Acoustic Guitar vs Electric Guitar: Which Instrument Should You Choose?

Embarking on your guitar playing journey is an exhilarating step for any aspiring musician. As you prepare to delve into the world of chords and melodies, a fundamental question arises: Should you begin with an acoustic or an electric guitar? While seasoned players often have strong opinions advocating for one over the other, the ideal choice is deeply personal and depends on your musical aspirations and preferences.

This guide aims to equip you with comprehensive information to make an informed decision. We will explore the commonalities and distinctions between acoustic and electric guitars, examining the advantages and disadvantages of starting your musical journey with each type of instrument.

For a quick visual overview of acoustic versus electric guitars, Fender Play offers insightful video lessons, such as the one featuring Dr. Molly Miller, who expertly breaks down the characteristics of both guitar types.

Acoustic vs Electric Guitars: Similarities and Key Differences

At their core, both acoustic and electric guitars belong to the same family of stringed instruments. While a four-string bass guitar might be considered a distant relative, acoustic and electric guitars are more like siblings, sharing a significant amount of DNA yet possessing unique traits.

Shared Traits of Acoustic and Electric Guitars

Let’s begin by highlighting the similarities between these two guitar types. They both fundamentally function as guitars and share core components:

Six Strings: The standard configuration for both acoustic and electric guitars is six strings, providing the range and versatility for various musical styles.
Tuning Pegs: Both types are equipped with tuning pegs located on the headstock. These pegs allow you to adjust the tension of each string, thus altering their pitch to achieve correct tuning.
Fretboard: The fretboard is a crucial component of both, acting as the playing surface where you press down the strings to produce different notes.
Frets: Metal strips called frets are embedded along the fretboard at precise intervals. These frets define specific musical pitches, enabling you to play notes accurately and consistently.

However, the most crucial similarity between acoustic and electric guitars lies in the dedication required to learn and master them. Regardless of your choice, becoming proficient in guitar playing necessitates a commitment to practice and learning. You will need to familiarize yourself with a new vocabulary of chords, scales, and techniques applicable to both acoustic and electric guitars.

Whether you are drawn to the organic resonance of an acoustic guitar or the amplified power of an electric guitar, consistent practice is the cornerstone of progress. To maximize your practice effectiveness:

Consistency is Key: Establish a regular practice schedule and adhere to it. Even short, daily sessions of 15 to 30 minutes are far more effective for skill development than infrequent, lengthy practice periods.
Track Your Progress: It’s often challenging to perceive improvement in real-time. Recording your practice sessions, especially in the early stages, can provide invaluable perspective. Reviewing these recordings after a month or two will reveal the tangible progress you’ve made, boosting motivation and highlighting areas of improvement.

Platforms like Fender Play are designed to facilitate consistent practice and track your development. Their bite-sized video lessons make it easy to integrate practice into your daily routine, regardless of time constraints. Features like the Chord Challenge mode offer a gamified approach to measure your progress, encouraging you to improve chord transitions for speed and accuracy.

Key Differences Between Acoustic and Electric Guitars

Expanding on our sibling analogy, acoustic and electric guitars, while related, possess distinct characteristics:

Hollow Body vs. Solid Body: Acoustic guitars are easily identified by their soundhole, typically centered on their hollow wooden body. This hollow construction is fundamental to their sound production. The soundhole facilitates the projection of sound produced by string vibrations within the body, creating volume and resonance without external amplification. Conversely, electric guitars feature a solid body, which houses the electronic components responsible for their sound. Instead of a soundhole, electric guitars utilize pickups – magnetic transducers positioned beneath the strings. These pickups convert string vibrations into electrical signals that are then transmitted to an amplifier to produce sound.
Body Size and Comfort: Acoustic guitars tend to be bulkier and deeper in body construction compared to electric guitars, which are typically thinner and flatter. While an electric guitar might feel slightly heavier in your lap due to density, its slimmer profile allows it to sit closer to your body. This design often translates to enhanced playing comfort, as your strumming arm doesn’t need to extend as far over the instrument’s body.
Neck Profile and String Spacing: Electric guitars commonly feature a thinner neck profile and narrower string spacing compared to acoustic guitars. This means the strings on an electric guitar are closer together and have less distance from the fretboard. In contrast, acoustic guitars generally have a wider, thicker neck. Consequently, the strings are spaced further apart, and the distance between the strings and the fretboard is greater. This wider spacing and higher action (string height) on acoustic guitars typically require more finger pressure to fret notes cleanly.
Portability and Setup: Acoustic guitars offer inherent portability. The instrument itself is self-contained, requiring no additional equipment to produce sound. You can simply grab your guitar and a case and be ready to play anywhere. Electric guitars, while individually portable, necessitate additional equipment for amplification. To play an electric guitar at its intended volume, you’ll need to transport an amplifier, cables, and potentially effects pedals.

