You walk into a music shop, there is a whole wall of guitars, and the first question is: classical, acoustic or electric? Most people answer by looks, by what a friend plays, or by whatever has been leaning in a corner at their parents’ place. That is not always a bad choice, but it skips the question that really matters: what music do you want to be playing six months from now, and which guitar will make you pick it up every day?
This guide is for teens and adults in North Tel Aviv weighing up a classical vs acoustic guitar, or wondering whether to go straight to electric: high schoolers, Tel Aviv University students, and grown-ups who have finally decided to start. In our guitar lessons in North Tel Aviv this is almost always the first thing people ask, so here is what we explain in an intro lesson: the real differences, what you learn on each guitar, and when it makes sense to switch.
Classical vs acoustic guitar (and electric): three instruments, one language
The good news first. All three are tuned the same way (E, A, D, G, B, E), have the same six strings and use the same chord shapes. A G major chord looks identical on every one of them, and everything you learn on one carries over to the others. The differences are in the strings, the width of the neck, the sound and the styles each guitar naturally suits.
| Feature | Classical | Acoustic | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strings | Nylon, soft under the fingers | Steel, higher tension | Thin steel, the easiest to press |
| Neck | Wide and flat, about 5 cm at the nut | Narrower, about 4.3 cm at the nut | Narrow and slim, built for speed |
| Sound | Warm, round and soft | Bright, loud and full | Shaped by the amp and effects, from clean to distorted |
| Needs an amp? | No | No | Yes, or a headphone amp or audio interface |
| Natural styles | Classical, Spanish, bossa nova, gentle fingerstyle | Songs with accompaniment, folk, pop, singer-songwriter | Rock, blues, funk, metal, indie |
| Sore fingertips at first | Least | Most | Moderate to low |
Classical guitar: the soft, precise foundation
A classical guitar uses nylon strings at relatively low tension, which makes it the kindest guitar on your fingertips in the first weeks. The neck is wide and the strings sit further apart. That is lovely for fingerpicking, and less comfortable if you have small hands or want to strum fast chord songs with a pick.
What you learn on a classical guitar
- Fingerpicking with fixed finger roles (thumb, index, middle, ring), arpeggios, and melody and bass played together.
- Reading music, which most classical methods bring in from the very start.
- Posture and clean technique: how you sit, the angle of the guitar, where your wrist goes.
- Repertoire such as Romanza, pieces by Fernando Sor and Francisco Tárrega, and bossa nova in the style of Jobim.
Who it suits: people who love that warm sound, want to play solo pieces without a singer, are drawn to classical, Spanish or Brazilian music, or simply want a painless start. If what you have in your head is pop covers from the radio, the nylon sound can feel a long way from it.
Acoustic guitar: the song machine
A steel-string acoustic is what most people picture when they think of sitting down with a guitar and singing. It is loud, bright, fills a room and sounds great with a pick. It is the guitar behind Wonderwall by Oasis, Blackbird by the Beatles, and countless songs sung with friends on a balcony or in Park HaYarkon.
What you learn on an acoustic guitar
- Open chords and smooth changes between them, the base of every song.
- Strumming patterns with and without a pick, and coordination between your two hands.
- Singing while you play, the skill that turns a guitarist into a one-person band.
- Folk fingerstyle: an alternating thumb bass with a melody on top.
- Using a capo to move a song into your vocal range.
The trade-off: steel strings are tighter, so for the first two or three weeks your fingertips will hurt until small calluses form. It passes, as long as you practise a little every day rather than for two hours on day one. A well set up acoustic with low string height shortens that phase a lot, which we cover in our article on what a guitar setup is and why it matters.
Electric guitar: not only for rock fans
There is a common myth that electric guitar is harder, so you must start on acoustic. In practice many beginners find it the most comfortable of the three. The strings are thin (a common set is 9–42 or 10–46, against a typical 12–53 on an acoustic), the neck is slim and the strings sit close to the fretboard. Barre chords, which frustrate so many acoustic beginners, become playable sooner on an electric.
What you learn on an electric guitar
- Power chords and palm muting, the first steps of rock guitar.
- Riffs like Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple or Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes.
- Scales and improvisation, bends and vibrato, the basis of soloing.
- Working with tone: amp, distortion, delay and everything in between.
- Playing in a band, because an electric comes alive next to drums and bass.
What to keep in mind: an electric is half of a system. Without an amp it sounds thin and quiet. In a Tel Aviv apartment a small practice amp with a headphone output, or an audio interface into your computer, lets you practise quietly even late at night. And it is not only for heavy music: on a clean sound it plays gentle songs beautifully.
How to decide: four simple questions
- What do you listen to most? Open your playlist. Mostly rock and blues bands: electric. Singers with a guitar: acoustic. Classical, flamenco or bossa nova: classical.
