The major benefit of starting your child on the classical guitar as opposed to acoustic or electric is that they will learn to read and play from standard music notation. This is a comprehensive system for reading and playing music.

Standard music notation is the universal musical language used by practically every instrument. This means that if your child decides that they would like to learn another instrument in the future, they will already be able to read the music. This makes the new instrument much easier to learn.

Acoustic and electric guitarists tend to learn from something called guitar TAB. This is a numbers based system which describes where to place the fingers and which string to play. One of the down sides to guitar TAB is that it doesn’t include any rhythmic notation. The guitarist needs to know how the song sounds before they can play it correctly.

The classical guitar has very soft strings compared to the other types of guitar. The classical guitar uses 3 nylon strings plus 3 steel wound nylon strings (nylon core wrapped in steel). In lessons we always start by using the nylon strings of the guitar, which are softer and gentler on little fingers.

Another point worth mentioning is that the string tension on a classical guitar is typically lower than on an acoustic guitar. This makes it easier to press the strings down to create clear notes. High tension strings can be off putting for beginners as it makes it difficult to get a good sounding note.

The space between the strings is slightly bigger on a classical guitar than an acoustic or electric guitar. Whilst this might sound like a disadvantage, it’s actually very useful when starting out.

The bigger spacing makes it easier to see which string is being pushed down. It also helps to avoid touching the wrong string by accident, causing unwanted buzzes and dead notes.

The bigger spacing also makes it easier to pluck the strings without playing the wrong one.

Another reason why the classical guitar is the best choice for beginners is that these instruments are very affordable, particularly compared to electric guitars. Whilst most beginner guitars themselves are typically around the same price, you don’t need many extra accessories to play the classical guitar.

Electric guitarists will need an amp, guitar cable and plectrums etc. This all adds up quickly. If your child is just starting out then it’s worth considering the costs, as they may decide they want to discontinue lessons within the next year.

Classical Guitar Academy offer some fantastic beginner guitars that are built to last and sound great. Check out our beginner model guitars below:

It is generally considered easier to switch from classical guitar to acoustic or electric guitar than the other way around.

All 3 main disciplines of guitar share the same number of strings and standard tuning. This means that it is physically possible to switch from one to another with little training.

Classical guitarists generally have the edge when switching to another type of guitar. They can already read standard music notation and are able to pick up the Guitar TAB system pretty quickly. Guitar TAB is a relatively simple type of notation to understand, however it does not include the rhythm aspect found in standard music notation.

Acoustic and electric guitarists tend to struggle with the reading side when switching to classical guitar. They also find the right hand technique difficult to pick up. This is because acoustic and electric guitarists usually use a plectrum, which is often considered less complex than using the fingers.