| Whether it is the dull strumming of acoustics or the | | | | Musicians who strum a classical guitar will pluck nylon |
| vibrating scream of an electric model, guitars come in | | | | strings to create the sound they wish to duplicate. |
| a variety of shapes, sizes, colors and types. The next | | | | Various cultural acoustic guitar examples also appear |
| time you turn on the radio or watch MTV, you are | | | | within the Latino culture. With its sharper sound, |
| sure to encounter the visual or audio of a guitar playing | | | | flamenco guitars illustrate flamenco music, while |
| in your presence. As you explore the wide range of | | | | Mexican mariachi bands utilize acoustic guitars called |
| guitars on the market, you will find various options are | | | | the requinto and the guitarron. Some acoustic guitars |
| utilized within rock, pop, blues and country music. While | | | | are named after countries, such as the Portuguese |
| a standard guitar features six strings, there are many | | | | guitar. Additional acoustic guitars include the harp and |
| variations that offer a four-, seven-, eight-, ten- and | | | | the extended-range model. |
| twelve-string combination. | | | | Electric Guitars |
| When it comes time to purchase a guitar of your own, | | | | When checking out the electric guitar category, there |
| you will find yourself faced with the decision of | | | | are certain features that do not appear in the acoustic |
| choosing the type of instrument that matches your | | | | guitar variety. A whammy bar, volume and tone knobs, |
| interests, as well as playing ability. For starters, there | | | | as well as multiple pickups are offered through most |
| are two main categories that these magical | | | | electric guitar options. There bodies may also appear |
| instruments are grouped into: acoustic and electric. | | | | different, ranging from semi-hollow to solid to |
| Below are a few examples of both, as well as a brief | | | | completely hollow. Since the guitar is electric, there are |
| mention of their distinct characteristics. | | | | additional features or characteristics included, such as |
| Acoustic Guitarswith regard to amplification, an | | | | steel strings, vacuum tubes and amplification. |
| acoustic guitar does not use any outside devices. It is | | | | A popular instrument choice in rock, blues and jazz, the |
| through the shape and resonance that the acoustic | | | | electric guitar allows users to experiment with a wide |
| sound you hear is created. While other types of guitars | | | | range of musical techniques. Many musicians dabble in |
| rely on electrical means to boost loudness, an acoustic | | | | the art of tapping, hammer-ons and volume swells. The |
| guitar is by far one of the lowest sounding instruments | | | | difference in sound with an electric guitar can be seen |
| on the block. This is why you will not see the acoustic | | | | through the number of strings it possesses. For |
| guitar being played in a band or orchestra. It simply | | | | example, with the seven-string solid body electric guitar, |
| cannot find a voice among the reverberating sounds | | | | darker sounds are achieved by using the lower end of |
| of the cymbals, drums, trumpets and trombones. | | | | the guitar's capabilities, which became a popular choice |
| For those who wish to increase the level of loudness | | | | among musicians in the 1990s. |
| that their acoustic guitar produces, many models now | | | | Additional electric guitar details include the two extra |
| come with built-in technology to create enhanced | | | | low strings found on an eight-string guitar, as well as |
| amplification. Some of the selections included under the | | | | the depth and many possibilities that a 12-string electric |
| umbrella of acoustic guitars include steel string guitars, | | | | guitar has to offer. The electric bass guitar, |
| "folk" guitars, twelve-string guitar and the arch top | | | | double-necked guitar and the 5.1 surround guitar are |
| guitar. An acoustic bass guitar also falls under this | | | | also coupled in the category of electric guitars. |
| category. | | | | |