- Do you want to sing while you play? Acoustic is the natural choice, but classical and a clean electric work well too.
- Where will you practise? With close neighbours, an electric on headphones is the quietest option. The acoustic is the loudest of the three.
- What is already at home? An old classical guitar in decent shape is a perfectly good starting point, even if you move on later. Check that the strings are not sitting too high above the neck.
If your answers point in different directions, choose by the music rather than by comfort. Someone who loves rock but starts on classical because it is supposedly the proper foundation often gets bored and quits. People who play what they love practise more. If you are genuinely torn, a free intro guitar lesson is a chance to try more than one type and feel which one sits right in your hands.
Your first 4 weeks, by type of guitar
Whatever you choose, 15 to 20 minutes a day beats an hour and a half once a week. Tune before every session, for example with our free online guitar tuner.
| Week | Classical | Acoustic | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Posture, thumb on the bass strings, a simple melody on the top three strings | E minor and A minor, downstrokes only at 60 BPM | Power chords rooted on the low E and A strings |
| 2 | A simple arpeggio over A minor and E major | Add D major and G major, change every two beats | Palm-muted eighth notes at 80 BPM, your first riff |
| 3 | A short piece from notation, bass and melody together | The down, down-up, up-down-up strum | The minor pentatonic scale in its first shape |
| 4 | A complete piece at a slow tempo, with dynamics | A full four-chord song, singing along | A complete rock song with riff and chorus |
To see the chord shapes, use the guitar chord chart on our site.
When to switch from one guitar to another
Most guitarists end up playing more than one type, and the move is easier than it looks. A few signs it is time:
- Classical to acoustic or electric: you change chords without stopping, but the sound is nothing like the songs you love. The narrow neck feels cramped for about a week, then it doesn’t.
- Acoustic to electric: you want solos, bends or a band. Everything will feel easier, but press more lightly: too much pressure on an electric pulls notes sharp.
- Electric to acoustic: you want to sing and play alone, unplugged. Expect a week of tender fingertips and more effort on barre chords, which we tackle in our guide to barre chords and beating the F chord.
- Fingerstyle on any guitar: if you enjoy playing with your fingers even on electric, look at how Mark Knopfler plays lead without a pick.
And if you land on electric and want to play with other people, our ensembles and bands are where the guitar finds its role next to drums, bass and a singer.
Common mistakes when choosing a first guitar
- Putting steel strings on a classical guitar. It is not built for that tension, and it can bend the neck and damage the bridge. Nylon on classical, steel on acoustic and electric.
- Buying a very cheap guitar with high action. A guitar that is hard to press is the number one reason people give up. A simple instrument that is set up properly beats a pretty one that doesn’t play.
- Choosing what seems proper instead of what you love. No guitar is more serious than another. There is only the one that fits the music you want to make.
- Forgetting the amp. An electric with no amp or headphones will frustrate you fast.
- The wrong size. Teens and adults need a full-size guitar. 3/4 and 1/2 sizes are for young children, and an adult who starts on one will have to readjust later.
- Ignoring the guitar you already own. Sometimes a setup and fresh strings turn an old guitar into a great one.
How we teach it at Rockstar
At Rockstar music school in Ramat Aviv Gimel we teach all three types of guitar, and our teachers are working musicians who play them all. In the intro lesson we ask about the music you love first, let you try, and only then recommend. Students come to us from Afeka, Neve Avivim and Azorei Chen, and if you would rather learn at home, Rockstar Home offers lessons in nearby neighborhoods, subject to teacher availability. That is what guitar lessons for teens and adults look like with us: built around your guitar, your style and your pace.
Frequently asked questions
Classical or acoustic guitar: which is better for beginners?
There is no single answer. Classical is easier on the fingers and suits fingerpicking and classical music; acoustic suits songs with strumming and singing. Choose by the music you want to play.
Can I start straight on electric guitar?
Yes. Many beginners find it even more comfortable thanks to the light strings and slim neck. You just need a small amp or headphones.
How long do fingertips hurt at the start?
For most beginners about two to three weeks on a steel-string acoustic, and less on classical and electric. Short daily practice lets the skin toughen up without injury.
Is it hard to move from classical to electric?
No. The chords and tuning are the same. You get used to a narrower neck and a lighter touch, and most students adjust within a few weeks.
Do you offer guitar lessons near South Afeka?
Yes. The music school is in Ramat Aviv Gimel, a short drive from South Afeka and North Afeka, and Rockstar Home lessons at home are available subject to teacher availability. See our page on music lessons in Afeka.
Read also: Guitar Effects for Beginners
Guitar lessons · All lessons · Contact us · Book a free intro lesson