This is one situation where your brain probably is having a war with him/her self trying to figure out which would be easier to learn or which sounds better or which is more value for money.  All these questions keep on running over and over again throughout the whole week or even months until you put the cash on the table for the guitar.

To be honest we understand it’s a tough decision to take but we from M4music.com are going to help you simplify this problem and help you take this decision quicker.  To start let's divide the process into steps.


1.    Understanding the difference.                                          


Acoustic guitar and Classical guitar pretty much look the same but if you look closer, both these guitars have a lot of differences.

Acoustic Guitar

Acoustic guitars have steel strings that are bright and crisp and are good to keep the fretboard in shape and avoid fret warps. Talking about the fretboards and necks, acoustic guitars have a narrow but rounder neck and shorter fret space.

Acoustic guitars are mostly played with a pick and they are great for strumming and light fingerpicking.  Acoustic guitars also have a thing called a truss rod which is a rod that can be adjusted using an Allen key or Allen wrench tools and the truss rod is placed under the fretboard which helps in keeping the neck in shape.


How to adjust the truss rod? That’s a blog/video for another time. The way the acoustic guitar is played is by keeping the guitar on the lap.



 Acoustic guitars also demand strength on the left finger because the strings are made from steel and the strings have very high tension, unlike the classical guitar. Acoustic guitars are also heavier from the bottom which makes the guitar a bit bulkier compared to the classical guitar. Another major difference is the tuning pegs and the headstock. Acoustic guitars tend to have no gaps in the headstock and have covered tuning pegs to avoid dust and dirt getting into the mechanism.



Classical Guitars

Classical guitars have nylon strings which make the guitar sound more mellow and warm. Unlike acoustic guitars, classical guitars have a wider and flat-shaped neck, they have larger fret space and since the classical guitars have a wider neck, the space between two strings is much more. Taking us to the next point of playability, classical guitars are just amazing for finger picking which is an advanced technique of playing the guitar. Classical guitars are attention-seeking guitars.  That’s right guitars to share some human traits and that’s why you will hear musicians saying guitars have soul.

Jokes apart the reason for saying classical guitars are attention seeking is because classical guitars do not come with a truss road.  Therefore one has to take care of the guitar and make sure the guitar is kept away from heat to avoid neck warps. Classical guitars have a very unique way of holding. The bottom of the guitar rests on the thigh of one leg and the cut area which is in the middle is to be placed on the lap of your other leg. Too complicated to understand right? Just look at the picture below.


Classical guitars are pretty forgiving on the left hand. Since the classical guitar has nylon strings the guitar has less tension. Going up to the headstock, the headstock has see-through gaps which expose the tuning pegs and the part which wraps the string around. The tuning keys are also open and exposed.



2.    The Genre of Music

This is an important part of selecting the guitar. There are some genres of music that sound better on a classical guitar and some sound better on acoustic guitar.  Therefore it depends on your taste in music to select the right guitar. For instance, if someone likes Arabic music which is soft and mellow, a classical guitar would be the right choice. This does not mean that you cannot play Arabic songs on acoustic guitar or electric guitar but Arabic music on classical guitar stands out and shines brighter.  On the other hand, if you are more interested in western or Bollywood music and want to cover some songs by Arijit Singh, Acoustic guitar would be the one to go for. But there are no hardcore rules to follow or no one is going to fine you for playing an Arabic song on acoustic guitar or vice versa.  A lot of rules in music can sometimes become barriers to your creativity.  So let your creativity flow and build your own path on your glorious Musical journey.


3. Process of learning

An amateur who is dipping his/her hands in the world of guitar or musical instruments for the first time may find it difficult to grasp finger positions or get used to playing a classical guitar.  And the reason is Classical guitars have a wider neck, therefore wrapping your hand around the neck and placing your fingers on the right fret can be time-consuming.  Secondly, the techniques which are commonly used on classical guitars like finger picking, flamenco, tapping, etc. are advanced techniques to play and sound better on classical guitar compared to the acoustic guitar.

On the other hand, an acoustic guitar can be easier to learn because it has a narrow fret board which makes it easier for beginners to wrap their hands around the neck and practice their finger positions for different chords and notes. Overall this makes the process of learning music or the guitar a lot simpler and less time-consuming.

It is noticed that people quit learning a musical instrument whenever a musical instrument is too complex to learn.  Music is all about having fun and enjoying the chemical reaction that these sounds or musical notes create.  Once you are familiar with the acoustic guitar, it becomes easier to play a classical guitar because the finger position and chords are the same.  In fact, the number of strings and the tuning of both the guitars which is E-A-D-G-B-E (from top to bottom) are exactly the same.

Also, everything mentioned under the process of learning is subjective and the experience of learning the guitar can differ from person to person.


The final verdict

Well, this is not a competition of a sort to give out a verdict or a conclusion but we believe this blog will definitely help you choose the right guitar if you’re a beginner or an intermediate guitar player.

If you just want to play some of your favorite songs and have a good time with your friends, or if you want your kids to learn music and play guitar, it’s always better to go for an acoustic guitar first. We have listed some really good guitars (from price low to high) below which you can check out.

If you have already played acoustic guitar for a year or two and want to take your craft to the next level, or even if you are a beginner but you have the drive and passion to learn, to play guitar and classical guitar attracts you the most, then don’t wait just go for it. Classical guitars have a very beautiful tone that is mellow and soft. Just like acoustic guitars we have listed some classical guitars (from price low to high).

In the end, learning any musical instrument is not too easy or too difficult. But what it requires the most is the drive to learn and play music, dedication to practice every day and get better at the craft and most importantly the love for music binds everything together. So when you are selecting the guitar try visiting a good music store where they can explain the pros and cons and help you choose the right guitar. In this digital age where everything is online, we are happy and take pride in having some of the best musicians in UAE as our product experts, and on just one phone call they can help you choose the right guitar or any other musical instrument or audio gear based on your needs. We also have a video where Mr.Wellington Shitsukane explains the differences between acoustic and classical guitar which is given below.