A Classical Guitar
Source: Kid Guitar Reviews
What Is A Classical Guitar?
If you start looking for a guitar and wonder what different types of guitar exist, you need to read these next few articles.
Actually the Acoustic Guitar and the Classical Guitar are very different from each other. The classical guitar has its roots in Italy, when a man by the name of Antonio de Torres made some very large advancements to the guitars that existed centuries ago.
He made the guitar bigger and louder and give it gut strings. That was the beginning of the Classical Guitar.
Unique Things About the Classical Guitar:
It is smaller, has a smaller body than most Acoustic Guitars.
The neck is wider and the strings are farther apart than those of the Acoustic Guitar.
The strings are nylon for the first three and usually silver-wound for the 3 bass strings.
The fingerboards are flat.
The frets are typically a bit wider and made with more silver content.
The strings enter the peg head through slots in the peg head.
The strings wind around drums of plastic, bone or ivory.
The necks lack any form of adjustment.
The necks only reinforcement is the wood itself or a lamination of wood – sometime ebony.
The bridge is glued to the surface of the top and the strings tie to the bridge on a tie-block
There is no pick guard to protect the top.
The bracing inside the guitar is typically very fragile and much thinner than an Acoustic Guitar
The wood of the body is usually thinner than that of an Acoustic Guitar.
The body depth is very constant from front to back, usually varying by only 1/4″ or so.
The guitar lacks ornamentation except for a rosette around the sound-hole.
How is the Classical Guitar Played?
Typically the Classical Guitar is played with the fingernails of the thumb and first three fingers of the right hand. A pick or plectrum is very seldom used.
Classical Music is the music of choice on a classical guitar and it is through a combination of right hand fingers that chords and note runs are played in a very complicated manner.
The guitar is held very differently than an Acoustic Guitar. It is usually placed on the left leg, which is propped up and the neck angle us at a sharp degree.
Costs of Classical Guitars:
Typically Classical Guitars run in similar price ranges as Acoustic Guitars. There are starter guitars, beginner in intermediate class guitars. Intermediates, advance and professional models. The prices can range from below $100 to well above $10,000.
Can I Start Out Learning Guitar on a Classical?
Absolutely! We have not covered it here as of yet because we want to address the needs of the Acoustic Guitar First. But we will address Kids Classical Guitar Lesson too. So check back.
Have a Tip?
Do you have a special trick or tip that you could share with us. Please leave a comment and we will post it. Let’s all share so we can be better musicians and have more time to practice the guitar!
Tags: classical guitar, guitar for kids, how to buy a guitar, kids guitar
