Can someone experienced tell me the differences between guitars?

Question

I am new to instruments because this is my first year actually starting to play one and I'm going to be learning to play guitar (mainly so I can play acoustic songs) and sing because those two are the best combinations I like. But I've read there are also classic guitars,bass guitars? I know about electric, and acoustic guitar as those are the most obvious ones but I am guessing there are others as well but can someone point me in the right direction and help me out are acoustic guitars made just for one type of genre "acoustic" or can the chords still be played on other guitars (classic) aswell thank you I would like to know in depth about guitars I don't mind reading a really big article either explain thoroughly thank you.

Answer 1

The are two main types of guitar: acoustic and electric. One is designed to be played acoustically, without the use of electricity, and the other is designed to be played electrically, by being plugged into an amplifier and speaker.



Acoustic guitars come in two main types: steel string acoustics and nylon string acoustics. Nylon string acoustics are sometimes called "classical" guitars although there are other types of nylon string acoustic guitars too. Most people, when they think of an "acoustic guitar" think of a steel string, flat-top guitar with a circular sound hole, and this is the type of acoustic guitar that most people want to play. There are also some, maybe rather stupid, people who don't know what the word "acoustic" means and believe that a nylon string guitar is not acoustic!



The word "classic" when used to describe a guitar means exactly the same thing as it does in terms like, "classic album", "classic car", "classic recipe" etc. - it refers to the popularity, acceptance, fame, etc. of the item and has nothing to do with how it is made. "Classic" and "classical" are two different words with different meanings.



A bass guitar is so-called because it looks a bit like, and is constructed like,a a guitar. It is a completely different instrument and, in terms of its function and how it's played, has more in common with the double bass than with the guitar.



When I was in my early teens (many years ago) I decided that as soon as I had the money I would buy a guitar and learn to play it. Over the years, whilst I waited, I learnt everything I could about guitars - I watched them on TV, sent of for catalogues, read magazines and just gazed lovingly at pictures. I knew the different types of guitars, knew the names of parts, knew physically how they were played, knew how they were tuned etc. etc. I found out everything that I could. Before I could afford a guitar I had pitch pipes, picks, finger picks, a capo, a chord book, a beginners playing guide and spare strings.



Nowadays, people don't seem to bother doing that - they claim to be interested in something, even passionate about it, but haven't been interested enough to find out anything about it. They even post questions here asking if they should get a guitar, how can they learn, what songs should they play, should they get a new guitar, if so which one. I find that ridiculous and rather sad.



This is not he best place to find reliable information and I suggest that if you are interested in guitars you do what I, and so many people did all those years ago.

Answer 2

There are some dramatic differences between guitars. When you talk about guitars vs. bass guitars, you're talking about the most dramatic difference, which is that a guitar has six or twelve strings, where a bass has four strings tuned far lower, designed to carry the lower, rhythmic end of songs.



Because you're interested in acoustic guitar, I'd say start with an entry-level steel-string guitar. Takamine and Johnson are two reasonable guitar-makers who create affordable, acoustic steel-string guitars. As you learn a few songs, head back to the guitar store to try a 12-string. It will feel a bit different but will be a lot of fun to play (12-string guitars have six main strings, with six additional strings tuned either in unison or an octave above the lower string section, and can be fretted and played almost exactly like a 6-string model).



Also try a nylon-string/classical guitar. The neck is a bit wider, and we typically don't bend strings on a nylon-string guitar as much. But this will give you a good starting point, and a good feel for the major differences between acoustic guitars.

Answer 3

A guitar is a guitar. The music you play on the guitar determines the style of music you play, not the guitar. A bass guitar is for accompanying another guitar in a band, and it only has 4 strings, so that is not a type you want to buy. Buy a basic good 6 string acoustic guitar. A good one will cost around $500. It would be good if you went to a music store that sells guitars and talked to some of the salespeople there. They are very knowledgeable about guitars and can answer your questions.



The guitar you will want to get will depend on what kind of music you want to play but a basic acoustic 6 string guitar with steel strings is the best one to start with.

Answer 4

A standard guitar is one that is made in a factory, they make hundreds at a time, nothing special, the pickups are all the same, maybe a difference in style and coloring. Depending on the maker, some have a little different action, some are easy to play others have an action that doesn't handle to well. In other words a standard is one that you would buy in a guitar store, even most Gibsons, Strads, Yamahas, Cordobas and Taylors are made in factorys. A custom would be a Ramirez guitar, a family of luthiers who have been making guitars for three generations, some of your very famous guitarist have them made especially for their style, usually classical guitars.They are especially make for the individual. Some makers follow the directions of the buyer as in a concert performer, like, Segovia, and Parkening.Some standard guitars can be customized by a luthier. Others will take a vintage like lets say a Les Paul and have it customized by a luthier to fit their style of playing. Some people like Narciso Yepes have had guitars made especially for them, I know Mr. Yepes had one made for classical playing that had ten strings, now if that's not a custom I don't know what would be. I've never seen one that had ten strings, but he played one and very well I might add. To buy a guitar for yourself I would advise you to go to a place like the guitar center and tell the clerk what you're looking for, price, style etc. Then play them and see which one fits your style of playing, has good action, and feels right in your hands, they all feel different and it also has to sound good to your ear. They have special little rooms where you can go and play, play them several times to make sure that's the one for you, because it's hard to choose when your in there playing, after a bit they all start sounding the same, so take your time. Their pretty good with returns, I bought one months ago and when I got it home I didn't like the sound so I took it back with no problem, you can have it for as long as a month and still return it if you change your mind. So good luck to you, and happy playing !!!!!!!

Answer 5

I liked and agreed with Tony's answer and history.



Just allow me to ad a few things to his explanations, and appreciations.



He could have gone on to explain that a classical guitar (one with the nylon strings and having a smaller body than a standard, steel 6-string dreadnought ) is in relationship to, 'classical music' styles. Many refer them to as the Spanish guitar in original (archaic) sense.



And that is really what is meant by classical music too, that which would some refer to 'long hair' or from a few centuries ago, done by the old masters. As well, a classical is also used for flamenco or those traditional Spanish and other Latin (South American, Mexican, etc.)compositions that are expressed through the finger style of play.



Beyond that for example (and, not meant to confuse you), there are gypsy and gypsy jazz guitars with large bodies and wide bridges for their distinct nature of sound.



And... resonator guitars that have metal top plates to bring out their kind of sound 'resonance' and almost, metallic accent. These are usually for traditional blues and country, or bluegrass selections.



But all in all, any guitar that offers up 6 strings (and fits the player comfortably) and can make any sound, one can play whatever they feel like playing. No matter what the style of music. And then transfer that playing experience to any other, 6-string guitar.



Acoustic, electric or anything in between (acoustic electrics).

Answer 6

Well, acoustic is steel string guitar; classical is nylon string guitar. Classical guitar is perfect for Spanish and classical type playing, because it's very warm and soft sounding instrument. Acoustic guitar is bright, loud, and metal like sounding. It's perfect for any musical style.

More about these types of guitars you can find here:

http://bit.ly/ZXqovr



Bass guitar is bass guitar, usually 4 thick steel string guitar is bass. It can be acoustic or electric. It gives low and bassy tone.