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Types of Guitars

In this article you will know;
What are the different types of Guitars?
Description to each type of Guitar with details. Acoustic, Classical, Spanish, Electric Guitars.
Professional Tips on using your Guitar.
Comments & discussions by people who play Guitars.

Introduction

As all other musical instruments, guitar is one of the most common hand held musical instrument these days, which you can hear in almost all kinds of music now, either its played by a rock band or some individual. In my view its not important that only a guy or a lady who is completely professional in playing guitar(s) should only be heard by people, sometimes beginners even play something which touch our souls. In this section, you'll get detailed information on guitars, I'll be updating it with time as I get more material to be added here. Below as you read, at the end of this page there are comments & discussions by people who are into these instruments for sometime. I hope you'll get alot of information regarding guitars & their types in this article.

Acoustic Guitar

Technically, any non-electric guitar sound is acoustic but the term is most often used today to refer to a steel string acoustic guitar. Crafted mostly from various hard and soft woods, the acoustic guitar, sometimes referred to as a folk guitar, is a modern descendent of the classical or Spanish guitar. Acoustic guitars can be modified with various pickup systems (electro-magnetic or piezo) and/or small internal condenser microphones that allow the guitar to be plugged into an amplifier or PA system. However, unlike electric guitars, they are primarily designed to be played acoustically and project as much acoustic energy as possible.

The steel strings give a much brighter and louder sound to the instrument. The added tension of the steel strings requires stronger bracing and heavier construction usually with a steel truss rod in the neck of the guitar to keep it from bowing. It is usually played with a plectrum (flat pick) used to strum the strings. However, finger-style guitarists use a thumb pick and/or individual finger picks or simply their bare fingers and/or fingernails to pluck the strings individually, similar to classical guitar players. (style depends)

Though most acoustic guitars have six strings, one common variation is the 12-string guitar which has six pairs (courses) of strings, the lower four of which are tuned an octave apart, while the high E and B strings are tuned in unison. The popularity of the acoustic guitar is due to its affordability, portability, and its ability to function as both a rhythm and melodic instrument. The guitar has become the signature instrument of western popular music and pop culture. It is the heart and soul of popular music of the mid to late 20th and early 21st centuries, including folk, bluegrass, country & western, rock, jazz, alternative, and pop.

Some of the largest and most well known manufacturers of acoustic guitars are Martin, Gibson, Fender, Taylor, Ovation, Guild, and Yamaha. However, over the last 10 to 20 years there has been a growing number of independent luthiers (guitar builders), most of whom specialize in crafting high-end, hand-made instruments, making inroads into the acoustic guitar market, which gave the buyer a higher opportunity.

Acoustic guitar is the quintessential instrument of much western popular music of the 20th and 21st centuries, including folk, gypsy jazz, country & western, bluegrass, rock, and pop. Primarily strummed or finger-picked, the instrument has mostly been used to accompany singers or sometimes other instrumentalists, though it was also used as a melodic instrument, especially in bluegrass and early jazz music (gypsy jazz).

Some famous acoustic guitarists who were influential in bringing acoustic guitar music to a wider audience include Leadbelly, Pete Seeger, Leo Kotke (12-string players), Robert Johnson, Lonnie Johnson, Eddie Lang, Django Reinhardt, Doc Watson, Johnny Cash , Jerry Read, The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Neil Young, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Ricky Skaggs, Tony Rice, John Renbourn, Richard Thompson, and Michael Hedges.

Classical Guitar - Spanish Guitar

The classical guitar, also known as Spanish guitar, a close relative to the Flamenco guitar, is an acoustic guitar with six nylon or gut strings. The back and sides are usually constructed of hard wood, like rosewood, while the top is usually made of either spruce or cedar. The modern classical guitar dates back to the late 18th century but it can trace its lineage back through the Renaissance and perhaps all the way back to the Greek kithara lyre. It is lighter in construction than its cousin, the acoustic steel string guitar (folk guitar) and has a softer, warmer sound. The classical guitar has found its way into almost every style of popular music including country, rock, jazz, bluegrass, folk, and pop.

