Guitar Types

Guitars come in many sizes, shapes, and musical applications. Each of these different guitar types has a history that attempts to address a particular playing style or genre of music. The two largest guitar types, not surprisingly, are electric and acoustic guitars.

Electric guitars were initially developed to solve a very basic problem: how to make the instrument louder. Simply amplifying the guitar with a microphone is useful in some situations, but in the noisy environment of a stage filled with other instruments, this solution actually creates more problems than it solves. Miking the guitar may inadvertently amplify the other already loud instruments, and the persistent problem of feedback. In order to isolate the sound of the guitar and reduce feedback problems, builders designed the modern magnetic pickup system.

Out of early pick-up designs came two famous electric guitar types: the Gibson Les Paul and the Fender Stratocaster. These two instruments have come to epitomize the sound of rock music. Both solid body electric guitars, it is their pickup design that creates their characteristic sound qualities, not their external shape. The sound of early rock bands, as well as the sound of specific players is owed much to their choice of one of these two guitar types. Jimi Hendrix played a Strat, Jimmy Page a Les Paul.

Other common electric guitar types include the hollow-body construction favored by jazz players, and the newer synth guitars that offer midi capabilities. There are also many hybrid guitars that try to capture the sound and feel of an acoustic instrument through a sophisticated amplification system comprised of on-board mics, pickups and active electronics.

Acoustic guitars themselves come in many varieties suited to different playing situations. In very broad terms, these guitar types are either steel string guitars, or nylon string guitars.

In either case, the sound of an acoustic guitar is produced by its top which acts as an amplifier. The different price points of an acoustic instrument are often determined by the top's design and quality of wood. In brief, the player sets a string in motion, vibrating at a particular frequency. The bridge of the guitar transfers this vibration to the top of the guitar which in turn vibrates in sympathy.

Try this experiment with your guitar. Strum loudly across all six strings. While allowing the strings to continue to vibrate, gently hug the top of the guitar with both arms. You will hear that you are effectively muting the guitar by restricting the movement of the top.

The bridge plays a key part in the transfer of the string's pitch to the top, while the sound quality of the guitar is primarily produce by the quality of the top, as well as its bracing system directly underneath the top. Of course string types, the quality and grade of tone woods used for the back and sides, and even the neck and fretboard can also affect the instrument's sound.

While it would seem that electric and acoustic guitars make up all of the guitar types, you may come across guitars with seemingly unusual designs and very specific uses. Resonator guitars and pedal steel guitars are two that come to mind. The most famous of the resonator guitars is the Dobro a Gibson brand name.

Exploring different guitar types can be a fun way to expand your abilities and style of music. You may even want to try different models of both electric and acoustic guitar types for the sheer enjoyment of it.