Guitar Players

SuzeQuze · #1 07-13-2005, 01:32 PM

Is an electric guitar easier to play than an acoustic? I mean physically since I can't seem to press the strings on the acoustic hard enough to avoid getting a buzz sound.

estranged4life · #2 07-13-2005, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

Is an electric guitar easier to play than an acoustic? I mean physically since I can't seem to press the strings on the acoustic hard enough to avoid getting a buzz sound.

and electric is easier to play since I usually tend to have the action of the neck set lower (Plus I use light gauge strings now, used to use heavy gauge strings but I had some minor tuning issues with those thicker strings), so "yes" it can be easier to play.

**mylittledemon** · #3 07-13-2005, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

Is an electric guitar easier to play than an acoustic? I mean physically since I can't seem to press the strings on the acoustic hard enough to avoid getting a buzz sound.

Yes it is SUZE. Electric guitar is much easier to start off on. Now thats my opinion of course but I would say, 90% of people would find it easier to learn on. Typically the action is "lower" on electric guitars and the fretboard radius is slimmer (for small hands). I learned on a classical/nylon string guitar, like the one Lindsey plays live on Big Love, and it has probably the biggest neck of all guitars.

HomerMcvie · #4 07-13-2005, 01:45 PM

Yep, they're right, Suze. Electric is much easier to "fret", especially when you're beginning, and have no calluses (sp) yet. That's what I learned on. Got the Rumours songbook, sat in front of the TV for a couple years, drove Mom crazy, and eventually.....got it! Don't give up!

SuzeQuze · #5 07-13-2005, 01:54 PM

Thanks everyone, that's encouraging. I've always wanted to play but I got stuck trying to learn the acoustic with tuning issues and just being too hard on myself. Also, with electric you can play with headphones, right? That way others can't really hear you practice?

**mylittledemon** · #6 07-13-2005, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

Thanks everyone, that's encouraging. I've always wanted to play but I got stuck trying to learn the acoustic with tuning issues and just being too hard on myself. Also, with electric you can play with headphones, right? That way others can't really hear you practice?

yeah as long as your amp has a headphone jack on it (most do).....you should be on your way to rocking in no time.

SuzeQuze · #7 07-13-2005, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mylittledemon

yeah as long as your amp has a headphone jack on it (most do).....you should be on your way to rocking in no time.

My friend Eric's a drummer and I thought I remembered him saying he was jealous that his sister could practice her guitar in the middle of the night with headphones while he could not practice his drums. Course, he's a hard hitter too, very LOUD.

**mylittledemon** · #8 07-13-2005, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

My friend Eric's a drummer and I thought I remembered him saying he was jealous that his sister could practice her guitar in the middle of the night with headphones while he could not practice his drums. Course, he's a hard hitter too, very LOUD.

Thats why my parents took my drum kit away and bought me a guitar.

WildInTheWind · #9 07-13-2005, 05:21 PM

I actually always prefered my acoustic. When I first got it, the strings were way to high off the fret board. I played it like that for a long time, and then finally my boyfriend shaved the nut (how wrong does that sound?) and now the strings are at a much more comfortable level. Then it seemed so much easier to play.

chiliD · #10 07-13-2005, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReFleetwoodMac

Couldn't you technically plug headphones straight into the guitar if you wanted to? It's probably one of those things that the "professionals" would destory you for doing but really doesn't matter.

No, there's no amplification from the pickups...it just wouldn't work without going through some kind of amp or pre-amp.

HomerMcvie · #11 07-13-2005, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReFleetwoodMac

Couldn't you technically plug headphones straight into the guitar if you wanted to? It's probably one of those things that the "professionals" would destory you for doing but really doesn't matter.

No. Because there's no preamp, there's nothing to amplify the sound. Even a guitar with active pickups won't(I just tried, out of curiosity. Nada). But Suze, you can buy a cheap practice amp for probably $50, or less.

Brandon, most guitar amps have headphone jacks? I have two Marshalls, two Fenders, a Music Man, and two peaveys, and NONE of them have headphone jacks.....

=Dammit Chili!

SuzeQuze · #12 07-13-2005, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildInTheWind

I actually always prefered my acoustic. When I first got it, the strings were way to high off the fret board. I played it like that for a long time, and then finally my boyfriend shaved the nut (how wrong does that sound?) and now the strings are at a much more comfortable level. Then it seemed so much easier to play.

"shaved the nut"

I think I'm having an aha moment. I couldn't play the thing without really hurting. And pain is a deterrent to me. Thank you for the info. I gotta get some strings since mine are broken. Do you have a beginner song book or something you would recommend? Maybe I'll get started on this guitar since I have it. I don't have an electric. I wish I knew how to shave the nut.

Damn that's funny.

HomerMcvie · #13 07-13-2005, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

"shaved the nut"

I think I'm having an aha moment. I couldn't play the thing without really hurting. And pain is a deterrent to me. Thank you for the info. I gotta get some strings since mine are broken. Do you have a beginner song book or something you would recommend? Maybe I'll get started on this guitar since I have it. I don't have an electric. I wish I knew how to shave the nut.

Damn that's funny.

I just bought the Rumours songbook. I mean, your fingers GO where the dots are....it's that easy.

WildInTheWind · #14 07-13-2005, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

"shaved the nut"

I think I'm having an aha moment. I couldn't play the thing without really hurting. And pain is a deterrent to me. Thank you for the info. I gotta get some strings since mine are broken. Do you have a beginner song book or something you would recommend? Maybe I'll get started on this guitar since I have it. I don't have an electric. I wish I knew how to shave the nut.

Damn that's funny.

You like that, huh? Well, if you feel like the strings are too high off the fretboard, you can take it somewhere and have the nut shaved. Teehee. Why does that amuse me so? You also may want to get a really light gauge string when you get new ones. That may make it easier on your fingers, too. I never really learned to play the right way. I usually just looked up the tabs of songs I liked, printed them out and tried to play. I had some books, but didn't really use them, so I can't recommed anything. I am just now starting to learn the right way, and I have someone teaching me. It's fun and I like playing, I just can't seem to get the hang of it no matter how much I practice.

**mylittledemon** · #15 07-13-2005, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

Brandon, most guitar amps have headphone jacks? I have two Marshalls, two Fenders, a Music Man, and two peaveys, and NONE of them have headphone jacks.....

=Dammit Chili!

I have a Boogie amp, a Peavey amp, and Behringer amp and two of the three have headphone jacks on the back where the tubes are. Dont know what kind of amps YOU'RE buying!! *wink*