Classical or Spanish guitar manufacturers are literally spread all over the world, but Spain remains the center of classical guitar tradition and culture. Ramirez is one of the more famous manufacturers, but classical guitars are also manufactured by large companies better known for their electric guitars, like Fender, Gibson, Epiphone, and Ibanez. Yamaha, Ovation, Taylor, and a host of other acoustic and electric guitar manufacturers also produce nylon string models.

Classical, or Spanish guitar is traditionally played by plucking the nylon strings with a combination of the finger tips and the nails (finger style guitar), but it is also plucked and/or strummed with a pick, especially by more pop oriented guitarists like Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page. The classical guitar is designed to be played acoustically but it is common to also have electronic pickup systems in the instrument so that it can be plugged into a PA system or amplifier for live performances. Ovation guitars have been designed and manufactured primarily with this in mind, but other companies like Fender, Gibson, Epiphone, Ibanez, Yamaha, and Taylor also design electric classical guitars.

Classical or Spanish guitarists such as Andres Segovia, Julian Bream, Elliot Fisk, Pepe Romero, John Williams, Laurindo Almeda, Odair & Sergio Assad, Liona Boyd, Sharon Isbin comprise the upper echelon of classical guitar world. However, nylon string acoustic guitar has made its way into jazz, pop, country, rock and other fingerstyle guitar genres. Players like Willie Nelson, The Beatles, Eddie Van Halen (listen to "Spanish Fly") and Eric Clapton have had a large influence on the use of classical guitar in pop music.

Electric Guitar

Electric guitar, this guitar is used rapidly these days by our new generation, because of the intensive systems. An electric guitar is a type of guitar with a solid or semi-solid body that uses electromagnetic pickups to convert the vibration of the steel-cored strings into electrical current. The current may be electrically altered (effects pedals) to achieve various tonal effects prior to being fed into an amplifier and speaker cabinet, which produces the resultant sound. Electronics enabled guitarists to achieve volume levels and tonal variations unimaginable on acoustic guitars. The body and neck are crafted mostly from various woods. It is usually played with a plectrum (flat pick), used to strum and/or pick the strings. However, finger-style guitarists use a thumb pick and/or individual finger picks or simply their bare fingers and/or fingernails, similar to classical guitar players, to pluck the strings individually, as I already mentioned, this depends on the guitarist. The electric guitar has become the signature instrument of western popular music and pop culture. It is the heart and soul of popular music of the mid to late 20th and early 21st centuries, including folk, jazz, blues, country & western, rock, heavy metal, funk, alternative, and pop.

The two most popular electric guitars are the Gibson Les Paul and the Fender Stratocaster. Some of the largest and most well known manufacturers of electric guitars are Gibson, Fender, Ibanez, Epiphone, Squier, Gretsch, Peavey, Paul Read Smith, Yamaha, and Schecter. However, over the last 10 to 20 years there has been a growing number of independent luthiers (guitar builders), most of whom specialize in crafting high-end, hand-made instruments, making inroads into the electric guitar market.

Electric guitar is the quintessential instrument of much western popular music of the 20th and 21st centuries, including jazz, blues, rock & roll, country, funk, heavy metal, and pop. Primarily strummed or finger-picked, the instrument has mostly been used to accompany singers or sometimes other instrumentalists, though it is also used as a melodic instrument, especially for blues and rock guitar solos, as well as country and jazz. Various analog and/or digital signal processors (effects pedals) are frequently employed to alter and enhance the sound of the electric guitar. Some of these effects include distortion, overdrive, wah-wah, reverb, digital delay, flanger, phase shifter, and digital amp modelers or simulators.

Some famous electric guitarists who were influential in bringing electric guitar music to a wider audience include Charlie Christian, Hank Garland, Les Paul, The Beatles, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, Keith Richards, Joe Striani, John McLaughlin, Wes Montgomery, Chet Atkins, Carlos Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Angus Young, Eddie Van Halen, and Steve Vai.

