Learn acoustic first or go electric?

I'd like to hear opinions as to whether it's better to start out on an electric or acoustic guitar. I want to eventually play primarily electric guitar but currently have only an acoustic. I suppose I am still in the beginner phase but I have been playing for a while now and have reached the point where I know I will stick with it for the long haul. Should I buy an electric now or try to get better on the acoustic first? Some people say it's easier to learn on and play an electric and maybe others believe that it's important to learn acoustic first before going on to an electric.

The opinions on that seem to vary depending on whom you ask.
Something that happens very often is that someone who starts out on an acoustic has trouble switching to the electric guitar and vice versa. Since that seems to be a common issue, i suggest that in your case it would be better start out on an electric guitar.
This is of course not true for everyone. There are players who do not have any problems switching from electric to acoustic or the other way round.
However - It seems, that classically trained players find it much harder to switch to an electric guitar. The rockers on the other hand seem to have much less trouble picking up a classical guitar and getting used to it. This was true for me too. I have never had any problems - it took me like a day to getting used to the different neck and strings (learning the different techniques was another matter tho ;).

So if you want to end up playing electric guitar anyway, then why not start on an electric guitar.

One thing is definitely not true: The urban legend that one who wants to learn the art of guitar playing, has to start out on a classical guitar. Thats a relic from long gone times where electric guitars where not as popular as classical guitars.

Hi botanica...
My opinion is use both is possible.. Acoustic is handy for going to the back yard or friend house..
Good luck and keep on picking
\Gordon

Keep your acoustic and buy an electric. Use both, then you will be able to play both. Acoustics are harder on the fingers but they keep them fit and supple. Its nice to be able to take the acoustic out and play a bit without the amp and wires sometimes too.

Some people say it's easier to learn on and play an electric and maybe others believe that it's important to learn acoustic first before going on to an electric.

I believe this is a matter of opinion. I could be wrong

If you want your fingers to harden up, you should start on the acoustic. Electric guitar might cut your fingers. I also started on acoustic, then i got an electric after 3 months. I never had no problem converting from acoustic to electric. When you get your electric you should just pay more attention to the palm muting technique, and then i think you should be fine. :cool:

My opinion is 'whatever keeps you playing'. If eventually you wish to primarily play electric, getting one is ok.

The suggestion I've heard is that acoustic will make you better faster. In a way that's true, in that you have to gain greater strength to play acoustically. However, acoustic is itself a discipline and teaches you to play acoustically by virtue of how it sounds. That's ok and nothing to run away from and as a matter of fact, is worth embracing and to contine playing acoustically too.

That said, getting an electric and an amp will introduce new challenges and reveal weaknesses you may have known you had from playing acoustically.

While I can yammer with this stuff all day, key is to play what you want. If you know you are sticking with it and spending the money will not be wasted money, get an electric.

It's not a matter of replacing one with the other but expanding yourself.

Good luck!

This is a matter of personal preference. The way I look at it and advise others to do is choose what kind of music you want to play. If the music you want to play uses an electric guitar most of the time then I would advise buying one. Since you want to primarily play electric then I believe it would be smart to get an electric guitar when you get the chance. Good luck and let us know what you decide to do!

I'm also a relative newbie, and I started electric. Then, because I was travelling for work for a couple weeks and didn't want to lug my amp (small and weak as it is) around with me, I got an acoustic so that I could practice in the hotel. I still primarily want too play electric...but I almost never touch that one and instead do almost all of my practice on the acoustic. I also feel myself getting better faster using acoustic. You just need to be more precise with your fingers on the acoustic -- there's less room for error, which you could either find frustrating or challenging (in a good way).

Then again, I agree with the post above that says "whatever keeps you playing" is the best way to do it.

I say learn on what ever inspires you to play. The strings on the electric are softer than acoustic, but with the acoustic you will gain more strength when doing bar chords. I .earned on an acoustic, because hats all I had at the time. My nephew is learning on the electric, but it keeps him motivated to learn.

Thats a great question! THere are many trains of thought on this issue and the plain and simple fact is, the electric guitar promotes sloppy playing for beginners. Not true for everyone, but learning chords and scales on acoustic enables you to hear your mistakes and strengthens your hands. Don't get caught up in what's cool, like cranking up that new amp and ripping a a great riff, if your skills are weak, musicians can tell. Practice on both if your dying to play the electric but understand that an acoustic will not mask mistakes with heavy distortion. What you hear is what you play!!!

@ganman17:
Your point is true essentially, but it does not have anything to do with electric or acoustic since you can always play clean on an electric guitar aswell. Playing electric guitar does not force you to use heavy distortion. Infact when you play an electric guitar with a clean sound through headphones you will hear your mistakes alot clearer than on an acoustic guitar because you can adjust the volume better.

There are advantages and disadvantages on both!
With acoustic guitar, you don't need an amplifier to be able to play or practice. That said, you can go anywhere to play or practice with it. Disadvantage is that in acoustic guitar you have to press a little harder the tip of your fingers while fretting chords and that will give you a lot of discomfort, or soreness to your fingers, so to speak.
With electric guitar, you don't have to press hard while fretting. As stated above, with electric guitar, wherever you go, you have to bring the amplifier with you 'cause without it, the e.g. is useless!!
However, the truth is, everythng that you learn guitarwise, applies to both acoustic and electric.
So, make you decision based on the above comparison!
Good luck and happy guitar playing!!!

This is an update to my previous post!
For your info, I have this electric guitar which I bought many years ago. Brand is Lyon by Washburn. It has a built-in amplifier inside the sound hole of the guitar and uses a 9V battery so it can be brought anyplace to jam or practice.
Another disadvantage of an acoustic guitar is the size. It's bulky (the full size or 41") compared to an electric guitar, which has a thin and contoured shape to easily fit the human body. I have one and am having a difficulty playing with it, especially I am a "newbie" and need to see where my fretting fingers go during chord progressions, so I use the electric guitar mentioned above.
All said, it's up to you to decide! Whichever is comfortable for you, go for it!