Acoustic vs. Electric Guitar: Which Is Best for Beginners?
By Joshua Leblanc
If you’re thinking about learning guitar and haven’t bought one yet, you might be asking yourself one of the most common beginner questions:
Should I start with an acoustic or electric guitar?
This is a decision every new player faces, and there are a lot of myths and mixed opinions floating around online. In this article, I’ll walk you through the pros and cons of each, clear up some confusion, and help you choose the guitar that fits your goals and playing style.
Should I start with an acoustic or electric guitar?
This is a decision every new player faces, and there are a lot of myths and mixed opinions floating around online. In this article, I’ll walk you through the pros and cons of each, clear up some confusion, and help you choose the guitar that fits your goals and playing style.
Why I Usually Recommend Electric Guitar for Beginners
If you haven’t bought a guitar yet, and you’re asking what’s best for beginners, I almost always recommend starting with electric guitar—even if your end goal is to play acoustic.
Here’s why:
1. Electric Guitars Are Easier to Play
Electric guitars usually have thinner strings, lower string tension, and slimmer necks, making them easier on your hands. If you're brand new to playing guitar, your fingers will thank you for choosing electric.
Techniques like string bending, vibrato, and even simple chords are less painful and more accessible on electric than on acoustic.
2. You Don’t Need an Amp Right Away
One common misconception is that you must buy an amplifier with your first electric guitar. But in reality, you don’t need one to get started. When you’re just practicing at home, you can hear yourself just fine without amplification—especially if you turn off the TV and distractions while you play.
3. Electric Guitars Are Often More Affordable
There are many solid electric guitars available at beginner-friendly prices. Acoustic guitars can also be affordable, but once you consider playability and comfort, electric often wins for value. And since amps are optional at first, that keeps your cost even lower.
4. Skills Transfer Between Both
Everything you learn on electric guitar can be applied to acoustic, and vice versa. But many techniques are easier to learn on electric first and then transfer over later. Starting on electric gives you a smoother learning curve while still building skills you’ll use forever.
Here’s why:
1. Electric Guitars Are Easier to Play
Electric guitars usually have thinner strings, lower string tension, and slimmer necks, making them easier on your hands. If you're brand new to playing guitar, your fingers will thank you for choosing electric.
Techniques like string bending, vibrato, and even simple chords are less painful and more accessible on electric than on acoustic.
2. You Don’t Need an Amp Right Away
One common misconception is that you must buy an amplifier with your first electric guitar. But in reality, you don’t need one to get started. When you’re just practicing at home, you can hear yourself just fine without amplification—especially if you turn off the TV and distractions while you play.
3. Electric Guitars Are Often More Affordable
There are many solid electric guitars available at beginner-friendly prices. Acoustic guitars can also be affordable, but once you consider playability and comfort, electric often wins for value. And since amps are optional at first, that keeps your cost even lower.
4. Skills Transfer Between Both
Everything you learn on electric guitar can be applied to acoustic, and vice versa. But many techniques are easier to learn on electric first and then transfer over later. Starting on electric gives you a smoother learning curve while still building skills you’ll use forever.
So Why Do Some People Start With Acoustic Guitar?
The main reason is simple: They love the sound. And that’s a great reason.
If the style of music you’re drawn to is acoustic-heavy—like folk, country, singer-songwriter, or worship music—then it makes sense to start there. The acoustic guitar is also great for singing and playing at the same time, writing songs, or jamming with friends.
Here are some signs that the acoustic guitar might be right for you:
You like folk, country, worship, or acoustic pop
You want to sing and play
You’re drawn to a natural, unplugged sound
You want something you can just pick up and play
Pro Tip: Struggling With Acoustic? Try Alternative Strings
If you choose acoustic but find it hard on your fingers, try silk and steel strings, like Martin Silk & Steel. These strings are softer, easier to press down, and ideal for beginners who want an easier start without switching to electric.
If the style of music you’re drawn to is acoustic-heavy—like folk, country, singer-songwriter, or worship music—then it makes sense to start there. The acoustic guitar is also great for singing and playing at the same time, writing songs, or jamming with friends.
