Classical, acoustic or electric guitar?
Not sure whether to start with a classical, acoustic or electric guitar? The best choice depends mostly on the music you want to play.
The classical guitar uses nylon strings, gentler on the fingers, although it has a wider neck. The acoustic guitar has steel strings and takes a little more getting used to, but it is ideal for accompanying vocals and playing pop, folk, indie or acoustic rock. The electric guitar tends to be very comfortable thanks to its thin strings and low action, although it needs amplification.
The main rule is simple: start with the guitar that most resembles the instrument you really want to play.
Read moreShow lessCLASSICAL GUITAR: NYLON AND A WIDE NECK
How it feels
The classical guitar uses nylon strings, softer on the fingertips than steel ones.
Its neck, however, tends to be quite wide. On a full-size classical guitar it is common to find nuts of around 50-52 mm, which increases the spacing between strings and makes arpeggios and clean fingerings easier, though it forces you to open your hand more.
So classical does not necessarily mean easier: it also depends on the size of your hands and on what feels comfortable to the player.
How it sounds
Its sound is generally:
- Warm
- Round
- Soft in the attack
- Natural and dynamic
It is the logical choice for classical guitar, conservatoire studies, bossa nova, traditional repertoire or simply if you prefer the sound of nylon.
For children it is also important to choose the right size: there are 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and 4/4 guitars, among other sizes.
ACOUSTIC GUITAR: STEEL STRINGS AND PROJECTION
How it feels
The acoustic guitar uses steel strings, usually thicker and under more tension than those of an electric. At first they can be a little more demanding on the fingertips, although a well-set-up guitar should not require excessive force.
The neck is usually narrower than a classical one, normally around a 42-45 mm nut, so the fretting hand needs to open less.
How it sounds
Its sound is usually:
- Bright
- Open
- With good volume
- Defined in chords and strumming
It is especially suited to pop, folk, indie, country, acoustic rock and vocal accompaniment.
The body shape
The size also changes the playing feel a lot.
- Dreadnought: more body and projection, especially good for strumming.
- Auditorium: balanced and manageable for combining chords and arpeggios.
- Parlor: more compact, comfortable to play seated and very interesting for fingerstyle.
If you are going to play live, an electro-acoustic adds a pickup system to connect it to an amplifier, mixing desk or interface. For playing at home only, it is not essential.
ELECTRIC GUITAR: COMFORT AND VERSATILITY
How it feels
The electric guitar also uses steel strings, but they are generally thinner than those of an acoustic and allow a lower action.
This makes techniques like these easier:
- Barre chords
- Bends
- Vibratos
- Hammer-ons and pull-offs
- Solos
That is why a well-set-up electric can be physically very comfortable even for someone starting from scratch.
How it sounds
Its sound depends on the guitar, the pickups and the amplification. We can go from clean sounds to overdrive, distortion, fuzz, chorus, delay, reverb and many other effects.
The most common pickup configurations are:
- Single coil: clear, bright and defined sound.
- Humbucker: more body, output and less noise.
- HSS: combines two single coils and one humbucker, a particularly versatile configuration to start with.
Practising with headphones
Many amplifiers and processors let you connect headphones. This makes the electric a very practical option for playing in flats or practising at night without disturbing anyone.
It is especially suited to rock, blues, metal, funk, punk, indie, pop or jazz.
QUICK COMPARISON
| Feature | Classical | Acoustic | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strings | Nylon | Steel | Steel |
| Initial feel | Soft | More demanding | Soft / medium |
| Neck | Wide | Medium | Narrow / medium |
| Unamplified volume | Medium | High | Very low |
| Needs amplification | No | No | Yes |
| Headphones | Not directly | Not directly | Yes |
| Common styles | Classical, bossa, traditional | Pop, folk, indie, country | Rock, blues, metal, funk |
| Strong point | The feel of nylon | Full sound without an amp | Comfort and tonal variety |
SET-UP MATTERS TOO
A guitar that is suitable for beginners can feel uncomfortable if it is poorly set up.
An action that is too high forces you to press harder, a nut that is too high makes the first chords difficult, and excessively heavy strings can also complicate learning.
If playing is too hard, it is not always a lack of practice: the instrument may need checking.
Read moreShow lessMAT GUITARS’ RECOMMENDATION
There is a sentence we hear all the time:
It does not have to be that way.
Classical is not a mandatory step before acoustic or electric. If you want to play rock or metal, you can start straight away on an electric. If you want to accompany your voice with pop or folk, you will probably enjoy an acoustic more. And if your goal is to study classical repertoire or play with nylon, then classical will be the natural choice.
When someone is looking for their first guitar, we prefer to know:
- What music they want to play
- Whether they will be taking lessons
- Whether they need to play with headphones
- What their budget is
- Which instrument feels comfortable to them
Motivation matters a lot. You do not need to learn on a guitar that does not interest you just to reach the one you really wanted to play.
Read moreShow lessCOMMON MISTAKES WHEN CHOOSING YOUR FIRST GUITAR
Thinking you must always start with classical
No. Every type of guitar can be perfectly valid as a first instrument.
Choosing an uncomfortable guitar
Body size, neck width and set-up matter especially for beginners and children.
Buying on price alone
You do not need to spend a lot, but you do need to choose an instrument that tunes properly, is comfortable and lets you learn without fighting against it.
Choosing based on someone else’s taste
Your teacher, a friend or a relative can advise you, but the music you want to play should be a fundamental part of the decision.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I have to learn on a classical guitar first?
No. You can start directly with a classical, acoustic or electric guitar.
Can I put nylon strings on an acoustic?
It is not advisable. Classical guitars and steel-string acoustics are built to work with different tensions.
Nor should we fit steel strings on a conventional classical guitar, as they could damage the instrument.
Is it normal for my fingers to hurt when I start?
Some sensitivity can appear, especially with a steel-string acoustic. If you have to press excessively hard, it is worth checking the guitar’s set-up.
Does an electric make a lot of noise without an amp?
No. A solid-body electric has very little acoustic volume and can be used with headphones through many amplifiers and processors.
Is it more expensive to start with electric?
It may require a little more gear because you need a guitar, a cable and amplification, but there are affordable small amplifiers, headphone devices and starter packs.
IN SHORT
Choose classical
If you want nylon, classical repertoire or conservatoire studies.
Choose acoustic
If you want to accompany your voice, play pop, folk, indie or enjoy an instrument that does not need amplification.
Choose electric
If you want rock, blues, metal, funk or to experiment with amplifiers and effects.
At MAT Guitars we believe the best first guitar is not the one someone decides is easiest to start with, but the one that makes you want to keep playing.
Read moreShow lessStill Have Questions?
Phone: +34 954 902 550
Email: info@matguitars.com
WhatsApp: +34 647 639 532
Contact: Contact form
Conoce al experto detrás de este artículo
Gonzalo Cosín
Especialista en Guitarras, Sonido y Equipo para estudioTécnico de sonido y guitarrista, combina criterio musical y visión práctica del equipo. Te ayudará con consultas sobre guitarras, sonido y configuraciones para tocar, grabar o amplificarte correctamente.
