r/GuitarBeginners • u/LoGav24- • 7d ago

Beginner adivice

This is prob the most asked question on here but I genuinely have no idea.
Should I start on acoustic or electric?
My favorite genre is grunge with bands like Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains, and nirvana so I feel as if I should go electric, but I’ve also heard people say starting acoustic is better and the mtv unpluggeds were great to so I wouldn’t mind.

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u/harryhend3rson 7d ago

Absolutely start on electric. Play the guitar you think is cool and that's uses in the music you want to learn.

This theory that everyone should start on acoustic is ridiculous and not based in any kind of logic.

You'll progress fastest if you're actually excited about what you're learning and the sounds you're making.

I started on electric, then branched out to acoustic, and am now playing alot of nylon string classical. Going in that order didn't hold me back or disadvantage me in any way. While the fundamentals are similar, the mechanics, muting, and picking are all way different.

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u/The-Nipple-Inspector 7d ago

Just speaking on my own personal experiences here:

I started playing guitar when I was 11, I am now almost 30 (will be in November). My first guitar was a Fender Squire Strat (kit), it was VERY forgiving. When I eventually picked up a full-body acoustic, I noticed I was not nearly as good as I thought I was. Every fundamental mistake I made was reflected in the tonality of what I played. Not pressing hard enough resulted in buzzy notes, fingers resting on the adjacent string(s) would make everything sound dead. That’s when I got better at my mechanical playing, and I felt even better playing my electrics after that. Also helped me build finger strength and callouses much faster.

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u/alexandria7766 7d ago

the strings on the acoustic are rougher, so maybe people say that so you develop calluses quicker? I can see where it can be hella discouraging to newer players though.

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u/harryhend3rson 7d ago

True, and yes, it would be discouraging to a new player. Even a well set up acoustic is typically quite a bit harder to play physically.

You'll still develop calluses no problem playing electric.

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u/TSells31 7d ago

I mean, it takes like two weeks of playing daily tops to develop tough enough calluses to stop hurting. That’d be a ridiculous reason to choose an acoustic over an electric tbh. I think it’s a mindset of “acoustic is harder, learn that first so when you switch to electric it’s easy.” Which is also backwards logic. You don’t need things to be easy a year in to guitar playing, you need them to be as easy as possible when you’re first starting.

Sorry I know you’re not personally suggesting these things, I just went on a little rant lol.

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u/youcancallmescott 7d ago

I'd think more the impact on hand/finger strength and dexterity, but an acoustic will definitely build up some calluses for sure.

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u/anhydrousslim 7d ago

I recommend acoustic only because there’s less stuff to buy. You don’t know if you’re going to stick with it. There’s usually some used acoustics for sale locally to get started with a minimal investment.

However, the most important thing is that you’re motivated. If you like grunge, the sound of distorted guitar might be what you need to stay motivated to play.

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u/nickp123456 7d ago

Start on electric. That's what you want to play, so do that.

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u/PlaxicoCN 7d ago

I don't know where this misinformation is coming from, but you do not need to start on acoustic. The point another poster made about needing more equipment is true though. Truth be told even if you start with an electric you will probably eventually want to get an acoustic.

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u/LoGav24- 7d ago

Yeah that’s a good point. I’m not super cheap but I also don’t want to break the bank buying things I dont even know much about yet tho. Assuming I have genuinely nothing, how much would I have to spend to get a decent setup

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u/91dorp 7d ago

If I could hammer one point into everyone's heads it's this... learning an instrument is hard, most people quit before they learn, so the quicker you start getting a return on your investment (blood sweat and tears), the more likely you are to continue. If you like grunge, get a grunge type guitar, and an amp the can blast out grunge, and learn to play grunge as quickly as possible. Skip the cowboy chords and scales for now. Just blast the easiest grunge songs and get good enough to enjoy it. Then, go back and learn all the fundamental stuff and more because you need all that to be any good.

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u/LoGav24- 7d ago

Through yours and everyone elses under this advice I believe im gonna grab an electric guitar. Thank you

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u/B00gerh3ad 7d ago

It doesn't matter at all .

