Hello everyone! Iāve been learning going on 2 years. I have never even touched an electric guitar and have no desire to. I love the sound of an acoustic and I love the way mine feels when I hold it. Am I the only one who only wants to play acoustic? And furthermore, do you think it will hamper my learning if I never practice on an electric. Iām 47 and only play for my own enjoyment. Thanks for your thoughts!
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Hi Carol,
You and I are opposites 
I have only ever wanted to play electric and while I enjoy hearing others play acoustic, I personally have no desire to play one. Others may have a different opinion, but I think you should play what you want. I donāt think it hampers your learning to use your practice time to really further your development on your instrument of choice.
To each their own
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Well no itās not bad to only play acoustic, but youāll be missing out on learning how the electric works, itās pretty cool how itās designed and what all the different components can do.
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Carol, in a nutshell my answers would be ānoā and ānoā.
What you may find is that your preference for acoustic guitar may influence the musical paths you explore. Ultimately you can play anything on anything, but I think it is reasonable to say that certain things are more natural on an acoustic and same for an electric.
For example, I think at least as one begins to learn lead guitar techniques such as bending, hammer-on and flick-off tend to be āeasierā to learn on an electric.
And there is the nature of the music. Grungey riff-based rock tends to sound better on an electric, while folky finger-style may sound better on an acoustic.
But eventually, a guitar is a guitar.
I once watched a conversation with Keith Richards and he advocated that one should learn to play first on an acoustic and then later start playing an electric.
Yeah, so I think ānoā and ānoā.
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Then learn to play the thing that brings you joy! 
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Youāre a snob if you think it makes you superior
Iām not sure how you think it could hamper your learning? 
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I take issues with the word snob and at 47 saying they will never do something (that is completely harmless), closed mind thinking
Fundamentally thereās no harm in only playing acoustic guitar though
By focusing on acoustic(or electric) youāll become a better player.
Shane just posted his 5th anniversary and mentioned he has focused on the Blues and it shows in his playing. He is way a head of most of the members here with the same experience because he has focused on one style and not tryed to be a jack of all trades.
Jen @Jenndye429 is another member here who has focused on music that makes her happy and in a very short time has started a band, writing her own music and recording.
So if you love playing acoustic guitar and focus on what makes you happy you will learn faster and play better.
To quote Shane āGo deep not wideā
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Unless, of course, if āgoing wideā is what floats your boat
I get most pleasure out of the relationships Iāve created and deepened by learning guitar.
Everyone has their own goals/agenda. (or should have) 
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I used snob as I was at a loss for a better word. Didnāt think I needed to go online to find a synonym for āpreference.ā Jeez.
I love this advice! Thank you!
Thank you!
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I had a fear that I might be missing something. I feel better now! Thank you!
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I get it! I think itās just the ease of being able to grab the acoustic and make music without having to plug in. Plus my favorite songs included āGoing to Californiaā āMisguided Ghostsā āBron-yr-aurā āBabe Iām gonna leave youā etc.
Jen, what kind of music or artists do you love?
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I only play electric but I like the sound of acoustic too. Maybe one day.
āGo deep not wideā - yeah, I understand that. Follow your chosen path and youāll get to where youāre going.
āGo wide not deepā - yeah, I understand that some people like a wide variety in their guitar learning. Itās not for me though.
Whatever you do - āGo Longā!
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Hi carol, I have played mostly acoustic for quite some time and love it. You appear to be the same stay with it.
Saying that you are missing something by not playing electric.
However, you do not seem to wish to delve into that side of playing, Enjoy the fact that you can simply pick up a guitar and play, with no need of amplification.
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I totally get it! Sometimes If I donāt feel like plugging in, Iāll just grab my hollowbody guitar and mess around on it because I can still at least hear what Iām doing
You and I are close in age. Iām 43 and I started playing when I was 39. My musical taste is very heavily influenced by what I listened to in high school in the late 90s. Iāll always be a 90s rocker chick Iām a HUGE grunge fan. When I play, I tend to get compared a lot to Courtney Love and/or Joan Jett.
Lately, my focus has been on writing and performing my own original music. I discovered songwriting early last year and now I canāt stop My original music tends to have a very 90s Seattle grunge scene sound. At least thatās what Iām told
Although- I think on this forum I am known as the resident fan of the band The Hives. Iām pretty sure I can take that title at this point. I LOVE them.
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Easy, just do what you enjoy!
Richard
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Thatā so cool that youāre writing your own music! And 90s grunge will never go out of style! I too was in high school during the rise of it, and I recall being at a pool hall and Alice In Chains was playing, and I was like, āWhatever this dark, edgy, bordering-on-scary music is, I freaking love it!ā
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Malv,
I can hear your accent in your reply andā¦ 
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