Three Common Types of Guitars
Guitars are made in all shapes and sizes to fit any type of musician and musical style! While there are plenty of different types of guitars, most beginner guitarists tend to purchase one of the following 3 common types of guitars.
Let’s go over what makes each guitar unique.
2 Types of Acoustic Guitars
Acoustic guitars are played without the help of electric amplification to make the guitar louder. This makes it easy to begin playing an acoustic guitar, as you won’t need any additional equipment to play!
Steel String Acoustic Guitar
Characteristics:
Steel (metal) strings
Usually has a pick guard on the front of the body
End pins hold down the metal strings in the bridge
Typically played with a guitar pick
Pros:
Versatile for many different styles of music
Comes in a variety of shapes and sizes
Cons:
Metal strings can be hard on beginner fingers
Nylon String Acoustic Guitar
Characteristics:
Nylon (plastic) strings on the first three strings of the guitar
Strings are tied down to the bridge in a specific type of knot
Typically finger picked with the right hand
Mostly used for classical guitar but can also be in other types of music
Pros:
Gentle on the hands for beginner players
Comes in a variety of shapes and sizes
Stays in tune for a long time
Cons:
Nylon strings can be difficult to tune when they are new
Electric Guitar
Characteristics:
Steel (metal) strings
Narrow wooden body
Guitars are made louder by using a cable and amplifier
Dials and knobs that adjust volume and tone
Pros:
Electric guitar can be easier to play than a steel string acoustic
Can get very loud :)
Used in a variety of styles of music
Cons:
Need additional equipment to play
Need electricity to play
Harder to keep in tune (strings can bend out of tune while you are playing).