Learn,play,perform music. - classical guitar

Classical Guitar

A classical guitar is an entirely acoustic instrument. One which has been designed to facilitate the playing of complex, often multi-part melodies on a single instrument. The classical guitar requires discipline and practice to master, and is one of the most difficult of all classical instruments to learn.
A classical guitar will be strung with nylon strings, with the 6th, 5th and 4th strings being bronze or silver wound. These classical strings are tuned under very low tension, making the actual fingering of the strings fairly easy. This produces an easy instrument to play, which is vital in allowing the musician to perform complex pieces, which would be almost impossible to play on a standard acoustic guitar. classical guitar

Classical Guitar Construction

The single largest difference between a classical guitar and a standard acoustic guitar is in the form of the neck. Because a classical guitar maintains its tuning at a far lower string tension than an acoustic guitar, the neck does not require a truss rod. This means that the guitar neck can be made from a single piece of wood. However, the neck of the classical guitar is usually joined to the guitar body at the 12th fret, this helps to strengthen the neck in the light of the fact it has no truss rod running through it to add reinforcement.

The neck of a classical guitar is also far wider than the necks found on either an acoustic or electric guitar. Classical guitars will use tuning pegs to tension the strings, and not machine heads.
The actual body of the classical guitar shares many similarities with a standard acoustic guitar. An acoustic guitar uses the same principle of a resonating body, using a soundboard to transmit the vibration of the strings in to the sound box which is the hollow body of the guitar.

Classical Guitar Music

Although as one may expect, a classical guitar is most often used to perform classical pieces, there are several more musical styles which suit it well. Flamenco is particularly suited to the classical guitar, and indeed the traditional Flamenco guitar can be thought of as a slightly smaller classical guitar. The modern classical guitar is a versatile instrument, capable of producing not only classical music, but a variety of passionate, vibrant styles as well.

Classical Guitar Right Hand Technique

The largest difference between the way in which a classical guitar is played and the way in which every other type of guitar is played, is in the right hand technique. Normally a guitar player would brace their right hands using the palm or wrist by resting on the guitar body. A classical guitar player will hold their entire had away from the finger board, with the fingers hovering over the strings. No part of the hand, wrist or arm will touch the guitar. Many guitar players find this a difficult technique to master, especially if they are used to the more relaxed playing style of contemporary guitar.

The Future of Classical Guitar

Modern materials such as carbon fibre, and modern manufacturing techniques such as high pressure bonding, are enabling manufacturers to produce lighter, easier to play classical guitars. This means that a whole new generation of classical players have access to more versatile, better sounding instruments, which is sure to keep the classical sound alive long in to the future.