The guitar has become one of the most popular and widespread musical instruments among both beginners and professionals. Many people want to learn to play the guitar, but not everyone knows the basics - what are the differences between guitars, which explains the more complex choice of tool. Below there will be a detailed analysis of what types of guitars there are and their classification.
Guitars are divided into acoustic and electronic. Acoustic guitars with nylon strings are the classic type that is mostly played for classical music. Often a pick is not used, they are played only with the fingers. There is also a folk guitar - the same acoustic one, only with six metal strings. A semi-acoustic guitar is different in that it also has pickups with a classic acoustic body.
An electric guitar is a musical instrument with metal strings and the main special difference from acoustics is the presence of electromagnetic pickups. Electric guitars are in turn classified into bass and solo guitars. There’s not much to say here: a solo is a guitar that can be played solo, independent separate parts, and the bass guitar is mainly used as a “foundation” in the form of a low register and harmony that supports the other instruments. The difference between an electro-acoustic guitar and a regular one is the installed device with which the sound is amplified.
Guitars can be distinguished according to a variety of criteria. For example, according to the shape of the body and the structure of the guitar: flattop with a flat body; the archtop can be either acoustic or semi-acoustic; its difference is the presence of f-shaped resonator holes in the soundboard area; its body looks like an enlarged violin; The dreadnought is a folk guitar of relatively large size, its timbre is mostly dominated by low frequencies, and the sound is louder; Jumbo is an enlarged folk guitar, it received the greatest recognition from representatives of the country music genre; Western is an instrument that can be either acoustic or semi-acoustic; it has a cutout under the last frets.
Guitars are also divided by range, because each of them is unique according to this criterion: a regular guitar has a range from D small octave to D third, a tenor guitar has a banjo tuning and only four strings, a baritone guitar has an extended scale and a bass guitar, whose range is one octave lower than that of a regular guitar.
These plucked string instruments also differ from each other in the number of frets: a regular guitar has all the frets; a fretless guitar, more commonly found as a bass guitar, has no frets at all; A slide guitar also does not have frets, but a special device called a slide is used to clamp the strings.
Each instrument has its own homeland. Guitars appear in different countries at different times and also differ in their countries of origin: the Spanish guitar, which appeared in the thirteenth century; Russian guitar, which originated in the eighteenth century; ukulele;
Guitars differ in the number of strings; There are guitars with classic six strings, they are used as solo guitars; seven-string guitars can also be solo; there are even four-string ones, which often serve as bass guitars; Twelve-string guitars are less common and are mostly played by professionals.
A very important factor in distinguishing guitars is the manufacturer and material. The best electric guitars are made by Yamaha, Gibson, Faster, Kramer and several others. Manufacturers of acoustic guitars are not much different from electric ones. Good materials for an acoustic guitar include spruce, cedar, and mahogany, in particular rosewood, for the top. Electric guitars are made from alder, ash, linden, agathis and also mahogany.
Acoustic guitars are the general name for a class of instruments that is further divided into two subtypes: classical and acoustic guitars. What are their differences, what types of acoustic guitars are there, and also what is best to play in what styles, we will talk in this article.
Classical guitar
This is a guitar with a wide neck, full-length (4/4) body and nylon strings. Classical guitars for children have a smaller body (1/2 or 3/4). You can also sometimes find a classical guitar with a lower cutaway in the body for easier access to the upper notes.
Classical guitars gravitate towards certain styles of music and performance styles. The classical guitar plays well with classical music and flamenco, as well as art songs. For studying at a music school, it is also best to buy a classical guitar with nylon strings, and select its size according to the age and height of the child.
Keep in mind that a classical guitar cannot be fitted with steel strings. This can lead to guitar failure because the body is not designed to handle the increased stress on the neck that metal strings create.
Acoustic guitar
If the production of classical guitars adheres to certain standards, then the approach of manufacturers to acoustic guitars is more free. Today, even the once existing “standards” of case types are seen differently by each manufacturer. However, to make it easier to navigate acoustic guitars, we will describe their main types.
Dreadnought (aka Western) is one of the most popular body types for acoustic guitars. The large body allows you to make the sound loud and rich, with pronounced low and high frequencies.
The jumbo body is larger and more rounded. Jumbo is best suited for accompanying music because its sound is dominated by low frequencies.
