Where do I start?

Kugerfang · 08-04-2008, 09:51 AM

Hi.

I really want to play the Electric guitar but I don't know where I should start. My dad said I should start on the accoustic one since he said they were the same, the only difference is the sound they make. I'm confused. Where should I start, electric or accoustic?

Kameraad Pannekoek · 08-04-2008, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kugerfang

Hi.

I really want to play the Electric guitar but I don't know where I should start. My dad said I should start on the accoustic one since he said they were the same, the only difference is the sound they make. I'm confused. Where should I start, electric or accoustic?

If you want to play electric, electric is probably the way to go. Sure, either will get you where you need to go, but there are some differences besides the sound. For instance, acoustic guitars are bulkier and electrics are slimmer. Really, playing either will help, but getting a cheap electric guitar and amp is probably the quickest, most direct way to go about things.

Aqualung · 08-04-2008, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kugerfang

Hi.

I really want to play the Electric guitar but I don't know where I should start. My dad said I should start on the accoustic one since he said they were the same, the only difference is the sound they make. I'm confused. Where should I start, electric or accoustic?

Electric guitars are usually easier to play. Their strings are more pliable and thinnner, and thus more comfortable, and the bodies are usually smaller so you don't have to work as hard to reach the strings. The only downside is that it's easier to find cheaper acoustic guitars, and if you're not sure if you actually want to play the guitar, not shelling out for something expensive that you might not use for more than a week is a good idea. So really try to guage your interest level.

Jody LeCompte · 08-05-2008, 07:52 AM

To quote John Mayer: "You convince your parents to spring for that first guitar, but that puts the ball in their court, they say if your going to play your going to play acoustic. I guess acoustic is like the angel and electric is the devil." I'd say most parents would just prefer the tone of an acoustic guitar rather than a Marshall MG stack cracked while they're child is learning to play(thusly at the time playing very poorly) in their home they are rather forced to live in.

If you want to play electic, your going to want to play electic. That's really all there is too it. Acoustic guitars are bigger, harder to play, and sound different. If you listen to mostly electic guitar oriented music then the acoustic guitar is actually going to seem limited. I think everyone should learn to play acoustic at some point in time, but learning acoustic guitar second won't hurt.

I actually started on electric, and then as a practice method I decided to practice acoustic until I could play it fluently as my electric and it just ended up sticking. Acoustic guitar is my main instrument, while I still play all my other instruments reasonably to the same degree of skill. All things in music are transferable, just think about it.

Kameraad Pannekoek · 08-05-2008, 08:49 AM

Also, if the sound level is they're motivation to wanting to get you an acoustic, electrics can be plenty quiet. My friend got a piddly little 5 watt practice amp with his guitar, and it's quieter than any acoustic, even when he pushes it to the limit. Alternately, many amps have headphone holes.

Jody LeCompte · 08-05-2008, 09:12 AM

I will say though, that I feel acoustics are better for intense practice on.

Most electric guitar players just don't know when enough is enough. I think it's a phase, personally. I did the same thing as did most, if not all, of my music playing friends as well. It's IMPOSSIBLE to tell how clean your getting a certain lick or passage if your playing on an electric with the volume maxed out and the gain and distorton all cranked to 11.

That said, I suppose you could just play clean. I just REALLY love acoustics... I'm biased, I'll admit it.

sgtwatts · 08-05-2008, 10:45 PM

This may not be the right thing to say, oh but what the heck. Electric guitars do look better than your average acoustic guitars but, there are huge advantages to playing an acoustic. If you can learn flamingo, classical, or jazz on an acoustic then you would be amazed at what you would achieve on an electric guitar. Why? They are bulkier, sound different and so forth. However you would see the hard work pay off and if you get one with nylon strings you can teach yourself how to master chords a little bit faster.

Jody LeCompte · 08-05-2008, 10:49 PM

You can also play classical, flamenco, and jazz on an electric.

It really all depends on what you want to do, it's not one choice you have to follow your whole life. Al Di Meloa played electic for YEARS and did some crazy stuff, then he strippe down to acoustic and did the same insane music.

Neverlife · 08-06-2008, 04:27 AM

I would say get an acoustic, because after you master the basics, moving to electrics will be a very easy transition.

Jody LeCompte · 08-06-2008, 05:10 AM

There's more to consider than that. You have to think about whether you'd have the dedication to start off on acoustic. It's harder to play, the strings hurt more, and I don't sound heavy at all. When playing isn't fun, we quit playing.

Aqualung · 08-06-2008, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jody LeCompte

There's more to consider than that. You have to think about whether you'd have the dedication to start off on acoustic. It's harder to play, the strings hurt more, and I don't sound heavy at all. When playing isn't fun, we quit playing.

Exactly.

Kugerfang · 08-06-2008, 06:27 AM

My parents found an excuse to not buy an electric guitar....

"You need to carry an amp and you need electricity....."

Aqualung · 08-06-2008, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kugerfang

My parents found an excuse to not buy an electric guitar....

"You need to carry an amp and you need electricity....."

