Worried for my friend who learning how to play

[Matt Wildman]

My buddy has decided to buy an electric guitar and an amp. He doesn’t know how to play and wants to learn how, I tried to convince him to start on his acoustic but he wants to jump straight to “the good stuff” lol. I know it’s best to start with acoustic first because that is what I did, but do you guys think it will hurt him very much in the future when he wants to play acoustic?

 

[Ed Seith]

I actually don’t entirely support the “acoustic first” in every case. Yes, learning acoustic first will make electric easier later, but it HURTS a lot more to learn acoustic, and it’s slower going, and if the learner is someone who is easily discouraged or has a low pain tolerance, the acoustic starter could scare them away.
I started electric. Decide for yourself if that’s a pro or a con.

 

[Jak Angelescu]

Hi there Matt! I think it’s great that you’re trying to look out for the well being of your friend and their future endeavors. I do personally believe that ed is right, as long as they are getting started it doesn’t really matter what they start on. Slash first learned how to play guitar on a beat up one-stringed Spanish guitar. So as long as he has the Passion to start, it shouldn’t be a problem. But I would probably encourage him to learn how to play on an acoustic immediately anyway. And tell him this, and maybe it may help him… as soon as you tell anybody that you know how to play guitar, they are going to want to see you play! And it’s really hard to play for a small group of friends on an electric with hardly any sound. An acoustic is more ideal for being able to take it anywhere and play for anybody regardless if you have to lug and amp around or not. So I definitely see pros and cons to it. Just let him be aware of both, and let him make his own decision

 

[Jak Angelescu]

Also tell him this, more than likely, the people who know how to play the “good stuff” know how to play on an acoustic to some degree. The people who know how to play the “good stuff” are very well rounded musicians

 

[D K]

I think the most important part for learning guitar is that you actually enjoy it, so if he wants to play electric rather than acoustic he definitely should.

 

[Noah Berends]

I started on electric and I don’t remember any scenario where that’s hurt my playing or learning. I actually didn’t buy my first acoustic until I’d been playing for about 3 years. There are valuable things you can gain early on from an acoustic such as a bit more finger strength early on and the callouses, but as far as learning the fretboard, theory, etc., there’s no advantage of an acoustic over an electric. They’re both the same tuning and layout obv so one’s not gonna help his book knowledge more than another.

 

[Matt Wildman]

That makes me feel better. I guess I was always just used to people I’m around that play guitar saying it’s bad to start with electric. Now i see how it doesn’t really matter tho

 

[Sayonil Mitra]

I also believed in the system that starting on acoustic is better. But now I see that starting on acoustic/electric-Both are OK. Still, it will be nice he can lay his hands on an acoustic as well in the beginning. Maybe get a taste of both and develop whatever he feels comfortable with. Learning acoustic will be painful at first for sure but eventually the fingers will be stronger and he can play almost anything in the future (See, still a believer in “acoustic first” school of thought). If he decides to start on electric, I think he should avoid distorted tones for practicing. Because the distortion will highlight the beginners’ mistakes way more than necessary. It might result in early frustration. Clean tones will give cleaner way to see and rectify mistakes.

 

[Dominik Gräber]

I can agree very much with Sayonils points. But I think it is really about what kind of music he’s into. If he is really passionate about let’s just take metal, then I see no need to start on an acoustic. There is a big space for frustration on acoustic and also there are things that electric guitars can do that acoustics can’t. (Or not quite as good) If we stay in metal, at some point you want to perform some legato action, hammer ons and pull offs, pinch harmonics or double scream bends. You can learn that pretty quickly starting on the right instrument, the electric guitar. So I think it makes sense to start on the kind instrument you want to end up with.

 

[Matt Wildman]

Good point Dominik. He’s a really big Evanescence fan like me so it’s a good choice for him to start on electric. Evanescence likes to use those pinch harmonics and squeals A LOT