Question About Beginner Lessons

Hi All, I am a beginner with an acoustic guitar. I wondered if there is a place for beginner acoustic lessons as I am watching the beginner "What the left hand does" and the instructor is using an electric guitar. Am I in the right place?
Thanks for advice.

Hi Jill,
There isn't really any difference in the techniques and skills for playing an acoustic guitar versus an electric guitar. Guitar Fundamentals would be exactly the same course if Christopher had been using an acoustic guitar.

So you are in the right place.

Later, if you branch out into different styles, the techniques vary. Classic guitar has one style of fingerpicking, country guitar has another, modern acoustic/folk has a third. We teach all of those. But...the basic skills required before you start with each specific style are the same, and they are found in Guitar Fundamentals.

Jon

My wife and I want to learn to play Acoustic and that is what we bought. I know the Fundamentals are the same but the difference in sound is what is frustrating to me. What you hear on an electric is alot different in tone then an acoustic guitar and since my wife is just starting I thought it would help her as well as me if we heard the chords played on an acoustic instead of an electric. Sorta like tuning the ear so we hear if what we are laying is correct. I bought the course to learn guitar as well as getting the free acoustic for the wife. If I'm off base here someone please let me know.I just feel like I would rather hear an acoustic sound instead of the electric. If anyone has any ideas please let me know. Thanks

Hey trigger,
For following along on the fundamentals you'll be fine. As long as your guitar is in tune, after a few days you won't even notice because you'll be listening to your own guitar more than his. When you get to the point of playing along with the jam station tracks your guitar will sound like it belongs whether electric or acoustic.

Example: I'm sure you and your wife have very different voices, but if you sing a duet together, it can still sound good as long as you're both on key.

If anything, your wife may have more trouble getting her fingers toughened up to play on that guitar. I found that an electric and nylon acoustic allowed me to play for longer periods until my fingertips got calloused enough. Also the original cheap acoustic that I started out with had a very high action and was difficult fretting those chords using the first two frets. So if that's the only thing that keeps her from wanting to move on, you might consider a nylon acoustic. Again, you'll be saying, "this sounds so different." But after a couple days it won't sound funky to you any more.

Hi Trigger..
Maybe this will help you out a bit..
440 hertz = A at the fifth fret on 6th string in standard tuning
So all 6 string guitar in standard tuning will have the same frequency

http://www.seventhstring.com/resources/notefrequencies.html

I hope worded this right

I also started learning to play with an Acoustic, later got an Electric and then lately another Electric, and to be honest, the only difference between an Acoutsic and Electric that I've noticed (other than sound-wise) is that the Electric has a slightly slimmer neck and the strings are a bit easier to bend than the Acoustic. Other than that, there's no difference when it comes to playing them. You may need a bit more pressure to properly fret the notes on the Acoustic, but almost any technique you can do with an Electric, you can do with an Acoustic (my Acoustic doesn't have the Vibrato Bar like my two Electric Guitars do. I don't know if other Acoustic Guitars do have a Vibrato Bar).

Originally Posted by: trigger552My wife and I want to learn to play Acoustic and that is what we bought. I know the Fundamentals are the same but the difference in sound is what is frustrating to me. What you hear on an electric is alot different in tone then an acoustic guitar and since my wife is just starting I thought it would help her as well as me if we heard the chords played on an acoustic instead of an electric. Sorta like tuning the ear so we hear if what we are laying is correct. I bought the course to learn guitar as well as getting the free acoustic for the wife. If I'm off base here someone please let me know.I just feel like I would rather hear an acoustic sound instead of the electric. If anyone has any ideas please let me know. Thanks

Hey Trigger,

I went thru the program with an acoustic and played it for 1-1/2 years before buying an electric. Notes are notes and they ring out similar on both guitars (unless the electric has modified it via distortion, effects...etc). I think you'll be fine and if you're using the stock strings, dump them and buy some extra light strings (.09). Lisa McCormick has a number of fine lessons on here for acoustic that you can use in between to suppliment.

Hello,
I just got an acoustic guitar for Christmas and like the title say: I am a true beginner. I signed up for free for now but my question to you is, I really want to learn how to play the guitar well and know my instrument inside and out, so, how do I begin?, what lesson do I start out with first?, which instructor? And will these lesson teach me how to hold the guitar right?, tuning?, restringing if needed? Among other things? Thank you for your time.

Originally Posted by: Miss-EHello,
I just got an acoustic guitar for Christmas and like the title say: I am a true beginner. I signed up for free for now but my question to you is, I really want to learn how to play the guitar well and know my instrument inside and out, so, how do I begin?, what lesson do I start out with first?, which instructor? And will these lesson teach me how to hold the guitar right?, tuning?, restringing if needed? Among other things? Thank you for your time.

Hi Miss E
Start on the guitar fundamental 1. The instructor is using an electrical guitar, but he will teach all you need to get started on the acoustic.

Carmine

Originally Posted by: carminemarottaHi Miss E
Start on the guitar fundamental 1. The instructor is using an electrical guitar, but he will teach all you need to get started on the acoustic.

Carmine

Thank you Carmine. I took a look and yes, fundamental 1 will be a great start for me.

Miss-E