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 Home > Learning Center > Acoustic guitars

Acoustic guitars

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The acoustic guitar is a modern descendant of one of the oldest families of musical instruments. Evidence of similarly constructed instruments has been found dating to the Near East and Egypt during the second millennium BC. However, the modern guitar, as we commonly recognize it, is a descendant of Guitarra Latina from the Middle Ages period of Europe.

The 15th through the 17th century saw many variations of design and string configuration applied to this instrument. By the 18th century, the six-string configuration common to modern acoustic guitars had been established. Many European composers wrote almost exclusively for guitar during these centuries, and the instrument became extremely popular throughout the continent. While Europeans are credited with the evolution of the guitar, these early versions were more similar to the modern classical guitar than the steel string acoustic versions we see today.

While it is common to group classical and acoustic guitars into one category, the truth is there are some important differences between the two instruments. The most obvious difference is the type of strings that are used. Classical guitars traditionally used gut strings. However, because gut strings are somewhat hard to find nowadays and when you can find them they tend to be expensive, nylon strings are more commonly used today. Nylon strings tend to produce a warmer, albeit somewhat quieter sound. An acoustic guitar, on the other hand, uses steel strings. These strings produce a more metallic sound, but tend to project more than do nylon strings.

Acoustic guitars also have a differently shaped neck than does a classical guitar. Classical guitars tend to have wider, thicker necks, with a slightly higher string action. This lends itself well to the intricacies of many classical guitar compositions, but can make them more difficult to play, especially for a beginning musician. The thinner neck and lower action of an acoustic guitar is designed to make strumming chords a bit easier for the amateur musician. This may be why these instruments are so popular with folk and rock players.

Acoustic guitars also have a larger body and soundboard than does the standard classical guitar. The combination of steel strings and a larger body gives the acoustic guitar a great deal more sound projection, making it more able to stand out while being played with other instruments. For the most part (though not always), classical guitars are almost always played as a solo instrument.

There are many genres of music which incorporate heavy use of acoustic guitars. The earliest genres were blues and jazz. In fact, a lot of the original Delta blues of Mississippi was played almost exclusively on acoustic guitar. Country and bluegrass musicians also rely heavily on this particular instrument. Many people of the baby boom generation recognize the sound of an acoustic guitar from the popular folk music of the 1960’s and 1970’s. Younger generations often associate this instrument with the singer/songwriters of the last decade or so.

Acoustic guitars continue to be one of the most popular instruments sold in music stores around the world. It has become a staple of many genres of popular music and continues to draw burgeoning musicians to it with each passing year. For an instrument with thousands of years of history under its belt, the acoustic guitar maintains a devoted following.

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