The top 5 reasons why starting on acoustic guitar is better than starting on electric guitar are being discussed today.
Plain and simple, each of these instruments has its advantages. However, I’m making the argument that — for beginners — the acoustic guitar is a better instrument.
In addition to settling a (possible) score on this decades-old debate, I’ll feature 5 must-see acoustic music documentaries. All of these documentaries will be focused on certain aspects of acoustic music, whether it’s making instruments or playing them!
Finally, I’ll cover Music Nomad’s premium guitar care kit. This kit packs a lot of punch, so be sure to watch the full review to see the amazing results!
As always, you can catch Acoustic Tuesday at 10 am every Tuesday in these four places:
- Acoustic Life YouTube channel
- We Play Every Day Facebook Community
- Get show notes emailed directly to your inbox.
- Listen to audio-only below or in iTunes
Links
Documentaries
https://youtu.be/_lklNYBDRC8 – Acoustic Uprising
https://youtu.be/RTYNF7TnGmc – Modern Luthier
https://youtu.be/hNACNx5UlR8 – Restrung
https://youtu.be/sAeXskZHC2o – Making a Guitar: Greenfield Guitars
https://youtu.be/DIR5NKxIHxg – Carmine Street Guitars
Music Nomad
https://www.musicnomadcare.com/Products/Guitar-Care-Kit-5-pc/ – Check out the Music Nomad 5 Piece Guitar Care Kit
https://www.musicnomadcare.com/Products/FRINE-Fret-Polishing-Kit/ – Check out the FRINE Fret Polishing Kit
Tony,
The acoustic guitar doesn’t tell you what to do. Instead you can make it talk. Also, it doesn’t nag at you and is always a faithful companion and doesn’t get fat.
Eric O.
My guitar is a friend I hug and also lean on and is always here for me.
Hi Tony, my top reason the acoustic is the best instrument? It’s your best friend! Never leaves you, no matter what your disposition. It cries with you when you are sad or lonely and it’s joyous when you are on top of the world. My favorite friend is an Epiphone PR 350, which I traded my Ovation for with my son. Best trade in my life!
Building on what you said, Tony, I’m awed by the range of octaves and harmonics that can be achieved with the guitar and add the portability and finally, the sheer beauty of the shape and finish. I really enjoy all of these attributes every time I pick it up.
Thoughts about acoustic vs. electric guitars…
1. An acoustic guitar is a work of art. An electric guitar is… a machine.
2. Electric guitar is just a variation of the actual instrument, like an electric piano or an electric violin.
3. Electric guitars – especially solid-bodies – have no sound of their own. You’re listening to the pickups & amp more than the guitar itself.
4. Learn to play on an acoustic guitar and electric guitars will be easy. Learn on an electric and you may struggle with an acoustic.
5. Lastly, the only reason we started calling guitars “acoustic” is that electric guitars became so popular, the same way we say “acoustic bass” because there are so many electric bass guitars out there. A real guitar IS acoustic.
Acoustic guitar is great because you can just pick it up and play – no mucking around plugging things in, no making volume or tone adjustments, no waiting for amplifier tubes to warm up, etc. – just pure and simple
TONY, It would be cool if you did an entire Acoustic Tuesday show on your own Guitrasenal. It would be very interesting to see all of your instruments, hear what you think about them, why you like each one and which are your absolute favorites.
I sleep with my guitar…its the last thing I play with most nights and the first thing I see in the morning…
Tony,
I am disabled and spend most of my day on the couch. I am looking for a small body acoustic guitar that would be more comfortable to play while on the couch. Most of the smaller body guitars I’ve looked at have smaller necks, I would prefer a 14 fret with a slim C wide neck. I’ve looked at a Gibson 50’s LG-2 (on line), they look good and sound great but I’m unsure of their size. What other small body guitars would you recommend?
Wanted to second the Music Nomad products. I’ve used the guitar polish to bring several guitars back to life. Using a vibrating buffer with a sponge pad and music nomad polish, I’ve been able to remove light scratches and swirl marks. Makes the guitars look awesome. The fretboard oil will bring dried fretboards back to life too. Great stuff!
-Kevin
Who the heck has time to learn what all the buttons and knobs are for anyway.
Tony, I would add to what you said about how great the acoustic guitar is. I believe that the a.g. made from living wood, crafted by living hands is imbued and created with a soul. The a.g. must be played (and it doesn’t matter how well) and cared for because it indeed is a living thing that has endless creative possibility like all life. So you can let your guitar sleep in its case, but to create joy, fulfill it’s purpose, it’s glory, like all living things, it must be played. And I am a very rudimentary guitar player with no natural ability but a love for this instrument. Thanks for all you guys do Tony.
Be well,
Mike Brooks
It doesn’t wake you up in the morning begging for food and you don’t have to walk it.
Hi Tony. Thanks for all you do! The acoustic guitar is the greatest instrument because it requires more precision, both mentally and physically, which is outstanding at exercising the mind in older people along with the brain health of music itself.
Tony,
My wedding anniversary is coming up on May 8th . I was wondering how many guitar geeks like me played a special song for their wives on their guitar at the wedding like I did . I lost my wife to cancer 14 years ago and I would really love to play the guitar for her again .
Reason #54: Easy to learn, but difficult to master. There’s always more to learn and ways to grow in your practice. You can get into true “flow” that way, leading to maximum enjoyment.
Curious about thoughts on classical guitar vs steel string especially for musical pedagogy.
I am in love with my acoustic guitar. I love the way it looks. I love the way it sounds. I love the way it feels. I love the way it challenges me to grow.
My acoustic guitar spends the day in its stand right next to my chair. Whenever I’m in my chair I can just reach over and grab it and pick out a tune or practice the latest song I’m learning. I love having it handy. Not so sure my wife shares my feelings about the guitar.
