Electric Guitar for Beginners: Pickups, Knobs, Amps and Your First Hour
An electric guitar is easier on your fingers than an acoustic, but it comes with a few extra parts. Here is what every knob and switch does and how to get a good sound in your first hour.
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In this guide
An electric guitar is a solid or semi-hollow guitar whose sound is picked up by magnets under the strings and sent through a cable to an amplifier. Compared with an acoustic it has lighter strings and lower action, so it is usually easier on the fingers, but it needs an amp (or headphones) and it has a few controls an acoustic does not.
This guide explains what those controls do, what you need to buy alongside the guitar, and how to get a good sound in your first hour.
What you need
| Item | Why | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Amp | The guitar is nearly silent without one | A small practice amp, a headphone amp, or an amp-modeling app with an audio interface |
| Instrument cable | Connects guitar to amp | 3 m (10 ft) is plenty for home |
| Tuner | Electric guitars drift out of tune like any guitar | Clip-on, pedal, or our free online tuner |
| Picks | Most electric playing uses a pick | Try a few thicknesses; medium is a good start |
| Strap | For playing standing | Optional at first |
Do you need an amp straight away? See do you need an amp for guitar for options and checked prices.
Pickups: where the sound comes from
Pickups are the magnets under the strings. A vibrating steel string disturbs their magnetic field, and that creates the electrical signal. Two kinds cover almost every guitar:
- Single-coil pickups are narrow. Bright, clear and articulate; they can pick up a little hum from lights and electronics.
- Humbuckers are wider, with two coils wired to cancel hum. Warmer, thicker and louder; popular for rock and heavier styles.
Pickup position matters as much as type. The pickup near the neck sounds round and warm; the one near the bridge sounds bright and cutting, because the string vibrates differently along its length.
The switch and the knobs
| Control | What it does | Starting point |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup selector | Chooses neck, bridge or a combination | Neck for warm rhythm and soft lead; bridge for rock riffs and bright solos |
| Volume knob(s) | Guitar output level; turning down also cleans up a distorted amp | Fully up (10), then use it to clean up the sound |
| Tone knob(s) | Rolls off treble | Fully up, then turn down a little if the sound is harsh |
Setting up the amp in five minutes
- Turn the amp's volume to zero before plugging in or out. This avoids a loud pop.
- Plug the cable into the guitar and the amp's input. Turn the guitar's volume and tone fully up.
- On the amp, set bass, middle and treble to 12 o'clock (halfway) and gain low.
- Bring the master volume up slowly while strumming an open E chord.
- For a clean sound, keep gain low. For crunch, raise the gain until chords start to break up when you strum hard.
More detail, including tone settings for blues, rock and metal: amp settings for beginners.
Learn this inside a guided path, free
Fretwork's first two stages are free for as long as you like, with no card needed. You get a guided first day, short lessons and a practice plan that tells you what to play today.
Technique that matters more on electric
- Muting. Amplification makes unwanted string noise much louder. Rest the side of your picking hand lightly on strings you are not playing, and let fretting fingers touch the strings next to the ones they press. See how to mute strings.
- A lighter touch. Electric strings need less pressure. Squeezing too hard bends notes sharp.
- Palm muting. Resting the edge of the picking hand on the strings near the bridge gives the tight, chugging rock sound. See palm muting.
- Bends and vibrato. Light strings make these easy and expressive; they are the heart of electric lead playing. See vibrato.
Practicing without bothering anyone
- Most practice amps have a headphone socket that mutes the speaker.
- Headphone amps plug straight into the guitar.
- Amp-modeling apps run on a phone or computer with a small audio interface.
- Unplugged practice is fine for chord shapes and changes, but plug in regularly so you hear your muting and tone.
Your first hour
- Tune up (10 minutes the first time, two minutes later).
- Set a clean sound and play E, A and D, picking each string to check it rings.
- Try the neck and bridge pickups on the same chord and listen to the difference.
- Add a little gain and play a power chord on the low E string, then palm mute it.
- Play a simple riff, like the one in our power chords guide.
Not sure electric is right for you? Compare in acoustic or electric first, and when you want to explore sounds, read effects pedals for beginners.
Frequently asked questions
Is electric guitar easier for beginners than acoustic?
Physically, usually yes. Electric guitars have lighter strings and lower action, so chords take less pressure and fingertips hurt less in the first weeks. The music you want to play matters more than the difference, though.
What do I need besides an electric guitar?
An amp (or a headphone amp or amp-modeling app), an instrument cable, a tuner and a few picks. A strap if you want to stand. Effects pedals are optional.
What is the difference between single-coil and humbucker pickups?
Single-coils sound brighter and clearer and can hum slightly; humbuckers use two coils wired to cancel hum and sound thicker and warmer. Neither is better; they suit different styles.
Can I play electric guitar without an amp?
You can practice unplugged, and many players do for quiet chord practice, but it is very quiet and you will not hear your real tone or muting problems. A small amp or headphones is worth it.
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