Classical Guitars
Classical Guitar
also known as Flamenco Guitar - Spanish Guitar – Nylon String Guitar
The classical guitar has a long history and is a precursor for modern acoustic guitars. Classical guitar is the most widely used term to describe this type of guitar but they are also often referred to as flamenco guitars, Spanish guitars or nylon string guitars. The classical guitars we know today evolved from the Spanish vihela and gittern instruments of the fifteenth century, later becoming the baroque guitar and eventually the classical guitars we recognise today in the 19th century.
The nylon (or traditionally gut) strings used on classical guitars is their main difference from modern day steel string acoustic guitars. All six strings are made from nylon with the three bass strings having a nylon core wrapped in metal to produce the deeper bass tones.
Classical guitars have a slightly wider neck than steel string guitars and they have relatively low string tension. This makes them particularly good for beginner guitarists as finger placement is easier on the wider neck and the lower string tension makes it easier to hold the string down. They are a common choice for children learning to play as the nylon strings are easier on smaller fingers.
Strumming chords is a less common style on a classical guitar, it lends itself well to fingerpicking progressive styles with many classical guitar musical pieces composed of sweeping melodic notes. It is often said every guitarist needs a classical guitar in their collection and for good reason, they produce a sound that is unique to their kind and pleasing for any guitarist to play.