Theres 2 different kinds of strings for acoustic
Nylon and Steel
Nylon is more for classical style playing
I would get an acous/electric

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Yeah, I wouldn't bother with a nylon string acoustic, try either a steel/bronze string acoustic or an electric. I enjoy playing electric more because it's more versatile - you can play open chords like on acoustic (although they don't sound as rich as they would on a good acoustic), and electric stuff.

It's your choice though... try both

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Just when you thought this was over, it had only just begun...

Well if you are serious about recording electric guitar, you would mic the amp and not record direct to the line-in!

Back on topic, it's very important to buy the guitar that fits the style you like most otherwise you may wind up dissapointed.

I own a steel string acoustic, a nylon (classical) guitar and an electric.

I started on the nylon and I do recommend doing so as they are extremely easy to play. The first guitar I bought was the electric (I was into rock)
then a while later I got the acoustic because my taste had changed, then a year or so after that I found myself getting into the sound of the classical guitar (the nylon sound!) so i picked me up one of those.

So basically all i'm really trying to say is think what style you like most then pick up the guitar that fits it, hey why not just go down to your local store and try them out

again NYLON for learning the very basics (they are also cheap) I should mention that they arn't terribly good for strumming but they are great for fingerpicking, so don't go thinking you've wasted your money when you come to buy your next guitar.

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Last edited by Serp on Aug-27-2004 at 16:25

Thanks midaV for starting this thread. I myself have been thinking about playing the guitar and had similar questions about whether to get acoustic or electric when I can purchase one. Very helpful advice from everyone.

I think an acoustic guitar is for me.

Sure singer. Same with me... I think acoustic it is for me as well, but i'll have to go down to the guitar center and check out the different kinds and see what suits my style.

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Sure singer. Same with me... I think acoustic it is for me as well, but i'll have to go down to the guitar center and check out the different kinds and see what suits my style.

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From experience, I recommend either an acoustic guitar (steal strings), or a classical guitar (nylon strings). You might choose one of these depending on ur style; if u like Rock and Blues, etc, I'd get an acoustic, u might get sick of the classical pretty fast.
I wouldn't start with an electric, it's far easier, but u learn much more when starting with an acoustic or a classical

quote:

again NYLON for learning the very basics (they are also cheap) I should mention that they arn't terribly good for strumming but they are great for fingerpicking, so don't go thinking you've wasted your money when you come to buy your next guitar.

nylon stringed guitars are for playing flamenco. they typically have wider frets and it is a little awkward to play certain songs that are written specifically for steel string guitars. playing flamenco however on a steel string is very difficult owing to the fret widths and to the fact that it is very difficult to do quick flamenco fingerpicking on steel strings. as for what to get. neither is easier for any particular purpose. not significantly so anyway. i do however find flamenco extremely difficult to play but it is very unique, very beautiful style of play.

at the end of the day it comes down to what kind of sound you want and what style of guitar playing you want to persue.

typically, acoustic guitars have higher string gauges (thicknesses) and so you may find them harder to play at first than electric guitars. they also have flatter fret boards making barring frets harder. however, if you can barre and hold complex chords on an acoustic guitar you can more often than not do it on an electric and it'll be easier.

i am very much in love with acoustic sounds but electroacoustic is the way to go if you have a little extra cash. if you buy a pre amp you can plug your guitar straight into your soundcard (provided it takes 1/4 inch TRS or RCA connections) and record directly. electroacoustics can also be souped up with effects processors and stomp boxes. good electroacoustic guitar + valve amp + digital delay + reverb = lush sound. if you dont like your sound processed you can unplug and record straight into a microphone.

Acoustic and Classic guitar's both come with either steel or nylon strings?

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quote:

Originally posted by Derivative nylon stringed guitars are for playing flamenco. they typically have wider frets and it is a little awkward to play certain songs that are written specifically for steel string guitars. playing flamenco however on a steel string is very difficult owing to the fret widths and to the fact that it is very difficult to do quick flamenco fingerpicking on steel strings. as for what to get. neither is easier for any particular purpose. not significantly so anyway. i do however find flamenco extremely difficult to play but it is very unique, very beautiful style of play.

