The age-old debate around acoustic guitars and electric guitars is one that isn’t going away anytime soon. Newbies will always wonder if they are making the right choice in going with one side of the divide. Acoustic guitars have been around the longest and have a strong reputation, but why?
One of the reasons why acoustic guitars are better than electric guitars is that they are regarded as the perfect foundation for any guitar player. The affordable pricing and the compact nature make them a more realistic option for many new guitarists and their teachers.
The rest of this article will look at the 12 reasons why acoustic guitars are better than electric guitars. You should also watch out for some tips to keep in mind when it is time to buy yours.
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- Fender Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar Bundle (MY FAVORITE GUITAR)
- Snark SN-8 Super Tight All Instrument Tuner (Easiest Tuner I’ve Used)
- 6 String Acoustic Guitar Capo (Best CAPO for quick changes)
- Dunlop Max Grip 1.0mm Nylon Picks (Thick Guitar Pick So You Don’t Lose Grip!)
- Universal Guitar Stand (Cheap & Minimalist Guitar Stand I Recommend)
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Differentiating Between Acoustic and Electric Guitars
If you’re new to guitars, in general, you may be unsure about the main differences between acoustic and electric guitars. They are covered below.
Body
Acoustic guitars come with a hollow body. This is to help in the physics of sound generation—from the strings to the air inside the body of the guitar and through the opening in front (known as the soundhole). Electric guitars come with a solid body and require an amplifier to produce any sounds.
Weight and Size
Acoustic guitars are larger because the body has to be big enough to amplify sound waves. However, the hollow design means they don’t weigh much. Electric guitars might look smaller, but they weigh a lot more most of the time because of the elaborate circuitry required to power them.
Neck Appearance and Strings
The strings on an acoustic guitar are further apart, so they have thicker necks than electric guitars. The strings on an electric guitar are a lot closer to themselves. Classic acoustic guitars often have the widest necks.
The strings on acoustic guitars are heavy steel to allow for adequate vibration, making them harder to hold down. Some acoustic guitars are built with nylon strings, but these sound a bit more subdued. Electric guitars always come with thinner steel strings, which are easier to handle.
Tone and Music
Standard acoustic guitars only sound one way, which is the classic tone we have all come to know and love. There may be slight tonal differences between different acoustic guitars due to the materials used in the construction. Electric guitars can have different tones due to the effects you can add with an amp and the pickups built-in.
These differences in tone mean that you can only hear the acoustic guitar in music like folk, country, pop, blues, and classical. Electric guitars can work with any music style apart from classical and folk.
There are many reasons why acoustic guitars are better than electric guitars. They are covered below.
They Are Cheaper
One of the first things you will notice when you are in the market for a guitar is that choosing an acoustic guitar is cheaper overall. Even when you get bargains on an electric guitar that makes it similar to an acoustic in pricing, you will need to pay the cost for an amplifier—an expense you won’t need with an acoustic guitar.
With an acoustic guitar, all you need is the guitar and a few accessories that are also mostly required with an electric guitar. So, if you are looking for an affordable way to break into the guitar world, an acoustic guitar is the better bet.
They Allow Better Focus
With an acoustic guitar, your focus will always be on the instrument. You won’t have to worry about handling distortion or managing volume knobs and pedals (here’s how to distort guitar without pedal if interested). As a beginner, this means you can focus on playing and learning the instrument’s core basics. You will also be able to focus on improving your tone and sound.
They Are Easier to Move Around
Moving your acoustic guitar from one place to another is as simple as putting it into a case and carrying it by hand or on your back (Should an Acoustic Guitar Be Kept in Its Case?). It does not weigh much, so you can take your guitar with you anywhere. When it is time for practice, the only thing you need is the guitar. You do not have to think about any other special rigs to move with every time you need to play anywhere else other than your home.
If you intend to look for gigs out of state or join a band and tour the country, you don’t have to worry about flying any special equipment around. You only have to check in your guitar as a carry-on without undergoing any elaborate processes.
Do you want to take your guitar with you on a camping trip, or do you intend to perform regularly out on the streets? You can only achieve these with an acoustic guitar. How many times have you seen a street performer with an electric guitar?
With an electric guitar, you will have to buy the guitar and an amp and also worry about transporting them to the street corner. Once there, you have to look for a power source. That’s far too many variables to account for, so many people with electric guitars only ever play in their living room, practice studio, or when they have to play in proper gigs.
Even when you do not intend to play outdoors or carry your guitar around, an acoustic guitar is always more accessible. There is the satisfaction that comes with knowing that you can just pick up your guitar anytime you want and play in any corner of your home that appeals to you. With an electric guitar, you have to play in a fixed position, and you always have to worry about cables.
They Sound Better
The classic sound of an acoustic guitar (Classical vs Acoustic Guitars) sounds a lot more precise, soothing, and delicate compared to what you get with the electric guitar. An acoustic guitar gives you a complete range of dynamics. You can start to make some excellent sounds almost immediately.
Most experts will agree that open chords sound better when played on an acoustic guitar. You are also sure to get the best resonance, and the sounds generated are fuller and deeper. The perfect construction delivers better reverberation. It is possible to get some resonance with an electric guitar, but you will have to do lots of adjusting or knob turning, and the results may still be lacking.
You will get true sound from your acoustic guitar because it is more organic. There are no electronic components, just wood and steel.
You Can Derive More Satisfaction From Your Creativity
It feels great to know that the sounds coming from a guitar are completely your creation. This drives you to derive more pleasure in looking for more ways to express this creativity. There is no need for an accompaniment when it comes to an acoustic guitar. With an electric guitar, your input will be heavily impacted by the amp and other extras.
They Are Great for Rhythm
If you are looking for a guitar that is great for playing rhythm, you won’t do much better than an acoustic. This is because an acoustic guitar has more percussive elements than you’d find with an electric guitar.
Many experts will advise learning your rhythm on an acoustic guitar to get very good at it. With your rhythm sorted, playing wild solos on an electric guitar (if you choose to go that route later) will be a lot easier.
They Are Great for Building Hand Strength
As we have seen in the comparison above, the strings on an acoustic guitar are typically thicker than you’d find on an electric guitar. You will need to expend more energy in manipulating and holding down the strings, which scares away some newcomers. However, learning to play your barre and open chords is an excellent way to develop your hand strength.
You need a strong level of hand strength to play any type of string instrument. Once you have fully developed the strength, you will be able to play any type of guitar you pick up.
Acoustic Guitar Skills Can Be Transferred
Everything learned on an acoustic guitar, such as picking chords, strumming, rhythm, chords, scales, and timing, can translate excellently to the electric guitar if you decide to move to it later in the future.
The hand strength developed on an acoustic guitar also becomes immediately noticeable on an electric guitar. The skills learned on an electric guitar are not quite as transferable to an acoustic guitar if you make the switch.
Acoustic Guitarists Are Highly Rated
We mentioned briefly how acoustic guitars are great for playing rhythm. This means that acoustic guitarists are expected to maintain a song’s rhythm all through the session, and the best ones do it effortlessly and are highly rated by their peers. On the other hand, an electric guitarist doesn’t have to maintain any rhythm and can weave around mistakes on stage.
You Can Play Songs Solely on an Acoustic Guitar
There are thousands of excellent tracks you can play on an acoustic guitar without the help of a backup band. If you intend to play solo gigs a lot, you’ll have a vast pool of songs to choose from or write yours and perform.
Performing solo electric numbers, on the other hand, is a lot more difficult. This is why you’re less likely to find a solo electric guitar act down the street or at your local pub. On the rare occasion you find such a performer, they’ll have to do a lot of work to impress the audience.