Is It Best To Learn Guitar On An Acoustic
Matilda Equiluz
I actually started off playing on an electric guitar before I picked up an acoustic many months later. I had already made good progress on my electric, and soon realised that all you needed to do in order to get a good sound on the acoustic was to make a couple of adjustments. First, I needed to press down slightly harder on the strings, and second, since the neck on my acoustic was slightly wider, I needed to make a small adjustment with my left hand fingering. However, I did notice that the way you hold it is the same, the technique is the same and all of the chords I learned on electric could be easily transferred to acoustic. I am now extremely proficient on both instruments, so learning electric first does not hinder your ability to be able to play an acoustic guitar if you choose to do so. Of course, if you are inspired by other guitarists who play acoustic guitar and this is the path you want to go down, then by all means go and get yourself an acoustic. However, if the reason for you wanting to take up guitar is that you are inspired by electric guitarists, then the best purchase for you will be an electric.
In my opinion, you should only purchase a classical guitar if you want to take classical guitar lessons. Although the strings are easier to press down on, the necks on most classical guitars are much wider, and require a certain left hand discipline in order to get the best out of the instrument. Of course, if your goal is to become a proficient classical or flamenco guitarist, then by all means go ahead and purchase a classical guitar and find a great teacher who specialises in this style. However, if your vision for your guitar journey is play your favourite songs that you hear on the radio, then purchasing a classical guitar will not be the best option for you. Instead, it would be much better for you to pick up either an electric or acoustic as your first instrument.
So which type of guitar should you learn on? Is it better to learn on acoustic or electric guitar? The correct answer to this question is of course, whichever one inspires you to keep playing the most. As mentioned above, if you want to emulate electric guitar greats such as Slash, David Gilmour and Brian May, then you will definitely find more inspiration from picking up and plugging in an electric guitar. However, if you are inspired by the more singer songwriter approach of artists such as Ed Sheeran, Bob Dylan or Taylor Swift, then perhaps you will be more inclined to begin your guitar journey on an acoustic guitar instead of an electric.
Aside from the resources that can be found on YouTube, and apart from the many apps that can make the process easier, there is a bounty of pre-structured, all-in-one courses that are customizable enough to suit beginning, intermediate, and even advanced players. They fall under two main categories: immersive software programs and online lesson databases. Of course, having so many options can be fatiguing when it comes to making the right choice. Here are some of the most popular and renowned programs to help you get started.
For guitar, Yousician offers a series of lessons with three initial paths to choose from: Lead, Rhythm, and Knowledge. Each offers slightly different customized study, but the basic structure is the same for most lessons: You watch a video of an instructor explaining a technique, and then you play an exercise that allows you to practice it.
One aspect unique to Guitar Tricks is the Core Learning System. Designed especially for beginning students and those returning to the guitar after a long break, the system allows you to structure a series of courses based on specifically what you choose to learn on the instrument. Like most all-in-one services, you also have access to tools including a scale finder, metronome, chord finder, and tuner, along with a few other customized exercise programs.
Acoustic Guitar Plus, an online subscription learning platform from Stringletter Media, the company that publishes Acoustic Guitar magazine, offers hundreds of instructional videos from master teachers at AG, Hal Leonard, Homespun, and others, and caters to acoustic and electric players of all levels and styles.
Available on Apple, PC, and Android devices, EarMaster 7 Pro includes 2,500 exercises for ear training and sight-singing, along with fundamental music theory and rhythm study. The range of exercises is interactive and designed for all skill levels.
With a database of 2,000 songs, FourChords is an app for Android and Apple devices that breaks down songs into four simple guitar chords to make them easy to follow for beginners. It also includes lesson tutorials from JustinGuitar, as well as the ability to adjust the key and tempo, track progress, and get feedback via audio signal processing tech (the same used in Yousician).
Kate,
Thanks for an informative article. I may suggest to add a new software platform for the future, called emuso/PracticeSuite PRO from MusicIncite, Ltd., it focuses on interval and natural learning for musicians.
I would be happy to send over a trial copy for your to take a look at. Or just send your system requirements (Win 10+ or osMac 11+) to sup...@musicincite.buzz and we will provide a trial copy of our pre-release Version 3.0. Thank you for your time and support. Thomas
Once you've worked out exactly what you need from your beginner acoustic you can start to figure out your budget. We'd certainly suggest you avoid the sub $100, non-branded options you'll find on sites like Amazon. You'll quickly outgrow them and you'll run into issues like poor tuning stability, less than ideal action and poor sound.
As the guitars in this guide prove - we're looking at you Epiphone DR-100 - you can get your hands on a seriously well-equipped beginner acoustic for around $150. In fact, set a budget of between $150 and $250 and you'll walk away with a guitar that you will happily play for a few years without needing to upgrade.
When it comes to buying your very first acoustic guitar, it's important to buy from a well-respected site or store. Now, while there are a myriad of music retailers out there, we only recommend the shops and sites we trust and have had experience dealing with personally.
In the US, we highly recommend checking out the likes of Guitar Center, Musician's Friend, Sweetwater and Fender. These sites always have competitive prices and more importantly, they each have excellent customer service and generous returns policies.
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\nIn the UK, we'd suggest starting with Thomann, Andertons, PMT, Fender and Gear4Music. Again, these sites always deliver when it comes to excellent prices, while also providing stellar service.
So if you are in the market for your first beginner acoustic guitar, we don't suggest waiting around. Head over to your preferred retailer and see what offers they have on right now, or better yet, let our clever price widgets show you the best deals available from across the internet.
Tuning is typically a challenge for beginners, so guitar tuners, which ease the process and retain correct tension, are a vital accessory. If your budget is tight there are plenty of great clip-on guitar tuners on the market too. These are small, relatively inexpensive and easy to use.
Picking up one of the best beginner acoustic guitars is no use unless you know how to play at least the basics on it. Some people are able to pick things up by ear, or are lucky enough to have someone in the house to show them the ropes. If neither of these apply, we would always recommend taking lessons if you're able.
Face to face lessons are a great way to build a bond with a teacher and develop your skills in a hands-on way, but if you want to quickly understand basic guitar techniques, learn from the comfort of your home and don't have a huge budget, online lessons are a great, affordable route to take. You can learn more and discover our favorites in this guide to the best online guitar lessons.
Buying your first acoustic guitar is a fantastic moment and one you'll never forget. That's why it's critical to do your research to ensure you get the right instrument for your needs. Luckily, you've come to the right place. We've tested a range of the best acoustic guitars for beginners to craft this guide, help set you on the right path with your guitar playing and assist you in getting the ideal instrument in your hands.
Armed with an exemplary acoustic guitar, you'll be unstoppable. Not only will you find playing far easier and much more enjoyable, but if you have a guitar you love, you'll be more likely to stick with it and develop your technique. But what are the most important factors to consider when choosing a great beginner acoustic? Well, you'll want a guitar that stays in tune throughout your practice sessions and it will need to be built to last.
We have to start by saying we absolutely love the look of the Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy. Its small stature and stunning finish just oozes vintage charm. That said, to be included in this guide to the best acoustic guitars for beginners, it needs to be more than a good-looking guitar - thankfully the G9500 more than delivers.
At around the $270 mark, the Alvarez AD30 is another dreadnought delivering well above its diminutive price tag. It kicks out significant volume from its sitka spruce body, which is as warm in tone as much as it is bright.