ACOUSTIC VS ELECTRIC

One of the first questions a get a lot from beginner guitarists or parents looking to get their children into playing guitar is…  Should I buy an acoustic or an electric?

My suggestion for beginners under the age of 10 would be to get an electric guitar. This may go against the majority of opinions, but here are my reasons for doing so.

1. Due to the ability of using lighter gauge strings than an acoustic. Electric guitars are easier to play!!!

2. Less soreness when playing for the first time compared to acoustic. Again, due to the lighter gauge strings.

3. You have the ability to play quieter than an acoustic if you don’t plug it into an amp (great for when you need to be very quiet), or much louder if you do plug it into an amp. And we all know turning up and playing loud is fun, and can be inspiring. Don’t damage your ears though kiddos.

For those “older” beginners, I suggest doing some soul searching to find what styles and music genres you listen to more or like best.

Lets look at some reasons for choosing one over the other.

ACOUSTIC
You like acoustic fingerstyle playing.
You want to become a singer-songwriter.
Your guitar heroes are mostly acoustic guitar players.

ELECTRIC
You want to rock out or play loud.
Your guitar heroes are mostly electric guitar players.
Volume is controllable (may be better for a place with thin walls).