15 different styles of guitars Acoustic and Electronic Blog

Apr 13, 2022

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If you're already playing guitars, whether it's electric or acoustic and are looking to grow your playing skills (and the collection of guitars), you'll be able to pick up all of the guitars that we'll cover. You'll love their unique ability to play in the construction along with their distinctive tone.

Acoustic Guitar Types

Acoustic guitars are amongst the oldest types of instruments. Their predecessors have been being used for decades. They do not require any amplifiers, as the vibrations of the strings reflect in the body hollow of the guitar , and sound emanates through its sound holes. This is the reason they're an excellent alternative for musicians at the wheel.

1. Acoustic Steel String Guitar

Though all steel string Acoustic guitars function exactly the same way but there are a few varieties. They vary with regard to the kind of wood used along with their size and shape body that all impact the sound they produce and how simple they are to play.

Here are the three most common body types of steel string guitars.

Parlor

Dreadnought

Dreadnought guitars are among one of the most popular kinds of body. They have more volume and an even more powerful sound than parlor guitars which makes them a good option for those who play picking instruments, play a lot of strumming, and also as a companion to musicians.

Jumbo

Jumbo guitars have a larger body but a tighter waist than dreadnought guitars. They're not as responsive, which is why they're primarily used for strumming as well as to complete the rhythm section in a ensemble.

2. Classical Guitar

The classical guitar was a precursor to the steel string version which is still played today particularly in jazz, classical music, and bossa jazz and bossa.

Another major difference between classical and steel guitars is in how they're played. Guitarists who play steel string rest the instrument on their left knee during sitting, or use straps to secure the guitar while standing. Classical guitar players in contrast, rest your left foot on an ottoman and place the guitar on the left knee, so that it's neck points up in a 45 degree angle.

Steel string guitars use the fingers or picks to play the strings. classical guitarists employ the fingers of their hands or nails. A majority of classical guitar players take excellent care in keeping their nails in great shape This results in a a brighter sound and also more volume.

3. Flamenco Guitar

The distinctions are due to the fact that flamenco is a distinct style of music. One example is that flamenco musicians tend to press their fingers on surface of the guitar in order to create percussive sounds. This is the reason that you'll often see the metal plates that cover the instrument's sound hole.

Also, their fingers move rapidly on the fretboard. To make it easier for them, the strings are set at a certain distance from the fretboard. This often produces a bit of a buzzing sound. This is unacceptable for classical music however is thought to be a characteristic of flamenco music.

Additionally, they are known to be light in weight and are playable with the normal pose (resting on the left knee).

4. Crossover Guitar

If you're trying to choose between a traditional steel string guitar as well as a nylon string guitar the crossover guitar could be your ideal choice. It combines the best two worlds: the strong sound from the traditional guitar and the versatility of a steel string acoustic guitar.

The crossover guitar is equipped with nylon strings, but is made and played just as the steel string guitar. For example, it doesn't include an extended neck, as classical guitars have.

This is a great choice for those who like the sounds of classical guitars but don't want to master a completely new method of playing. It's also great for people looking to play a steel string guitar, but appreciate the flexibility and convenience that nylon string guitars provide.

5. Archtop Guitar

Steel string as well as the nylon strings of acoustic guitars feature flat tops. That means that if you look at from the sides, both the front and top of the wood are completely horizontal and straight to and the other. Guitars with flat tops also have a round sound hole.

Guitars with archtops, contrary to the other, feature the guitar's top with a curving (and sometimes back, as well). Instead of a round sound hole, these are equipped with two holes that have a form that resembles the"f" letter "f"--these are known as f-holes.

The shape of the arched as well as the f-holes were inspired by the violin. The guitar is able to produce an incredibly balanced, full tone, a bit more sustain than is normal for a flattop, and also a little larger volume. This is why archtop guitars have been the preferred choice for musicians in jazz.

6. Resonator Guitar

The resonator guitar was invented before the advent of electric amplifiers as means of increasing the volume of guitars that were acoustic.

Similar to other instruments that depend on the hollow body to amplify the sound, resonator instruments use at least one cone constructed of metal for amplifying. Its bridge guitar is connected to cones in order that, when the guitar is playing, the sounds are transmitted via the bridge and into the cones. Cones then vibrate to create sound.

