If you are planning on buying a new acoustic guitar, you may be confused on what type to buy. There are a number of different types of acoustic guitars out on the market today.
What Are The Different Types Of Acoustic Guitars?
Acoustic Guitars
Acoustic guitars are the most popular types of guitars in the world today. They are also the easiest to find, with almost every single music shop you step into offering them on their shelves.
The most basic type of acoustic guitar is an acoustic guitar that comes with steel strings. An acoustic guitar that has nylon strings will sound like a classical guitar instead of the traditional twangy sound that an acoustic guitar is expected to give off when played. These types of acoustic guitars are also expected to be more of a studio type of guitar than one that is for live performances.
Another basic type of acoustic guitar is the classical guitar. This type of guitar is modified to make sure that the sound it produces is mellower and softer, and will give off a romantic feel when placed under the fingers. The neck and body of this type of acoustic guitar are different from those on the other, with more space on each side for individuals who have wider fingers.
Some are fairly budget friendly but there are other high end acoustic guitars that can get quite expensive. A good example is the Gibson Montana Hummingbird acoustic guitar.
Acoustic Electric Guitars
An acoustic electric guitar is called such because it combines the acoustic sound of an acoustic guitar with the amplified sound of an electric guitar. This type of guitar can be used in live performances, but they are also good for recording too.
The sound of an acoustic electric guitar will be a mixture of an acoustic guitar and a regular electric guitar. There are a variety of different types that you can find on the market today.
The most popular of these is the acoustic electric. This guitar mixes the sounds of both an acoustic guitar and an electric guitar, giving it a richer sound overall. These are really good guitars to buy if you are looking for one that will give off a more natural feel to you, rather than one that is sharp sounding with a heavier feel placed on the strings. Look here for more info on the the differences between acoustic vs acoustic electric guitars.
Cutaway Acoustic
A cutaway acoustic guitar is one that cuts off the bottom of an acoustic guitar. This is done in order to make the guitar easier to play for individuals who play regularly, and also make it easier to get up the frets.
Cutaway acoustic guitars were made popular by blues musicians, who needed both comfort while playing and more room for their fingers to run up and down the frets. The looks of the acoustic electric guitar include one that has a cutaway belly.
3/4 Acoustic Guitar
A 3/4 acoustic guitar is one that is very close to an acoustic electric guitar, but is smaller in size. These guitars are used by individuals who are very small.
These types of acoustic guitars are also great for children to use, because they are not as heavy as the larger acoustic guitars. The smaller size is great for children, who need to develop their muscles before they can play on an acoustic electric guitar that calls for more developed hand muscles.
They are excellent beginner types of acoustic guitars; however, they do not sound as rich as an acoustic guitar. These also work well as a good acoustic guitar for kids or the best acoustic guitar for small hands options.
12 String Acoustic
A 12 string acoustic guitar has the look of an acoustic guitar, but there are 12 strings for individuals who play more difficult songs. These are excellent guitars if you are looking for a single guitar that will become your favorite.
These guitars have a rich sound when played, and have a deeper tone than other types of acoustic guitars. They are heavier than acoustic electric guitars, so they can be used to play songs with more difficult parts to them.
They are also very comfortable to play on, with the larger number of strings coming in handy in the long run.
Travel Acoustic Guitar
A travel acoustic guitar is one that is lightweight and portable. These guitars are excellent for individuals who are on the go, and want to be able to bring their acoustic guitar along with them wherever they go.
The smaller size makes it easier for anyone to travel with the guitar, without worrying about it getting damaged. If you need to do some playing on your guitar while you are away from home, you will not have any problem bringing this type of acoustic guitar with you.
The sound will be just as good as any other type of acoustic guitar, even if it is much smaller than others.
Classical Guitar
A classical guitar is the same type of guitar that was made famous by the artist Andres Segovia. The classical guitar is widely used by individuals who are interested in playing romantic music, or serenades.
These guitars tend to be larger than other guitars, but they can still be carried around because they are lightweight too. This makes them very nice for individuals who want to play under the stars, or anywhere else where it is a little bit too windy to play an acoustic guitar.
These guitars are also not as heavy as classical vs acoustic electric guitars, which makes them a good choice if you are looking for a smaller type that has a great sound quality.
Parlor Acoustic Guitar
A parlor acoustic guitar is one that has a smaller body than other acoustic guitars. This makes it easy for individuals who are short to play the guitar, and they are great for making music in small spaces.
These types of acoustic guitars are great if you need to play with others without having an obtrusive sound while playing on your guitar.
These are also very comfortable to play, with the smaller size making them easier for anyone to play. The smaller size is also an advantage if you are looking to play in small places, like inside your home.
You will be surprised at how easily you can place the parlor guitar on your lap, and still be able to play. Anyone can play this guitar, even if they are limited in length due to the short width of this guitar. It is not very heavy either.
This guitar is designed so that it can be carried around easily, but still provide a natural sound for the music you are playing.
Left Handed Acoustic Guitar
A left handed acoustic guitar is one that has the guitar in the same position, but for the left hand. These guitars are great for individuals who are left handed, but want to learn how to play an acoustic guitar properly without having to switch out guitars completely.
Left handed acoustic guitars are quite popular among individuals who want to play the guitar, but the fact that they are not natural for right handers makes these types of acoustic guitars an excellent choice for anyone who wants to learn how to play correctly.
7 String Acoustic Guitar
A 7 string acoustic guitar is one that has 7 strings, rather than 6 strings like most acoustic guitars. These types of electric guitars are not made for beginners. They are designed to be played by individuals who already know how to play an acoustic guitar, and wish to add another string to their repertoire.
This type of guitar is preferred by guitar players who try out the 7 string in order to see if they would enjoy it enough in order to make it part of their regular playing repertoire.
Thin Body Acoustic
A thin body acoustic is one that has a smaller overall length than other types of acoustic guitars. This makes it much easier for individuals who are short to play this type of guitar in order to keep the overall length of the guitar to a minimum.
Thin body acoustic guitars are also very comfortable to play, with the smaller size making it an excellent choice for individuals who are having problems playing on larger guitars.
The small size of the guitar also makes it easy to carry around. If you need to play some tunes at home, you will not have an issue carrying this guitar with you everywhere you go.
You can never go wrong with the benefits of a thin body acoustic guitar. The sound is very rich and full, and it can be played anywhere without having to worry about security issues that come with larger sized guitars.
Conclusion
There are a number of different types of acoustic guitars to pick from, and each one has a good reason for being so popular. The best type of acoustic guitar is the one that will be comfortable for you to play, and have a sound that you can be proud of.
Remember to always check out the size of the guitar as well as its price range before making your final decision.