Classical Guitar

When one thinks of the word and concept, "Classical", one thinks of hand crafted, natural materials with a rich history and sophisticated function. That is as appropriate a description of a classical guitar as can be made. A classical guitar has catgut strings that are under less tension than a modern steel-string guitar, and the neck is made completely from wood, with no steel truss rod required. The strings are plucked by hand, with guitarists shaping their fingernails appropriately to produce the desired tones. The instruments are lighter because of the low tension of the stings, and more complex finger work can be done because of the broader neck.

Classical Guitar Differences

The classical guitar is different from many modern steel string guitars in a number of important ways. There are only 12 frets as opposed to 14 for steel strings, and there is no pick guard. The pick guard on steel stringers is piece of plastic attached below the strings to protect the soundboard from being damaged from heavy pick strumming. As classical guitars are played only with the fingers, there is no need for this extra armor. Also the tuning pegs, or keys, at the head of the fingerboard point towards the player, the opposite of the steel string guitars.

No amplification is applied to most classical guitars, although electronic amplification can be added. An electronic pickup, in the form of a piezoelectric pickup under the bridge or a microphone hung within the body, can be used if the guitarist will be performing in noisy environments.

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