Classical or electric guitar for a beginner? An honest comparison from your teacher

This is one of those conversations that comes up at almost every trial lesson. An adult student arrives, says they want to start guitar, and then asks: “Do I have to start on a classical, since that’s the ‘right’ way?”

You don’t. Here’s a short guide to choosing your starter guitar — and why “the right way” isn’t the thing you should optimise for.

The short answer

Start with the guitar you actually want to play. If you want to play Metallica, start with an electric guitar. If you want to lead a campfire singalong, start with an acoustic. If you love classical music, start with a classical.

Motivation > technical “purity”. Every time.

Now the long answer, because each of the three has features worth knowing in advance.

Classical guitar

Pros:

• Nylon strings are gentle on the fingers — easier for a beginner
• Wide neck gives the fingers room
• A solid foundation: well-absorbed classical technique transfers to any genre
• No amplifier needed; always works

Cons:

• The wide neck can feel awkward if your fingers are short
• The repertoire may feel foreign if you mostly listen to modern music
• Demands more technical precision — the reward shows long-term, but there’s a frustration risk early on

Who is it for? Anyone who loves classical music. Or a student who wants to build the most solid technical foundation for everything that follows.

Steel-string acoustic

Pros:

• Versatile: from pop to folk to blues rhythm
• No amplifier needed
• Accompaniment instrument par excellence — perfect for a singer-learner
• Affordable: a good starter model runs 150–250 €

Cons:

• Steel strings hurt a beginner’s fingers at first (it takes 2–3 weeks for the fingertips to harden)
• A thinner neck than the classical — often suits small hands better, but the fingers have to move with more precision

Who is it for? A student who wants to accompany songs or play pop and folk. This is the most versatile option for adult beginners.

Electric guitar

Pros:

• A thin neck makes chord changes easier — dramatically so for some students
• You can play quietly with headphones, even at night — for an apartment dweller this can be the deciding factor
• Rock, blues, metal, funk, jazz — genres that interest most teenagers
• The feedback is more dramatic visually and sonically — addictive in a way that keeps practice going

Cons:

• You’ll need an amplifier. A starter set (guitar + small amp) runs 200–350 €, so not impossibly expensive.
• Effect pedals are a temptation that costs money if you can’t keep your patience. Not required, but they sneak in.

Who is it for? Teenagers and adults interested in electrified music. Also any student who lives in an apartment and needs silent practice.

The most common counter-argument — and my reply

“Shouldn’t I ‘learn properly’ on a classical first and then switch to electric?”

No. That’s a myth that mainly comes from music institutions where classical is the traditional starting line. There are historical reasons for that — classical is the more structured curriculum — but those reasons don’t belong in a student’s daily life.

Good technique transfers between instruments. A teacher who knows what they’re doing will train you in good habits regardless of which guitar is in your lap.

What you cannot transfer between instruments is motivation. If you quit because you’re playing the wrong music on the wrong instrument, you don’t get the technique anywhere.

What if you can’t decide?

Come to a trial lesson. The studio has all three types, and a single lesson is enough to give you a tangible sense of the differences. Make the decision after that.

Book a trial lesson →