Electric Guitar for beginners?

124124

Hello all,

I can't resist the temptation anymore, and I have decided to take the plunge. I really want to learn to play guitar - (mostly foreign and other popular tunes). I was wondering if its alright if I start off with a cheap electric guitar instead of an Acoustic guitar? I thought electric guitar (with headphones) would be a lot easier on my housemates, but was wondering if its Okay to start learning with an electric guitar?

And what would be a brand/model that I should look for (planning to get second hand one, to start with).

Thanks in advance for any comments/suggestions.

124.

bombidol

The whole idea of learning on an accoustic and then moving on to an Electric is pretty much a myth. id recommend buy buying an Electric. Fender Squire do starter packs that give a decent level of quality for the money involved. I think Argos and places like that do the packs, but if you are in town, give your business to one of the actual music stores instead,, (NOT waltons)
Let us know if you need a hand with anything

the fnj

Originally posted by bombidol
The whole idea of learning on an accoustic and then moving on to an Electric is pretty much a myth.

I'd have to disagree you will build up better dexterity in your fingers if you play and acoustic first and then move to electric, the electric is much easier to play so it's easier to build up bad habits. An acoustic is less forgiving making it better for beginners.

Washout

Id agree with The FanJ but ?Id like to add my 2 cents in satying that I believe that the accoustic and eletrci guitars are two completely different instruments...I find anyways.

With electric if your into rock your gonna tend to just start messing around specially when you discover power chords I found that I just started getting into bad habits (ie power chords with distortion) with the electric..i got an electric about 5 months after buying an accoustic. I actually felt i went backwards when i picked up my accoustic again. I now have me electric guitars packed away and just gone completely mad on playing accoustic. at the moment playing scales boring but worth it for the end result as im discovering.. If you learned these scales on electric you wont build up dexterity or strength of fingers.

Giblet

It's much harder to sound cool on an acoustic.

Don1

It's worth it if you can stick with the acoustic. I went the way of the electric and let's just say the habbits I've picked up are less than desirable! Also I can't play acoustic for peanuts!!!

124124

For all suggestions and comments!

I did further reading on the net about this, and all suggestions was equally mixed (or may be a bit inclined towards electric).

In general, I have come to the conclusion now that, people who are experienced with Acoustic or started off with Acoustic and then migrated to electric, always recommends Acoustic.

Those who started off with and continues playing electric guitar highly recommends electric.

In general, I think its the poor, clueless newbie's call. If he has money to lash out, and not sure if he is going to stick to this sound-making, cool-looking thing with a shoulder strap (that is, not too passionate, still like the coolness about being able to play some tunes) should start with an electric guitar. Because of its easier learning curve, very satisfying output etc.

Die hard, passionate wanna-be-Santana's, who are willing to go to extremes to learn should (MUST) start with acoustic and get their basics straight.

But as a utterly hopeless newbie, I am still lost!! I think I will hit the seconds' market for a cheap electric guitar. )

Any comments?

bombidol

I bought an Accoustic when i was a kid but it was only when i got an electric that i started to actually learn and get into it.

Giblet

Ok lets put it this way, I started on acoustic, and look how great i am now

ferdi

everyone starts on the freekin acoustic guitar, including me...and i play bass.

kanurocks

iT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TECHNICALLY.BUT ACOUSTIC {IE STEEL STRUNG ONES} WILL HELP THE CALLISIS ON YOUR FINGERS ,AND WHEN YOU BAR FRETS ON A ELECTRIC IT WILL SEEM SO EASY.THE OTHER THING IS YOU CANT JUST BUY A GUITAR AN HEADPHONES YOULL HAVE TO BUY AN AMP .COSTLY,.PERSONALLY I WOULD BUY AN ACOUSTIC:p

mirv

Unless you get a headphone amp, or something the signal from the electric guitar wouldn't be enough to power the headphones by itself. Also, it depends also on string guage, heck if you play electric with .13 gauge strings, then you'll get most of the benefit of an acoustic's unforgiving qualities.

Not only that, but acoustics are harder to set up, and a well set up acoustic can be every bit as easy to play as an electric. The other thing is that an electric will cost more to get the right sound in terms of pedals/amps/effects, as opposed to an acoustic with a shoulder strap and cappo.

124124

I have a Dell Inspiron laptop and a Creative Extigy with a Medion, 400W (total PMPO), 5.1 surround speakers.

Creative Extigy has MIDI input (one standard 5-pin DIN connector) and a standard headphone out.

Okay, now you all know that I am totally clueless about guitars! So, with the above mentioned hardware in my toy collection,

1) on the seconds market I should be looking for an electric guitar (with out Amplifier)? Can I use this Exity and speakers if I really want to impress my friends (or annoy my neighbours)?

2) And I should also get a cable to connect this guitar to Extigy? (a 5-Pin DIN connector MIDI cable? )

3) I read a lot about electric guitars, but the more I read, the more confused I get. Gibson who? Can you suggest a brand or two (and of course a model name/number) that I should look for. If you are wondering what my budget is - its between 100 to 200 quid – I know its less, but it's a very cautious start!!

mirv

You won't be able to use MIDI, unless you fork out about 400-500 euro for MIDI pickup (the bar in the middle of the guitar which picks up the sound), and you won't have distortion or overdrive (distortion being the noisy overamplified sound you hear rock bands playing) without a proper amp or a pedal, but you would be able to connect it to your guitar and play it 'clean' without any effects with little hassle. However it won't sound the best.

Karl Hungus

I've an audigy 2 platinum.
Use the Line In 2 and you'll be flying.
Just get a standard guitar lead.

Dont listen to mirv.

You should also be able to get some programs to add distortion/overdrive/effects as per your discretion. Or shell out on a pedal.

124124

Any suggestion on brands/models to look for? My budget is a 100-300 and looking for second hand items.

RicardoSmith

My advice is find someone who knows about quitars and let then show you what to look for. The things that are important are the action (height of the strings from the fret board) should be not too high and not too low. There should be no buzzing by any of the frets. The Neck of the quitar should be reasonably straight. The joint at the neck of the quitar should be well fitted. If it looks sloppy, walk away. The machine heads shouldn't slip but should move easily. Listen for the resonance of the sound through the quitar. The more resonance you feel through the body of the quitar the better IMO.

Go to the library or a book store and borrow or buy a decent quitar book. Theres lots to look out for when you are buying a quitar. Even mates who claim to know a lot often don't.

Its impossible to play an acoustic quitar quietly. Even an electric makes noise even without an amplifier. So if you have noise sensitive house mates this may be a problem.

You can plug a quitar through a PC, but you'd be much better with a lttle practise amp if buying an electric. But get one that can be powered by the mains, even if its a battery one.

Personally I think of the acoustic and electric as completely different instruments. Buy which ever you most want to play not the one you should play. Music is about doing what you want to do not what you should do.

Buy a book with tunes you know well and really like. Learn to play from that. Its much more fun than practising chords on an acoustic is all you want to play air quitar or whatever floats your boat.

kanurocks

your only starting you dont need to be that serious .just buy a guitar, you dont need books or experts.
k

RicardoSmith

Originally posted by kanurocks
your only starting you dont need to be that serious .just buy a guitar, you dont need books or experts.
k

Personally if I was buying something worth 150-300 I like to know its not a complete piece of junk. Also its very easy to develop bad habits which are hard to shake later.

bombidol

im selling an Elec in the for sale board if you are still shopping around