It's common to see aspiring six-string students starting out acoustic guitars. But Alice Cooper shredder Nita Strauss says this might not be the right approach for many players.
In a new interview with fellow guitar great Rusty Cooley on Guitar Autopsy (via Ultimate Guitar), Strauss points out that what draws many beginners to the instrument in the first place are bands and artists that play electric guitars.
“Playing an acoustic guitar is not cool,” she says. “When some people do it, it's cool; when Tommy Emmanuel does it, it's cool. He's amazing. But for a kid that's just starting out that wants to play Iron Man or Smells Like Teen Spirit or something, they just want to turn on the guitar and make some noise.”
Strauss goes on to reveal that she doesn't currently own an acoustic guitar.
“Honestly, I don't have any real opposition to playing acoustic, I just don't particularly like it,” she continues. “It's kind of for the same beginner reasons we were talking about, I don't find it particularly fun.
“That's not to say that I wouldn't and I do have some acoustic parts on my first album, [2020's] Controlled Chaos, [but] I don't have any on the upcoming album. But I'm sure I will in the future.
“I dip my toes into the seven-string waters on this upcoming record, and I'm more focused on getting heavier and faster.
Get The Pick Newsletter
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!
“And I think at some point in my evolution as a guitar player, I'll hit the other fork in the road and go more towards the acoustic, more chill music, and learn that kind of technique. But right now, I'm enjoying the trajectory that I'm on.”
Back in October, Nita Strauss recruited Disturbed frontman David Draiman for a new single, Dead Inside. The pair performed the track live at LA's Whisky A-Go-Go last month.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month**
Join now for unlimited access
US pricing $3.99 per month or $39.00 per year
UK pricing £2.99 per month or £29.00 per year
Europe pricing €3.49 per month or €34.00 per year
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Sam was Staff Writer at GuitarWorld.com from 2019 to 2023, and also created content for Total Guitar, Guitarist and Guitar Player. He has well over 15 years of guitar playing under his belt, as well as a degree in Music Technology (Mixing and Mastering). He's a metalhead through and through, but has a thorough appreciation for all genres of music. In his spare time, Sam creates point-of-view guitar lesson videos on YouTube under the name Sightline Guitar.
I’ll always love my plucky little Yamaha, but I’m in serious need of an acoustic upgrade. These are the Cyber Monday savings I have my eye on
“Delay isn’t something you really think of when you think of an acoustic guitar, but it works quite well when you’re adding a top line to a loop”: How Yamaha evolved its TransAcoustic tech to create an acoustic guitar with an onboard delay and looper