How Many Types Of Guitars Are There

Are you curious about what types of guitar there are? Here’s an overview of the 9 types of guitar (including when & why each type might be used).

There are 3 main types of guitar: acoustic, electric and bass. But there are some important variations within those groups that some people classify as different types of guitar entirely.

Types

Acoustic guitars have hollow bodies which amplify the sound of the strings acoustically. They are usually made of wood, have six strings and look something like this:

Everything You Need To Know About Guitar Sizes

Some acoustics are symmetrical (like the one in the picture above) and others have a ‘cut-away‘, which means that a bit of the body of the guitar has been

‘Dreadnoughts‘ and ‘Jumbos‘ have larger bodies which give off a big booming sound, whereas ‘Parlour’ and ‘Auditorium’ guitars have a quieter and more articulate tone.

For every type, there’s a range of sizes from ‘half size‘ to ‘three quarter size‘ to ‘full size‘. depending on the size of the guitarist’s body.

Different Guitar Terms Explained

(A petite adult won’t be well suited to playing a full size Jumbo acoustic, so if you’re learning guitar, choose your guitar body shape carefully!)

You can learn a LOT more about how to choose a beginner guitar in this article (this also includes a more detailed overview of the different body types and sizes): What’s The Best Beginner Guitar?

The vast majority of the time acoustic guitars are tuned to the same notes and played in the same way, but the various types of guitar can produce very different tones. Should you buy an acoustic guitar?

The Different Types Of Guitar Lessons: Electric Vs Acoustic

Electro-acoustic guitars are acoustic guitars that have a ‘pick-up’ (basically, a microphone) built into them so they can be plugged into an amplifier or a PA system.

Electros are ideal if you want to play live shows. With an electro you don’t need to faff around putting mics in front of your guitar.

Because they’re thin and compact, they won’t produce quite as loud a sound when unplugged as an acoustic will, hence the term: semi-acoustic.

Guitar/different Types Of Guitars

Semi-acoustic guitars are ideal for players who want versatility. Something they can get an acoustic-esque tone with, but also play through a cranked up amplifier should they wish.

They’re not so ideal for people who want one or the other. (i.e., a fully acoustic sound or a fully electric sound.)

Unlike the previous guitars, these guitars have solid bodies and as such, produce very little in the way of sound unless they’re plugged into an amplifier.

The 3 Main Types Of Guitars

Electric guitars come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some of the most iconic are: the Gibson Les Paul, the Fender Stratocaster and the Fender Telecaster.

Like the acoustic guitar, electric guitars are usually made of wood and usually have six strings, though there are twelve string versions available.

With an electric guitar the world of effect pedals is open to you and the sounds you can create are almost limitless.

Types Of Electric Guitars: Different Electric Guitar Styles & Buying Advice

Electrics are not as good for more traditional types of music such as folk. Many folk venues don’t use any electronic amplification whatsoever. (Not even a PA!)

Once upon a time, being the bass player in a band meant lugging a huge double-bass as seen in orchestras and jazz bands to and from practice.

The

Thankfully, the good folks at Fender eventually came out with a guitar version of the bass that, among other things was a lot more portable than its predecessor.

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The most recognisable bass guitar is probably the Fender Precision , but there’s also the Hofner Violin bass as favoured by Sir Paul McCartney and the Rickenbacker 4001 as played by Bruce Foxton from The Jam.

Bass is one of the ideal types of guitar for people who like the idea of working with the drummer to form the rhythm section and hold down the powerful low-end groove in a band.

Bass guitars are not so ideal for people who want to play big screaming solos or for people who fancy themselves as solo artists. Bass is a low-end, accompaniment instrument.

All The Different Types Of Guitars (+ How They're Different)

Learn how everything fits together quickly, easily and effectively. We share ninja tips (for instant fun!) but also timeless fundamentals that will deepen your understanding.