Did you tell them any of the reasons in here about why an electric guitar is a better place to start?

Jody LeCompte · 08-06-2008, 07:26 PM

If you play acoustic, Jesus loves you more.

It's a proven fact.

Kugerfang · 08-06-2008, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aqualung

Did you tell them any of the reasons in here about why an electric guitar is a better place to start?

Yes. But I think I'll learn the basics first on my accoustic.

Second, I'm an atheist.

Jody LeCompte · 08-06-2008, 07:39 PM

...

=/

That took me a bit off guard...

Kameraad Pannekoek · 08-07-2008, 03:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kugerfang

Yes. But I think I'll learn the basics first on my accoustic.

Second, I'm an atheist.

Really, that's as good a choice as any in the long run. I've seen to many beginning guitarists cranks their amps gain and reverb way up when practicing, just to sound like absolute crap when playing clean. With an acoustic, there are no cheats.

Neverlife · 08-07-2008, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kugerfang

Yes. But I think I'll learn the basics first on my accoustic.

Second, I'm an atheist.

We all have lots of different views here.

I'm agnostic. yay!

Jody LeCompte · 08-07-2008, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zephyr

Really, that's as good a choice as any in the long run. I've seen to many beginning guitarists cranks their amps gain and reverb way up when practicing, just to sound like absolute crap when playing clean. With an acoustic, there are no cheats.

Major kudos on that.

I can never seem to stress a clean tone while practice enough. Touch is the most valuable thing a musician can have in my mind.

Kameraad Pannekoek · 08-07-2008, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neverlife

We all have lots of different views here.

You have no idea.
<<<official forum Asatruar

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jody LeCompte

Major kudos on that.

I can never seem to stress a clean tone while practice enough. Touch is the most valuable thing a musician can have in my mind.

Indeed. I generally practice my electric on the clean Blackface setting without any effects, even if I'm practicing death metal. Then once I get the music down, I switch to the desired distorted tone then relearn everything so that I can control the feedback alright. It takes a while to get it right, but it's definitely worth it.

sgtwatts · 08-07-2008, 10:52 PM

Don't forget what I've said earlier, you can buy one with nylon strings that are softer and will help you along with your chords as your just starting. Besides you don't have to spend a whole lot of money and see if your local school with teach classical guitar. You don't have to use steel strings and discourage yourself. Besides nylon are like gut strings and give out a more mellow, round, classical sound. They are very clean.

Neverlife · 08-08-2008, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zephyr

You have no idea.
<<<official forum Asatruar

Religion? Time to google!

Aqualung · 08-08-2008, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgtwatts

Don't forget what I've said earlier, you can buy one with nylon strings that are softer and will help you along with your chords as your just starting.

Great idea!

Kugerfang · 08-08-2008, 02:30 PM

I've got my old accoustic one and I need to memorize the chords....
But the strings hurt so much..... I need to buy new ones. :2guns1guy:

Problem Solved! I'm using a coin as a pick!

Kameraad Pannekoek · 08-08-2008, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kugerfang

I've got my old accoustic one and I need to memorize the chords....
But the strings hurt so much..... I need to buy new ones. :2guns1guy:

Problem Solved! I'm using a coin as a pick!

Yeah, the strings will be a pain for a bit. Guitar strings have some hefty tension on them. When I got my acoustic it took a while before my callouses built up enough. Also note with the coin: It's cool for now really, but I've heard a lot of nasty things about metal picks wearing strings down like mad. If you're gonna get new strings, go ahead and pick up some nice and light ones, and be sure to get a few picks too. I mean, they're cheap as hell. Get a few of different types and thicknesses if you can, and see which ones you like most. I had to sample tons of different picks before I found my favorite.

08-05-2008, 08:49 AM	#5
Kameraad Pannekoek Drunk on power. And beer. Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Wazzu Posts: 3,181 Thanks: 61 Thanked 133 Times in 114 Posts Rep Power: 500	Also, if the sound level is they're motivation to wanting to get you an acoustic, electrics can be plenty quiet. My friend got a piddly little 5 watt practice amp with his guitar, and it's quieter than any acoustic, even when he pushes it to the limit. Alternately, many amps have headphone holes. __________________ If you ever need help with anything, anything at all, just send me a PM and I'll see what I can do for you. Dave's Gear: MIM Fretless Fender Jazz Bass Fender Rumble 100w Bass Amp Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster Vox Valvetronix AD30VT Guitar Amp Dunlop .71mm picks (Pink picks for the win!)