The playing experience also differs significantly between acoustic and electric guitars:

Chord Voicing: Power Chords vs. Full Chords: Acoustic guitar playing often emphasizes rich, full chords, utilizing three or more notes across multiple strings to create resonant harmonies. While standard chords are playable on electric guitars, the instrument is frequently associated with power chords. Power chords, typically consisting of just two notes (root and fifth), deliver a punchier, more driving sound, ideal for amplified music and creating impactful riffs.
Rhythm vs. Lead Guitar Roles: Building on the chord voicing differences, electric guitars are often favored by musicians drawn to lead guitar playing, characterized by melodic riffs, solos, and prominent melodic lines. Rhythm guitarists, conversely, focus on providing harmonic support, playing chords and rhythmic patterns that underpin the lead lines. Acoustic guitars are well-suited for players interested in developing comprehensive chord vocabularies and exploiting the instrument’s rich tonal qualities for rhythm-based styles. However, acoustic guitar is not limited to rhythm playing; genres like flamenco and classical guitar showcase intricate arpeggios and fingerpicking techniques demonstrating its melodic potential.
Finger Playability and Technique: As previously noted, the neck dimensions and string spacing differ significantly. The wider neck and higher string action of acoustic guitars demand greater finger strength and pressure to fret notes cleanly. Conversely, electric guitars, with their thinner necks and lower action, require a lighter touch. The closer string spacing on electric guitars can facilitate faster playing and complex techniques like legato and sweep picking, often favored in genres emphasizing speed and virtuosity.

Musical Genres Best Suited for Acoustic vs Electric Guitars

The sonic characteristics of acoustic and electric guitars naturally lend themselves to different musical genres. From the soaring sustain of electric guitars in rock to the warm resonance of acoustics in folk, the instrument choice significantly shapes the genre’s identity. Your preferred musical style can strongly influence whether an acoustic or electric guitar is a more natural fit for your musical aspirations.

While there are overlaps, certain genres are more commonly associated with each type of guitar:

Choose Acoustic Guitar if Your Musical Interests Lean Towards:

Folk
Country
Singer-songwriter styles
Bluegrass and fingerpicking music
Blues (particularly acoustic blues traditions)
Classical guitar
Flamenco

Electric Guitar Might Be Your Instrument of Choice if You Gravitate Towards:

Hard Rock and Heavy Metal
Blues (electric blues styles)
R&B
Punk Rock
Grunge and Alternative Rock
Funk
Indie Rock

Stay Informed!

Keep up-to-date on the latest product releases, featured content, exclusive promotions, and giveaways by subscribing to our newsletter.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Acoustic Guitars

Deciding between acoustic and electric guitars can be challenging. Examining the specific pros and cons of each instrument can provide clarity and guide your decision.

Benefits of Acoustic Guitars

Acoustic Guitars: No Amplifier Required

A primary advantage of acoustic guitars is their self-contained nature. Whether practicing at home, jamming with friends, or performing in intimate settings, no amplifier is necessary. The guitar itself produces sufficient volume for many situations. Simply pick it up and begin playing, making it incredibly convenient and accessible.

Fingerpicking Ease on Acoustic Guitars

If you are captivated by fingerstyle techniques found in flamenco, classical, or bluegrass music, acoustic guitars often provide a more comfortable platform. The wider string spacing on acoustic guitars offers more room for individual finger movement, facilitating intricate fingerpicking patterns and nuanced articulation.

