Which Guitar Should You Start With? Discover Your Perfect Match!

Are you dreaming of campfires, shredding like a rock star, serenading a crowd with soulful chords, playing in your local church’s worship team, or filling a football stadium? Whatever your musical intent, your guitar journey begins with selecting the appropriate instrument.

This blog is all about Choosing Your First Guitar (Acoustic vs. Electric) and the essential factors to consider. This guide is for all aspiring guitarists: absolute beginners (young and old!), those unsure whether to start with acoustic or electric, or anyone looking for a change and some new inspiration.

The Big Decision: Classic vs. Acoustic vs. Electric

The selection of which guitar to choose depends on several factors: the type of music you want to play, your preferred style and genre, and, of course, your budget. Crucially, it’s also about choosing the right size guitar for your size, which is often age-related. You could be considering a ¾ classical guitar for a 6-year-old, or a premium Gibson Electric.

A ¾ classical guitar is smaller than a standard classical, making it easier for small hands and fingers to navigate the fretboard, and its nylon strings are softer on fingertips when learning chords. A Gibson electric, on the other hand, is a premium guitar with a longer neck and steel strings, but these strings are typically very close to the fretboard, making them easier to press for chords.

Let’s break down the pros and cons of each:

1. Classical Guitar

• Pros:
  • Fitted with nylon strings, which are wider, softer, and less strenuous on your fingertips than steel strings.
  • Normally smaller than a traditional acoustic guitar, scoring points for portability.
  • You can play any style of music, but it excels in classical music, fingerpicking, and blues.
  • Needs no power (great for power outages!) so no amp is needed.
  • An ideal tool for singer-songwriters and folk musicians.
• Cons:
  • Can only use classical (nylon) strings, resulting in an overall softer, more bass-type sound.
  • Requires a mic or built-in pickup if you want to amplify the sound.
  • Has a wider but shorter neck than an acoustic or electric, limiting your range of chord voicings.
  • Strings are typically set further from the fretboard, so lead work is not as fluid.

2. Acoustic Guitar

• Pros:
  • Good natural volume for campfires and a great stand-alone sound, especially with bronze wound strings.
  • Can use a wider variety of strings than on a classical guitar (extra-light, light, medium, or heavy gauge).
  • Still very portable, and generally no amp is needed (though many are now acoustic-electric with built-in preamps for amplification).
  • Offers a longer neck than a classical and often features a “cutaway” body for reaching higher notes and chords.
  • Also great for singer-songwriters and folk musicians.
• Cons:
  • Strings are thinner than classical guitar strings, initially harder on fingertips.
  • Strings are set a bit further from the fretboard, making lead and solo functioning not as simple as on an electric guitar.

3. Electric Guitar

• Pros:
  • Extremely versatile, with a long neck enabling players to explore a variety of styles, genres, and techniques.
  • Sound variations are virtually limitless when coupled with effects.
  • The “action” (distance from strings to fretboard) is the lowest and easiest to play of the three, ideal for fast playing, lead work, riffs, solos, and diverse sounds.
• Cons:
  • Requires an amp and cables to be heard.

Smart Buying: Your Hands-On Approach to Selection

I always offer to accompany my students to the local music store (or a trusted second-hand dealer) to personally check out guitars – their necks, action, string selection, tonality, sound, and general playability – before they make a decision to buy.

If you can’t get a teacher to accompany you, go online and check out the reviews. These are great indicators of a guitar’s reputation, but nothing beats a hands-on session at the store before you buy it. The good news about modern trade is that if you do buy a guitar and something isn’t right, consumer protection acts and warranties kick in. Most reputable dealers will exchange, replace, or repair a defective guitar or one that needs adjustment.

When you’re ready to buy, start by considering your musical interests and goals. Remember, it’s perfectly okay to start with one guitar and switch to another later. I, for example, have several guitars – classical, acoustic, and electric – each with its own application in music, genre, and style.

Beyond the Instrument: What to Learn First

Once you’ve selected your guitar, what’s next to kickstart your guitar journey?

• Tuning: How to tune your guitar using a tuner, another instrument, or by ear. Standard guitar tuning (from thinnest/highest string to thickest/lowest, where A = 440Hz) is: E, B, G, D, A, E. (The high E, 1st string, is the E5 note of the piano).
• Posture & Hand Positioning: Proper way to hold the guitar or sit with it.
• Basic Chords: A few essential chords like G, C, D, Em, Am.
• Strumming Patterns: Learn a few fundamental strumming patterns.
• Song Selection: Choose some songs you love to learn to play.
• Reading Tablature vs. Standard Notation: We’ll briefly explain both methods.
• Consistent Practice: The crucial importance of regular, dedicated practice.

BRT’s Guitar Advantage: Your Path to Mastery

At BRT Music School, we offer:

• Expert Instructors for classical, acoustic, and electric guitar.
• Personalized Lessons catering to your individual goals and learning style.
• Opportunities for Performance, like Eisteddfods and “Somerset’s Got Talent!”

So then, our call to action is clear: take the next step to unleash your inner guitarist by checking out our Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced lesson curriculum, and then book your spot today!

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REMEMBER: We are affiliated with Bothners, so we can advise you and help you with the selection of your perfect musical instrument today!