Folk is almost no different from classical guitar. Guitars with this body lack deep low frequencies, but they compensate for this with an expressive midrange and bright top end. They are popular in country and folk music as a solo instrument.
The acoustic guitar is widely used when playing in a wide variety of musical styles - rock, jazz, blues, folk and others.
Twelve string guitar
A twelve-string guitar has six paired rows of strings tuned to unison or octave in classical tuning. The sound of the guitar is more voluminous, deep and bright. The instrument is more difficult to care for and tune, and the manner of playing it is also somewhat different. Speaking about twelve-string acoustic guitars, it is necessary to clarify that such guitars are not suitable for beginner guitarists.
Seven string guitar
Standing apart from the classical and acoustic guitar is the Russian seven-string guitar, which became widespread in Russia in the 19th and 20th centuries. The classic sound of Russian romance can only be reproduced on a seven-string guitar. The main difference of this instrument, in addition to the number of strings, is the different tuning: “D, B, G, D, B, G, D.”
Semi-acoustic and electro-acoustic guitars
An acoustic six-string guitar equipped with a piezoelectric pickup is called electro-acoustic. Inside the electro-acoustic guitar there is a preamplifier with tone controls that are output to the body. The housing also has a socket for a jack plug, which is connected by wire to the amplifier. They perform with an electro-acoustic guitar at large concerts with classical or bard works.
A guitar with acoustic cutouts in the body and electromagnetic pickups is called semi-acoustic. This type of guitar is more likely to be an electric guitar, but nevertheless, it can be played without an amplifier - although the sound will not be too loud. Without equipment, such a guitar can be used to rehearse and learn musical pieces, but during performances it will still have to be connected to an amplifier and speakers.
Materials
Different parts of the guitar are made from different types of wood. The classic layout is as follows: shells - mahogany or cedar; top - spruce; the back is mahogany or cedar; neck - mahogany or cedar; The fingerboard is rosewood or ebony.
Today, manufacturers experiment a lot with tree species. Here are the main rocks from which guitars are made and their characteristics:
Mahogany is a general type of wood that includes both cheap and expensive species. Mahogany has a reddish hue with open grain and large pores.
Cedar is a grayish-colored wood with large, wavy grains and medium-sized pores.
Spruce is a light-colored tree with small grains and small pores, soft in the core and hard in the frame.
Rosewood is an exotic wood of brown color with reddish-pink veins, dense in structure and with small pores.
Ebony is a dark-colored wood sometimes with yellowish stripes (Tiger Stripe), dense in structure and with very small pores.
Reference article based on the expert opinion of the author.
Not everyone can distinguish a classical guitar (classical) from an acoustic one (acoustics) at first glance. And now we’ll talk about what the difference is between these two types of guitars.
Let's start with a description of the classical guitar. Let's look at the picture of the classics:
At first glance, a classical guitar can be distinguished from an acoustic one by looking at the strings. The classical one has nylon strings, in a word, plastic.
Here's what nylon strings mean:
Do not pay attention to the way the nylon strings are attached to the nut, as it may vary. But more often in a classical guitar, the strings are attached this way.
The neck also stands out - it is wider and, unlike acoustics, it is thinner. It is worth noting that it is easier to play such an instrument, because the pressure of the strings is practically not felt, and they also cut your fingers less. But the sound on such a guitar is, to put it mildly, not so great. That is, it is probably not suitable for you to play yard songs around the fire, much less record. Only classical music is played on classical music.
What is an acoustic guitar?
Let's look at the drawing of an acoustic guitar:
The biggest difference from the classical one is the strings. Here they are made of iron, and accordingly the sound is much brighter, richer, more saturated..
Such strings can be with different types of braids:
- copper;
- aluminum;
- silver plated;
- gold plated braid, etc.
Besides the strings, the difference between a classical and an acoustic guitar is the neck. Here it is much narrower, but thicker. It’s more convenient to play, all fingers reach where they need to.
Also, the neck on an acoustic is mainly attached to the body using a bolt (anchor), whereas on a classic the neck is glued:
The anchor connection of the neck is better, because, firstly, such a connection is more reliable, and secondly, in the case of curvature of the neck, it (this curvature) can be edited using an anchor (hexagon).
Iron strings for a classical guitar?..
