| Although there are several kinds of guitars the two | | | | - Arch-top - this one is frequently the chosen guitar of |
| main ones are the electric and the acoustic and even | | | | jazz players. It has f-hole design and is usually an |
| within these two categories there are many variations. | | | | expensive guitar to buy. |
| The acoustic guitar is made of wood and the sound it | | | | - Acoustic bass - normally four-stringed but does |
| produces depends upon the shape of the guitar and | | | | come with five or six strings too. This guitar is played |
| the strings. The body is usually hollow and nylon strings | | | | without electric pick-ups. |
| are used. It does not need to be connected to a | | | | Moving on to electric guitars, these need playing |
| power supply unless, of course, it is an acoustic electric | | | | through an amplifier and if they are not connected to |
| guitar. There are no effects boxes of any kind | | | | one, the sound is barely audible. When used with many |
| required as with the electric guitar. These are some of | | | | types of sound boxes, different effects are produced. |
| the guitars which fall within the acoustic group:- | | | | The tone and the volume are varied by the use of |
| - Classical - this is what most beginners choose and it | | | | control knobs as is the shift from treble to bass |
| is played sitting down | | | | intensive. To create a "crying sound" whammy bars |
| - Flamenco - like the classical but slimmer and | | | | are regularly used, but this is not recommended for |
| produces a crisper sound | | | | cheaper guitars as it can result in the guitar ending up |
| - Steel-top - this one has a larger body than the | | | | out of tune. |
| classical guitar, is toughened for sturdiness and | | | | The strings of an electric guitar are thin and made of |
| produces a warmer tone | | | | steel. They need less effort to push them down as |
| - Twelve strings - the six normal strings have another | | | | they are closer to the neck of the guitar. The body of |
| set an octave higher. This guitar produces a very | | | | the electric guitar is made of solid wood, smaller than |
| tuneful sound | | | | the acoustic, and therefore heavier. The electric guitar |
| - Resonator - quite like the steel-top but the center of | | | | comes in both six and twelve strings, and in a variety |
| the soundboard is made of steel which acts as a | | | | of shapes; some models have even been carved to |
| resonator. Different guitars within the resonator group | | | | give the appearance of a hand. |
| can be played on the lap similar to a keyboard | | | | As mentioned earlier, some acoustic guitars can also |
| instrument. The resonator is the guitar regularly used to | | | | be electric, whereas this cannot be said of electric |
| play the blues | | | | guitars - they can never be acoustic. |