Beginner guitarists: how acoustic guitar differs from classical

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

For beginner guitarists, it is very important to choose the right instrument on which they will play. And here many people have a question about how an acoustic guitar differs from a classical one. At first glance, they are absolutely identical. But it's not. And any guitarist will confirm this. After all, there are really big differences between "acoustics" and "classics". They are practically two different musical instruments. And beginners need to figure out how they differ in order to determine what kind of guitar they need: acoustic or classical. So, below are the most significant differences between these musical instruments.

How is an acoustic guitar different from a classical guitar?

The birthplace of the classical guitar is Spain. Moreover, its original appearance has been preserved from the 18th century to the present day. The acoustic guitar came to us much later, somewhere at the beginning of the 20th century. This musical instrument was created due to the need to amplify the sound of a classical instrument from the stage.

Ifput these two instruments side by side, you will immediately see how an acoustic guitar differs from a classical one - in size. Acoustic is much larger than classical. Since it was intended for stage performances, its body is enlarged, and metal strings are also used. The classic has nylon strings that sound much quieter and softer.

The difference between an acoustic guitar and a classical oneis also in the structure of the neck. "Acoustics" has a wooden neck, inside of which a steel anchor is installed. This is done to compensate for string tension and temperature changes. In addition, the truss rod regulates the distance between the fretboard and the strings. The neck of a classical guitar is completely wood, and it is much wider than that of an acoustic guitar. Also, the peg mechanism is different for the instruments.

Due to differences in designs, the areas where guitars are used also differ. Classical is more suitable for playing classical music or Spanish tunes. It is on such instruments that guitar skills are taught in music schools. Acoustic is great for backyard songs, pop, rock, etc.

Main differences between acoustic and classical guitars

1. Acoustic guitar is a broader concept than classical. Classical is one of the types of acoustic. The types of acoustic guitar also include Russian (seven-string), Hawaiian (four-string), jumbo and others.

2. Atclassical guitar only 6 strings. And this number is unchanged. An acoustic can have a different number of strings (from 4 to 12).

3. The classical guitar is played without a pick. Due to the features that the body of such a musical instrument has, the sound is soft, quiet, but not deaf. An acoustic guitar is often used with a pick to make it sound louder. Especially with some types of acoustic instruments - these include, for example, the so-called dreadnought.

So, now it's clear how an acoustic guitar differs from a classical one. And these differences are not so few. Therefore, when choosing your musical instrument, you must have a solid idea of \u200b\u200bwhat exactly it is intended for.