Electric Guitar vs Acoustic Guitar - Which is Best to Start Out With?

[@tyrssen1]

Well, I won't say you HAVE to, but if you learn acoustic first, the transition to electric is easy. A number of good ones out there, but I find myself in love with the Yamaha FG800, perfect for beginner or experienced player, and a bargain at about $200.00. I, too, started on a nylon-string guitar, and found it the perfect way to begin.

[@yourguitarsage]

Thanks for the input!

[@drvogel1]

I have a FG700S and agree it is a good choice for a beginner - inexpensive and good quality. I also tried a Fender in the same price range but liked the Yamaha better.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@yourguitarsage Actually some Electric Guitars have a built in amp.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Electric is much easier to start with & they now have versions that have a built in amp these days.

[@RUARI-mi1yt]

Acidic is boring eclectic Is fun

[@michelle-psl4441]

I'm a "mature" adult and wanted to learn to play something. I began playing on nylon string ukulele and thought about getting a nylon string guitar. So glad I started with steel string acoustic. Now I have a half dozen ukes, including a baritone, a couple of acoustic guitars (love my Martin) and just got a Fender Jaguar. Love playing them all!

[@ezap20]

I usually skip the count down but for some reason today I decided to listen and I really enjoyed the count down music playing 💖 thanks Erich!!!! 🎸🎸🎸🎸

[@stuarty8023]

Same, I started with a beat up old classical, if you learn your chords & stretch your fingers on a big wide neck like that then most other guitars play easy 👍

[@poewitx]

Good to know, I’m just starting, (in my 60s) and got a hold of a classical for free, good shape, was worried the neck too big but your comment is encouraging thx🇺🇸😎🎸

[@lifeofeunoia]

I found Acoustic is best for me the connection I had with my Tanglewood was magical and I have continued to add to the family. 6 yrs of playing have now accumulated in three acoustic guitars and a beautiful relationship with each of them😀 each have a personality and although I have friends who love the electric they agree that it’s more of a tool than an instrument you have a connection with and that’s the important thing for me the connection to the instrument. By the way Erich brilliant video series 😀 and no antagonistic commentators

[@marcusberggren9241]

I know i'm exactly a year late :) but thank you for this video. I am a beginner (a start-over). many years back I wanted to play guitar. I got the advice that it's "best" to start on acoustic. I thought okay fine. I bought a fender acoustic for equal to about $200 + accessories. I eventually ended up selling it to a friend for about half. I learned a few chords but had trouble with pushing the strings down to make the appropriate sound. It was demoralizing. i guess the string action was high. Just yesterday, ordered an electric guitar + accessories. It's more money but I am convinced the electric guitar is better for me personally for various reasons, two of those being that I'm into rock, hard rock and metal so electric guitar makes more sense & also the string action is lower so should be easier to play as a beginner.

[@yourguitarsage]

Nice, Marcus. Great comment and thank you for the kind words. This series will assist you: www.yourguitarsage.com/30

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

However you can make your Acoustic feel like an Electric by using the lightest gauge of Acoustic Guitar Strings.

[@TrueSpeak-TS]

Probably.

[@garyheaton4791]

At around the 5:00-5:10 range..you NAILED what I hate the most about learning to play the guitar!! You said, and I'm paraphrasing here a little probably.."you start with the TOP 4 strings..meaning the BOTTOM 4 strings on the guitar..etc.", that is EXACTLY what I have argued about for decades!! Same with playing UP the neck..when in fact your playing down the damn thing, Back to the body of the guitar. When you stand it on its stand..which end is UP?? Exactly??😬 If someone like YOU, our favorite teacher of all time😬 (kiss ass, kiss ass!😂) Would write TABS using this Common Sense approach of these two concepts, I firmly believe people could learn to play tabs a LOT quicker! It just makes more sense. To me anyway, and pretty much everyone else I have asked about why they consider the top string on their guitar to not be number 1 string..but number 6 instead???? Who ever invented that idea simply thought backwards! Now Is the time for YOU sir to set them straight! While picking up even more students for your classes!😬 (Yes I know the tone goes UP, and Down..that still doesn't change where they physically are.) Please think about it anyway. Thanks!!😁

[@estherrooney5264]

Oh my goodness, I couldn’t have put this better myself!! Trying to get my head to think in the opposite direction all the time is really a chore and I thought it was just me😄 You just explained this brilliantly

[@jeffskyberg5615]

Up and down means movement in pitch. Simple really, if you know the reason.

[@estherrooney5264]

Jeff Skyberg I do know that, but my brain does exactly what Gary is explaining. I have to consciously tell myself it means movement in pitch.

[@pcb8059]

Nylon strings are great for learning fingerpicking, the thick strings are great for learning proper pull off tension and the properties of pulled strings on fingertips and finger picking.

[@isaacvelasco6498]

Plus it isn't as hard on the fingertips for beginner

[@deeman524]

I started off on the acoustic and didn't even want to practice, I was busy quickly on the electric, it's more interesting. but lately, I love the acoustic ukulele better than both. so your theory is a little imperfect and 6 strings vs 4 strings are different instruments.

