Should You Start on Acoustic if You Want to Play Electric Guitar?

Should You Start on Acoustic if You Want to Play Electric Guitar?

Today we're talking about whether practicing on an acoustic guitar with the end goal of playing electric is a bad idea, and what could happen when you take this approach.

My Experience: The Journey of Growth

A little background here: I’ve been practicing for a lot of years now, and if you’d asked me 20 years ago if it’s possible to get good at electric guitar by practicing on an acoustic, I would have laughed. I would have said, “No way, I need an electric guitar to get anywhere.” But fast forward to today, and I still find myself lacking in areas like timing, rhythm, and harmony.

I’ve spent years practicing with a metronome and jamming along to backing tracks, but my sense of rhythm and harmonic intuition could still use some work. That’s when I got myself an acoustic guitar, and let me tell you—it changed my perspective. Even though I still couldn’t play it well, I found that it made creating harmony super easy. I could just hit a note, and there was harmony. It wasn't the same with the electric guitar, where I often needed a backing track to get that same harmonic feel.

Rhythm and Timing: Why Acoustic Helps

When I used to practice with electric guitar, it was easy to rely on the backing track to handle the timing for me. I didn’t need to think too much about rhythm. But when I sat down with the acoustic, I had to rely on my timing and rhythm much more. And guess what? That’s a huge bonus. Acoustic guitars have a natural percussive sound, and it forces you to think about rhythm in a more active way, even if you’re playing lead.

With electric guitars, you can get away with neglecting rhythm by just shredding through your lines. But with an acoustic, you can't hide from rhythm. You have to develop a sense of timing that enhances your playing, especially when you go back to playing lead on electric. It’s not just about cool lines—rhythm is key, even when you're soloing.

Could You Start on Acoustic and Be Fine?

Looking back, I think starting on acoustic would’ve been a better option for me. I had classical nylon-string guitars around, but I didn’t understand their value at the time. If I’d been forced to only play acoustic, I believe it would have given me a better foundation. Acoustic guitars naturally improve your understanding of harmony, rhythm, and timing, and that’s something I wish I’d had earlier in my playing.

Starting on acoustic would have also helped me develop a better ear for harmony. The simplicity of hitting a low E string and knowing it sounds good is something that’s harder to replicate on an electric guitar. You might even need a fancy amp just to get that same clean, resonant sound. But with an acoustic, it’s right there for you. Plus, there’s something about the natural amplification in the wood and cavity of an acoustic that’s hard to replicate in any amp.

What You Can’t Do on Acoustic

Now, let’s talk about what you can’t do on acoustic. You’ll find it harder to reach higher frets, so certain techniques like tapping can be tricky. However, it’s not impossible—just more challenging. Similarly, some advanced techniques like legato can be a bit harder on acoustic, but with practice, you can still make them work. It’s not a dealbreaker.

If your sole goal is to play extreme metal with a 9-string guitar and a Marshall stack with endless distortion, then yes, an electric guitar would be your go-to. But that’s the exception, not the rule.

The Verdict

To wrap it up: You can absolutely start on acoustic and become a great player, even if you plan to play electric in the future. In fact, it might just be the better path. You’ll develop a solid foundation in rhythm, timing, and harmony—things that often get overlooked when you focus only on shredding with an electric guitar.

So, if all you’ve got is an acoustic guitar, don’t worry about missing out on anything. Just jam away, put in the work, and you’ll become a better guitarist for it. 

--Kris