“Picking” the right guitar for you can be quite an ordeal. You want it to look cool hanging from around your neck, but you also want it to be comfortable and unique. You see the many different types on television and that makes it even more difficult to decide. The first decision that you have to make is between an electric guitar and an acoustic guitar. Knowing a few things about both might help you to make and informed and educated decision.

The biggest difference between an acoustic and an electric guitar is quite simply amplification. An electric one needs an amplifier, but they are much easier to play. The electric instrument will cost more because you will have to purchase a good amp, and they both cost quite a bit of money. The acoustic instrument is more limited in shape and size because both shape and size make a difference on the sound that comes from the guitar itself.

You do get more of a selection when you choose an electric one. Although an electric guitars are easier to learn on, there are obviously limited types of music that you can play with it. So, if you learn with an acoustic one, you might find yourself a better musician in the end.  

Acoustic guitars do have choices as well. You can get a steel string or a nylon string guitar. A nylon string guitar is good for playing music styles such as classical, flamenco, and folk. The reason for the particular styles is that the nylon string produces a more tranquil and smoother sound.

The steel string guitars are much louder and you find that they gravitate more towards rock, country, and any other style that requires a louder, crisper sound. While the nylon is almost always played with fingers, the steel string is usually played with a pick.

Deciding between an electric and an acoustic instrument can be a moot point due to the option of buying a blended guitar. This type of guitar combines the ease of learning generally associated with an electric guitar and the rich sound of an acoustic guitar.

The design and style of the blended guitars are also a combination of both kinds of guitars in that the body is similar to an acoustic instrument while the neck generally resembles the electric instrument style. The blended guitar sounds much better when used with an amplifier rather than by itself.

Do not bite off more than you can chew. You should master whatever you feel the most comfortable with first. For example, many people fall in love with the sound of a twelve-string guitar. This instrument is known for a rich sound that resembles two guitars playing at once. The twelve-string guitar would be frustrating and infinitely harder to learn before mastering a simpler six string electric guitar.

You may want to pay close attention to your own preferences. If you want to be a rock star, and you love Aerosmith, looking for a huge acoustic guitar would not be the wisest decision because you will hate learning to play. The same rule applies for the next James Taylor; don’t invest in an expensive amplifier if it is just not your style.  The electric guitar can be a lot of fun to play for your friends – and maybe even your own band some day in the future.

Speakers Corner