[@rodogames726]

Well, you just go for the music and sound you like.

[@bigimskiweisenheimer8325]

I think you you should get what inspires you to practice more. If you love the guitar, your going to be inspired to make it sing. I started with a strat copy and I love that guitar. It's a personal thing. And it can sing. (Sometimes it coughs and wheezes depending on my skills on a given day)

[@madmusicianmagician]

Acoustic guitars are amazing. I would love to play some blues rock on a gibson les paul through an amazing tube amp

[@saintedheathen784]

I love both, equal yet unique in their own right

[@yourguitarsage]

Indeed! 👍

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

The Electric Guitar would have to have a built in amp & built in effects in order for it to be more portable such as the Vox Apache.

[@baileyf1998]

IMO to start a electric is the better option. Buy a starter pack that will come with everything and you can just hook it up and play. Its way easier to play as a beginner, which is important for learning and not getting discouraged. Also you can turn the amp on and play clean which will give you a acousticish sound which is fine while learning. Then later you can look into pedals and stuff. It also is like a warm up to acoustic since youll develop some strength and build callouses so when you do buy a acoustic it wont feel as hard of a adjustment. Also electrics are more versatile. You can play rock, pop, country, jazz, punk. Just imo tho. The only reason i would say get a acoustic first would be if you have a specific genre you want to play that uses primarily acoustics. Other then that a electric would be my choice.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

YourGuitarSage Electric Guitars are going to be easiest to start on cause they're super big in versatility, & also it's alot flatter (lighter gauge strings, & smaller dimensions). The lower action on the Electric & also lighter gauge strings is so much easier on the left hand.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Electric is easy cause the action is lower (this applies to 12 String Guitars too), you might not have heard this some electric guitars have a built in amp making them more portable & easier to play than Acoustic Guitars.

[@leemp337]

kinda ironic fender play commercials interrupt your video to sell their lessons. they are trying to steal your potential customers for your tutorial services. Thanks for all your videos, you and Marty are amazing.

[@yourguitarsage]

They know where the real players are 😜

[@espada9]

I picked up both and will upgrade my acoustic when I get better.

[@timothytapio4252]

my finger dexterity is severely lacking.....

[@candace6893]

Timothy Tapio wdym?

[@nevermore7373]

@@candace6893 His finger technique sucks.

[@curtmilr]

I bought an acoustic from the beginning. It can be played softly or loudly, and easily adapt to styles of music. I'll never go electric, because I'm already an old codger. I don't want to hassle with all the paraphernalia. The only advantage to electric is the effects that you can ADD to the guitar. Those effects are NOT the guitar! I love the new format where you focus on the instruction, and are not sidetracked by questions. Questioners can get there answers on THEIR time, not waste the rest of our time!

[@timothytapio4252]

I'm an old codger too but I got both...plus a bass if 6 strings proves too difficult (so far, they are). Currently working with acoustic but might try an electric to see if I can build up some finger/hand desterity.

[@curtmilr]

@@timothytapio4252 , I'm still a relative novice, though I've had the Martin for almost 50 years. Used to bang out chords and sing, while my granddaughter danced. Then just put it away. Got it out of storage last year, got it cleaned up, and started fumbling around. Found Erich, got Pro, and 365, and am slowly working on it, but overwhelmed. I apparently don't have the aspirations you do. I just want to play decent accompaniment and sing with friends and family, no illusions of songwriting or performance. Did that back 50+ years ago as a vocalist. I sound like an ill-tuned frog now! LOL!! On a good day, IN tune! Maybe I SHOULD go electric, to drown myself out!!! ROTFLMAO!! My wife would KILL me!

[@timothytapio4252]

@@curtmilr I'm not even up to novice yet, fat fingers I'm having trouble overcoming. Need super glue on my chair....

[@curtmilr]

@@timothytapio4252, Yeah, the old Practice, Practice, Practice! deal is a bear!! My chair has arms, so I have to scooch up, and I have fat fingers too. Finally figured out, sort of, how to get the finger arch. Now I've got to ingrain the habit. My flat picking is "Murder Most Foul"! Finger picking is better, strumming is decent. I wish I had someone to blame but me, but ....!!!!

[@timothytapio4252]

@@curtmilr I had a lady for an instructor for a bit but I wasn't dedicated to it. Her fingers were almost like mine so I know it's possible. If I could convince myself to sit down an hour a day I could make some progress...just want to play decent.

[@labinjr6019]

I learnt playing by electric ❤

[@Greenbackster]

You can do almost every acoustic's things with electric and plus a lot lot more. And in right hands electric can be more dynamic. And played quiet well unplugged (without hollow body). And I think pedals are very unnecessary even though very handy to some people. Electric guitar was pretty unrequitedly presented. Used gear and points.

[@RUARI-mi1yt]

Nah get both. You can’t play acoustic style on electro

[@Greenbackster]

@@RUARI-mi1yt Yes you can with some minor adaptation and if the sound bothers you can always use a quality modelling effect. And the "get both" answer during which one first comparision is quite lazy and won't serve the cause.