The resonator tone is clean and bright and it almost has a metallic quality to it. It is most often associated with bluegrass, blues and country.

There are a variety of resonator guitars. they differ based on the type of resonator employed (biscuit spider or trione) and also the design of the neck (round or square) as well as the materials that makes up the guitar (wood or iron).

Guitars that have square necks may be set on top of one's lap, and playing with unison tone bars over the strings. Round neck resonators can be employed in this way in addition, and when in normal positions when players wear their hollow slide with the left hand and use it to move over strings.

Electronic Guitars Models

7. Solid Electric Guitar Body

The majority of solid-body electric guitars come with two to three pickups. The pickups are located in various locations (usually, closer to the neck, near the bridge or near mid-way). The placement of the pickups affects the tone that the instrument produces. The neck pickup creates an edgier and gentle tone, while the bridge pickup produces more volume and a brighter sound. It lets you change between the two pickups.

You'll also find a few knobs on the body an electric guitar. They can be used for the control of volume or manage the tone, by changing the frequency that pass through. Certain guitars feature the tremolo bar which allows the strings to be tightened and loosen for a short period of time in order to alter their tone and produce the vibrato effect.

Finally, many guitarists using electric guitars run the signal through an effects chain prior to entering the amp. This includes effects like reverb, compression and filters. Additionally, it is commonplace to incorporate an amplified volume pedal to the chain of effects to allow volume to be controlled manually while playing.

8. Lap Steel Guitar

The first instrument that was amplified by electricity was lap steel guitar. It is laid on the person's lap, and it is played using the tone bar made of iron. The style was developed in Hawaii during the latter part of 19th century, and became well-known in people in the United States in the 1920s.

With the instrument lying on your lap or suspended by a strap with the guitar in a horizontal direction and the user holds the tone bar with the left hand and moves it along the strings, ensuring an even sound, and a change in pitch. With their right hand, the musician uses fingerpicks that are connected to their fingers in order to pick each spring independently.

9. Pedal Steel Guitar

The tone bar could be described as fretting using just one hand. It is impossible to fret multiple guitar strings at once or make chords. The lap steel guitar extremely challenging to master.

The pedal steel guitar was created in order to address this issue. It's a stand-alone instrument which looks like a keyboard for a piano however, it has a stand. The instrument is fitted that has a tone bar along with fingers strings that are similar to lap steel. However, there are many ways to alter the string's pitch.

The pedal steel guitar is equipped with pedals and knee levers. When these activated are turned on, the pitches of particular strings changes by around one semitone. This, along and the motion of the tonal bar, lets the player create chords and have greater freedom in melodies.

Guitars that have pedals typically contain 10 strings for each fretboard, as well as two fretboards per console. Each is tuned to a different tuning. They can offer a bigger range and greater creativity for the guitarist.

Acoustic-Electric and Semi-Acoustic Guitars

Certain guitars come with the pickups and a hollow body which means they can be played with or without an amplifier. They offer the flexibility of the acoustic guitar, but they can also generate a large volume when required.

10. Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Acoustic-electric guitars are an acoustic guitar that comes with a pickup. They can be played as an acoustic guitar or plugged in to be played as the electric guitar.

This can be particularly beneficial for guitarists who enjoy the sound of an acoustic guitar however require amplification for performances. It is possible to set the microphone up on top of the guitar. However, this approach can cause unsteady results and restricts how much the guitarist is able to move about on the stage.

There is a possibility of purchasing a made-to-order Acoustic Electric guitar. However, it is also possible to convert an Acoustic guitar to an Acoustic guitar by the addition of the pickup.

There are four types of pickups to choose from:

Magnetic Pickup

The magnetic pickup works in the same way like the ones you'll see on an electric solid body guitar. It is located across the sound hole and lies just below the guitar's strings. It works by creation of an electric field, which is then recorded as the vibration of materials that are magneto-sensitive. The type of pickup described above is suitable for steel strings however, not nylon ones.

Undersaddle Transducer

The undersaddle transducer comprises thin pieces of material with sensory properties that function by recording the guitar's string vibrations emanating from the saddle of the guitar. Since there is no magnetic field involved this instrument is suitable for strings made of nylon and steel guitars.

