Acoustic vs. Electric Guitar: Choose Wisely! ★ Acoustic Tuesday 298

90% of new guitar players abandon playing within 1 year. Are you starting off on the wrong instrument?

Many years ago, I found myself drawn to the sound of the electric guitar, but as time passed, I was drawn to the warm, resonant tones of the acoustic guitar. For decades, I almost exclusively played acoustic guitar, until recently when the allure of electric guitar reignited my interest.

With this newfound exploration, I have fresh insights and perspectives on where to begin your guitar journey. And guess what? I'm here to share this treasure trove of knowledge with you. So, if you're just starting out, or you're an old hand considering a new path, you've come to the right place.

In this video, I delve into the 10 key differences between acoustic and electric guitars, covering everything from body styles to string gauges. It's not just about which one is better—it's about understanding the unique qualities of each and how they can influence your playing and musical growth.

If you don't have time to watch the whole video, I strongly recommend you go down the acoustic path. The acoustic guitar is not just more portable and less gear-intensive, but it also serves as an excellent foundation to build your strength and dexterity due to its string gauge and length. This makes transitioning to electric guitar easier in the long run!

Submit your guitarsenal at the link below!

Featured in this episode...
- @nosuddenmovements3928
- @fat_possum
- @innovativeleisure
- @mapache5054
- @SuzanneSantoOfficial
- @LaneyLouandtheBirdDogs

#acousticguitar #electricguitar
00:00 - Intro
02:57 - Acoustic vs. Electric Differences
13:54 - Where should you start?
17:14 - Acoustic Guitar News pt. 1
28:20 - TAC Guitar Lick Challenge
34:30 - Acoustic Guitar News pt. 2

[steviegenoski]

My guitar journey started back in 1977 at the Coney Grove Bluegrass Festival. My father and some friends got together and decided a bluegrass festival in my grandfather's pecan orchard was a good idea. I was 7 at the time but I still have memories of some of the bands and the art and craft vendors, running around barefoot in cut off jeans...

Shortly after that festival my father gave me my first guitar. I had no idea how to play it and wasn't given any lessons. I remember putting on shows for my mother and strumming it as fast as I could. I would run around the house with it pretending to be Elvis yelling, "hound dog".

Inevitably being a high strung little boy caught up with me and my guitar and I fell down and broke it one day. I remember crying and showing it to my mother. She tried to glue it back together with Elmer's glue but it just broke again. I have always remembered that guitar and the day I broke it. A memory that's become more profound at this point in life.

Learning to play guitar is something that has always been in the back of my mind but have never had or taken the time pursue.


A couple of years ago I attended the funeral of the last of my main group of high school friends. There were 6 of us and we were a wrecking crew, the bad boys, trouble makers if you will. Being the last man standing hit me kind of hard. I think there were a lot of people that thought I'd be the first to go, including myself for a time but that was not my fate.

Now in my 50s I find myself reminiscing with laughter and tears, thinking of all the friends and family that meant so much to me, the dreams I've realized and the ones that slipped through my fingers.

Sometimes I feel very alone.

So I made a bucket list! I wrote out all the things that I'd hoped to do in my lifetime and the things that I had always wanted to do but never got around to. I went through the list and crossed out the things that I am no longer physically capable of doing and the things that were just not possible for other reasons. That guitar my father gave me as a child and the thought that I never learned to play it began haunting me.

Buying a guitar and learning to play was certainly one of the more affordable and lower risk endeavors on my bucket list and it was already in the top 10. I decided it was worthwhile and set out to realize this lifelong desire and hopefully sooth that ghost.

So here I am. I bought the guitar. I started watching videos I learned a few chords but wasn't really getting anywhere with it. I looked into in person lessons and realized that scheduling wouldn't work out for me. I started looking at online courses and reading reviews. Of all the online options TAC seemed best suited for me.

I'm about 6 months in and have been very committed to the program. I show up everyday and try my best to do the weekly challenges. I'm working through the skills courses and practice every chance I get. I am seeing progress and since I started with reasonably low expectations I'm not at all disappointed or discouraged.

At 6 months, I'm terrible but it's feeding my soul and I couldn't be any happier about that!


