Top 5 Reasons Acoustic Guitars are Great for Beginners

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If you are someone that is looking to get started playing guitar, you likely are trying to decide if an acoustic guitar is for you. There are many options for starting out, however, we will be talking about the different reasons why an acoustic guitar is a great place to start, and a few reasons why it may not be.

I highly recommend getting an acoustic guitar as a beginner. While there are some downsides like the ease of playability (in comparison to electric). However, the upsides, such as the ability to play a lot of songs out of the gate with just a few chords, and the portability of the instrument make it a great way to get started with guitar.

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So why is an acoustic guitar a great way to start?

1. You can start with just a couple of chords

Acoustic guitars are awesome because you only have to learn the chords “G”, “C” and “D” (and sometimes Em) to be able to play most hit songs on acoustic guitar.

This means that you can impress your friends by playing a song much quicker than on an electric where there are more intricate solos and chords that you will need to play before you will be confident enough playing in front of people you know.

2. There are a lot of songs you can play as you learn

One of the best things about an acoustic guitar is the number of songs that you can play right out of the gate. As mentioned above, after you learn a couple of chords, you can quickly use that to play a large library of songs that have been made over the ages.

Now, early on in your guitar hobby, you likely will want to get yourself a guitar capo (I have, and really like this one right here), this will help you change the key of your guitar to match different songs, and means you can play even more songs with the same chords you now know.

Of course, you will want to learn more chords down the road so that you don’t have to rely on this (people like to make fun of you for this, I know).

3. Acoustic guitars are portable (it doesn’t require an amp)

An acoustic guitar is a considerably more portable when it comes to equipment. All you need is the guitar, and a pick (here is a great set of picks) to be able to start playing.

Compare this to an electric guitar where you would also need an amplifier, and likely a number of pedals as well to play. This also means you need power, extension chords, etc.

This makes acoustic guitars great for people who want to take their guitar on the go with them, or even better for people who live in apartments where they can’t make too much noise.

4. There are a lot of acoustic guitarists that you can learn from

We’ll talk a bit about this later, as a downside, but it can be an upside in the way of learning how to play guitar. When there are more acoustic guitarists, there are more people that can help you along on your guitar journey.

I have learned many things from other guitarists, including songs, chords, and more. This wouldn’t be possible without the many other guitarists that play this instrument.

Why you may not want to start with an acoustic guitar?

1. The strings are harder to press down

Acoustic guitar strings are thicker, are farther from the fretboard, and have more pressure on them. Because of this, it can be more difficult for beginners to play when they don’t have the available calluses quite yet. This means shorter practice sessions and a bit more time to build up their ability.

That said, there are acoustic guitars that are built to have the strings be closer to the fretboard, and this is called a lower action, you will want to keep an eye out for guitars like that while you are shopping around. I highly recommend an acoustic guitar with low action, and lighter strings (I like these ones) to start. You will get a bit more buzzing out of the guitar, but it will be much easier to play and learn.

2. Acoustic guitars are bulky

Now, acoustic guitars may be portable because they do not need an amp and wiring to function, however that doesn’t stop them from being bulky. Unlike electric guitars, acoustic guitars get their sound and amplification from the body of the guitar, which reverberates and then casts the sound. This also means that the body of the guitar has to be larger, and bulkier.

Because of this bulk, acoustic guitars can be harder to put into your vehicle or carry around (especially in a case).

3. There are a lot of acoustic guitarists to compete with

Playing the acoustic guitar is one of the most popular entry points to learning a guitar-type instrument, and because of this, there is a lot of competition.

If you plan to become a professional musician and do it quickly, then an acoustic guitar might not be for you, as you will be up against many other musicians that are doing the same thing as you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of guitar should a beginner get?

I highly recommend that beginners start out with an acoustic guitar. You get a lot of flexibility in playing, they are considerably more portable, and are a lot of fun to play around and with other people.

Is it hard to learn to play acoustic guitar?

The acoustic guitar is by no means something you will just pick up and play, however it is not a difficult instrument to play. With enough practice, most people can become competent acoustic guitarists within months of starting.

Is guitar easier than piano?

I have found that the guitar is an easier instrument to play. I don’t think it is because of the difficulty of the instrument, but more about the ease of practice. The guitar is an instrument you can take with you, and easily pick up and play, while you have to go out of your way to practice piano.

Conclusion

An acoustic guitar is a great choice for a beginner. There are many reasons for this, but the main ones are that they are portable, you can learn from acoustic guitarists, and the strings are easier to press down. That said, there are some downsides such as being bulky and having more competition.