There’s a number of other instruments that have sprung from the lute family as well. Think of these as ‘distant cousins’ of the guitar. These aren’t really

Mandolins are a bit like strummed violins, in that they are tuned the same way, albeit with double the number of stings, but they are strummed like guitars rather than played with a bow.

About Guitar Types And How To Choose The Right One

Banjos have five strings that are usually tuned to an open G chord. Instead of having a soundhole like a guitar, a banjo has a drum for a body.

Banjos are all treble and no bass, giving them a very twangy top heavy sound. They’re very popular in styles of music such as folk, bluegrass and country.

Overview

Ukuleles are small Hawaiian instruments with four strings that look a lot like miniature guitars. Like the mandolin and the banjo, a uke produces a very trebly, delicate, ‘twinkly’ sound.

Types Of Acoustic Guitars

Ukes are popular in traditional Hawaiian music. There’s also been something of a craze of ukuleles at open mic. nights and on Youtube over the last few years!

They were pioneered by speed metal guitarist Steve Vai and have become quite popular with metal guitarists looking for that ultra low, heavy sound!

This particular model has one 12-string neck and one six-string neck, though you also sometimes see double-necked guitars that are a bass and a six-string. (Which makes them one of the most versatile types of guitar of all.)

The Different Types Of Acoustic Guitars Explained (may 2023)

It can be disorientating for guitarists to understand which scales work with which keys. With this in mind, we created a cheat-sheet; a key and scale-finder that you can use again and again.

He’s famous for playing both necks at once by using a lot of gain on the amp and playing entirely with slurred notes so he doesn’t have to pick.When it comes to learning how to play guitar and types of guitars, there are a lot of different questions you might ask yourself.

“What kind of music do I want to play?” or “How long is it going to take for me to be really good?” are two examples that come to mind. But let’s scale that back even further and think about a really basic question you might have.

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If you’re looking to buy a new guitar or just curious about what choices are available, we’ve compiled a list of these guitars so that you’ll know the difference.

For many people, this is what they would consider a “starter guitar.” Many guitar teachers would actually suggest beginning with an electric guitar (more on that later), but these are cheaper and less noisy, generally speaking.

Guitar

With a classical guitar, you are creating the music through the architecture of the guitar. The hollowed out center of the instrument, combined with the playing of the strings, allows for a beautiful melody.

Types Of Guitar: Everything You Need To Know

Classical guitars feature nylon strings on a wide neck. This allows for a little more finger play on the neck of the guitar. The nylon strings are much kinder on a newbie’s fingers than a steel-string acoustic, thus why so many people start out with classical guitars. The body of the guitar is also smaller than most acoustics, giving it another reason to be a great starter guitar for younger players.

Typically these types of guitars are less about strumming and more about plucking. Though they are beautiful instruments, they can be seen as a little limiting unless your end goal is to be a famous classical guitarist.

For an idea of what kind of music you can make with these guys, check out this instrumental performance of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

Acoustic Guitar Body Sizes Explained

Far from being used merely at campfires and quirky coffee shops, acoustic guitars, as types of guitars, are a staple of the music industry. Their reach extends to rock, country, folk, and other styles of music as well.

There are many songs out there today known simply for their acoustic parts. Anyone who grew up in the 90’s probably remembers the opening to this Goo Goo Dolls song. (On a side note, 90’s music videos have not aged well.)

As we referenced in the earlier section, acoustic guitars are usually a little larger than their classical counterparts. The steel strings found on most acoustics are tougher on your hands, but they do provide a great sound upon strumming. This sound is also different due to the size of the guitar.

The Ultimate Guide To Buying Your First Guitar (2023)

While most non-players think of all acoustic guitars being the same, there are actually a lot of variations in design. The most common acoustic guitar is called the “dreadnought.” This guitar features rounded shoulders and produces a rich sound that allows it to permeate into every branch of the music business.

Other acoustic styles include the parlour and jumbo models. The former is a smaller guitar that works well with laid back genres like folk and singer/songwriter. Jumbo guitars are, of course, physically large, but they also produce a big sound that made them popular in the mid-20th century.