Acoustic vs Electric Guitars for Beginners

Learning to play guitar is an exciting moment in any musician’s life. So, you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and start strumming – but first, you must answer the age old question: Should I choose an acoustic or an electric guitar? You may hear a ton of arguments from folks advocating for one versus the other. However, the choice is up to you.

Not to worry! In this article, we’ll arm you with all the info you need to help you choose a guitar that’s right for you. We’ll cover the similarities and differences between acoustic and electric guitars, as well as some of the benefits and drawbacks of learning to play on each of these instruments.

Want a quick primer on acoustic vs electric guitar? Watch this video with Fender instructor, Dr. Molly Miller as she breaks down some of the features of acoustic and electric guitars.

Differences between Acoustic and Electric Guitars

Going back to the analogy that, if the bass guitar is a cousin, then acoustic and electric guitars are siblings. And like siblings in any family, there are some key differences between them:

• Hollow body vs. solid body: Acoustic guitars are easily recognizable by their sound hole, often placed directly in the center of its hollow wooden body. This sound hole is what helps create the vibration, volume, and resonance needed to create the sound of an acoustic guitar without amplification. On the flipside, electric guitars have a solid body that houses the electrical mechanics that produce its unique sound. Instead of a sound hole, an electric guitar uses pickups, metal bars on the body of the guitar to “pick up” the vibrations of the guitar strings and convert them into electrical signals played through an amplifier.

• Body size and lap comfort: Acoustic guitars are a bit thicker and bulkier in their construction, whereas an electric guitar is flatter. An electric guitar may weigh slightly heavier on your lap compared to an acoustic, but it can still lay closer to the body without having to drape your arm over the guitar in order to strum.

• Neck size and string width: Often, an electric guitar has a thinner neck and there is less space between the strings and the fretboard, as well as less distance between each of the six strings. By comparison, the neck on an acoustic guitar is often thicker compared to its electric sibling. As a consequence, the strings are spaced further apart and there is greater distance between the fretboard and the strings. That means you’ll need to press down harder on the strings of an acoustic guitar in order to fret a note.

• Portability: With an acoustic guitar, all the gear you need is contained within your guitar itself. Simply pick up your gear bag and head out to a practice session! While an electric guitar is certainly just as portable, you’ll also need to carry an amp, cables, and pedals with you in order to plug in and play.

When it comes to practicing and playing, there are some key differences between acoustic and electric guitars.

• Power chords vs. traditional chords: Acoustic guitar lends itself to big, beautiful chords comprised of three notes played together across multiple strings. While you can certainly play standard chords on an electric guitar, it’s more common to play two-note power chords that deliver more punch – perfect for heavy, amplified sound and the perfect way to spice up a riff!

• Rhythm vs. lead guitar: Building off of the differences between standard chords and power chords, you’ll find that electric guitar is often a better fit for musicians who love to play the riffs and solos associated with lead guitar. Rhythm guitarists, on the other hand, have more of a focus on playing chords beneath the notes and riffs associated with lead guitar. With that in mind, acoustic guitar is well-suited for players who want to build their chord vocabulary and make use of the rich tones of their instrument. That’s not to say that acoustic guitar is only for rhythm players. Just take a listen to the arpeggios and fingerpicking styles heard on flamenco guitar or classical guitar!

• Finger playability: As mentioned before, due to the differences in the width and circumference between acoustic and electric guitars, there are differences in string width and distance from the fretboard. Because acoustic guitars typically have a wider, thicker neck and the strings sit higher above the fretboard, it requires more pressure to fret a note. On the flipside, because electric guitars have a thinner neck, less distance between strings and the strings sit closer to the fretboard, it requires a lighter touch and less pressure in order to play a note. Having a shorter distance between strings

Benefits of Electric Guitars

Electric Guitars Allow Users to Control Volume and Tone

Plugging in your electric guitar does not necessarily mean you’ll wake up the entire neighborhood during a practice session! Unlike acoustic guitars, electric guitars allow users to have greater control over their volume and tone. Electric guitars are equipped with a variety of knobs and/or switches that control their volume and tone. When plugged into an amp, you can also play with the treble and bass frequencies, further tweaking your tone to your liking. And if you want to opt for a really quiet practice, you can plug your headphones into your amp. With an acoustic guitar, the only control you have over your volume depends on how hard or soft you strum your guitar.

The Design of Electric Guitar Makes it Easier to Learn On

Because the body of an electric guitar is thinner and less bulky compared to the construction of an acoustic, it’s easier to hold your instrument closer to your body. The thicker construction of an acoustic guitar means that you’ll have to hold your arm further away from your body – almost draped over the front of your guitar in order to strum.

Electric Guitars Have Flashy Designs

While acoustic guitars often embrace natural finishes that bring out the inherent beauty of their wood construction, electric guitars come in a variety of shapes and colors. Vintage shapes with cool cutaways and eye-catching hues like Surf Green or Fiesta Red can make an electric guitar as easy on the eyes as it is to the ears. If a bit of sizzle is just as important to you as substance, having an instrument you love to look at can be a great reminder to pick it up and practice more often!

Many Options and Types of Electric Guitars

Electric guitars come in a near endless array of colors and shapes, but there are also a variety of electric guitar types. In addition to the popular solid body electric guitar, there are also semi-hollow body guitars with f-holes on the front – like the Affinity Series Starcaster, designed to offer a twangier flavor that’s right at home with country and bluegrass styles. And for guitarists who crave the best of both worlds, hybrids like the Acoustisonic offer the depth of resonance associated with an acoustic alongside the low-end responsiveness and ability to experiment with tones found on an electric guitar.

Solos Sound Awesome on Electric Guitars

The thinner neck, lower action on the fretboard, and overall mechanics of an electric guitar were meant for soloing. Better yet, you can crank the volume way up on your amp and use effects pedals or built-in tone presets to add flavor to solos.

Cons of Electric Guitars

Electric Guitars are Usually More Expensive than Acoustic Guitars

When you’re considering the total cost of an electric guitar starter package, even the least expensive model will still cost slightly more than an acoustic starter bundle. In order to hear the full power of your electric guitar, you’ll need to pair it with at least a small practice amp, whereas all you need to play an acoustic is the guitar itself. However, if you love the sound of an electric guitar, the slightly higher price point will be worth it if it means you get an instrument you love and want to play time and time again.

Tuning is More Difficult for Beginners on Electric Guitars

Tuning an electric guitar isn’t necessarily more difficult than it is on an acoustic guitar. However, because electric guitar can be heard in so many different genres and subgenres – from murky grunge to thrash and doom metal – you’ll hear a variety of alternate tunings among your favorite artists. If you’re tuning your guitar by ear, it may be “easier” to tune an acoustic guitar because the sound rings out truer without the use of amplification. However, if you’re just starting out and developing your ear, there are a variety of digital tuners that can help make tuning your guitar easier no matter how long you’ve been playing.