When you decide to buy a guitar, there is always the confusion of whether to go in for an acoustic or an electric guitar. When you compare the two, there are several similarities. Electric as well as acoustic guitars come with 6 strings. Tuning in both is performed with the tuning pegs. They have similar necks with the same number of frets. Someone who can play an acoustic guitar can also manage with an electric guitar.
Probably the most distinctive feature that separates an electric guitar and an acoustic guitar is the body, and the sound. Most acoustic guitars are hollow-bodied. Electric guitars are solid body constructions and come with magnetic pickups.
Electric And Acoustic Guitar Sounds
Try plucking an electric guitar. You will hear no sound unless it is plugged in and connected to an amplifier. When it is, the magnetic pickups under its strings sense the sound and amplify it via the amplifier. Acoustic guitars amplify sound with their hollow bodies when the strings are plucked. You do get acoustic-electric guitars that sound similar to electric guitars.
Techniques Used To Play Electric And Acoustic Guitars
The basic techniques are the same when it comes to chords and scales. Tuning techniques are also the same though they produce different sounds. While electric guitars sound brighter, acoustic guitars have a warmer and heavier sound. The electric guitar is played with a guitar pick, though some players use both fingers as well as a pick, depending on the type of music they are playing. They also use techniques like string bending, whammy bar, tapping, etc. You can produce all the sounds you like without the worry of disturbing people as you can use the headphones that come with your amplifier. Acoustic guitars generally use the finger and flat picking techniques for their warm sounds. Acoustic guitar necks are wider than most electric guitars.
Is There A Difference Between Electric And Acoustic Strings?
Guitar strings come in different gauges and the string gauge of electric guitars is different from those of acoustic guitars. Electric guitar strings are of thinner gauge compared with acoustic. These strings are highly sensitive no matter how softly they are touched. It seems like they are easier to handle because of their sensitivity. If you listen to an electric guitar, you instantly recognize when a wrong note is played. Acoustic guitars are harder to play on, since the finger pressure and placement are tougher to master. Cost wise, obviously electric guitars are dearer, as you cannot do without an amplifier, cables, and leads. Acoustic guitars are portable and can be played without extra accessories.
Ultimately, the choice of electric vs. acoustic guitars is a matter of the musical style you choose, your budget, the kind of sound you want. You will find invariably that most guitar players start off with an acoustic guitar and add the electric guitar later when they are more proficient at playing the acoustic.