Have you ever imagined yourself front and center, lead acoustic guitar of a band, strumming passionately to a soulful tune? Rocking out on stage with your vibrantly hued electric guitar to a song with a slamming beat and a volume that can’t be matched? Carefully plucking intricate melodies on the sweet and dulcet tone producing strings that can only be found on a classical guitar? Not really sure if you know the difference but you’ve always dreamed of becoming a guitarist? Well then you’ve come to the right place! Hold on to your picks, because you’re about to get a crash course in picking the right instrument for you.
Steel string acoustic. Ah, the bread and butter of the guitar world. Commonly referred to simply as the acoustic guitar, this beauty is certainly the most versatile of the guitar family as you can play any of the modern styles on its steel strings including rock, jazz, folk, and contemporary church music. Perfect for the novice and pro alike, the steel sting acoustic is a great place to start especially if you are interested in multiple styles of music. Practice basic chords and complicated melodies in any genre that suits your fancy, but beware! If you are not yet a seasoned player make sure to take some practice breaks because the steel strings are harsh on non-calloused fingers. But not to fear, after a few weeks of consistent practice your newly calloused finger tips will start looking and feeling like a pro’s!
The other acoustic lovely is the nylon string acoustic guitar, often called the classical guitar. The tone of the classical is comparatively much softer and more dull than its steel strung sister. While not as versatile as the steel strung, the classical is beautiful in its own right and has no equal in the classical music variety. While not meant to be used in multiple genre performances, the classical is actually the perfect instrument for a beginner (especially the young beginner) to use at home to get the feel of finger placement and strumming technique without damaging sensitive fingertips. Practice your basic chords or your intricate fingerings to your hearts content on this baby – your fingers will thank you!
And last, but certainly not least, we have the electric guitar. Who has not at one point feverishly played “air” electric guitar when listening to their favorite rock and roll jam? The biggest difference between the electric and the acoustic varieties is amplification. While the steel string can be plugged in to an amp to make its sound louder, it does not need an amplification system to be played. Not so for the electric. Some sort of amplification system or software connected to headphones is needed for the electric guitar to not only function, but be heard at all. The electric guitar is also designed with a narrower fret which can make fingering for a novice particularly challenging. So is the electric bad for beginners? Not necessarily. But dedication to practice and access to some type of amplification is necessary to succeed at the electric guitar.
And there you have it folks! Three unique types of instruments, each beautiful and challenging in its own way, that are just waiting for you to get out there and master. Still not sure which you want to try your fingers at? Schedule your first guitar lesson today with one of our experts at Green Room Studios to determine what kind of guitarist you truly are and to get top notch recommendations on brands and bargains!
