Learning..acoustic vs electric

Hey, im ready to start playing and was wondering which is easiest to learn on..an acoustic or electric? I know that you can buy different strings like nylon vs steel that makes it easier to press down, but a buddy of mine told me the easiest thing is on an electric cause the neck is smaller and its easier to do chords. I have an acoustic that my father gave me, but want to make learn as easy and enjoyable as possible. Thanks!

everyone is different. you need to find what you like more. if you want to learn metallica, nirvana, slayer, pink floyd, style things you will most likely need electric, if your just learnig how to play'the basics' it can go either way.

just figureout what makes you happy. that is why your doing this in the first place.

me personally i learned on a classical. then i pined for a les paul now i have 2 and i play on a fender strat mostly. if its not comfortable for you, no matter how good you get a playing it wont be comfortable for any one who listens.

Thanks man. Since I already have the acoustic, it won't hurt to learn on it.

Like you said, you alredy have the acoustic so start learnin. Its not about whats easier to play, but what you want to learn more. I stick to mostly electric but I know some stuff on the acoustic.

For me, both are equally easy or difficult to learn. However, Acoustic requrie a bit more physical strength.

The thing about starting with an acoustic (classical or steel string) is you don't have to plug it in everytime you want to practice it.

Acoustics also help keep the peace (Literally) around the house :)

most of my friends said its an easy jump to electric after learning the fundamentals on an acoustic. Also with tougher strings on an acoustic you build up calluses and finger strength which will make electric guitars seem like pressing on soft strings. hope that helps =)

Well, I think electrics aren't as percussive. So I think they don't sound as good unaccompanied. I feel electrics are better in a group setting.

I,m going for electric mainly because it offers the choice of head phones and an amp which i already have anyway with my keyboards and i think the narrower fretboard is easier too not to forget the less strain on fingers from strings being not so hard.

Either way you're fine for starting off. A good 75% of my noodling/practicing is done on my electric, with no amp or anything....And lately, I've been picking up my acoustic a lot more again, because it really gets your fingers and technique in shape. You can't hide or fake anything on an acoustic. No massive distortion to give you endless sustain, no chorus or reverb to hide shoddy tone & no delay with infinite repeats to hide ganked or missed notes.

Besides, you really are forced a bit more to think about your playing/song writing with an acoustic since it's so bare bones compared to blasting through a 1/2 stack or with the processed tone of an effects unit. There's no harm in putting in you time on an acoustic, until the right electric comes along. Heck I only paid about $95 for mine and even though the cheap bridge pickup crapped out right away, I still more than got my $'s worth out of it.

Best of luck,

Don