Types Of Guitars

There are various types of guitars available today.Playing different guitars is a great way of familiarising yourself with each model's unique qualities.The list below provides the most common types of guitars.

Acoustic Guitars

Acoustic guitars are available in two kinds; steel-string and classical. The difference between the two is that classical guitars have a wide neck and utilize nylon strings while the steel-strings produce a metallic sound that is a unique component of various trendy music styles. They are similar in that you can use a plectrum or finger-style to play them. The steel-string acoustic can also be referred as the flat top at times. Acoustic guitars have a hollow body and produce a deep tone and they are perfect for chordal rhythmic strumming.

Electric Guitars

This guitar is used to play rock, blues, jazz or pop music. They are plugged into an amplifier so as to produce a loud voice. When amplified it produces a metallic sound with a long decay. Electric guitars have thinner strings compared to acoustic guitars.

Archtop Guitars

This is a semi-hollow steel-string acoustic or electric guitar. It is jazz guitarists favorite. Acoustic and electric archtops have a similar design but differ due to addition of electro-magnetic pickups and pots. Archtop guitars are available in full bodied and thinline.

Bass Guitars

These guitars have a wide scale-length and thick strings. These factors produce a variety of notes that matches the lowest four strings of the guitar although pitched an octave lower. There exist acoustic bass and electric bass guitars. The normal bass guitar has four strings although five and six strings are accessible.

Semi-Acoustic Guitar

A semi-acoustic guitar can be described as a perfect electric guitar fitted with huge hollow sound-box to produce adequate sound. This makes it unnecessary to connect to an amplifier when playing in a small room such as the living room. Since the sound box is normally metal, it does not produce the depth and quality of an acoustic guitar.

Classical or Spanish Guitar

It originated from Spain and was conventionally used for playing classical music. It is constructed using wood with a big, hollow sound-box as well as female torso shape. Earlier the guitar was strung using gut strings. Currently, nylon strings are used which produce a sweet, calm and slightly muted sound. It is ideal for classical music. You should never place metal strings on a Spanish guitar.

These are the most  common types of guitars.Having knowledge about various types of guitars is essential before you begin playing guitars. This knowledge will assist you in purchasing a guitar too.