Question for CP musicians:
 

I have this beautiful looking white Electric Guitar that I bought for my son when he wanted to learn it as a teenager. He of course dropped that desire after about a year. I have not had the heart to sell the guitar because it's right now serving as a part of the decoration in my living room (did i tell you I think it's beautiful?). But I want it to be a little more than that. i have a lifelong desire to at least learn some guitar playing. I can't read notes, but I'm quite the opposite of tone-deaf. My learning will be slow and just for my own hobby as I slowly age toward retirement. Now here is the question:

The type of guitar playing I want to learn is way more suitable to Acoustic Guitars. But i really want to keep the Electric one. Can I learn and play acoustic stuff on an Electric Guitar? remember, the extent of my dream is to learn enough to impress my friends who are easily impressed with things like that. I have no desire to play with any band or anything.

yes you can, it'll sound alittle different, but there is nothing that you can do on an accoustic that you can't do on an electric.

It's not super easy or anything, takes time, commitment, but it'll be easier to learn the main chords, or power chords, and a base of bar chords to play the main notes to almost any song. In fact you'll notice alot of song have the same chords to them just played or strummed differently. You'll have fun

One of the downsides of starting on an electric as opposed to a nylon-string acoustic is if you've never played guitar before, the strings on an electric are going to be quite a bit harder on your fingers-they will get quite sore.

You will get your fingers in better shape playin an acoustic. But as far as reasing notes goes, you will want to look into a popular method called tablature. It is basically a diagram of 6 lines, (6 strings) with a number on it, the number being the fret on the guitar. I learned this way and everyone I know learned this way if not purely by ear. Get some guitar magazines and you will see. It is easy-peezy to read. But a tyical acoustic guitar will make you stretch your fingers more than a typical electric. I know several guitarists would warm up with an acoustic before grabbing the electric. Very similar to swinging a bat with a donut on it before you step to the plate. Either way, get a magazine, learn to read the tablature and enjoy playing the guitar.

I've always thought that it's easier to learn on a good electric (not a cheapo) than on an acoustic due to the electric's narrower neck and lower strings. Can't say that sure tho, I learned on an electric.

I learned on electric too. Cheap ones in fact. In fact, I never owned an acoustic. But the finger-action on an electric is easier than an acoustic and depending on the acoustic, you have to stretch more and such. A nylon string is definitely the way to go but as someone said, you'll shred your fingertips on an electrin with steel or nickel strings.

The advantage of an electric is "the bend". So much more you can do on an electric than an acoustic, but you will never get that acoustic sound if that is what you are after.

My brother in a flamenco guitarist and can just shred on an acoustic. Put an electric in his hands and he looks lost. It is all in the style you want to play.

What type of guitar playing are you wanting to learn? If it's classical style, my advice is to buy a guitar suited to that purpose.

:hmmm:
I would disagree. Unless the electric is setup like SRV or ACDC/Led Zep, the electric strings will be significantly smaller in gauge and require much less pressure to fret the note.

My Telecaster is set up with .48-.12 (low to high);even with low action in relation to the fret board it stilll requires more pressure to fret than my Kramer which is set up .46-.09.

As many have said, it is possible to learn the songs on electric etc; but it will not sound anywhere near the same; particularly on a solid wood electric (non-hollow body). the downside is, once you learn a given catalogue of acoustic songs, the transition to begin playing them on an acoustic itself will not be as smooth as going from acoustic to electric.

Unless you plan on bending a string up a full-step on the electric strings, the pressure itself from simply fretting shouldn't kill your finger tips.

my $.02.

This is true. But that was the problem I had with younger kids that started on electric when I was teaching. I guess it's not so much the pressure, but getting it right requires so much repetition that sometimes that is what causes the soreness.

good point. I never looked at it that-a-way.

I started soley on an acoustic playing bluegrass; then after about 2 yrs started the electric; by that time (that point you make) was moot (correct finger position etc)

I also started on Acoustic playing with a bunch of Bluegrass Nazies out at Worlds of Fun. The Electric should be easier, but an acoustic will be easier to sing with and also strengthen your fingers.

Course my acoustic strings were .56's

Thanks. Good info gives me more incentive.

Since guitar probably has a longer history of nylon strings what did they use on acoustic guitars in the old times. I would think they played the hard strings.

Thanks Pete. I'll definitely check into that. I knew you had SOME redeeming value. ;)

No, really just pop. And only ambitious enough to play and sing a bit when friends get together and get silly. Did I mention I can carry a tune some too?

Not to mention, if you get really serious about it, down the road you can buy an "acoustic simulator pedal" to run through your amp, will make it sound just like an acoustic.