What’s The Best Beginner Guitar? Electric, Acoustic or Classical? (VIDEO)
In this video I discuss why I think the best beginner guitar for people to start on is an electric guitar. There are reasons why you might want to start on a classical on steel sting acoustic but for most people I think an electric is the best choice to get going. I explain why in the video, let me know your thoughts in the comments! 🙂
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I had some old fart tell me I need to start on a classical guitar about 8~9 years ago, when I wanted an acoustic with metal strings. "It would be too painful you will bleed". While I was picking a classical guitar I showed some interest in electric guitars but the seller convinced me I had to start first on a classical guitar , then on acoustic and only then on electric.
I didn't even knew about the types of guitars I just know that I liked the sound of the metal strings when I picked it in the shop.
I gave up on the classical guitar a month after. Now picking the guitar up after 8 or 9 years I decided that playing the guitar helps me relax but the nylon strings weren't to my liking. I'll finally pick up a good acoustic guitar so I can play the songs I like and make it sound right.
Justin, Thanks so much for the vid. Just a few questions please. I am beginning, BUT an adult 60s retired. would an electric still be ok? acoustic with nylon strings? my fingers aren't long enough for a classical. Since this guitar would be around for probably a few years, what should I look for in a price? I like the idea of my comp for a temporary amp. One thing is guitar center or the like the best place for me/I have one nearby. Thank you
Any recommendations for a beginner electric guitar?
Excellent, Honest, Logical advice.
i started on acoustic which sucked (for me) some days i couldn't even be able to push down a string because it hurt so much i felt like giving up and then i bought an electric guitar priced at 300 pounds and it was so much easier to play it felt better and it also matched the music i liked and now i'm more motivated to play i think he is right start on electric guitar its alot easier to play when you first start out as progress you can get an acoustic
Hi! I might be buying my first electric guitar tomorrow. I am a bit on a budget and I already got a bass amplifier. Can I play my guitar over it or would could that damage either one of them? Would rather do that and buy a good one in a few months than buy a cheap one now.
If you start with a classical guitar then you’ll build the skin up on your fingers so you’re ready when it’s time to move on to a steel sting guitar like an acoustic or electric.
Hi, I have a question: Im a weak intermediate player, have been fingerstyling with my acoustic for a while, but I really love the sound of a classical guitar. Never tried playing it, and my question is this: if I buy a classical and get used to it, AM I GONNA BE STRUGGLING TO PLAY ACOUSTIC IF SOMEONE SUDDENLY GIVES IT TO ME AND ASKS TO PLAY SOMETHING?
I recently saved up enough money and ordered a bundle that comes with a Yamaha Pacifica 012 and a Yamaha amp and I can’t wait since my current guitar is a classical guitar that has the bridge not leveled to the neck since it’s higher than it because of the broken body, I still play it everyday but it’s very hard since of its flaws however I still enjoy playing it but I’m just beginner so I can’t wait that transition over to the new electric
best beginner guitar today acoustic or electric
Hi, I am starting to learn guitar, I have an old (30 year) Greco that is really bit up and need a new one, looking to buy Alvarez, Martin Or Takamine, in the 350-600 range. what do you recommend? looking at the Alvarez AD70CE or the Martin DCX1AE or the Alvarez AG70CEAR and some other Takamine, but I really really like a light color top with dark sides and back. if you can recommend another brand is welcome.
My 2 cents worth. I started with a steel string acoustic. Stopped playing for ages, then started again wondered why my hands hurt with bar chords. Apparently the neck is bowed at the top, no wonder. Justin is right, but you can get a nice clean tone out of a reasonable electric as well, but if you make a mistake it gets amplified.