Acoustic Guitars: Practice-Friendly Instruments

While not universally true for all players, acoustic guitars are often considered easier to practice on from an equipment perspective. They eliminate the need for amplifiers, cables, and power outlets, simplifying practice sessions. Furthermore, the direct, unamplified sound of an acoustic guitar can enhance ear training. You hear the pure tone of the instrument, making it easier to discern subtle nuances in pitch and tone. However, it’s important to note that the higher string action on some acoustic guitars can require more finger strength, potentially posing an initial challenge for beginners or those with smaller hands.

Alternate Tunings on Acoustic Guitars

Contrary to a common misconception, alternate tunings are not exclusive to electric guitars. While genres like metal often utilize drop tunings on electric guitars, acoustic guitars are equally adaptable to a wide array of alternate tunings. For example, Open D tuning, popular in folk and indie music (favored by artists like Joni Mitchell and Mumford & Sons), unlocks rich, resonant sounds and facilitates slide guitar playing on acoustic instruments.

Acoustic Guitars and Capos

Capos, devices that clamp onto the guitar neck to raise the pitch of all strings simultaneously, are valuable tools for acoustic guitarists. While usable on both types of guitars, acoustic guitars typically benefit more from capos due to their rounder neck profiles and higher string tension. Acoustic capos are designed to accommodate these factors, allowing for precise and buzz-free pitch changes across the fretboard. They can be positioned further up the neck without compromising sound quality, offering versatility in key changes and chord voicings. While electric guitars also use capos, they are often designed with a flatter radius and less tension in mind.

Slide Guitar Techniques on Acoustic Guitars

Slide guitar, a technique involving sliding a metal or glass slide along the strings to create smooth, gliding tones, is deeply rooted in acoustic blues and folk traditions. While electric slide guitar is also prevalent (think Duane Allman’s iconic “Layla” solo), acoustic guitars offer a unique resonance and raw character ideal for slide playing. For acoustic slide, heavier slides made from thick-walled glass or brass are often preferred to enhance sustain and tone. Lighter slides are generally favored for electric slide guitar.

Acoustic Guitars: Often More Affordable

Generally, acoustic guitars, especially beginner models, tend to be more economically priced than comparable electric guitar setups. The initial investment for an acoustic guitar is often lower as it doesn’t necessitate the additional purchase of an amplifier and cables. While affordable electric guitars are available, the overall cost of an electric guitar package, including essential accessories, typically exceeds that of an acoustic guitar.

Drawbacks of Acoustic Guitars

Limited Sonic Versatility

While acoustic guitars possess a beautiful, natural tone, their sonic palette is inherently less flexible compared to electric guitars. Acoustic guitars cannot be easily amplified or modified electronically. They lack the hardware to connect to effects pedals or amplifiers, limiting your ability to alter their sound with distortion, reverb, or other effects.

Bass Response Limitations

For genres that demand a strong low-end presence, acoustic guitars may fall short. Electric guitars, through amplifier controls and effects, can readily adjust bass and treble frequencies, allowing for a significantly enhanced bass response. Acoustic guitars, in their natural form, offer a more defined, but less easily manipulated bass frequency range.

Finger Discomfort for Beginners

A common initial challenge for acoustic guitar beginners is finger soreness. The higher string action and thicker strings on many acoustic guitars require more finger pressure to fret notes cleanly. This can lead to finger fatigue and discomfort, especially in the early stages of learning before calluses develop. While most acoustic guitars use steel strings, nylon-string acoustic guitars (classical guitars) offer a softer playing experience and can be a gentler option for beginners.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Electric Guitars

Electric guitars, like acoustic guitars, have their own set of benefits and drawbacks that should be considered.

Benefits of Electric Guitars

Volume and Tone Control with Electric Guitars

Electric guitars offer unparalleled control over volume and tone. Unlike acoustic guitars, electric guitars are equipped with volume and tone knobs directly on the instrument. When connected to an amplifier, you gain further control over volume, gain, equalization (bass, mid, treble), and a vast array of tonal shaping options. For quiet practice, headphones can be connected to many amplifiers, allowing for near-silent playing. Volume control on an acoustic guitar is limited to the dynamics of your strumming or picking.

