Is It Easy to Switch From Acoustic to Electric Guitar
Top 10 Things to know when switching from acoustic to electric?
- Thread starter disguiseglasses
- Start date
- #1
once told me that playing acoustic and electric
are terribly different things...
Though at the time I wasn't sure I believed him,
I'm really starting to. Which leads me to the following-
Please give your Top 10 tips/tricks/pointers/etc.
to people trying to play electric after having played acoustic.
Any help you could offere would be much appreciated.
cheers.
- #2
Acousitc technique is all about maximising string moise for tone and projection. On an electric you need to utilise a lot of technique to mute unwanted string noise.
- #3
Start with the amp controls at noon, then season to taste.
On Master Volume amps, high gain/low volume equals overdrive; low gain/high volume equals clean;
Use less OD/distortion/gain than you think you need;
In general, smaller amps let you get grind and sing better than big amps do - unless you're gigging in stadiums, you don't need more than 20 - 30 watts, and likely, less;
Set your tone and volume with your guitar vol and tone at about 7 or 8 each - that way you have some place to go;
Don't play 5- and 6-string chords, especially in a band situation with other guitarists, keys, etc. - use fragments so you don't step on each other.
Lots more...
- #4
-Jeff Beck
- #5
Well for a start , the amplifier can't distinguish betweem iontended and unintended string noise.
Acousitc technique is all about maximising string moise for tone and projection. On an electric you need to utilise a lot of technique to mute unwanted string noise.
Well said. Dampening unwanted string noise is critical when playing electric. You need to utilize both the fretting and picking hands to do this effectively.
I think the second most important difference, at least if you are playing rock and/or blues, has to do with string bending. It is very important to develop accurate string bending, with appropriate vibrato, for playing electric rock and/or blues guitar. String bending is much more limited in acoustic guitar.
- #6
Great tips that are much appreciated.
- #7
Even with a Strat or Les Paul at very loud volumes, I play in the #3 camp. Heavier strings, high action, acoustic approach ... 100 watt amp.
Wes depended on the amp to give his "thumb only playing" substance. Sinatra did the same thing with the microphone ... he practically invented using the mic as an instrument, to reinforce an understated style.
Most rock players are really playing the amp. Without major gain and associated sustain and distortion, there's not a lot left. The guitar is the steering wheel, the amp is the motor and tires.
I play acoustic and electric the same way, so there's no distinction there. It's really not a matter of electric vs. acoustic, it's guitar technique vs. amp tone and gain style, which falls flat without just the right amount of overdrive and amp/speaker interaction producing textures and tones that buttress the lighter strings and bendy techniques.
- #8
Out of curiousity, what weight strings
are you using on your electric?
Still playing full six-string
open position chords like you would on an acoustic?
Your "camp" thoughts are interesting
and I'd love to hear more.
- #9
"I unplug for no one"
-Jeff Beck
That must be why Les Paul pulled out his cord during one gig because he wouldn't lay back.
- #10
At the same time, it is also easy to be used to pressing so hard on an acoustic that you push the notes out of tune on an electric. If you're been working on bending or vibrato you'll have to be really careful to control it on some low-action electrics.
I'd rather learn on acoustic and switch to electric than the other way around though ...
- #11
Most rock players are really playing the amp. Without major gain and associated sustain and distortion, there's not a lot left. The guitar is the steering wheel, the amp is the motor and tires.
.
JUst like a big powerful car or motor-bike at high speed, small movements produce big effects too.
I have often likened playing big loud amps to riding excessively powerful motor-bikes.
- #12
Do you mean, tips about switching from one to the other on the same gig?
I do this a lot - quickly adjusting your touch from one to the other really just becomes another set of chops you work on and develop. Ditto standard electric to baritone, or 6 to 12-string, archtop Gibson to solid-body Fender, etc.
- #13
- #14
- #15
That must be why Les Paul pulled out his cord during one gig because he wouldn't lay back.
I wish he's pulled out his whammy bar as well (and buried it along with Scott Henderson's)
- #16
Strat a Various-
Out of curiousity, what weight strings
are you using on your electric?Your "camp" thoughts are interesting
and I'd love to hear more.
Electric archtop (D'Angelico): 13-52
Les Paul/ Strat: 12-50
Acoustic-electric flat-top: 14-54
"Still playing full six-string
open position chords like you would on an acoustic?"
When a piece of music calls for that voicing, sure.
Source: https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/top-10-things-to-know-when-switching-from-acoustic-to-electric.558854/
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