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Should You Start With Acoustic Guitar? How to Decide

By · 13 min read

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The acoustic guitar is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Not only does it have an incredibly diverse sound, but it’s also a bit easier than learning piano, violin, and so on. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean the acoustic guitar is the best choice for beginners. After all, it’s covered in six strings and an average of 20 frets.

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Ready to shop? Our guide to the best starter guitars compares five beginner-friendly acoustic, electric and classical models.

You should start with an acoustic guitar if you want to learn chord progressions, strumming patterns, and fingerpicking styles on most stringed instruments. Learning the acoustic guitar translates very well to many other instruments. It also doesn’t require an amp or any other equipment.

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Throughout this article, we’ll dive into multiple reasons you should consider starting with an acoustic guitar, how to know if it’s the right instrument for you, and why some guitarists recommend against it. Enjoy!

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you should start with an acoustic guitar

Do You Need to Start With an Acoustic Guitar?

You don’t need to start with an acoustic guitar, but it’ll definitely make your musical journey much more enjoyable. The acoustic guitar shows you how to play various chords that you can bring with you to the electric guitar. Furthermore, you don’t need amplifiers, speakers, or microphones.

Ask yourself these questions if you’re considering starting with an acoustic guitar:

  • What’s your budget? Acoustic guitars are typically cheaper than electric guitars. You can get a low-end acoustic guitar for a fraction of the price of a similar-quality electric guitar. You also don’t need to buy amplifying equipment, which saves a lot of money in the long run. However, if budget isn’t an issue, either guitar would be a great choice.
  • What kind of music do you want to play? If you want to play laid-back music, then the acoustic guitar is the best choice for you. That being said, those who prefer rock and roll should typically choose an electric guitar. If you like both styles, it’s better to choose the acoustic guitar because you can hook it up to a DAW and alter the sound.
  • Do you have access to amplifiers? If you don’t have an amp, then you’ll be severely limited if you choose an electric guitar. It’s better to grab an acoustic guitar and play it with the naturally resonating sound that comes from the sound hole. Acoustic guitars don’t need any electricity to perform optimally.
  • Have you played the electric guitar? If you’ve played the electric guitar, you might have a harder time transitioning to the acoustic guitar. It’s harder to compress the strings, the fretboard is bigger, and the body is much larger. However, you can choose a training acoustic guitar if you want to transition slowly.

Starting with the acoustic guitar can be an excellent choice, but it’s not the only option. Guitar Gear Finder recommends basing your first stringed instrument on your preferred music style. For example, those who prefer relaxed folk music should choose an acoustic guitar, whereas those who enjoy hard rock should opt for the electric guitar.

Is It Easier to Learn Acoustic or Electric Guitar?

It’s easier to learn electric guitar for most people because it’s louder, has thinner strings, and offers quick chord progressions for those with small hands. However, learning the acoustic guitar will make it easy for you to switch to electric guitar because all of the hand positions for the chords are the same.

learn acoustic or electric guitar

Here’s a handful of reasons one may be easier than the other:

  • Acoustic guitars are easier to start with if you want to play both instruments. You’ll find it much quicker to transition from acoustic guitar to electric guitar than vice versa. Acoustic guitars teach you almost everything you need to know about playing most stringed instruments with added string tension.
  • Electric guitars are better to start with for those who have a shorter reach. If you can’t reach down a long, wide fretboard, then an electric guitar will be a sigh of relief. The fretboard is thinner, and the strings are easier to press. It’s an all-around more comfortable playing experience (at the start because acoustic gets comfortable eventually).
  • Choosing an acoustic guitar is better if you sing with your instrument. These instruments flow much better with vocals because you don’t have to amplify your voice. Furthermore, many guitarists believe it’s easier to match the melody and tone of an acoustic guitar with their voices.
  • Starting with an electric guitar is the optimal choice if you have wrist problems. The compact size of an electric guitar is more forgiving on your wrists and fingers. You won’t deal with as many awkward angles, nor will you have to stretch your hand to fingerpick or strum properly.

Is Acoustic Guitar Hard to Learn?

The acoustic guitar is hard to learn if you’ve never played an instrument. You’ll have to learn new chords, sounds for each string, and finger positions. Furthermore, you’ll have to learn how to hold the instrument and keep your hands steady. However, it’s not too difficult if you know basic chords from other instruments because they sound the same.

Here’s a list of reasons the acoustic guitar could be difficult to start with:

  • Acoustic guitars are often bulkier than electric guitars. Fender explains those who haven’t tried either instrument will find acoustic guitars harder to hold. The neck and body are much larger on acoustic guitars. However, if you have big hands and long arms, the acoustic’s bigger setup might be better.
  • The acoustic guitar has thick strings that can be hard to press. Electric guitars have the same amount of strings, but they’re thinner and weigh less. The result is much easier compression, which means you’ll be able to chord, strum, and fingerpick without a problem. You can try lighter strings on the acoustic if this is an issue.
  • All six strings have unique sounds that change across more than 20 frets. Comparing the acoustic guitar to other stringed instruments (other than the electric guitar), it’s a much more complicated setup. It gets even more complex when you add a capo into the mix to move up the nut.
  • You have to practice chords with one hand and strumming or fingerpicking with the other hand. Being able to watch one side without the other is crucial and irreplaceable when you’re learning the acoustic guitar. Most people find it easier to watch the chord hand since strumming patterns get easy much quicker.
  • Acoustic guitars aren’t as forgiving as other instruments. The hard strings cause callouses quicker than electric guitars, bass guitars, etc. However, this can be beneficial because you’ll be able to switch to other stringed instruments with less discomfort. You’ll also notice acoustic guitars are louder than most stringed instruments.

While these issues might seem a bit harsh, starting with the acoustic guitar eventually gets easier. Remember to practice for about half an hour daily (or more if you can handle it). Once you get the hang of it, you can switch to the electric guitar or master the acoustic guitar for many years to come.

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