There actually is a difference between Flamenco and Classical guitars. Classical guitars are not meant for Flamenco and vise versa. They can be used for either style though. The sound of these two types of guitars are very different (at least to my ears). Also, it's kind of hard to find good Flamenco guitars outside of Spain, when looking at nylon stringed ones, u'll mostly find classical guitars.
Yeah, playing Flamenco on an acoustic is very hard but can be done.
I personally love Flamenco, it's very hard to play if you started with Rock and I think it's harder to play too...

quote:

at the end of the day it comes down to what kind of sound you want and what style of guitar playing you want to persue. typically, acoustic guitars have higher string gauges (thicknesses) and so you may find them harder to play at first than electric guitars. they also have flatter fret boards making barring frets harder. however, if you can barre and hold complex chords on an acoustic guitar you can more often than not do it on an electric and it'll be easier.

Yeap, well said

quote:

Originally posted by midaV Acoustic and Classic guitar's both come with either steel or nylon strings?

Acoustic = Steel (most of the times)
Classical + Flamenco = Nylon



Also, midaV, what type of music are u thinking of playing and how much money are u willing to spend on this guitar?

Awsome thanks Dark,

I plan on learning how to play for my own enjoyment, and then hook it up to my soundcard to put into my productions.

As for the sound, I'm looking for something like the guitar in
a few of 'Stings's' Song's

Two of those songs:
Sting- Spanish Guitar Solo
Sting & Eric Clapton - Shape of my herat


^^ those are pretty nice sounding to me, not sure what kind it is though, so if somebody could help that would be nice..

and I am looking to spend no more then $200 as I am a beginner and dont need to get anything fancy, is that to cheap?


BTW... Gypsy Kings = Flamenco?.... cause it's hella beautiful.

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quote:

I personally love Flamenco, it's very hard to play if you started with Rock and I think it's harder to play too...

thats good - i love flamenco also. i find it difficult but i suspect that its because i came from a generation of kids who picked up a guitar after hearing smells like teen spirit. self taught. with all the bad habits that come to a guitarist who doesnt have any formal training.

if you are going to learn flamenco midaV you will find it extremely rewarding to get coaching if you can afford it. when you learn flamenco you really dont want to get into typical bad guitar habits like finger picking with only thumb and index finger (if you do this for a significant legnth of time you WILL find flamenco very difficult).

shape of my heart is perfectly playable on a typical steel string acoustic. its quite easy to play aswell and it sounds good. its not flamenco. you will know it when you hear it. i suspect sting uses a nylon stringer here for the softer plucking kind of sound.

spanish guitar solo is built on falsettas which sort hard to explain. they are like flamenco scales. thats also a nylon stringer (a nice sounding one too).

good examples of flamenco are the famous 'leyenda' aka 'asturias' (the Narciso Yepes performance of this will blow you away), and the intro for the doors - spanish caravan. the main body of the song is very similar to parts of leyenda. both are insanely difficult to play because you have to use every tiny bit of dexterity in all of your fingers. few rock songs give your hands a workout like these ones.

flamenco can sound a bit cheesy in dance music but i have heard it work in jam & spoon's angel (ladadi o-heyo) and in d kay & epsilon's quiet earth. the latter is insanely hard to play too :z

also, 200 dollars isnt alot to spend on a guitar. you probably wont be able to afford a good electro acoustic but if you shop around you can get a fairly decent acoustic/spanish guitar for that money. one thats playable anyway. more expensive guitars have a better build quality and a tendancy to flatter the player. a played on a £2000 k yairi for a couple of minutes and for a short while it felt like every note i played was golden. my £150 acoustic doesnt make me feel like a guitar god but it works. it does what i want it too and when i pick up a better guitar i find it easier to play. which is a good feeling. cheap acoustics are great to learn guitar on cuz you know its never gonna get any harder than this.

Last edited by Derivative on Oct-12-2004 at 20:16