Beginners can feel overwhelmed when they’re new to a skill, especially by all the things that they don’t know and everything that they are yet to find out. The world of electric guitars can be confusing and daunting at first to learners. There are just too many things you need to be aware of to even be able to pick an electric guitar you would like to begin with. 

Most first-timers realize how much they don’t know as soon as they begin looking for an electric guitar that’s easy to play. Initially, all the various types of guitars, their specs, and the technical information you need to know to make sense of these specs can be intimidating, however, as time passes by, these are the very things that will drive you to explore the instrument even further!     

Getting stuck with a guitar that doesn’t support your level of learning can be quite disheartening, and on the other hand, a guitar that’s easy to play can motivate us and speed up our learning process. So, how do you know which guitar is easy to play and suits your needs?

Solidbody Guitars are the Easiest to Play

Electric guitars are considered by most experts in the guitar community to be the easiest type of guitars to play compared to all the others that exist today. There are three types of electric guitars—hollow body, semi-hollow body, and solid body. Of these three, solid body electric guitars are the most recommended by experts in terms of comfort and playability. Considered the best instruments for learners by experts in the field, solid body guitars are the most advanced in terms of ergonomics and construction..1

These guitars have small, compact bodies made of a solid block of wood, which usually makes them heavier than other types of guitars. However, despite their weight, these guitars are said to be the most fun and easy to play. 

Factors that Impact Playability and Comfort on Electric Guitars

There are several factors that increase or decrease the comfort and playability of an electric guitar. These depend both on the player and the instrument. Electric guitars that have the features mentioned below are generally easier to play. 

  • Electric guitars with a shorter scale length add less tension on the strings, making it easier to bend and strum chords. The scale length of the guitar is the distance between the nut and the saddle. 
  • The distance between the frets can affect both playability and comfort. Guitars with a shorter scale are easier to play as the frets are placed closer, making it easier for the fingers to reach the proper position of the notes.   
  • The space between the strings and the frets is called “action,” and electric guitars with higher action require more pressure on the strings to play a note.

Easy To Play Electric Guitars

Our digital pursuit to find electric guitars which are built for comfort, durability, and have good sound quality led us to the options listed below

Fender Telecaster

This electric guitar is light, has a narrow neck, and well-spaced strings that make it easy to play chords. The sound quality is reportedly excellent, and it has a basic setup of three pickups with tone and volume controls.

Yamaha Pacifica 112V

These are one of the most popular entry-level electric guitars and are recommended for beginners because of the scope for experimenting with various skills. The guitar has a more advanced set-up as it comes with a tremolo system, which can be difficult to manage for a beginner. However, it is still considered one of the best guitars to start with, despite a longer neck and a floating bridge. These guitars are supposedly a lot of fun to play, which is a huge plus when it comes to playability.

Squier Bullet Mustang

Squier’s Bullet Mustang is a lightweight guitar with a short scale length. It is perfect for small hands and has a basic set-up of two Squier humbuckers, one volume control and one tone control. This guitar’s playability is so effortless that it is also considered one of the best guitars for kids.4

BYJU’S FutureSchool

BYJU’S FutureSchool is more than just Music, Coding, and Math! Our proprietary, activity-based curriculum with live, real-time instruction facilitates problem-solving, creative thinking, grit, confidence, and communication.

References

  1. Benefits of Learning on Electric Guitars | Fender. (n.d.). Retrieved June 3, 2022, from https://www.fender.com/articles/gear/beginner-electric-guitar-benefits
    2. What’s the best guitar for a beginner? | JustinGuitar.com. (n.d.). Retrieved June 3, 2022, from https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/what-s-the-best-guitar-for-a-beginner-bc-010
    3. Yamaha Pacifica 112V review | Guitar World. (n.d.). Retrieved June 3, 2022, from https://www.guitarworld.com/reviews/yamaha-pacifica-112v-review
    4. Squier Bullet Mustang review | Guitar World. (n.d.). Retrieved June 3, 2022, from https://www.guitarworld.com/reviews/squier-bullet-mustang-review

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