Questions & Answers with Neil Hogan #14.3

Q. I have been thinking about taking guitar lessons on acoustic guitar but I really want to play electric. Can I just start on electric or do you think it would be better to start my guitar lessons on acoustic?

A. I usually recommend to everyone that it is better to get started with your guitar lessons on acoustic guitar. When you start on the electric guitar you don’t get a good representation of the amount of work you will have to do to play the guitar. The strings are easier to press down than on an acoustic and you don’t have to strike them with much force to get sound out of them.

This can lead to a guitar student getting very lazy and never developing the proper techniques and skills to play the acoustic guitar. That is why I usually recommend starting on acoustic and getting comfortable playing notes and chords, as well as playing with your fingers or a pick.

I have seen too many good electric players come to me saying they really wanted to learn some acoustic songs and techniques, then a few weeks later saying never mind, it’s too difficult.

When you start on acoustic you build a solid foundation that will make it easy to branch out in lots of other directions (electric included) relatively effortlessly. I think all guitar students need to be prepared for any direction their musical paths might take. Starting on the acoustic, or even classical guitar is the best way to make this happen.

This link has more information- lessons acoustic guitar.