Acoustic or Electric for Kids Beginner Guitar Lessons

Is Acoustic Guitar Best for Beginners?

Acoustic guitars are a popular first choice because they’re simple. You don’t need an amplifier or additional equipment. Pick up the guitar and you’re ready to practice. They also work especially well for students interested in singer-songwriter music, folk, country, acoustic pop, worship music, or classical and fingerstyle playing. However, acoustic guitars aren’t necessarily easier for a beginner. Steel-string acoustic guitars generally have thicker strings and require more finger pressure to produce a clear sound. New players may experience some fingertip soreness as they build strength and calluses. For many students, that’s simply part of learning the instrument. For others, particularly younger children with smaller hands and less hand strength, an electric guitar can actually make getting started easier.

Is Electric Guitar Easier to Learn?

In some ways, yes. Electric guitars generally have lighter strings and slimmer necks, and the strings require less pressure. That can make fretting notes and forming chords easier for beginning hands.

CAA guitar instructor Chad Thompson recommends electric guitar as a starting point, particularly for younger students:

“I would start on electric because it’s a much easier instrument to learn, especially for smaller kids with less hand strength. Beginners tend to pick things up more quickly on an electric and can start actually making music sooner, which keeps them engaged in learning.”

CAA guitar instructor Scottie Jordan agrees when asked which type of guitar is best for kids just starting out in guitar lessons:

“I say electric because it’s much easier to fret than an acoustic. Some people think you have to start with acoustic, but that’s a myth. Make it easier for the beginner, and they’ll tend to stick with it longer.”

Their advice points to something that’s easy to overlook when choosing a first instrument: early success matters. When beginners can produce notes and chords without struggling against the instrument itself, they can get to the rewarding part sooner, actually making music. That early progress can be especially important for children who are developing both hand strength and coordination.

Electric guitar can also be an especially good choice for students who want to play rock, pop, blues, alternative music, or lead guitar. The tradeoff is that an electric guitar requires a little more equipment. At minimum, you’ll usually need an amplifier and cable in addition to the guitar.

What is Best for a Child's First Guitar

For children, size and fit can be just as important as acoustic versus electric. A guitar that’s too large can make reaching around the body, positioning the hands, and forming chords unnecessarily difficult. Depending on the child’s age and size, a full-size guitar may not be the best starting point. This is one reason we recommend talking with a guitar teacher before investing heavily in an instrument. A teacher can help determine an appropriate guitar size and style for the student and help set them up for success in guitar lessons.

And don’t worry about buying the fanciest guitar in the store. A beginner needs an instrument that stays in tune, is comfortable to play, and is properly set up. A well-chosen beginner guitar can serve a student very well.

Learn Acoustic Guitar Before Electric?

This is one of the most common myths about learning guitar. There is no requirement that a student master acoustic guitar before moving to electric. The fundamentals transfer between the two. Students on either instrument learn skills such as chords, rhythm, scales, note reading, tablature, technique, and musicianship.

A student who ultimately wants to play electric guitar can start on electric guitar. In fact, as Chad and Scottie point out, the lighter strings and easier fretting can make electric a particularly approachable choice for a first-time player. Likewise, someone who loves the sound and simplicity of an acoustic doesn’t need to start with an electric instrument. A student’s musical interests should be part of the decision.

Electric vs. Acoustic: A Quick Comparison

Electric guitar may be a good fit if you:

• Want lighter strings that can be easier for beginner fingers
• Are buying for a younger player with smaller hands or less hand strength
• Love rock, pop, blues, alternative, or lead guitar
• Are excited about learning riffs, solos, and different guitar sounds
• Don’t mind purchasing an amplifier and a few additional accessories

Acoustic guitar may be a good fit if you:

• Want something simple that doesn’t require an amplifier
• Love acoustic pop, country, folk, singer-songwriter, or fingerstyle music
• Like being able to pick up your guitar and play almost anywhere
• Prefer the sound of an acoustic instrument

 

Getting Started with Guitar at CAA

Charlotte Academy of the Arts offers private guitar lessons for kids, teens, and adults at our studio in Matthews, NC. Students can study acoustic, electric, or bass guitar while building strong technique and learning music they genuinely enjoy playing.

Interested in other fretted instruments? CAA also offers private lessons in banjo, mandolin, and ukulele, giving students even more ways to find an instrument and style they love.

Whether you’re choosing a first guitar for your child, returning to an instrument you played years ago, or finally ready to learn for yourself, our teachers can help you find a starting point that makes sense for your goals.

Ready to get started? Contact us to learn more about our private guitar lessons in Matthews, NC. We invite you to come in, tour the studio and enjoy a complimentary consultation. We’d love to help you find a great teacher fit for your child and convenient lesson day and time.