Ergonomic Design of Electric Guitars for Learning

The typically thinner body profile and ergonomic design of electric guitars can make them physically easier to handle, especially for beginners. The slimmer body allows the guitar to sit closer to the player, reducing strain and improving comfort. Acoustic guitars, with their deeper bodies, can require the player’s arm to reach further around the instrument, which can be less comfortable for some.

Visually Striking Designs of Electric Guitars

While acoustic guitars often showcase the natural beauty of wood finishes, electric guitars offer a wider spectrum of visual aesthetics. They come in diverse shapes, vibrant colors, and finishes. Iconic body shapes, eye-catching colors like Surf Green or Fiesta Red, and ornate details make electric guitars visually appealing and expressive. For some players, the aesthetic appeal of an electric guitar can be a motivating factor, encouraging more frequent practice and engagement with the instrument.

Extensive Variety of Electric Guitar Types

Electric guitars are available in an immense variety of styles and configurations. Beyond the standard solid-body electric guitar, there are semi-hollow and hollow-body guitars, each offering unique tonal characteristics. Semi-hollow guitars, like the Squier Starcaster, blend aspects of solid and hollow bodies, producing a warmer, more resonant tone suitable for genres like blues and jazz. Hybrid instruments like the Fender Acoustasonic further blur the lines, combining acoustic resonance with electric guitar versatility, offering a “best-of-both-worlds” approach.

Electric Guitars Excel in Soloing

Electric guitars are specifically designed to facilitate lead guitar playing and soloing. The thinner neck, lower string action, and electronic amplification create an ideal platform for fast, fluid playing and expressive techniques like string bending and vibrato. Amplifiers and effects pedals further enhance soloing capabilities, allowing for sustain, distortion, and a vast range of sonic textures to elevate lead lines.

Drawbacks of Electric Guitars

Higher Initial Cost of Electric Guitars

Electric guitar setups often represent a larger initial investment compared to acoustic guitars. Even entry-level electric guitars typically require the additional purchase of an amplifier, instrument cable, and potentially other accessories to be fully functional. While affordable electric guitar starter packages are available, they generally cost more than acoustic guitar bundles. However, for players drawn to the sounds and styles associated with electric guitars, the increased cost may be justified for the instrument they truly desire to play.

Tuning Challenges for Electric Guitar Beginners

Tuning an electric guitar is not inherently more difficult mechanically than tuning an acoustic guitar. However, the amplified nature of electric guitars and their prevalence in genres with diverse and often non-standard tunings can present a steeper learning curve for beginners. Genres ranging from rock and metal to experimental music frequently employ alternate tunings. While digital tuners simplify the process, learning to tune by ear can be initially more challenging on an electric guitar, especially when navigating different tuning systems. Tuning an acoustic guitar by ear may be perceived as “easier” due to its pure, unamplified sound, but digital tuners are equally effective for both instrument types.

Electric Guitars Can Be Heavier

Electric guitars are generally heavier than acoustic guitars. The inclusion of pickups, wiring, and other electronic components within the solid body adds to their weight. The average electric guitar weighs between 6 to 12 pounds, while acoustic guitars typically range from 2 to 6 pounds. While acoustic guitars are bulkier in body size, their hollow construction makes them lighter overall. However, lightweight electric guitar models, such as the Squier Mini Jazzmaster, are available, offering enhanced comfort without sacrificing electric guitar features.

Acoustic vs. Electric Guitars: Which is Right for You?

Ultimately, there is no definitively “better” choice between an acoustic and an electric guitar. The optimal instrument is the one that best aligns with your individual musical goals, preferences, and the type of music you aspire to play. Choose the guitar that inspires you to pick it up and play regularly and that resonates with your musical tastes.

If you are still undecided, Fender offers resources like the Find Your Fender app. By answering a few questions about your musical interests and preferences, the app can suggest suitable guitar models, helping you narrow down your choices and find the perfect instrument to begin your guitar playing journey.