[@RUARI-mi1yt]

@@Greenbackster maybe but I would never play dust in the wind or something classical on my electric

[@Greenbackster]

@@RUARI-mi1yt Authenticity of any exact song wasn't the question. But on nylon strings I can agree with you.

[@meanhomerb5530]

Even if I was starting out I certainly couldn't afford that $2000.00 + guitar!!

[@candace6893]

they’re are so many affordable guitars!! please search up on youtube affordable guitars (acoustic, acoustic electric, electric) so many great ones to guide you! and if you look up just “guitars” on googles they first like 10 or so are all from like 100-300 ish!

[@candace6893]

btw i’m not saying just by any you see there i’m just giving an example

[@meanhomerb5530]

@@candace6893 Thanks for the input. I didn't mean I am starting out, just that I thought it a little silly to break out that Gibson as a start up guitar. I already play & own a few guitars but none that expensive!!

[@Gorgeousz]

I take guitar class on my music class in HS ,we use acoustic guitars and I bought my first guitar. It was fun at first but I'm not really into it. Last year, I bought my first ukelele and I really love it. Idk why but electric guitars keep appearing in my YT(is this a sign?).

[@yourguitarsage]

Yes, and God is telling you to go here: www.yourguitarsage.com/30 😂🙏

[@MGM261]

electric... start on electric... less tension on strings makes it easier! everyone I know who started on acoustic gets stuck at cowboy chords and never progress ANY further.

[@kennethochoa7550]

for me the electric guitar is in your face and less forgiving if you hit a wrong note on an amp electric guitar its gonna snitch you out hey every one i don't know what i'm doing!!!😁 but the electric guitar gives u more balls kinda like driving a muscle car with all its power🥳

[@bigimskiweisenheimer8325]

Use headphones

[@thefakengx3839]

I think starting off from an steel string acoustic makes your fingers strong 🤘🤘

[@alal-cs9tr]

I'm acoustic through and through dreadnoughts only too, you dont play bluegrass on an electric after all.

[@gizemcavus9809]

Hi! I am looking for Ibanez SA160 to buy. Any suggestion about guitar or amph to me?:)

[@nihilgeist666]

get both

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@UCWAuPC_qQWYFvCoM5kkL7Jg It's true that Electric Guitars (of every type from Extended range, to Multi-Neck etc) are easier to learn on due to the thinner strings, lower action as well as the flatter body & labeled control knobs. However there are Nylon String Acoustic Guitars (aka Classical Guitars) which are also great for beginners cause the strings are big & round so you don't get that indent that you'd get from Steel Strings, & because they're Nylon they're under lower tension which is easier on that fretting hand.

[@BubnHubn]

If you meant that if you have a pickup on your acoustic you can plug it in and get all the sounds and effects as on electric, it is wrong. Acoustic guitar does not have a magnetic pickup, strings are not the same as on electric as well. The pickup on acoustic should amplify and truly reproduce the true acoustic sound, that is the main function of an acoustic pickup. On the other hand you can't get typical acoustic guitar sound on electric. Baseline - those are similar, but different instruments

[@yourguitarsage]

Any audio signal that you run through an effect will have that effect added to it. Whether that’s an acoustic guitar and electric guitar of voice the keyboard or otherwise it will always be affected by the effect. There’s no intelligent way to argue against that. Just do it and you will see.

[@timothytapio4252]

what pedals did you use here? In the event I ever get my fingers moving where they should and is there a difference in pedals between acoustic and electric? I want to play Tommy James Crimson and Clover but still struggling with the fingers, get frustrated, put it to the side. Need some super glue in my pants.

[@basharmina2345]

Can I start learning on both at the same time?

[@3521rob]

Of course!

[@malfoy1017]

sore fingers , not sore eyes 😔 started off with dry, peeled off finger skin, now I just don’t care anymore

[@stevedixon8567]

get what you intend to play

[@shrajeshthapa4319]

I dint know that James hetfield had a utube channel where he gives guitar tutorial ...

[@richarddean1810]

Portable? I can unbolt the neck of a strat and pop it in a suitcase and hop on a plane.

[@kevinking2468]

I've been meaning to ask what state you reside in?

[@brandocalrissian88]

Im pretty sure Erich has said before that he is in Nashville, TN

[@kevinking2468]

Why would you go live with no interaction?

[@kevinking2468]

Thx Brandon

[@bigimskiweisenheimer8325]

Im from the state of confusion. Maryland

[@jayeshrathod1955]

Is it just me or he looks like Sam Rockwell 😂

[@setdown2]

What's with the intro...just a time killer...💀

[@yourguitarsage]

This is a replay of a live event. The countdown is to let viewers know when we were starting.

[@meanhomerb5530]

Really?? I love your vids but sometimes you assume we all have money.

[@candace6893]

they’re are many affordable and amazinggg guitars! look it up on youtube many great videos to guide you! :)