Playing the guitar is one of the most common hobbies people engage in globally. It is an engaging activity that has the potential to create lasting memories, hence the reason why more people want to learn. However, before beginning your classes, it is vital to understand the similarities and differences between the different types of guitars.
To know whether your guitar is classical or acoustic, look for differences in design, playing styles, construction materials, and instrumentality. Classical and acoustic guitars have varying shapes and sizes, are made of different materials, and have different ranges of tones.
Acoustic and classical guitars do have many similarities as they share many of the same components, for example, the bridge, fretboard, neck, body, soundhole, headstock, and strings. These similarities can make it tricky to differentiate between the two. Keep reading for an in-depth look into the difference between classical and acoustic guitars.
Related: classical vs acoustic guitar for child.
1. Compare Their Body Shapes and Sizes
Guitar manufacturers produce them in varying shapes and sizes. However, it is the norm for acoustic guitars to be larger compared to classical guitars. However, parlor acoustic guitars are smaller than classical guitars.
The smallest classical guitar has a Piccolo-like body, while the largest has a Contra bass style, with the most popular type of classical guitar having a Concert-style body. On the other hand, acoustic guitars come in wider-ranging sizes compared to classical guitars. Some common acoustic guitar shapes include an auditorium, jumbo, concert, grand concert, orchestra, travel, and dreadnought.
The dreadnought-style acoustic guitar is the most common among performers. Classical guitars have slimmer waists than acoustic guitars, while acoustic guitars have rounded backs.
2. Compare Their Body Weight
A guitar’s size considerably influences its weight. Most acoustic guitars are heavier than classical guitars as they are generally larger. The shape of an acoustic guitar also contributes to its weight, which often makes acoustic guitars heavier than classical guitars.
Acoustic guitars require more construction material than classical guitars since they have wider waists and rounder backs, meaning manufacturers chip away less wood in their construction. In addition, acoustic guitars have steel strings which add to their weight compared to classical guitars with lighter nylon strings.
3. Check the Strings
As noted, classical and acoustic guitars use different types of strings, which is one of the most significant differences between them. Classical guitars use nylon strings which are usually thicker than the steel strings used in acoustic guitars.
The classical guitar strings are thicker since the treble strings (G, B, and high E) consist of nylon, while the bass strings (E, A, and D) consist of a nylon core with a metal exterior, like copper.
The strings on a classical guitar are also more transparent due to the nylon material, while an acoustic guitar’s steel strings are usually gold or silver-plated.
Note that the steel strings on acoustic guitars do not have to be steel; they could also be made of nickel or bronze.
4. Test the Guitar’s String Tension
The string tension in acoustic guitars is usually stronger than the tension in classical guitars. That is because steel strings consist of harder material compared to nylon strings, meaning they need to have greater tension to produce the desired sound. Some people attempt placing nylon strings on acoustic guitars, but that only results in a guitar that produces very faint sounds.
On the other hand, trying to put steel strings on a classical guitar can damage it. A classical guitar’s design does not allow it to handle the amount of tension required by steel strings. Therefore, prolonged use of high tension strings on classical guitars will pull the bridge and bow the neck resulting in irreparable damage.
5. How the Guitar Feels
Due to the differences in body shape, size, and weight, holding and playing a classical guitar feels different from playing an acoustic guitar, especially if a player predominantly plays one type over the other.
For those accustomed to the classical guitar, the larger size of the acoustic guitar can initially make you feel uncomfortable because you have to reach over more than usual to reach the chords. The strings of the two guitars also feel different, with the nylon strings on the classical guitar being softer while the steel strings feel metallic and stiffer.
Overall, the differences in feel make a classical guitar ideal for beginners since it is easier on the fingers and requires less strain.
6. Confirm Whether It Has a Truss Rod
Primarily, a truss rod is a feature found in acoustic guitars but not in classical guitars that runs along the length of the instrument’s neck. A truss rod’s main purpose is to counter the pressure steel strings exert on an acoustic guitar neck.
This is an adjustable feature, so you can determine how much pressure you want to apply to the guitar’s neck. Classical guitars do not need a truss rod since the nylon strings do not exert excess pressure on the guitar neck to risk its structure.
You can see the truss rod by holding the guitar with the neck facing you, and you will notice a rod or hole beneath the plastic plate beside the headstock’s top nut.
7. Compare the Fretboards’ Widths
The fretboard or fingerboard on an acoustic guitar is usually narrower than the fretboard on a classical guitar. Additionally, a classical guitar’s fretboard is usually flat, while an acoustic guitar has a curve or angle.
Moreover, acoustic guitar fretboards have fretboard markers which are dots along the length of the fretboard. The markers help players recall the chords, minimizing the risk of making mistakes. The markers are usually on the third, fifth, seventh, ninth, twelfth, and fifteenth fret.
However, if you have a classical guitar that lacks markers, you can apply the markers using paint, especially if you are in the early stages of learning to play.
8. Check the Chords
The classical guitar’s wide neck creates more space for a player’s fingers, making playing convenient for persons with larger-than-average hands. Moreover, the spacing helps people avoid making mistakes while playing.
However, people with smaller hands might find it inconvenient because it would require stretching to reach all the chords. In addition, the back of an acoustic guitar’s neck is usually more rounded than a classical guitar’s, which is often flat.
9. Check for Sound
Sound is a critical factor in determining which instrument you will purchase. The most significant contributors to the differences in sound between acoustic and classical guitars are their strings, shape, and construction material.
Classical guitars produce a soft, relaxed, and harmonious sound, while an acoustic guitar’s sound is metallic, loud, and resonates longer. The nylon strings of a classical guitar make it possible to produce subdued sounds, while the large size of the acoustic guitar allows it to produce louder sounds.
The wood used to make a guitar also influences sound generation. The woods used to manufacture guitars are called tone woods because they can produce sound when hit. The type of wood used at the top, sides, and back do not have to be the same. The manufacturer can mix the types of wood to modify or manipulate the sound produced.
Top woods have the most influence on the sound, and some examples include spruce, mahogany, maple, and cedar. The back and sides can consist of the type of wood. The wood chosen must amplify or muzzle the sound produced. Some examples include rosewood, sapele, mahogany, and maple.
10. Compare the Genres They Play
The sound a guitar generates also influences its application in different genres of music. Ideally, you can play any genre of music using either the classical or acoustic guitar; however, some genres blend well with their unique natures.
For instance, as the name suggests, classical guitars are perfect for playing classical music in addition to flamenco, a genre native to Spain. On the other hand, an acoustic guitar has greater applications compared to a classical guitar. It is popular among artists who perform folk, country, and pop music like Bob Dylan and Ed Sheeran.