For any beginner starting to play guitar the question is often raised whether you should start on acoustic guitar or electric guitar. For some, this will be a simple choice as they will be drawn to one or the other based on the type of music they like.

But the question still stands about which provides a foundation in technique that will form a basis for improving guitar skills? If you are going to teach yourself guitar then which guitar type does not hide your faults?

There are advantages and disadvantages to both at different stages of a guitarist learning so any assessment needs to take into account the short and long term benefits of each. Over the years I have taught other guitarists using whatever guitar they had to hand. I noticed that you can nearly tell from a guitarist’s technique whether they started on electric or acoustic just by watching them play.

So here are the advantages and disadvantages of each approach.

Beginning On Electric Guitar

Pros

* The narrower gauge strings and guitar neck make it easier to play.

* Amplification makes it easier to develop a subtlety of playing as it permits various nuances in your play (e.g. vibrato).

* It is possible to practice using earphones.

Cons

* Muscle strength in the fingers does not increase to the same extent as when playing acoustic.

* Using effects/distortion hides a multitude of sins.

* Natural tendency for incorrect placement of the left thumb on the guitar neck.

Starting On Acoustic Guitar

Pros

* Lower cost starting option.

* Doesn’t require an amp, so allows you to play anywhere.

* Builds up finger muscle strength.

Cons

* Strong temptation to strum through all songs. Beginners should take the time to learn subtle finger picking styles.

* Guitar solos require great dexterity and can get ‘lost in the mix’ if playing in a group.

* Using earphones with an acoustic is not an option.

Guitarists who start out on electric build up speed of playing solos and chord changes which is admirable, but it is often at the cost of proper playing technique. Playing the electric guitar hides faults such as incorrect placement of the thumb and not holding down strings solidly. This results in strings buzzing or being muted during play.

In comparison, the acoustic guitarist builds up the finger strength, learns better hand placement on the frets and fosters clear sounding play.

That said, if you can saddle the cost of buying both electric and acoustic guitars then you could balance out the beginners training on each instrument and they will benefit from both approaches.

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