Keep Visiting For More!

Seagull Acoustic Guitar, Art & Lutherie Acoustic Guitars, LaPatrie Classic Guitars, Fender Guitars, Fender Mandolins & Banjos, Woodwinds, Honer Harmonicas. Wow, there are many other types of guitars & musical instruments which came into existence in different corners of the world with different cultures. I'll be posting more about other types soon. Keep visiting!

 

Professional Tips & Techniques

Neck Wood

The neck is an equal partner with the body in terms of the overall sound of the guitar. In general, the more thick and dense the wood, the brighter the tone. To achieve the sound you want, you might choose a straight-grain wood or a highly figured maple or mahogany.

Pick Problem

Don't you hate it when you are having a quiet session and in one moment of carelessness, you drop your pick in the guitar hole! Never stick your hand in there and reach for it; you'll just mess up your strings. Turn your guitar upside down and shake it!

Stay Well-Rounded

While it is important to spend a great deal of time practicing and performing the guitar, keep in mind that the guitarist is an artist and not just a guitar playing machine. The final outcome of a person´s music consists of what they are as a person. Barney Kessel used to recommend reading poetry and Jim Hall enjoys art museums. Take some time to be a well rounded, educated person and your art will be all the better for it.

-Jeff Sherman

Stay Humble

In the process of learning, keep in mind that the ego is a double-edged sword. The ego can propel us to want to do well (in this case play the guitar well) but at some point it can actually prohibit the learning process. We sometimes don´t want to embarrass ourselves or admit that we do not know something. It is very important to keep a very humble approach to learning the guitar and to continue to put ourselves in learning situations. Playing with better players is a great musical environment to grow in.

Optimizing Guitar Playability

Playing guitar is a highly personal experience. Every player has different needs, and that is why setting up your new guitar becomes a matter of personal taste.

Ultimately what you are trying to achieve is:

1. Good Action (the least possible distance between the string and the frets without buzzing or rattling of the string against the fret).
2. Balanced, even, electrical output on each string in all pickup positions.
3. Smooth, accurate tuning action and the ability to stay in tune after bending a note or using the tremolo.
4. Last, but certainly not least, killer Tone!

How are basses tuned?

Four-string electric and upright basses are tuned in perfect fourths, E A D G from low to high. Five-string basses commonly add a low B, but some add a high C instead of the low B. Six-string basses usually have both the high C and the low B. Seven-string basses add an F# to the six-string layout. Eight-string basses are like 12-string guitars. There's an extra string added to each of the four standard strings, with the second set tuned an octave higher. 12-string-basses add two "octave" strings instead of one, making 4 sets of three strings.

The Best Pedal Brands

If you're looking for a really good pedal try out the Boss equipment. They are really durable, and have a really sweet sound.

If you're looking for something more on the processor side, go with DigiTech. The DigiTech line has some of the best out there. They don't come too cheap, but if you can afford to get one, they are worth it.

Which guitar effects are better: Single-effect stomp boxes or multi-effects pedals?

There are a lot of cool multi-effects pedals out there that give you a bigger bang for your buck...if you're looking at a dollar-per-effect ratio. After all, some sacrifices have to be made to squeeze all those multi-effects into a small box and keep the price low. Individual, dedicated effect pedals often deliver superior effects with a wider rage of adjustability but they cost more on a per/effect basis. In other words, you can typically get more sonic quality and more variations on a single- effect pedal. Here's the bottom line: If your music requires multi-effects, then you need a whopping multi-effects pedal. But if you're only going to use a few effects, dedicated stomp boxes may better serve you.

Using a Capo (capo d´astro or crutch)

The easiest way to raise the pitch in your guitar is by using a capo, which is a device that you lock onto your guitar at any fret. The key is raised one-half step each time you move the capo up one fret. A capo will bar all the strings and enable you to play in whatever key the song is in.

 

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