by Sherry Thoman

Created on: December 06, 2011

Acoustic and electric guitars are very different, even though they share more common characteristics than what is often believed. When considering to learn to play the guitar a person needs to be aware of these differences, and take them into account when purchasing their first guitar. Although most musicians play both the acoustic and electric guitar, it is best to begin with one or the other and then experiment with each after becoming comfortable. The differences of these sister instruments determine the playing style, and the tuning, which can affect the overall sound quality. At first glance, the two instruments look very different, but as finer details become more clear, the similarities in difference as well as function are astounding. 

There are many different types of acoustic guitars from many different parts of the world, but the classical acoustic and several variations of it are the most commonly recognized in the United States. From Kris Kristofferson with his SG Dreadnought Jumbo, to Sheryl Crow with her 62’ Gibson Country Western, the diversity of the acoustic is incomparable to any of the other stringed instruments of today. The variety of the acoustics’ sound spans across all genres of music played on any given radio station at any given time. As time has progressed, each generation has found new ways to explore the expressive note qualities of the acoustic and make it that much more their own. 

The wooden body of the acoustic is hollow, designed to carry and cast sound using a round hole in the center directly in line with the neck. The strings are played over the sound hole to produce an echo effect inside the body. The interior walls amplify the sound waves as they bounce off of every surface inside. The body itself is literally filled with the vibrations coming from the high tension steel, nylon or gut strings, and the rich tones that are created have an inexplicably beautiful and individual quality. The natural materials that the body is comprised of also have their intrinsic beauty and are usually made from hardwoods such as oak, mahogany, spruce, and ash. The surface can be finished with stain and lacquer to exhibit the wood grain and produce a smooth, flawless guitar that not only expresses the owner’s creativity but personal taste as well.

The neck of the acoustic is also made of wood, and is often inlaid with softer woods to produce a more manageable surface for fingers and finger style playing. Rose wood

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