What is the difference between playing acoustic and electric guitar
You can even plug in headphones if you want to keep your sessions private. The best electric guitar will come with sound effect options, too. Acoustic-electric guitars are hybrids. You can still enjoy the portability and freedom of owning an acoustic guitar with the benefits of electrical technology if you want it. Learn more about the top electro-acoustic models. How do you choose between an electric and acoustic guitar?
It will depend on your budget and musical goals. While your budget is important, your musical goals are more of a priority. If your goal is to become a rock star, an electric guitar is a far better option, for example. If you intend to play mostly bluegrass, country, or folk music to small crowds, then an acoustic guitar will suit you better. If you want to make the same type of music, but with louder output, then you are better off with a hybrid acoustic-electric guitar.
Both the electric guitar and the acoustic guitar come in different body types. A great way of keeping the cost down when buying an electric guitar is getting a starter pack! Acoustic guitars have a lot of great tones on offer. They sound awesome when you hit an open G chord and also sound great when you finger pick the softest of melodies. As well as this you have YOUR sound with you when you have an acoustic guitar.
So if you want to rock up at a party and play a few of your favourite tunes, the acoustic guitar is the perfect option. However bare in mind, acoustic guitars are limited to one sound, you cannot add effects to an acoustic guitar. Most amps have a clean channel and a distortion channel, so instantly you have more tone options than an acoustic. We can also enhance our sound by adding effects pedals to our guitar sound. Want to learn more about pedals?
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We share ninja tips for instant fun! Acoustic guitars are often considered harder to learn. This is due to the strings being heavier and the height of the strings being higher than standard electric guitars. You only really notice this for the first few months of playing, after this your fingers adjust and become stronger. Your local guitar shop will do this for you for a small fee.
The space between each string is wider on an acoustic, so when it comes to learning lovely open chords, you have lots of room to put your fingers. Picking an acoustic guitar can help your technique develop quickly and efficiently. Want to learn acoustic guitar? Acoustic guitars come in a wide range of sizes. If the size of your guitar is wrong, this can often make learning the guitar difficult.
Electric guitars are easier to play. The strings are lighter and far more comfortable than acoustic guitars. One key aspect which makes electric guitars so appealing is that they are a lot smaller than acoustic guitars, so it does make learning more comfortable.
Early acoustic guitars relied on just wood and strings to project sound. But as technology and needs changed, so did the world of acoustic guitars. First, players began amplifying their guitars with microphones. Later, electronics were added so that acoustic players could plug into guitar amps and PA systems. When you picture an acoustic guitar, you may think of genres like folk and bluegrass.
The truth is, the acoustic guitar is ubiquitous in music—from rock to country to hip-hop to pop. To hear its versatility, check out this playlist of Taylor artists. Wood and strings are still at the heart of the electric guitar, but so are magnets and wires.
Unlike its acoustic counterpart, the electric guitar relies on electronics to amplify its sound. They make up for this with pickups.
Without getting too technical, a pickup is essentially a set of magnets wound with wire that sits on the body beneath the strings. Each magnet works to convert the vibration of an individual electric guitar string into electricity, and this is output through an amplifier to create sound. Depending on the materials used and their configuration, pickups can sound vastly different from one another.
Popular varieties include single-coils, humbuckers, and P90s, each of which has a distinctly recognizable sound. That sound is then fed into endless combinations of amps and effects pedals for more sonic color. While popular in genres such as metal and rock, the electric guitar is a constant in almost every style—jazz, reggae, pop, indie, and more.
The most immediate difference between acoustic and electric guitars is in the way they sound. Acoustic guitars are known for unplugged volume and natural sustain the length of time notes ring out for. Strum a chord, and the wood sings. The shape, size, and wood used in construction all play a part. Some acoustic guitars might sound big and boomy with lots of bass.
Others may be quieter, with a crystal-clear high end. Each style of acoustic has a sonic personality for you to explore. Electric guitars, on the other hand, sound thin when unplugged. Hook them up to an amp, though, and they come to life. In most cases, an acoustic player will be able to play an electric comfortably and vice versa.