Odd question...which type of guitar do I learn on?

noneforit

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Hello

Randomly bizzare and odd question....

I want to learn guitar but have heard different things from different people about which type of guitar is best to learn with...acoustic or electric.?!?!

The trouble is that I like different kinds of music and want to play as much of it as I can, favourite bands/artists are:

Bruce Springsteen
Van Halen
Whitesnake
Creedence Clearwater Revival

I also really like country music....like Toby Keith and Brooks and Dunn.

Any help would be appreciated :)
 
A Canon!
 
A cheap electric, probably fender squire will be a good start. Reasonably narrow and easy fretboard. You'll pick an amp and guitar up for about £150 if you shop around.

Make sure it reliably stays in tune or it'll frustrate the hell out of you and use headphones or it'll frustrate the hell outa yer friends and neighbours.
Plenty of song tabs for chords ont'internet too.
 
An electric is generally easier on the hands when starting. You`ll notice it'll make the tips of your fingers a little sore, but they harden up over time.

There's plenty of choice in the market, some body shapes work better for different people. I`ve got both a strat type, and a Les Paul - I notice the LP sticks into my rib a little.

In terms of learner guitars, the recent squires aren't bad, also very worth looking at a Yamaha Pacifica. I picked one up on ebay for £40, and it plays beautifully. TBH, I pick it up more than my £750 LP..
 
Just as Minky says, what a great reply. The Strat is by far the most comfortable shape to play and there are some reasonably cheap copies such as the Pacifica.

The more your play the tougher your finger tips will become. Playing the same phrase over and over builds a memory and eventually you'll play the phrase without even thinking about it.

Play away and enjoy yourself.
 
I started on an acoustic and was told that was the best way to learn.. granted it is harder to play but if you start and master the acoustic it is easier to switch to electric...

Electric is much easier on the fingers and you don't need to stretch quite as much as the frets are closer together...

personal choice I think...

Happy strumming! :)
 
If you want to play both accoustic and electric, start on accoustic first. A few reasons, one being that it's less outlay (no amps, effects etc) but a bigger one being that it'll get your fingers used to the strings quicker. On an accoustic, the strings have a higher action (higher off the fret board) so you have to press harder. I'm not going to lie, when you first start playing it stings and top E feels like a cheese cutter pressing into your fingers! If you learn on accoustic first, it won't sting when you to over to electric. If you learn on electric then go to accoustic, it's gonna sting all over again.
 
I learned on a Yamaha Pacifica and it was a bloody brilliant guitar. I wish I'd kept it, as I miss it a lot. :'(

Actually, I learned on both an electric and an acoustic, so I had the best of both Worlds. That might not be ideal if you're not sure if you're going to keep it it up though, as it's just extra expense.

Not sure where the comment about frets being closer together on an electric comes from. That's not true, otherwise the guitar would be out of tune, obviously. :suspect:
The strings are much closer to the fretboard though ("lower action"), the strings are generally thinner (depending on what gauge strings are on it), so easier to work with, and the neck is narrower, so easier to get your fingers around.

Good luck, and happy practicing!
 
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I was learning on electric and found that because it takes time to get out ad [plug in, I couldn't be bothered. I bought an acoustic a couple of months ago and it hangs on the wall. I pick it up and practice a lot more frequently because it's immediate.
 
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