Here are some signs that the acoustic guitar might be right for you:
You like folk, country, worship, or acoustic pop
You want to sing and play
You’re drawn to a natural, unplugged sound
You want something you can just pick up and play
Pro Tip: Struggling With Acoustic? Try Alternative Strings
If you choose acoustic but find it hard on your fingers, try silk and steel strings, like Martin Silk & Steel. These strings are softer, easier to press down, and ideal for beginners who want an easier start without switching to electric.
Acoustic vs. Electric Guitar: A Quick Comparison
Other Types of Guitars Beginners Should Know About
When shopping for your first guitar, you might hear about a few other types that can be confusing. Here's a breakdown:
🎸 Acoustic-Electric Guitars
This is simply an acoustic guitar with built-in electronics that let you plug into a sound system. Perfect for performing live or recording, especially in venues like churches or open mics.
⚠️ Note: This is not the same as an electric guitar. Don’t plug it into a standard guitar amp expecting distortion or effects—it’s not built for that.
🎸 Bass Guitars
Bass guitars are a different instrument with a deeper sound and fewer strings. While the skills do overlap, bass is usually played in group settings, and it's not the best starting point unless your goal is to play bass specifically.
🎸 Nylon-String Guitars (Classical Guitars)
These guitars have softer nylon strings, which are gentle on the fingers. They're used for classical, flamenco, and fingerstyle music.
Downsides? They often have wider necks, which can be uncomfortable for small hands. Picks also don’t work well on these due to how easily the strings can snap.
🎸 12-String Guitars
A specialty guitar with doubled strings, creating a rich, shimmering sound. These are beautiful sounding but much harder to play and tune. Definitely not recommended as your first guitar, but a great addition later if you want to expand your sound.
🎸 Acoustic-Electric Guitars
This is simply an acoustic guitar with built-in electronics that let you plug into a sound system. Perfect for performing live or recording, especially in venues like churches or open mics.
⚠️ Note: This is not the same as an electric guitar. Don’t plug it into a standard guitar amp expecting distortion or effects—it’s not built for that.
🎸 Bass Guitars
Bass guitars are a different instrument with a deeper sound and fewer strings. While the skills do overlap, bass is usually played in group settings, and it's not the best starting point unless your goal is to play bass specifically.
🎸 Nylon-String Guitars (Classical Guitars)
These guitars have softer nylon strings, which are gentle on the fingers. They're used for classical, flamenco, and fingerstyle music.
Downsides? They often have wider necks, which can be uncomfortable for small hands. Picks also don’t work well on these due to how easily the strings can snap.
🎸 12-String Guitars
A specialty guitar with doubled strings, creating a rich, shimmering sound. These are beautiful sounding but much harder to play and tune. Definitely not recommended as your first guitar, but a great addition later if you want to expand your sound.
Final Thoughts: Which Guitar Should You Start With?
When deciding between acoustic vs. electric guitar, the best choice depends on your goals and your motivation.
If you’re excited by rock, pop, blues, or metal, go electric.
If you love acoustic-driven songs, want to sing and play, or plan to write your own music, go acoustic.
If you just want the easiest start possible with fewer finger aches, start with electric.
The good news? Whichever you choose, you’re learning guitar, and that’s what matters most.
You can always switch later or add another guitar to your collection. But starting with a guitar you enjoy playing—and that makes you want to keep practicing—is the key to success.
If you’re excited by rock, pop, blues, or metal, go electric.
If you love acoustic-driven songs, want to sing and play, or plan to write your own music, go acoustic.
If you just want the easiest start possible with fewer finger aches, start with electric.
The good news? Whichever you choose, you’re learning guitar, and that’s what matters most.
You can always switch later or add another guitar to your collection. But starting with a guitar you enjoy playing—and that makes you want to keep practicing—is the key to success.
Joshua LeBlanc is the owner and instructor of Lafayette School of Guitar which specializes in guitar lessons in Lafayette, LA.