Can I Play Classical Music On An Electric Guitar?

If you don’t have an electric guitar, but interested in playing classical music, you may wonder whether there is a possibility to play classical music on the electric guitar. Some people think that it is a possibility, but others believe that it’s not.

The answer is yes, you can play classical music on an electric guitar. Most of the people who own electric guitars do it as well. Many guitarists do this purposefully because they want to change from the heavy metal riffs instead of going through the hassle of changing guitars. You will not come across any major challenges when you are playing classical music on an electric guitar. It will be a unique experience, which you can enjoy as well.

How Will The Sound Change When Playing Classical Music On Electric Guitar?

The sound produced by electric guitars is completely different from the sound produced by classical guitars. As a result, you will wonder how the sound will be changed when you are playing a classical song on an electric guitar.

People have been introducing updates to the timbers used for classical guitar manufacturing for hundreds of years. The Well-Tempered Clavier can be considered as a perfect example to prove the above-mentioned fact. Even though it was introduced to play on the clavichords, keyboardists in today’s world have started playing on them. Likewise, it is possible to play classical music on the electric guitar as well.

When you are playing classical music on an electric guitar, you cannot expect your instrument to deliver the exact sounds. There are some differences in what you hear. That’s mainly because your electric guitar doesn’t have a resonating chamber, which can drum on. On the other hand, it is possible to find closely spaced strings made out of steel on the electric guitar. But when you take a classical guitar, you can find nylons that are widely spread. However, these are minor differences when you compare with the differences that can be found between a piano and a clavichord.

If you are looking forward to performing seriously as a classical guitarist, you may think about switching to a classical guitar. That’s because you don’t get the exact sound. Else, you can continue playing classical music on the electric guitar. There is no harm when you play classical songs on an electric guitar.

Figure Out The Perfect Playing Technique

When you are playing classical music on an electric guitar, it is important to pay special attention to the playing technique. As mentioned earlier, you will be able to find nylon strings in a classical guitar. There is the wide spacing between the strings as well. That’s because the classical guitars are meant to be playing fingerstyle. You need to follow the three-finger technique with an orthodox thumb in order to continue playing with the classical guitar. When you are playing a classical guitar, you touch multiple parts of the instrument as well.

However, the technique that you should follow when playing an electric guitar is completely different. You don’t need to use your orthodox thumb with three fingers while playing the electric guitar. Therefore, you will find it a challenging experience to play classical songs on your electric guitar. This doesn’t mean that you cannot play classical music on an electric guitar with a pick. It is possible for you to do it and you can find many popular guitarists such as Chet Atkins, Lindsey Buckingham and Mark Knopfler doing it. The only difference is that you will have to go through a somewhat challenging process to get the job done.

It is better if you can come up with your own preferred style when playing classical music on electric guitars. Then you will find it an easy task to overcome the challenges that you go through.

Starting To Play Classical Music On An Electric Guitar

If you haven’t played classical music before, but if you are about to start doing it with the electric guitar you have, you will wonder whether you are about to make the right choice or not. When you go through the online guides, you will be able to see many professional guitarists recommending the people to start off playing classical tunes by purchasing an acoustic guitar. But if you are not ready to do it, you must understand how it would be like to play classical songs on the electric guitar you have.

An Acoustic Guitar Is More Inconvenient For The Children

The kids who start playing classical tunes on an acoustic guitar will have to go through a series of challenges. That’s because the strings you can find in a classical guitar are thick. They are hard to press as well. Hence, the kids will struggle a lot when they are trying to produce perfect sounds with classical guitars. Due to this reason, it is possible to introduce electric guitars for your little ones to play even the classical tunes. Then they will find it an easy task to get used to the guitars. Once they feel comfortable with the guitars, they will find it an easy task to switch to acoustic guitars as well.

Experiment And Come Up With Your Own Technique

Once you start playing classical music on an electric guitar, you should do your own experiments and come up with an appropriate technique. There is no hard and fast technique that you should follow when playing classical music on an electric guitar. It is up to you to do your own experiments and come up with an appropriate technique that you like. Left hand and right-hand techniques are some perfect methods available for you to try out. On the other hand, you can also experiment with strumming because it can provide you with the ability to do something that you can’t achieve with the classical guitar. The efforts that you spend to do it can deliver amazing results in the long run. Hence, you shouldn’t worry too much about experimenting on your own.

You Don’t Need To Struggle With The Amp

When playing classical music on the electric guitars, many people wonder whether they will have to go through the frustration associated with setting up the amp. No, you don’t need to go through all that hassle when you are playing classical music on the electric guitar. You can easily set up the electric guitar and there won’t be any struggles with the settings of the amp. That’s because you are not going to advanced playing techniques with your electric guitar such as distortions.

Rock With Classical Music

If you feel like rocking out to some classical well-known masterpieces you can always find great rock covers to that composition. For example composition like canon D,  Beethoven’s moonlight sonata, Mozart’s 25 symphonies, Beethoven’s 5th Symphony and many more.

Of Course, this composition is very complex and there is a steep learning curve for some of you. Therefore you will have to master all the rock techniques before you start learning how to play those songs.

Once you master all the techniques and feel like that you’re ready to learn more complex songs I would suggest starting with the Canon D, I can assure you will have a great time learning those songs.

Conclusion

As you can see, there is no harm in playing classical music on an electric guitar. Most of the guitarists out there in the world do it. You can find casual guitarists as well as professional guitarists doing it. The only difference that you can experience is that it will not be possible for you to experience the exact sounds. Apart from that, there are no other challenges with playing classical music on an electric guitar. You don’t even have to worry about configuring the settings of your amp. In addition, if you wish to combine the complexity of classical music and the sound of rock you can always find great covers to various great classical compositions.