do you have to learn how to play the acoustic guitar before you play the electric guitar?

is that one of my friends told me that you have to learn how to play the acoustic guitar before you learn how to play the electric one. is this true? or is it the same as just learning how to play the electric guitar strait up?

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6 Responses to “do you have to learn how to play the acoustic guitar before you play the electric guitar?”

1. Rue says:

   September 5, 2010 at 9:24 pm

   No you do not have to learn the acoustic guitar before you learn the electric. Although its a lot easier to learn the electric if you first learn the acoustic. =)
   -rue.
2. Apple Pai says:

   September 5, 2010 at 9:28 pm

   Nope.
   It’s just harder to press the strings on an acoustic guitar because they’re thicker and heavier. That means that you build up hand strength so that when you get an electric, doing chords and bending will be much easier… and you’ll know you’re pressing the strings right because acoustics buzz when you don’t!

   So no, you don’t have to start on an acoustic, but it might help you tone your hands and develop callouses so that the thin electric strings don’t cut you.
   BUT. you can build callouses on an electric too, so just go with the path you’d like to take most.
3. Questions? says:

   September 5, 2010 at 9:57 pm

   No, you can pretty much learn how to play guitar any way you want, starting off with an acoustic or electric (or even acoustic-electric). It just depends on the type of sound you are going for. I recommend starting off on an acoustic though just because it is easier to take with you and play any time you want, but if you prefer the sound of an electric guitar, then by all means go ahead and start on that.
4. Mee says:

   September 5, 2010 at 10:37 pm

   Of course not, you can play either guitar first. It’s just your preference.

   Acoustic guitars have thicker strings. It’s a bit harder to play than electric guitars for you have to press down on the strings a bit harder. It’ll be much easier to play an acoustic guitar before playing an electric guitar, but you don’t HAVE to learn it in that order. Again, it’s just your preference.
5. Wowomg says:

   September 5, 2010 at 10:56 pm

   The short answer is no, but the long answer is that learning on an acoustic will help you in the long run. Acoustics are more difficult to play due to the thicker strings and it will build up your finger strength more quickly than starting on an electric. After a few months of practice on an acoustic you will find electrics to be much easier to play and you will already have enough strength in your fingers to play chords easily. Acoustic guitars also tend to build up calluses in your fingertips more quickly which will make guitar playing a lot less painful once you start playing for hours on end.

   Acoustics are cheaper than electrics since you don’t have to buy an amp, cables, etc. with it and it will be something to play on if you don’t want to put as much money towards playing guitar at first.

   So basically you don’t HAVE to learn on an acoustic but it will be beneficial to.
6. Todd says:

   September 5, 2010 at 10:58 pm

   As others mentioned before: no, you don’t. However, most professional musicians agree that starting to learn on a decent acoustic guitar is the way to go as it has lots of advantages, most importantly, it lets you hear the ‘true’ notes. It helps you learn the music faster and you will be able to play by ear quicker.