For a kid (beginner) to learn acoustic guitar, nylon or steel strings are bette!

For a kid (beginner) to learn acoustic guitar, nylon or steel strings are better?

For ANY beginner, child or adult, Nylon stringed acoustics are vastly superior to steel stringed acoustics.

Here is why:

Nylon strings are larger, but because they are made of a softer material, they do not HURT tender fingers. It is impossible to improve without practice. People don't practice in pain.

Nylon stringed guitars are generally called "classical" guitars and usually have wider spacing between the strings. In other words, because the strings are farther apart the untrained fingers have a larger margin-of-error.” It is therefore easier to hit your mark and play a note successfully.

Nylon string are easier to push down, (press against the fingerboard) so it is easier to get attractive musical sounds from them.

Although they are easier to press, (in the sense that they require less pressure) nylon strings require better technique. That is, you must press directly into the fingerboard at a 90-degree angle. That, plus the wider string spacing develops better technique.

Steel string guitars require excess force. That force leads to cramps, strain, pain and frustration. Steel strings virtually guarantee failure unless the kid is extremely talented and highly motivated.

There is a vast body of good classical music in standard notation for the classical guitar. This helps your kid appreciate fine music as opposed to mediocre pop music. The other huge advantage of learning classical music on a classical guitar is that your child will learn to read. Once he has that skill, he can learn to play any style of music he wants.

You are far more likely to get a qualified guitar teacher if you have and play classical music on a classical guitar.

I have played and taught guitar for over three decades. In every case, those who start on nylon classical style guitars do much better, much faster, with less strife and stress.

Please keep in mind that I am only talking about the differences between two types of acoustic guitars.

A common misconception about beginning guitar is that everyone should start on an acoustic. That is definitely NOT true!

Electric guitars offer a number of advantages over acoustic guitars.

They are easier to play.

They are actually less expensive. I do not know how the myth got started, but it is not true that electric guitars are expensive. If you look at them, you can see why. Acoustic guitars require a lot of skilled labor to build. Machines build most of an electric guitar.

We can get decent electric guitars (and an amp) with a good brand name for as little as $168 bucks.

There is no excuse for buying cheap guitars at Wal Mart or any other mega mart. Guitars are a specialized item. You must buy them at a music store. There is no excuse for buying anything less than a respected brand name. (Fender, Yamaha, Epiphone, Ibanez)

They are actually less expensive and far superior to most off-brands. If you spend just a little extra (about $300) you can get a Fender guitar and amp that will be every bit as playable as most professional guitars. The budding student thinks it is cooler. That inspires practice. Remember, NOTHING will help if the student does not practice.

There is also the huge advantage of low volume.

Most uniformed neophytes automatically associate electric guitars with loud raucous music. Although that is true in most cases, it is not at all true for practicing beginners. An electric guitar that is not plugged in makes very little sound. It is loud enough to practice with, but it is so quiet that nobody in the next room would hear it. That saves embarrassment for the shy budding guitarist, and helps preserve domestic tranquility!

In addition, if the kid wants to rock, he can without disturbing the household. Just get him some headphones! Most modern practice amps have a headphone jack that allows the student to hear himself as if he were rocking’ at the stadium. However, the headphone jack automatically turns off the speaker, so no one else in the house has to endure his fledgling efforts. The same amps usually also have a CD (phono) input. Therefore, he can practice along with his favorite music, and you won’t hear a peep!

If you have a sweet, coordinated, cautious young girl, you can probably trust her with a delicate acoustic guitar. And believe me, they are delicate. They are hard to restring and repair. They will become unplayable with even a tiny bit of abuse.

But if you have an average boy, especially a teenage boy, the electric guitar is virtually indestructible. He can scratch it, coat it with paint or stickers, drop it, run into walls, use it as a cricket bat… you name it. The bolt-on-neck guitar is the most durable musical instrument ever conceived.

I have no personal prejudice against any particular style of music or type of guitar. If I had to choose, I would recommend an electric guitar for any teenager, boy or girl. The advantages of an electric are numerous. You can get a good electric for far less than even a fair classic costs. The volume issue is solved, domestic tranquility is insured and you get more bang for your buck. The kid digs the “cool factor” of the electric, which inspires practice.

If you must choose an acoustic, fine. The classic-style nylon stringed guitar is clearly the best choice. If you have a teenage boy, nothing beats the cool factor and inspires practice like an electric. You get more for your money, spend less, and you will not have to hear “Kumbaya” messed up a thousand times. Your kid will suffer less too.