Different Types of Guitars

The different types of guitar vary depending upon the types of strings used, and the shape and size of the guitar. There are basically two types of guitars, Acoustic guitars and Electrical guitars.

Acoustic Guitars
These are the most traditional types of guitars that are most commonly used. They are hollow, large and are made up of thin wood. Acoustic guitars do not use external amplification and are generally used for playing in front of a small audience. Almost every type of music can be played using acoustic guitars, but they are considered best for playing country or folk music. There are different types of acoustic guitars that have different features. These are

• Classical guitar
• Steel guitar
• Twelve string guitar
• Bass guitar
• Resonator guitar

Classical Guitars
The strings of classical guitars are made from nylon and they have a wider neck as compared to other types of guitars. The sound generated by classical guitar is warm and gentle. Classical guitars are used for playing classical music, hence the name. They are also used to play Flamenco or ballad music.

Steel Guitars
The way the steel guitars are played is different from other types of guitar and it requires special training. They are played horizontally by placing across the knees of the player or keeping them on their stands. Lap steel guitar and pedal steel guitar are two main varieties of steel guitar.

Twelve String Guitars
Almost all types of guitars are made up of six strings, but twelve string guitars, as the name suggests, are made up of 12 strings. The strings are paired, in way that each pair is tuned at same note, with one of the string tuned at an higher octave. The arrangement of the strings produces a semi-chorus effect while playing. They are more difficult to play as compared to other types of guitar and are also more expensive.

Bass Guitars
The strings of bass guitars are thick and long as compared to other types of guitars. Tuning the bass guitar is considered quite difficult. The number of strings in a bass guitar can vary between 4 to 6; the four string bass guitar, being the most commonly used. Bass guitars are used to generate the bass of the rhythm. Both acoustic and electric bass guitars are available, amongst which, electric bass guitars are most commonly used.

Resonator Guitars
Resonator guitars are also called as resophonic guitars and were invented to increase the volume of the music generated by traditional acoustic guitar. The resonators, which generate the sound, are made up of metal instead of wood. Resonator guitars are used in bluegrass, country music and blues.

Electric Guitars
Electric guitars require amplification to hear the music properly. They have longer necks, and solid or semi-sold bodies. They are connected to amplifiers to amplify the vibrations generated. Electric guitars have control knobs that help fine-tune the strings and generate a variety of tunes. It is always comfortable to play electric guitars as compared to other types of guitars, as less force is required to press its strings and the method of tuning is very easy. They are used in jazz, rock, blues and pop music.

Archtop Guitars
An archtop guitar can be acoustic or electric. This type of guitar is hollow or semi-hollow and uses thick steel strings. It can be distinguished from other types of guitars, by its arch-like shape at the top. They have a prominent presence in jazz music.

The difference between different types of guitars can be well understood after playing each of them. So, go ahead and pick up a guitar of your choice from your nearest musical instrument shop.