Many people wonder: " Is it possible to put iron strings on a classical guitar?" Answer: highly undesirable. That's why:
If you put iron (metal) strings on a classical guitar, the neck of the guitar may bend because iron strings have a ABOUT higher tension, and the classic bar is not designed for this.
For example, I once put iron strings on my classical guitar (by the way, the first guitar in my life). And not because I didn’t know about the consequences, but I just wanted to check. And yes, indeed, the neck was slightly bent. The main thing is that I changed the strings back to nylon in time. So I do not recommend conducting such experiments.
Conclusion
We can summarize that it is better to take an acoustic guitar with iron strings. Because we are not going to play classical music.
When potential students contact me, they usually provide some brief backstory about what brought them to the teacher. All these stories are quite different, however, during my professional career I began to notice common features in them. In this article, I would like to dwell on one of the situations often described by potential students: “I really want to learn how to play the electric guitar, but I have a problem. I have never played an acoustic (classical) guitar, but many people say, and I myself have read various articles that Before learning to play the electric guitar, you need to master the basics of acoustic or classical. But acoustic or classical guitars don’t attract me at all, but the electric guitar is the opposite. How critical is the lack of ability to play the acoustic (classical) guitar in order to start learning the electric guitar?”
The fact is that the classical guitar, acoustic guitar and electric guitar are three completely different musical instruments, differing not only in sound, but also in their functionality. Consequently, they also differ in sound production techniques. To make it clearer, I will give a couple of analogies as examples. If a person wants to learn how to drive a car and comes to a driving school for this purpose, it is unlikely that the teachers there will offer him training in riding a motorcycle or a dump truck. Despite the fact that these types of transport travel on the same roads, they are still fundamentally different from each other. Likewise, people who want to take up boxing probably won't go to a Greco-Roman wrestling coach, since they are obviously two completely different martial arts. And if these statements raise virtually no doubts in anyone’s mind, then with guitars the situation is completely different.
Unfortunately, quite a large number of people really don't understand the difference between a classical, acoustic and electric guitar. Of course, quite a lot of people are aware that the above tools have little overlap. However, among them there are those who are convinced that you cannot start learning to play the electric guitar without learning to play the acoustic or classical guitar. With all responsibility, I can assure you that these beliefs are purely a stereotype and do not represent any informational value. Following these unfounded speculations is a grave mistake that will lead to nothing but wasted money and time. Where does this stereotype come from is the second question. Someone read it on the Internet, someone guessed it themselves, someone was explained this by a teacher who is either incompetent and himself believes in this nonsense, or is simply a fraudster trying to keep his student for as long as possible at any cost.
In fact, there is not the slightest connection between an acoustic, classical and electric guitar, except for the number of strings (and even then not always). As mentioned earlier, each of these musical instruments has its own specifics and functionality, which impose on it certain features, expressed in the technique of sound production. That is, if a musician is good at, for example, an acoustic guitar, this does not mean that he will be able to master the electric guitar or classical guitar without preparation.
Differences between guitars in terms of sound production techniques
How does an electric guitar differ from an acoustic and classical one? Let's take, for example, such a parameter as the purity of sound production. An electric guitar, unlike an acoustic or classical one, is essentially a hypersensitive instrument, since in the vast majority of cases it is used when playing with overdrive. It is so sensitive that it requires constant total control over the damping of unnecessary strings. Pronounced dirty playing on an acoustic or classical guitar involves a direct attack of extra strings instead of/together with playing strings. With an electric guitar everything is much more complicated. Even if the pick hits the playing strings perfectly accurately, the extra strings in the absence of jamming will still resonate, which will instantly be heard from the speaker of the combo in the form of a heap of dirt and all sorts of overtones. That is why one of the main problems encountered on the path of beginning electric guitarists is clean sound production. On acoustic and classical guitars, such situations are also possible, but it will not be as obvious to people with undeveloped hearing. To learn to hear the resonance of adjacent strings on acoustics and classical instruments and the overlap of dissonant (dissonant) notes caused by collateral vibration of extra strings, you need some experience in playing these musical instruments, which beginners, of course, do not have. Consequently, your hands will work in a completely different mode when playing different types of guitars.
Obviously, you shouldn’t count on playing the electric guitar cleanly while learning only classical or acoustic guitar. This absolutely does not mean that an electric guitar is better than an acoustic or classical one - they are just different. But which one is better (or rather, it would be more accurate), everyone must decide for themselves, relying solely on taste (musical) preferences. There is no other way to answer such a subjective question.
