In other words, how much of your skills are compatible, and how much would you need to learn? Could you pick up an electric and play respectably, or not?
Sure, there’s slight differences in some techniques, but they’re the same instrument on the face of it. Same scale, same tunings, etc. So basically yes, and with a bit of puzzling around you can play bass too.
If the acoustic is of the classical variety, with a wider fretboard and nylon strings, it can take some adjustment to and from an electric. As a general rule, electrics require less finger pressure to achieve a good sound, but a steel string acoustic (in my opinion) probably builds up the toughest calluses. I say “in my opinion” because I don’t have a steel string acoustic.
I do know that if I have worked on some songs/pieces that have chords with a lot of stretches or deadened strings, going from one guitar to the other has a distinct effect on the ease of fingering.
I always use the EADGBE tuning, so I can’t address the alternate tunings issue for you.
A few observations:
-
switching styles of guitars - i.e., from acoustic to electric, or from steel-string to nylon-string - should be straightforward, for the reasons stated above by other posters. But it’s not - there is a period where you feel VERY awkward and like you made a HUGE mistake. If you are a guitar noob and have not experienced this, it can be crushing and you can put the new one down and never go back to it. I don’t know why this happens - well, I do from a “hey, it’s like getting used to any new tool” standpoint - but it’s the emotional response I don’t get. But I have compared notes with a bunch of friends and they all agree: the first few times you buy and try a new guitar, you can go for as long as 6 months before you start to feel good - and sticking with it that long can be tough.
-
this is also true of just getting a new guitar of the same style. If you play electric and are very comfortable and then get a different brand or design, it can throw you for a loop just like moving to a new guitar style. Again, this can be depressing and you may feel like an idiot.
-
Rule #1: make sure the new style (or new model if you are staying in the same style) is SET UP CORRECTLY. It would suck if you feel like you can’t play the new guitar - and you really can’t because something is wrong with it! Get the neck relief, the action, and the intonation all checked and trued up - with the correct gauge of strings, please! That way, when you find the playing awkward, you know it’s just you getting used to it.
-
Just because you are in love with the idea of switching styles of guitar, or in love with a new model in the same style, does NOT mean you will be fluent. I’ve seen guys play Strats for years and then try switching to a Tele - another simple Fender, fercrissake - and be totally flummoxed about how to squeeze the best sounds out of it. Don’t take it personally - it’s part of the process…
-
If you want to play thumb-on-back-of-neck styles of music (e.g., classical, shredding, etc.), starting with acoustic classical can be a very smart to go.
-
If you want to play a lot of strummy songs and/or electric hard rock and blues, starting with a steel string acoustic can be great since it toughens up your fingers and forces certain techniques that help you big time in the long run.
-
As I just wrote up in another thread, there is a key difference between acoustic and electrice, depending on how much distortion you have in your electric tone: noise control. On an electric - UNLIKE an acoustic - You spend 50% of your time making the right notes sound and 50% of your time using non-chording fingers to mute strings, etc. I think this is a big reason some folks get down switching to electrics - they sound like dying cats and aren’t used to keeping things in control…
-
what’s most important - and I can’t stress this enough in any thread I comment on - is to be honest with yourself about what you enjoy playing and that will keep you playing - and stick with that. Playing with so-so technique - but STILL PLAYING - trumps forcing yourself to practice something yucky, hating it and stopping every time.
Yup probably, though you’re likely to be a bit heavy handed at first if you have been playing a steel-strung acoustic. Playing chords is pretty much the same it’s single note playing that I find needs a different approach. You tend not to do a lot of string bending on acoustic pieces* certainly not in classical, playing most electric styles involves a lot of bending. Which means you grab the neck with your whole hand to get leaverage, as opposed to the classical/shred thumb on the back of the neck position that Wordman mentioned. Which doesn’t give you much sideways pull, I think (IANACG) classical players do their vibrato longwise.
- except playing blues, but I guess that’s not the kind of playing the OP is thinking about
Not knowing more about your acoustic background it’s hard to say. How experienced an acoustic guitarist are you? Do you want to play a different genre of music than what you play now?
I’ve been taking lessons for two months - I was just curious, not looking to expand personally for a while. If I were to pick up an electric it would be for blues styles, generally.
I’d stick with acoustic for the time being. You’ll be developing hand strength that will serve you well later on. To play blues, timing is everything and you can learn that on any instrument.
See WordMan’s post, particularly the bit about noise control. That is really the biggest issue and it takes a different touch with the struming hand (and to a lesser extent the freting hand) to keep control over the sound.
Other than that, I don’t think it would be any more difficult than playing a different model of guitar than you are used to. It will feel strange for a bit, but you will get used to it rather quickly.