08-05-2008, 10:45 PM	#7
sgtwatts Bassist On A Quest Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Denver, Colorado (Born St. Louis, MO) Posts: 211 Thanks: 24 Thanked 23 Times in 21 Posts Rep Power: 31	This may not be the right thing to say, oh but what the heck. Electric guitars do look better than your average acoustic guitars but, there are huge advantages to playing an acoustic. If you can learn flamingo, classical, or jazz on an acoustic then you would be amazed at what you would achieve on an electric guitar. Why? They are bulkier, sound different and so forth. However you would see the hard work pay off and if you get one with nylon strings you can teach yourself how to master chords a little bit faster. __________________ Fender Jag Bass Hot Rod Red MIM Fender Jazz Deluxe Bass Black fav Ibanez soundgear LTD Bass Cherry Blossom Pickguard Gerry Willis five string fretless

08-06-2008, 04:27 AM	#9
Neverlife Dungeon Master Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Newman Grove, NE Posts: 2,010 Thanks: 55 Thanked 84 Times in 75 Posts Rep Power: 0	I would say get an acoustic, because after you master the basics, moving to electrics will be a very easy transition. __________________ "Today is the tommorow, you worried about yesterday"

08-07-2008, 10:52 PM	#21
sgtwatts Bassist On A Quest Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Denver, Colorado (Born St. Louis, MO) Posts: 211 Thanks: 24 Thanked 23 Times in 21 Posts Rep Power: 31	Don't forget what I've said earlier, you can buy one with nylon strings that are softer and will help you along with your chords as your just starting. Besides you don't have to spend a whole lot of money and see if your local school with teach classical guitar. You don't have to use steel strings and discourage yourself. Besides nylon are like gut strings and give out a more mellow, round, classical sound. They are very clean. __________________ Fender Jag Bass Hot Rod Red MIM Fender Jazz Deluxe Bass Black fav Ibanez soundgear LTD Bass Cherry Blossom Pickguard Gerry Willis five string fretless

08-08-2008, 02:30 PM	#24
Kugerfang Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 20 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Rep Power: 20	I've got my old accoustic one and I need to memorize the chords.... But the strings hurt so much..... I need to buy new ones. :2guns1guy: Problem Solved! I'm using a coin as a pick! __________________ Google IS GOD. Last edited by Kugerfang : 08-08-2008 at 03:38 PM.

08-04-2008, 09:51 AM	#1
Kugerfang Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 20 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Rep Power: 20	Hi. I really want to play the Electric guitar but I don't know where I should start. My dad said I should start on the accoustic one since he said they were the same, the only difference is the sound they make. I'm confused. Where should I start, electric or accoustic?

08-05-2008, 07:52 AM	#4
Jody LeCompte Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 531 Thanks: 3 Thanked 69 Times in 51 Posts Rep Power: 55	To quote John Mayer: "You convince your parents to spring for that first guitar, but that puts the ball in their court, they say if your going to play your going to play acoustic. I guess acoustic is like the angel and electric is the devil." I'd say most parents would just prefer the tone of an acoustic guitar rather than a Marshall MG stack cracked while they're child is learning to play(thusly at the time playing very poorly) in their home they are rather forced to live in. If you want to play electic, your going to want to play electic. That's really all there is too it. Acoustic guitars are bigger, harder to play, and sound different. If you listen to mostly electic guitar oriented music then the acoustic guitar is actually going to seem limited. I think everyone should learn to play acoustic at some point in time, but learning acoustic guitar second won't hurt. I actually started on electric, and then as a practice method I decided to practice acoustic until I could play it fluently as my electric and it just ended up sticking. Acoustic guitar is my main instrument, while I still play all my other instruments reasonably to the same degree of skill. All things in music are transferable, just think about it.

08-05-2008, 09:12 AM	#6
Jody LeCompte Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 531 Thanks: 3 Thanked 69 Times in 51 Posts Rep Power: 55	I will say though, that I feel acoustics are better for intense practice on. Most electric guitar players just don't know when enough is enough. I think it's a phase, personally. I did the same thing as did most, if not all, of my music playing friends as well. It's IMPOSSIBLE to tell how clean your getting a certain lick or passage if your playing on an electric with the volume maxed out and the gain and distorton all cranked to 11. That said, I suppose you could just play clean. I just REALLY love acoustics... I'm biased, I'll admit it.

08-05-2008, 10:49 PM	#8
Jody LeCompte Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 531 Thanks: 3 Thanked 69 Times in 51 Posts Rep Power: 55	You can also play classical, flamenco, and jazz on an electric. It really all depends on what you want to do, it's not one choice you have to follow your whole life. Al Di Meloa played electic for YEARS and did some crazy stuff, then he strippe down to acoustic and did the same insane music.

08-06-2008, 05:10 AM	#10
Jody LeCompte Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 531 Thanks: 3 Thanked 69 Times in 51 Posts Rep Power: 55	There's more to consider than that. You have to think about whether you'd have the dedication to start off on acoustic. It's harder to play, the strings hurt more, and I don't sound heavy at all. When playing isn't fun, we quit playing.

08-06-2008, 06:27 AM	#12
Kugerfang Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 20 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Rep Power: 20	My parents found an excuse to not buy an electric guitar.... "You need to carry an amp and you need electricity....."

08-06-2008, 07:26 PM	#14
Jody LeCompte Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 531 Thanks: 3 Thanked 69 Times in 51 Posts Rep Power: 55	If you play acoustic, Jesus loves you more. It's a proven fact.

08-06-2008, 07:39 PM	#16
Jody LeCompte Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 531 Thanks: 3 Thanked 69 Times in 51 Posts Rep Power: 55	... =/ That took me a bit off guard...

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