The Classical Guitar

The term classical guitar can be used to describe two different things. Hopefully both with go together but if not they are still definitions of the term. Classical guitar can refer to the type of music being played on an instrument (for instance an old Spanish flamingo can be played on any type of guitar but will still be considered classical guitar music).

Classical guitar can also refer to the type of guitar instrument used to play a certain type of music. Again, classical guitars can have any type of music played on them, although not all music will sound good on them and the primary type of music that is meant for a classical guitar is classical guitar music.

Classical guitars have a variety of bodies depending on the cost and the customization of the guitar but for the purposes of beginners the classical guitar has the same type of body as most acoustical guitars. The strings are made of a strong nylon and they tend to be a little further removed from the fret board than on other guitars. This, by the way, can be changed on better guitars since better guitars have bridges which move up or down.

Classical music is just that, old school classic instrumental songs which are played on a classical guitar usually by stringing a set of notes together (occasionally chords) and then plucking the strings with your fingers. In many books this is called finger picking but the two styles are often different. Plucking the strings sometimes involves plucking as in grabbing the string with two fingers and pulling it. Finger picking is an upward movement with your fingertips (except the thumb which is downward) and each finger covers one string (again except the thumb which covers the first three bass strings).

Classic guitar is beautiful sounding. Although a classical guitar can technically be used to play any type of music, any type of strumming will sound hallow or “dead”, classic guitars are not meant for hard-core strumming. Many guitar companies produce classical guitars; Yamaha and Martin both have reasonably priced nylon string guitars available for beginners.