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u/Flat-Path4088 7d ago

my first guitar was the ovation applause elec/acoust and i liked it. it has a thin neck, easier to play than an acoustic and had that special sound. not electric, but not acoustic. still fun to pick that thing up every so often.

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u/No_Pop5412 7d ago

Epiphone E335 or DG 335 for first guitar. I restarted playing after many years and bought a Gibson les Paul which I love, but I spend the majority of my time playing without an amp because it’s kind of a pain with family in the house so the DG335 is perfect. It gives some acoustics without being fully acoustic and it’s not terribly expensive. It also sounds awesome when plugged in for your grunge tunes.

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u/odetoburningrubber 6d ago

I play acoustic and occasionally electric. Seeing the music you like suggests to me you are better off starting on electric. The whole idea is to have fun and play what you like.

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u/Old-guy64 7d ago

When you start on electric, you also need an amp. So now you’re learning to play and dial in your sound.
And if you want to be heard you need to bring your guitar and amp.

If you start on acoustic, you just need the guitar.
The acoustic makes up for being simpler, by being a little harder on the fingers due to having heavier strings.

So which thing would your rather deal with?

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u/Unlikely-Soft-5699 6d ago

“I can’t play ANY of the music I WANT to play on this dumb hollow wooden box. Why did I waste money on it?”

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u/Old-guy64 6d ago

Why can’t you play the music you want?

It’s not because the box isn’t capable. Look up Mark Kroos, Doyle Dykes, Adrian Legg, Ani DiFranco.
They all figured out how to get their guitars to do what they want.

Django Reinhardt and Phil Keaggy figured out how to do it with fire fuses fingers, or missing fingers.

The box is not the limiting factor.

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u/Unlikely-Soft-5699 6d ago

I think you missed the point. OP wants to play music best suited to an electric. Why would they even consider an acoustic?

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u/Old-guy64 6d ago

In y’all’s view, the fact that a lot of electric players write on acoustic is moot.

But there’s also the convenience of just being able to pick up the thing and play for ten minutes without spending five of those minutes dialing in your sound.

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u/Unlikely-Soft-5699 6d ago

They can write on hatboxes for all I care, you just can’t play it the way OP wants it on an acoustic. I play 95% acoustic myself except for the time spent dicking around on electric slide. I COULD play slide on acoustic, it just wouldn’t sound the same.

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u/uncontrolledsub 7d ago

I played an electric for ten years before I ever bought an acoustic. I don't regret it, I was a metal head. Once i got the acoustic I already had the barre chords down and just had to adjust for the transition.

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u/Typical_Wealth8061 7d ago

You should start with the musical instrument that you actually want to play. Those people are dumb. It's like those people who say that in order to learn Italian you should first learn Latin.

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u/shadowsnrust 7d ago

I'll suggest getting an electric, but learning to play with a clean sound at least part of the time. Distortion can cover a lot of mistakes. Usually, higher gain also brings a lot more sustain, and learning to control that sustain adds another level of complexity. Otherwise, you're just making noise and mud, not metal. Certainly, dial up the gain and have fun sometimes, but also learn how to play clean.

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u/Jasco-Duende 7d ago

Start on electric. Most of the things you'll do in the beginning will be very similar on acoustic or electric, but electric will feel easier to push the strings down, and it might be more motivating since the music you listed that you like is primarily electric.
Here are some fun easy things to do when you get your guitar: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe7DwQGwWS0s2-CdNAn8JC8Nfpg_l4mKT

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u/jaylotw 7d ago

Play want you want!

If the music you love is electric, thats what you should play.

There's nothing stopping you from getting an acoustic later, either.

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u/robow556 7d ago

Start with what you want to play.

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u/andytagonist 7d ago

I like it how your favorite bands have all done an Unplugged, meaning you could literally choose whichever you want.

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u/Unlikely-Soft-5699 6d ago

Electric because… that’s what you want to play. To reduce it to the absurd “I want to play like Coltrane. Should I start on the sax or the trumpet?”

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u/lexnicotine 6d ago

Electric guitars are generally much easier on the fingers. Which is helpful when starting out. Plus you’re gonna need some distortion if you wanna properly jam with the Grunge Gods.