I want to thank Tony and the TAC Family for being part of my journey and helping me realize this dream.
🎸
Do I win anything for the longest comment?

[thomasnowicki]

My experience as a teacher has been that it depends a lot on the age and hand size of the student. Many of my younger students are eight to ten years old, and their hands are simply too small to easily play even a smaller sized acoustic guitar, so a junior sized electric is a much more comfortable option for them, because of the smaller scale length and sloped fretboard that Tony mentioned. Once they grow and become more advanced, they can move into a larger electric or acoustic if they wish.

[terrytosh]

I learned on acoustic, and TAC was a huge help. Learning to play lead now on electric and get bewildered over all the effects that affect tone. Playing metal is fun with overdrive and distortion, but acoustic folk/country/Americana remains my first love.

[mvp]

Another factor to consider (and for the record, I also agree starting on acoustic is pretty much where I land), a crummy first acoustic can be so difficult to play that the new learner becomes frustrated and gives up. Hand pain is not an inducement.

[AntonioDiasadw]

I started on a classical, got an OM and then an electric. Each has exposed me to different challenges and experiences. Acoustic was a good starting point, but getting the electric and being able to work up stamina by playing for longer on an easier to play instrument has really helped a lot.
I for one would like to hear more about your recent electric adventures.
Oh, and next week's look at starter 12 strings is timely!

[wilkbor]

This is a pretty level-headed discussion. Yes. The discussion and encouragement helped. Thanks for the video.

[LafayetteLeSaint]

As usual a great and informative program. Looking forward to episode 299. Yaay 12- strings!

[chapmanscreekrevival]

I agree with starting on acoustic. Learning bar chords on acoustic guitar, then switching to electric a couple years later, fretting bar chords seemed like childsplay. It was just easier after building those muscles in your fretting hand with acoustic.

[nedludd]

Acoustic or Electric? I don't think that's the right question. Should I learn to read music and learn music theory? I wonder how Paul McCartney and many other big names STILL don't read music - astonishing. All the pieces matter imo, you gotta get down and dirty with the stave or you'll struggle.

[bradleyvigus]

Such a great topic thanks Tony, I played for years on an acoustic, and then got a telecaster and enjoy both but notice the difference. Great show thanks.

[bubadog]

Great show! Glad I found you. I've been playing a lot lately and really enjoy my cheapo Ibanez I picked up at a garage sale for $40.

Go Hawks!

[MashaT]

Hey Tony! I agree with your final assessment with starting on acoustic, but if picking up electric will get someone playing, then they should do that. There is initially some added discomfort with thicker strings and added pressure needed to fret notes and chords, but once those calluses develop, you’ll eventually become a stronger player.

I’d like to add a suggestion, though, regarding tonal options. It’s probably a good idea to purchase an acoustic-electric guitar as a first instrument if a person is able to swing a few more bucks for a pre-installed pickup and input jack (which will cost less than buying a new guitar entirely or purchasing the parts separately and taking the to a guitar shop to modify). Once I got comfortable with playing, a friend asked me if I’d want a small practice amp she had laying around. I didn’t initially understand why I’d need it to play at home, but it was then that I realized the possibility of plugging my guitar into an amp and tweaking the pre-amp that was already installed in my guitar under the sound hole. I later realized that I could plug pedals into my acoustic guitar and have fun with tones when another friend let me borrow an extra Boss DS-1. You should try plugging a distortion pedal into your acoustic sometime! Lots of fun!

I still prefer playing unplugged, but it’s nice to have the option to tweak my tones whenever I want to plug in. I hope to eventually acquire an external pre-amp with tones built in or a few traditional pedal effects for acoustic like reverb, delay, chorus, etc. Ultimately less is more when starting off, but buying an acoustic-electric as a first guitar gives players the option to plug the guitar into an amp, pre-amp, and/or effects pedals down the road. It also helps people experience a variety of tones without having to buy tons of guitars that most folks don’t have to space or money to spend.

And yes, watch that Icy Hot, Tiger Balm, Biofreeze, etc. That stuff will come back to bite you — less is more! 🥶🥵😂

[abrahamtomahawk]

I personally started on a nylon strung Spanish guitar (I'm left-handed so my dad re-strung his guitar for me). I've always felt that for a child, nylon strings are a lot easier to get started on as there's less finger pain and less pressure needed to get a sound, which for little fingers makes it more enjoyable. But absolutely, whatever enthuses you is the best option.