Hey, I’m a TAC member, just curious how to properly value an acoustic guitar when looking to buy, whether you can play it or not (if it’s an online purchase). There are so many models and materials that fetch incredibly high prices. I know some materials are harder to procure than others but it seems like some of the costs are incredibly extravagant. How do you know it’s worth it?
Bret
Oh yah, Tony! What about the Taylor T5z!? Ha! Got you there! Just kidding, you don’t get a “full” acoustic sound like you would with a traditional guitar. But, it’s on my guitarsenal list. “One guitar to rule them all!”
This was a great Acoustic Tuesday!
Hey Tony crew and members! I just finished watching today’s Acoustic Tuesday 141 and 137 Martin vs Taylor . I really enjoyed them both and I learned a lot too. This program is so neat Tony! I feel like I have a wish to learn about or a need to know…ie guitar cleaning to the 7th chord or cool documentaries and I log in and there it is!!!! I may never leave my computer and happy to say I successfully completed my first week of playing ‘everyday!! ( i submitted my request to join the ‘We play everyday group too’.
I voted and left comment in the Martin vs Taylor Acoustic Tuesday instalment 137. What a great program! Tena S
Hi Tony, great show. Your absolutely right about that the acoustic guitar is the best.
Besides I can’t imagine tuning in to a podcast titled “Electric Tuesday”.
Thanks for the show
John from Pawling
Tony,
Great episode (141). I just watched two of the documentaries you recommended (Acoustic Uprising & Restrung) and thoroughly enjoyed the artistry. I’m just a hobbyist guitar player that got back into my acoustic jumbo when I retired (after decades of work, kids, etc. pushing guitar to the background). Thanks for introducing me to new things in the guitar universe. In fact, I have you to thank for introducing me to Emerald Guitars. I recently purchased an X30 jumbo to replace my old finger busting 1959 Silvertone (my first guitar I bought back in ~1980). The action and intonation are so much better–it’s given me even more passion for practicing and improving my skills. I can now play chords up the neck that I found impossible with my old guitar.
PS:. If, like myself, you enjoy watching a luthier create guitars, check out the Rosa String Works YouTube channel. There are several full acoustic guitar builds in the collections of videos (I’m talking a dozen episodes each!).
Tony,
I am a beginner guitar learning person. (very green beginner) I am frustrated because my dexterity in my left hand I feel it is not up to par to accomplish my lessons well. I feel I am spinning my wheels, sort of speak. Is there any exercises you may recommend for me to improve. I always wanted to learn to play the ACOUSTIC GUITAR . Now that I am retired I have the time and the will to do it. Thank you
Play, play, and play. As your calluses develop, things will come easier. There are lots of YouTube videos suited to beginners. Find one with chords for a favorite tune and it will keep things fun. I recommend this site:. https://www.justinguitar.com/songs
There are so many great free resources these days online. Stick with it. You’ll be glad you did.
Hey Tony, love the show and am a dedicated TAC member. My additional reason for the ultimate superiority of acoustic guitars is their incredible variety and fantastic blend of both art and craft. Acoustic guitars are both beautiful pieces of art and amazing feats of engineering. They can actually relate creativity, emotion, imagination and craftsmanship before they are even played. Of course once they are played all of these things grow geometrically. No debate. No competition. GOAT.
Reason number 3 ½ maybe, why the acoustic guitar is number one instrument in universe , its origination starts from a living thing, one or more trees, had to grow in a controlled environment somewhere in the world, then get selected as a source for wood to be used in the process of creating a guitar by a Luthier artisan, and with special skills acquired over time becomes / is born again as a great guitar, to begin a new life and purpose on the planet, think of all the things that need to happen for that guitar to come to life.
Reason number 3 ½ maybe, why the acoustic guitar is number one instrument in universe , its origination starts from a living thing, one or more trees, had to grow in a controlled environment somewhere in the world, then get selected as a source for wood to be used in the process of creating a guitar by a Luthier and is born again.
A reason why the acoustic guitar is the best instrument in the world: Musical instruments –including one’s voice — are revealers. Place a musical instrument to hand or mouth, give it life, and one’s soul leaps forth. Thus it stands to reason that an instrument highly nuanced of sound must express most clearly the player’s very being. And, as the novice acoustic player soon discovers, but a single solitary note beneath the fingers can be twisted, turned and made to pirouette in ways scarcely imagined in heaven and on earth
My guitar is an infinitely mystical rewarding instrument of infinite musical possibilities!
Hi Tony, really enjoy your show. I have 2 more points about acoustic guitar is way better electric. Acoustic guitar have the appreciation of different tone produce by different sound board and tone wood. For electric it was done by effect boxes, amp or pickup. Built of electric guitar is not the key to decide sound produce. I even heard much people said playing electric to have a good sound we need a good amp but not the other way round. Makes me wonder, why not just get a 200 bucks electric guitar. Change the pick to a decent pickup and there is no need to get an expensive electric guitar. 2nd point acoustic guitar built directly contribute to sound characteristics, Different body shapes, bracing constructions, wood combinations….. There are so much workmanship and knowledge on a good acoustic guitar body, definitely not a electric pickup can compare. Above is my opinions, maybe not totally right but I really like to voice out after you do it also. Thanks have a great day ahead. God bless
Hi Tony, To answer your question… Why is the Acoustic Guitar the best instrument ever… In the early 1960’s A friend of mine; Bill Driskell, impresses upon me how he could play all three parts of the Peter, Paul, and Mary’s song; Asoulin, on his Acoustic Guitar… He even showed me and to this very day… 60 tears later,,, I can play the melody, rhythm, and base all at the same time.
“Any problem you can’t solve with a good guitar is either unsolvable or isn’t a problem.”
Unknown