Guitar for Beginners – What type of Guitar Should I Buy?

Acoustic, electric, bass, acoustic–electric, acoustic-bass – there are oh–so–many different types of guitars to choose from. So, when you venture out into the world looking for your first guitar, this article should help prepare you so that you can make an intelligent, educated decision on your guitar purchase.

The first question you need to answer for yourself is what kind of guitar are you looking for? Do you want ear–damaging highs, slapped with distortion and amplifiers that will shatter glass? If so, you want an electric guitar, and they are perfect for beginners. Or maybe you would rather hear the rich sounds of hollow mahogany acoustic that could put an insomniac to sleep. If so, acoustic guitars offer a wide array of positive qualities, making them a popular choice for beginners.

Why are electric guitars perfect for beginners?

Easy as pie. On an electric guitar, the strings are thinner and easier to push down (which gives you quick action). This makes a difference because you can use half the force to push the strings down and make a solid connection with the fretboard, a struggle for many beginning guitarists. Also, this will lead to having “sore fingers” much less often than with an acoustic.
Quick results. If the guitar is easier to play, you will spend much less time focusing on learning to play basics, and more time learning to play songs and chords. Whatever tickles your fancy when you are learning to play, you should be able to learn it faster, and much more effortlessly, than with other types of guitars.
Distortion, vibrato, harmonics. All the neat things we associate with the guitar sensation can be produced with an electric guitar. You can distort or otherwise alter the sound emited from the guitar. Also, you can slide with ease, use a whammy–bar to create that insane tremelo and give a reverb that makes a cave echo sound silent. If none of these terms are familiar to you, it’s time to pick up your guitar and start learning.

A guitar that comes highly recommended as a great beginner’s guitar is a Fender American Stratocaster. The American Stratocaster guitar features three incredible–sounding pickups – a Diamondback humbucker and two custom–staggered Tex–Mex single–coils. The American Stratocaster may be slightly more expensive, but it makes up for the ticket price by providing superb sound quality. Keep in mind that you can also look for a used version if you are not sure what level of time or money you are ready to commit to playing guitar.

Why are acoustic guitars a good guitar for beginners?

•No power! Because you do not have to worry about plugging it in, you can play an acoustic guitar anywhere you want. If you want to bungee–jump and play a song whilst you bounce, by all means go for it. (Just remember that you are the one signing the release stating you are responsible for your hospital bills if you decide it was a bad idea).
•Cheaper than Electrics. Acoustic guitars are usually considerably cheaper than electrics because they require half of the equipment, and you can start playing immediately.
•Hulk smash! Using an acoustic guitar increases your finger strength and dexterity (amount of time you can play before pain sets in) faster than using an electric. This is because the strings are thicker and the bridge and nut are further away from the body of the guitar. This allows for a stronger vibration, but it also requires more force to make a solid connection with the fretboard.

So what kind of guitar should you buy? You have seen the main differences, including the pros and cons, and it is now up to you to make a decision. If you want hard rock with an easy learning curve (and have an endless supply of cash), buy an electric. If you want sing–a–long songs with chords and a slightly steeper learning curve, buy an acoustic or classical guitar. With all of the facts in mind, an electric guitar is a trouble–free way for beginners to learn, but you are open to challenge yourself with the purchase of an acoustic.