[trollstjerne]

Nice episode Tony. Sounds like its time for a 2nd channel. Electric Life and a weekly Electric Thursday show, or Electric Friday. What a nice way to kick start the weekend. What are you waiting for? Get to work 😄

[ravenhawke]

I started on my step-dad's Yamaha classical guitar then got my first guitar a 70's Gibson The Paul. From there I've owed and played everything from from Metal guitars (Yamaha RGX 112, Kramer, and Jackson) to 12 string acoustics. Currently I'm having a love affair with Offset electrics (Mustang, Jaguar, Jazz master etc...), but I've gotten to the point to where I can switch back and forth from electric to acoustic and I don't really notice the fretting difference anymore. In the beginning that wasn't the case though. Great episode. I found you through your G4V video.

[b.j.harvick]

Now, I have not watched all 298 episodes. I haven't even broken 100. But I have watched many. This episode is clearly the B..E..S..T.. !! you have ever done. I am a total newbie, at this point dedicated to nylon string. I am in my upper 70s and just now beginning. I have a gorgeous custom made parlor guitar made for me by a fellow Vietnam veteran. I love the sound and enjoy the struggle of trying to play, etc. I do however wonder about electric. This lecture has given me solid information to consider down the line. But inasmuch as you have opened up Pandora's Box of fundamental differences between guitars, I'd like you to open another. I have to think that I might enjoy an acoustic steel string as well. However there appears to be so much diverse and probably over-hyped discussion of "finger pain" of steel over nylon that I cannot reliably determine the difference between the two. Is there truly a high hurdle of finger pain with acoustic steel strings vs. nylon? There are simply some things that sound better in steel over nylon (may Segovia not break my fingers !) and I have to wonder how big the difference truly is without buying another guitar just to determine the "finger pain" price for myself. At my age, callouses may be more expensive to develop than for me fifty years ago. Do you care to wade into that water?

Whatever the case, thank you for this outstanding spotlight on acoustic vs. electric. This is GREAT STUFF ! ( I have not mentioned of course that Emerald offers a nice nylon electric.... :>) . Of course not !

[texhaines]

Tony, thanks. I know a 95-year old piano player that wants to learn guitar. Computer is not available for her and her daughter. Any nylon string starting guitar short of a Furch Red GNc 4 CR? Or maybe a GS Mini with sil and steel strings? All my efforts are volunteer, just trying to help them. TAC playing lesson 1010. I 've thought about an electric, bought a Taylor T5z with table top amp. Most electrics are too heavy for my back.

[LoveMyHoodie]

My initial desire was influenced by a birthday present. When I was 16, my cousin (4 years older than me) gave me Led Zeppelins' first release on vinyl, and that changed my life. I had a Gretsch acoustic and was taking lessons at MAE in Fort Lauderdale. Jimmy played acoustic and electric, so at that point, I bought my first used black Custom Les Paul. To keep it brief, for me, it's always been both!

[stephenmaestas]

I am a TAC family member and we were just learning country style guitar along with string muting and this brings up another difference between acoustic and electric. I love the way electric sounds when muting. Acoustic guitars sound good too, but it sounds even better, IMO, on electric but it isn't always as easy to sound good. It has to be done perfectly and more consistently on electric or it will sound awful. One of the reasons it can sound awful is that your picking hand can hit and change the settings on your volume and tone controls. I found this out while playing my Strat style axes. When I picked up my Ibanez Artcore, that problem went away. The controls were well out of my way. This prompted me to research body styles on Sweetwater and lo and behold, almost all ES335 style semi-hollowbody guitars have their controls aft of the bridge and out of your way when muting. Look at the Telecaster style guitars and the controls are also behind the bridge. Now, look at the country pickers from the '50s to today and what body styles are most common? Telecasters and semi-hollowbodys. Coincidence? I don't think so.

[nohillforahighstepper]

For true beginners, I recommend a solid body with a fixed bridge...like a Tele or Les Paul.
Electrics are easier on the fingers and will be less harsh while building caluses.
And you will get a better quality electric for your money as compared to an acoustic.