Why are acoustics so much harder to play than electrics?

[Chris Pile]

Re: Why are acoustics so much harder to play than electrics?

A good luthier can go a long way towards making an acoustic (or any guitar) play easier and sound better.
I have a Seagull 12 string with strings so low it plays like a nice Les Paul, but you can't beat on it like a bluegrass picker with a Martin.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Why are acoustics so much harder to play than electrics?

My acoustics and electrics aren't setup that differently. Heavy strings and slightly high action. Once you get used to it you can still fly around pretty easily although I'm no shredder

 

[GoldenVulture]

Re: Why are acoustics so much harder to play than electrics?

The neck on my Hummingbird acoustic is almost identical to the neck on my Casino semi acoustic.
Basically they are low profile . Easy jumping from one to the other.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd88/Duvastate/20160501_020803_zps2pkel1f1.jpg

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Why are acoustics so much harder to play than electrics?

It's hard to get the tremolo to float on an acoustic.

 

[GoldenVulture]

Re: Why are acoustics so much harder to play than electrics?

It's hard to get the tremolo to float on an acoustic.

Get a Bigsby...

 

[Obsessive Compulsive]

Re: Why are acoustics so much harder to play than electrics?

My acoustic gets played not more than 3 times a year. Everytime I pick it up I get brain freeze. It's a pretty decent guitar, 1995 Charvel 125S.

 

[Condemnedsoul]

Re: Why are acoustics so much harder to play than electrics?

You just haven't found the proper acoustic.
It is out there some where.
Also I use Martin or Di Addario light gauge strings and get an unwound 3rd string.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Why are acoustics so much harder to play than electrics?

Hi, i am wondering why they are so much more difficult, i also want to ask about the neck. Are acoustic guitars necks thicker because of the nut width? Is it because of the neck profile?

Probably because you are trying to play them like an electric, and they're not. They're an acoustic.

Why is saxophone so much harder to play than a flute? If you're a flute player, sax is a different instrument and even though the valve arrangement is in a sequence you can find you way around, it's still a different instrument and has to be played differently.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Why are acoustics so much harder to play than electrics?

But with no distortion to cover up slop, you have make the action a bit higher and stiffer on an acoustic to get a "good" sound.

Ha, I tend to use distortion in parallel to the regular acoustic sound. I like it.
My acoustics are a Line 6 Variax Acoustic and an Adamas SMT carbon fiber-topped acoustic.

 

[Obsessive Compulsive]

Re: Why are acoustics so much harder to play than electrics?

Probably you are physically weak. Didn't you complain about Strat being harder to play than LP due to its higher tension, not too long ago?

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Why are acoustics so much harder to play than electrics?

Probably because you are trying to play them like an electric, and they're not. They're an acoustic.

Why is saxophone so much harder to play than a flute? If you're a flute player, sax is a different instrument and even though the valve arrangement is in a sequence you can find you way around, it's still a different instrument and has to be played differently.

A good luthier can go a long way towards making an acoustic (or any guitar) play easier and sound better.
I have a Seagull 12 string with strings so low it plays like a nice Les Paul, but you can't beat on it like a bluegrass picker with a Martin.

I agree 100% with both posts. The majority of instruments aren't setup as you receive them. An electric pre-setup with 9's is a completely different game than an acoustic with 12's or 13's pre-setup. Martins in particular ship with high action.... this allows you to work with the luthier to get it dialed into your preference.

I know people do it, but IMO if you are trying to play shred style on an acoustic, you're doing it wrong. If the guitar has 10's, super low action and you are plinking away, it may as well be a clean electric. Get some tension on the top with some heavier strings, raise the string so they get full travel and let the instrument sing!

 

[DavidRavenMoon]

Why are acoustics so much harder to play than electrics?

Guitars are guitars. Listen to someone like John McLaughlin play an acoustic like an electric. The problem is people fall into cliches and when they pick up an acoustic they play strummy strummy folk music. Lol. There's no reason you can't shred on an acoustic.

The thing is that new techniques were invented by electric guitar players. But acoustics kept shipping with medium gauge strings and higher action to get a louder acoustic tone. But we don't need that anymore with both electrified acoustics and PAs and mics. So there's no reason to not put lighter strings on an acoustic. And it stands to reason that one can be built for lighter strings by using lighter bracing, etc. This is something I'll be exploring when I start building acoustic guitars later this year.

As I mentioned earlier I'm doing an acoustic gig with my singer/songwriting parter, and these aren't really acoustic songs. So I was unable to pull off some subtle things that are easy on my electrics.

So just to get a bit more nuance going on, I just put a set of electric 9s on the guitar. It sounds and feels great!

To test it I swapped the strings over one spot, so the original B was the G, and I put a 9 E on it. I just had to loosen the truss rod a bit to compensate for the lower tension.


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[Mincer]

Re: Why are acoustics so much harder to play than electrics?

Yeah, John McLaughlin didn't have a problem scalloping the fretboard of his acoustic, and Al DiMeola used a shallow Ovation for some of his acoustic work...and both of them invented a new form of shredding on acoustic. The point is looking for a guitar, or modifying an existing one for your playing style (or to help realize your playing style). No one is shredding (in the modern sense) on a pre-war Martin. Make th equipment fit your dream, and don't let the guitar dictate how you have to play.

 

[DavidRavenMoon]

Re: Why are acoustics so much harder to play than electrics?

I've seen both McLaughlin and DiMeola (with Return to Forever) live back in the day. Never knew if I then wanted to go home and practice or quit! Lol. I didn't quit.


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[MkIII Renegade]

Re: Why are acoustics so much harder to play than electrics?

Probably you are physically weak. Didn't you complain about Strat being harder to play than LP due to its higher tension, not too long ago?

Maybe he needs his Wheaties in between practice sessions. :guilty:

If tiny little guys like Randy Rhoads can play like madmen, anyone can do it.

 

[MkIII Renegade]

Re: Why are acoustics so much harder to play than electrics?

I've seen both McLaughlin and DiMeola (with Return to Forever) live back in the day. Never knew if I then wanted to go home and practice or quit! Lol. I didn't quit.


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Al in particular inspires me greatly since I first heard his early recordings in the '90s, when he was even more obscure outside of guitar circles. I never knew an acoustic could even be played in such a way!

 

[DavidRavenMoon]

Re: Why are acoustics so much harder to play than electrics?

Al in particular inspires me greatly since I first heard his early recordings in the '90s, when he was even more obscure outside of guitar circles. I never knew an acoustic could even be played in such a way!

I had a customer (I'm a luthier/repair person) who never heard Al play electric! You should have seen his face when I played some classic RtF.

Back at the time Al was the hottest thing around!


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[Chickenwings]

Re: Why are acoustics so much harder to play than electrics?

Some things are more difficult on an acoustic and easier on electric.
Some things are more difficult on an electric but easier on acoustic.
Nylons are a whole other thing that also have their share of things that are easier and more difficult.

Play more acoustic. Let your fingers get used to the extra tension. This might take days, weeks, months or years depending on how much you practice. Take your time to learn how to bring the best out of the soundboard. Widen your musical vocabulary rather than just trying to play the same scales, licks and approaches that you do on an electric. Both your acoustic and electric playing will benefit from it.