On the versatility of teachers
The example with clean sound production is just one of many parameters, one way or another, interpreted in their own way when playing different types of guitars. And each parameter makes significant adjustments to the technique of playing these instruments. I personally felt the significance of these differences in 2003, when, having studied classical guitar for three years with one of the best teachers in Russia, Leonid Reznik, I was unable to master the electric guitar, having spent a lot of time on futile attempts to independently master this musical instrument. . Subsequently, from 2004 to 2006, I was able to take a full course of training in playing the electric guitar from one of the best and most sought-after teachers in Moscow, Yuri Sergeev.
In life, I always try to be wary of one-size-fits-all solutions. No matter how beautiful modern smartphones are, they will never record sound the way a separate good microphone will, they will never take photographs as well as a decent SLR camera will, they will not sound the way an adequate speaker system will, etc. d. No matter how cynical this may sound, in my opinion, the situation with specialists is similar. The more versatile a specialist is, the worse he performs each of his functions. This applies to both musicians and teachers. However, there may be exceptions to this rule (and I know people who have demonstrated this by personal example), but they are only possible if a number of certain requirements are met.
Of course, one of the necessary requirements is the ability to play a musical instrument with dignity. But, as you know, a good musician is not always a good teacher. In my understanding, the competence of a teacher lies, first of all, in the presence of a program for teaching him to play exactly the musical instrument whose lessons he offers. Let me remind you that under training program In my understanding, this means a whole complex of educational and methodological elements, the implementation of which is aimed at achieving specific results in mastering a particular musical instrument. It is not difficult to guess that since classical, acoustic and electric guitars are so different from each other, then the programs for learning to play these instruments will have little in common.
Quite a long time ago I decided to connect my professional career with the electric guitar. Several years ago I managed to compose and skate my training program, which is the basis of my current teaching activity. Training program development in my understanding, it is painstaking work that requires a certain amount of time, teaching experience, a stable flow of students, collection of statistical data, systematic analysis of the results obtained, on the basis of which the program will be modernized, etc. and so on. In my deep conviction, in order to teach on another musical instrument, without turning into another “universal” specialist in the bad sense of the word, you will need to go all this way from the very beginning.
Conclusion
It is no secret that the work of a general worker is paid much less than the work of a narrow-profile specialist. Coincidence? No, rather an objective pattern. A boxer must teach boxing; an instructor with a category “B” license must drive a car... Absolutely, music and, especially, teaching are no exception here. Therefore, if you want to learn the acoustic guitar, I strongly recommend that you contact an acoustic guitar teacher. If you want to learn classical guitar, look for a teacher who specializes in classical guitar. And if you dream of learning to play the electric guitar, then I am at your service!
Do you want to learn to play the guitar, but don't know which one to choose? For a non-professional it is difficult to discern the differences between different types, but they exist. We will help you understand what types of guitars there are and how they differ.
1. Classical is a traditional plucked instrument, known since the Renaissance. The vast majority of professional musicians and simply lovers of melodic chords began their musical careers with the classical guitar. It is with her that teachers of music schools or colleges work with their students.
Here are the main features by which you will always distinguish the classic model:
- The scale (length of the sounding part of the string) is 65 cm.
- Six strings made of synthetic material (nylon).
- A massive neck made of a single piece of wood (thickness - up to 3 cm, width - up to 6 cm). These sizes allow you to comfortably hold the neck in your hand and pluck the strings.
- The body is made of plywood, less often - of natural wood. Slightly smaller in size than other types of guitars.
- The sound is produced using fingers or a mediator. No other additional reinforcement elements are used.
- Low cost.
The classical instrument sounds softer and deeper. Therefore, romances, ancient melodies or passionate Spanish melodies are most often performed on it.
2. Acoustic - became widespread in America at the beginning of the twentieth century. Folk or country music was performed on it, and all rural parties and local celebrations were held to its sound.
And even now this model is considered the best for playing blues and rock ballads. Since the main purpose of an acoustic guitar is to accompany on stage, some changes have been made to its structure, allowing it to produce a louder and clearer sound.
- The body is large in shape.
- The strings are metal, mostly steel.
