitars are hollow, and have a "sound hole" on the face.
It's just a hole.
Nothing special! But the effect it gives is awesome.
Since the acoustic guitar is hollow, when you strike the strings, they produce a loud sound.
Loud enough for 10 people to be singing at the top of their voices, and still be heard clearly! These guitars are commonly associated with classical and country music, but it can be used for all genres.
Acoustic guitars are notably harder to play than the electrics, as the strings are harder to press down, and the neck is usually wider, which makes it harder for the left hand to move smoothly.
Electric Guitars Electric guitars are a bit more hi-tech that acoustic guitars.
They have quite a few knobs to deal with.
Since electric guitars are solid, they produce a very soft, barely audible sound when the strings are struck.
That is why we need amplifiers if we wish to play the electric guitar.
Electric guitars are much easier to play than the acoustic guitar.
It is easier to press down on the strings, thus allowing you t move around the neck faster and fluidly.
Also, sore fingers are not as much of an issue on the electric, as on the acoustic.
Electric guitars are versatile instruments, mainly due to you being able to control the tone of the sound that comes out of the amplifier.
You can make it clean, which means there is no distortion, and sounds like an acoustic guitar, or you can add distortion to it.
You can also control the volume, so if you want to sing while playing, you can make the guitar a little bit softer, so that your voice stands out.
Or you can blow your neighbor's (and your) eardrums out.
Your choice! Electric guitars can be used to play lead guitar, or to strum chords, making it ideal for almost all genres.
So, which one? Pros of Electric guitars -Easy to play -Versatile -Controllable tone Cons -Expensive, compared to acoustic guitars -Non-portable (You just can't carry your amplifier around!) -Electronic wiring can sometimes go haywire Pros of Acoustic guitar -Sounds great -Portable -Relatively cheap Cons -Cannot be amplified (So, you can't really hear the guitar in, say, a party with 50 people) -Hard to play -Non-controllable tone Verdict? I'm just going out on a limb here, but if you're a beginner, you're better off buying an electric.
You won't get frustrated while playing it, and you can use it for all genres.
I'd suggest getting one of those guitar starter packs.
They offer good value for a low price! Don't rush into buying a guitar.
Take your time, go to the shop, take a look at the guitars, read reviews, and then make your decision.
Good luck!
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