Soundboard Transducer

A soundboard transducer works like an undersaddle, but it's attached to the lower part of the soundboard on the guitar just behind the bridge.

Internal Microphone

A microphone within also picks up the vibrations from strings but it detects them from all over the guitar instead of only the saddle or soundboard.

It's also common for acoustic-electric guitars to have several pickups. Combining different kinds of pickups in one system helps leverage their individual properties and produce a tone that is closer to the acoustic guitar's natural tone.

11. Hollow Body Guitar

Hollow body guitars are an electric version of the archtop guitar. It comes with the same curving sides , the top, and two f-holes below and above the strings. The instrument is still hollow and produces sound on its own, but also comes with built-in microphones that are plugged into an amplifier.

Guitars with hollow bodies have warm, authentic tones perfect for genres like jazz and blues. If they're played at very high volumes or with distortion, they are prone to create a great deal of feedback. This is the reason that players who like hard or metal guitars typically opt for solid body electric guitars rather than hollow body models.

12. Semi-Hollow Guitar

Semi-hollow guitars were designed in order to lessen some of the feedback hollow body guitars generate when played in large quantities. It is hollow both above and below the strings however it is a solid piece of wood that runs through its middle. It is a fascinating mix of hollow body and electric guitars with solid bodies.

Semi-hollow and hollow body guitars are classified as semi-acoustic.

Other Guitars

The majority of guitars we've talked about so have six strings. However, there are other kinds of guitars that have anywhere between four and 12 strings. They are able to produce frequencies higher than those of the normal range of the guitar with six strings, and , as such can be played in a different way.

13. 12-String Guitars

A 12-string guitar can be defined as any instrument that has twelve strings. Acoustic 12-string guitars are most commonly used however all electric and Acoustic guitars -- and in actual all other kinds of guitar that we've encountered previously--can be fitted with models that have 12 strings.

The 12 strings aren't arranged evenly. Instead, they're divided to form six different courses. The musician then is fretting and playing two strings at the same time.

The lower four pairs (E A, D, G, and D) are tuned an two Octaves apart. And the top two pairs (B and E) are tuned unison.

The play of a 12-string guitar is similar to playing one with six strings, but the sound that generates is much more rich more vibrant, louder and brighter. It essentially sounds like two guitars with six strings at the same time.

Twelve strings exert some strain for the instrument which is why, in order to alleviate it, players who play 12 string instruments reduce their tuning to 1 or two half steps. Additionally, they make use of capso.

14. Extended Range Guitars

A guitar with extended range is one that is equipped with more than six strings. It is trickier to play, however it allows for new fretboard notes and lets the player choose more options.

The most popular extended range guitar has seven strings. Some guitars have 8-9, 10 as well as 11 strings.

A 12-string guitar doesn't count legally as an extended range guitar since it's played in the same as a 6-string instrument, and doesn't have strings that aren't tuned to the standard tuning of E-A-D-G B.A.

15. Bass Guitars

Bass guitars have lower frequencies than standard guitars and is an indispensable instrument for almost every type of music. When part of an ensemble, the bassist serves as a bridge between drummer and the other musicians and also helps keep the beat.

Before the introduction of bass guitars, musicians used the double bass which was the most powerful instrument in the family of strings. Bass guitars were invented to be a more compact, convenient alternative.

The most popular design is a solid-body electric bass guitar. It's versatile and well-received by other instruments. That being said, you can also choose between acoustic, semi-acoustic and acoustic electric options.

The bass guitar typically has four strings. However, just like with extended range guitars, there are also models featuring six and five strings.

What Guitar Do You Want to play?

Finding the right guitar can appear like a match made by the heavens. This will affect the level of enjoyment you have with playing, how often you exercise, as well as how fast you'll be able to increase your performance.

If you're a complete beginner We suggest getting the cheapest steel string available or an acoustic classical guitar. You should also master the fundamentals of guitar. There are a variety of online classes to help you get to where you want to go.

If you're happy and want to learn more, head to an music shop and play around with different instruments. You'll need to test each guitar with your hands before giving it an opportunity to test it. It might take a couple of days, but somewhere on the guitar racks will be the perfect guitar.

In time the collection could expand to include a variety of styles of guitars. Each one of which can be used for a variety of events and musical styles.

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