7 Types of Guitar
There are various types of guitars, and each of them serves a unique purpose. All guitars can be divided into 2 main types: acoustic and non-acoustic. Acoustic guitars are those that don’t use any additional devices. Non-acoustic are those that need additional devices, such as pickups, pedals, processors, speakers, and others. These two types are subdivided further into around 7 smaller types, which we will discuss below to help you choose one. Why learn guitar anyways?
Main Guitar Types:
1. Classical (kind of acoustic guitar)
2. Acoustic
3. Electro-acoustic
4. Electric
5. Bass
6. Seven-string (acoustic)
7. Twelve-string (acoustic)
1. Classical Guitar: This guitar has a wide neck and nylon strings (in 90% of cases), or metal strings (in 10% of cases). It is designed to play soft music. If it was manufactured with nylon strings, you should not put metal strings on it, as they can break. If it was made with metal strings, you can put nylon strings on it. Classical guitar has the emphasis on its 3 lower strings (the high pitch notes); this is good for plucking. Acoustic guitar has the emphasis on its 3 top strings (the low pitch notes); this is good for strumming.
2. Acoustic Guitar: Compared to classical, acoustic guitar has a longer and narrower neck, as well as a larger body. It is convenient for strumming, and not too convenient for plucking. Acoustic guitars usually have metal strings. Let’s not forget that classical guitar is also a type of acoustic guitar.
3. Electro-Acoustic Guitar: This is an acoustic guitar with a built-in pickup. The pickup is used to connect the guitar to a computer or processor to record sounds. Connecting it this way allows you to play it as an electric guitar (using special programs), but the sound will be very poor.
4. Electric Guitar: This one usually has a thin neck and soft strings. Learning electric guitar is very different from learning acoustics. Electric guitar is played with a mediator. You can play solo and riffs with it, if you connect it to an amplifier. Have you ever heard Rammstein? The wild sounds by this famous band are produced using electric guitars.
5. Bass Guitar: This one is for keeping the rhythm in songs. It has a long neck and thick strings. It can have 3, 4, 5 or 6 strings. In most cases, it is played connected to an amplifier. Bass guitar is used in most music bands, as it creates rhythm and depth for a song.
6. Seven-String Guitar: The seven-string guitar has an added bass string, which enhances the sound by increasing the range.
7. Twelve-String Guitar: This one has 6 pairs of strings by 2 strings merged in each pair. It is meant for strumming. This instrument is usually expensive, because the large string tension requires using better wood. Its sound is very rich, but the possibilities are limited.
As you can see, each guitar type has its pros and cons, and its special features. They all serve different purposes. Which one of them would be best for you? The choice is yours.
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