How To Choose An Acoustic Guitar
Great! You're about to purchase your first Acoustic Guitar...
Maybe you’ve decided to begin learning the Acoustic Guitar? There is a lot to learn, which is why we’ve created this straightforward ‘Beginner’s Guide To Learning The Acoustic Guitar’ series to help guide you in the right direction.
How do I know which Acoustic Guitar is right for me?
Knowing where to start with your search for your first acoustic guitar can be daunting, especially if you are new to the instrument. Today there are countless brands offering acoustic guitars, and within these brands there are often many different models. Which leads to the question: How do I know which one is right for me?
What sort of Acoustic Guitar should I buy?
The first consideration you make should be based on your body. Having an instrument too small or too large can become uncomfortable after longer periods of time playing. You want something that is still comfortable even when you’ve been sitting with it for an hour.
Acoustic Guitar Size
Child
Thankfully there are a number of popular styles and shapes. If you are buying for a child, then look out for ½, ¾ or ⅞ sizes.
Short
If you yourself are short then look for ‘Parlor’ acoustics – a smaller and slimmer waisted shape that’s easily manageable, or anything with the word ‘baby’ in the name!
Average
Most people are comfortable with mid-sized guitars such as a ‘Grand Auditorium’ or ‘Grand Concert’ shape.
Tall
If you are on the taller side then look out for ‘Dreadnought’’ or anything considered ‘Jumbo’.
As a rule of thumb, bigger bodied guitars have more depth and volume to their sound, but smaller guitars can be more focused and more easily controlled. They’re also less cumbersome and more discreet if they’re being left out around the house.
Types of Wood
As a rough guide to woods used, the soundboard has the greatest effect on the sound’s character. Below you can find a variety of wood types, and see which one will work best for you…
Spruce
Sitka
Cedar
Mahogany
Spruce
Spruce wood varieties are generally brighter in their physical appearance – but not always – and offer a greater variation in tone than their Cedar counterparts.
Sitka
Sitka is the most commonly used wood for acoustic guitar tops. It has a large dynamic range and is suitable for many different playing styles, from The most commonly used wood for guitar tops, Sitka generates a broad dynamic range and accommodates numerous playing styles, from aggressive strumming to fingerpicking to aggressive strumming.
Cedar
Cedar is a softer wood that’s dark in appearance and more forgiving in sound.
Mahogany
Mahogany as a soundboard wood sits closer to cedar and is warmer still.
Look out for...
Look out for instruments that claim to use solid-top construction when it comes to soundboards. Body woods include various kinds of rosewood, mahogany and maple. Solid construction is traditional, but laminates can still sound great when dealing with body construction.
How To Choose An Acoustic Guitar - Summary
Choosing an Acoustic Guitar is an important element to your success as a guitarist. There is no right or wrong; simply what is best for you as an individual. If you would like to get help from our Ted’s List community, then please consider joining our Facebook Group here.
About the Author
Fred Lawton
Initially an electric guitarist, Frederick Lawton decided to move to classical guitar whilst already at university studying Popular Music and Jazz. Despite coming to the instrument late, he has quickly established himself as a player with a rare understanding and ability to project and display a sound which shows the colours of the instrument freely.
He studied under Paolo Pegoraro at The Segovia Guitar academy in Pordenone, Italy. Before this he studied with Craig Ogden at The RNCM and Graham Anthony Devine for his MMus at Trinity Laban.
In 2018 he became the international board member for the Norwegian Guitar Festival and became the first English guitarist to record solo for Guitar Salon International in Los Angeles California.
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