- The neck is elongated, narrow (maximum width up to 4.5 cm) and lighter in weight.
- There is an anchor rod that keeps the bar from deforming.
An acoustic guitar differs from a classical guitar only in sound. Therefore, it is impossible to say which one is better or worse. The choice depends on personal preferences and the musical styles for which they are purchased.
Note! Professional musicians recommend starting with classical music and then moving on to acoustic music, since in order to play metal strings, it is advisable to have basic playing skills.
What is the difference between a bass guitar and an electric guitar?
It should be noted right away that the electric guitar is a separate type of guitar, and the bass guitar is its subtype. They are quite similar in design, which is why they are often confused.
- Bas-guitar was invented by Leo Fender in the 50s of the last century and is still the most popular accompanist when performing rock and jazz music. This model is distinguished from a six-string model by a rougher and heavier sound, because this bass sounds an octave lower than the classical one. There are a number of separate techniques designed for playing the bass guitar specifically. The standard type has 4 strings, but there are products equipped with 5, 6, 7 and 8 strings. American linden or walnut is used to make the body.
- Electric guitar is an instrument equipped with electronic pickups. These devices completely changed the sound of the usual guitar melody. They were developed in 1924 by engineer L. Loehr, who worked for an American guitar manufacturing company. The use of revolutionary sound conversion technology made it possible to extract hitherto unheard of sounds from an ordinary acoustic guitar, distinguished by a wide variety of new timbres. There is another subtype of electric guitar - electroacoustic ( or semi-acoustic). An electro-acoustic guitar is a type of acoustic guitar that has a special device called a piezo pickup installed inside the body.
It is with its help that the instrument is connected to amplification equipment and is able to produce a more powerful and loud sound required at concert venues. Under normal conditions, this type of guitar can be played without a connection.
The electric guitar is the main and indispensable attribute when performing rock music, and very often individual solos on the electric guitar are included in performances. Like regular acoustics, it has basically six strings, although visually they are completely different.
An electric guitar can have a variety of avant-garde forms, emphasizing the style and extravagance of the performer. The body is made of alder, maple, ash, and rosewood or ebony wood is used as fingerboards.
Note! The main difference is that the bass guitar is an improved double bass, while the electric guitar “evolved” from a regular acoustic.
Seven-string from six-string guitar
The main feature of difference, as the name suggests, is the number of strings. But these are not all the signs by which these two popular varieties can be distinguished.
- Six string guitar(it is also called “Spanish”) - this is exactly the classical design, the description of which we gave above. It sounds equally good both solo and to accompany a melody as part of a musical group. The six-string is the most common type that can be found among most fans of guitar music.
- Seven string guitar- “Russian” or “Gypsy”. In the past, it was very widespread in our country, because these were the models that were produced by most factories in the USSR. Today, the popularity of the seven-string guitar has decreased a little, and the “Russian” is increasingly being replaced by a modified version - the so-called “American” seven-string guitar.
The main difference between the seven-string and the classical is the tuning, that is, the sound of the open strings that the instrument produces. The technique that is used to play the “Russian” guitar allows you to obtain a melodic series that is in tune with Russian folk songs.
The sound of the seven-string is softer, melodious, and it is not for nothing that this instrument is considered the ideal accompanist for Russian and gypsy romances.
Structure of a seven-string “Russian” guitar:
Rare species
But this is not a complete list of plucked string musical structures that originate from the classical guitar. In addition to the well-known and popular varieties, there are many other modifications that are more or less known to the general public:
- Hawaiian (ukulele) is a small-sized folk Hawaiian instrument with four strings, made from local mahogany. A very common guitar option that can be found in any music store.
- Guitar - was first used at the end of the 18th century in England. Large in size, outwardly reminiscent of a “hand-held” harp with a neck, this exotic device is capable of producing a very interesting sound and, although it does not have a crowd of fans, is still produced by many well-known companies. Even in electronic variations.
- For left-handers – specially made models for the left hand. They have a mirror arrangement of all the necessary elements, which makes it much easier for left-handed musicians to play. Although the range of such products on sale is not large (compared to traditional forms), in specialized stores you can find a “left-handed” guitar of any type - from ordinary classical to electric or bass.
Choose the instrument that you like, improve your technique, and who knows, maybe you will eclipse the glory of the legendary Jimi Hendrix or the magnificent Eric Clapton.
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