How to Choose Between an Acoustic Guitar and an Electric Guitar

Acoustic guitars are a great choice for beginners because they require no extra equipment like amplifiers and special effects pedals. They are also less expensive to maintain because you won’t need to replace the strings and other parts as frequently as you will for an electric guitar. However, some people find that the acoustic sound can be less inspiring or that the thicker string tension makes it harder for small hands and children to play comfortably. This can discourage many people from continuing their guitar journey as they may feel that they are not getting anywhere. To help you decide which type of guitar is right for you, think about the genres of music that you are most inspired by and whether they would be better suited to an acoustic or an electric guitar.

Acoustic Guitar Body Styles

The most common acoustic guitar body shape is the dreadnought, which has been around since the mid-19th century and was developed to provide greater depth of tone than previous guitar designs. To do this, the guitar is made from a combination of various tonewoods, including the top, back and sides. The wood choices and the pattern of bracing within the body all contribute to the guitar’s overall tone (read more about how top, back and side tonewoods affect your guitar’s sound in our article “Your Tone Begins With Your Top”).

The dreadnought style also has a large sound hole, which allows the vibrations from the strings to be coupled to the air inside the guitar. This air vibrates in a manner similar to the Helmholtz resonator and adds tonal qualities to the guitar that are different from the original strings’ tone. This coupled-sound effect is what gives the acoustic guitar its signature sound.

One thing to note is that acoustic guitars use steel strings, which are much thicker and heavier than the nylon strings used on classical guitars. If you tried to put metal strings on a classical guitar, the string’s vibrations would transfer to the instrument’s body and jumble up the sound. To ensure that your acoustic guitar produces the best sound, always use the strings recommended by your instrument’s manufacturer.

Guitar Strings

Guitar strings are thicker than those found on acoustic guitars and have more power. This can cause them to be difficult for young fingers to manage and can lead to hand fatigue, especially when playing chords that require a lot of force. Choosing shorter-scale acoustic guitars that reduce the string tension or using nylon strings on an acoustic guitar can make it easier for children and adults to learn to play without damaging their instruments.

Once you are comfortable with the basics of playing the acoustic guitar, an electric guitar offers the opportunity to experiment with many different sounds and styles. Once you have an amp and a variety of special effect pedals, you can take your sound to the next level. This can be a daunting prospect for new players, but it is important to remember that your acoustic guitar will still have its own unique sound.