Is fender start acoustic good for beginners?
well, I was lucky enough to search thoroughly before buying my first acoustic, and I finally settled on the Yamaha F310. low action, very loud (too loud for my neighbours' taste probably), decent for the years to come, and I absolutely love it too. now looking for an electric… still don't know whether to get a Les Paul or an Ibanez SG. I'll probably end up having both of them, and a Strat on top of that too… I actually want the electric in order to play at night without bothering anyone. looking forward to the day when I'll be able to shred…
Hello, I'm 8 months into guitar playing and I have finished the beginners course by Justin.
I was thinking of buying an electric guitar as I have a lot of problems with my cheap beginners acoustic guitar.
What would you guys recommend me to do? Buy an acoustic or an electric?
I like the crisp sound you get on an electric and I think I can play jazz on an electric. I love the Jazz sound!
Justin I could not let this go without a vote of thanks, I am a 66 year young, handicapped pensioner who has for the past 50 Years longed for fingers that could have tunes and melodies flying across the strings of an equally aged Stratecaster, able enough to put a couple of chords together and prove to the world that back in the 60's I made the wrong choice of studying engineering.
There but for my fathers need to have a son follow in his footsteps, I to could grow hair past my shoulders, wear faded Levi 501's that had never been washed, thumb my nose at the establishment, grow my own garden herbs and stay up past 9:30 pm, even get up at 9:30 pm if I wanted, live on love and not worry where my next meal was coming from.
But alas I became another brick in the wall, yes I learnt to conform and threw myself into a marriage, had the obligatory child (whom I absolutely love), signed on the dotted line for a millstone around my neck (read mortgage) just to have it all taken away at the whim of my now ex-wife, only to end up penniless standing in the clothes I wore (Levi 501's and the shirt on my back which were not washed at the time) all by the age of 30.
It's funny to look back now that point in time (1982) I could have been the lead guitarist for any number of groups and be selling my old Levi 501's for $1,000.00 a pair and not having to wash them first.
So here I am aged 66, forced into retirement, a brand new beginner, finally finding the time, money, desire and approval of my current wife (whom I absolutely love) to address the task of proving that I could have been the fifth Beatle, it could even have been Stuart and the Dominos, Emerson Lake and Thomson, I to could have been in dire straights and living in Newcastle upon Tyne.
So here I am combing through the internet, an old broken fingered, short sighted, grumpy old man, trying to find something or someone that can make dreams come true. Don't get me wrong I know it's too late and all the best spots are filled but at least I maybe able to carry a tune well enough that it can be recognised.
It's been 6 months now I've had nothing but frustration and disappointment and was ready to give up my $50.00 acoustic to anyone who could get something more than a D chord out of it as opposed to smashing it (someone could make use of it). When low and behold as luck would have it, I tripped over your site on 3 chord songbook and your comment that "starting off should be undertaken on an acoustic being a the myth spread by a world of greenies" (my take on yours).
So over the past month I managed to find a 2nd hand Schecter sgr which had a good write up for beginners at the right price instead of a Squire Fender at twice the price. Anyhow I digress, sore fingertips have vanished, my notes and chords last longer, so my snail pace strumming finally sounds like something my wife can actually tolerate and I may not quite reach the heady heights of Eric C, Mark K, Jimmy P or even George H. (R.I.P.). But there is a light at the end of the tunnel and its not a train.
You have given this old fart hope and encouragement, You may not visit these pages anymore but just in case you do you have my thanks and maybe there's another old guy out there who is in the same situation and he may just open up this comment and start to grow his hair, get those old 501's out buy a 2nd hand electric and give it a go, cause Justin you are one hell of a tutor and I will be looking for a bass player, drummer and a good rhythm player, keep going you're a shining light that has made this old man happy in his latter year, I reckon at least I've got another 20 years ahead of me so watch out for a new act to burst onto the Grammys, where there's a dream there's hope. Regards Stuart
I hate you
Norm Macdonald???
Didn't notice until you mentioned it, but it's WAY easier to bar chords on electric guitar. My friend let me borrow/have his just for fun, and the action is ridiculously lower. Might start practicing with it more.
But can you play the same things on an electric?