The guitar is one of the most common musical instruments. Many rock bands use at least two guitars, or even more, in their work. All guitars are classified according to three main features: by the way the sound is amplified, by the number of strings, and by their role in the piece of music being played.
Types of guitars by sound amplification method
Acoustic guitar. She is able to reproduce her own live sound. To do this, you do not need to use additional devices designed for the so-called sound pickup (its output to external music speakers). Moreover, it is not possible to connect such pickups to an acoustic guitar even with the best wishes of the musician. Acoustic guitar makes sound thanks to its large and hollow resonating body.
Electro-acoustic guitar. This is essentially the same acoustic guitar, only having a built-in pickup in its structure, so that this musical instrument, in addition to its traditional use, can be connected to a guitar processor or a computer and record sound from it. In addition, with the help of a special computer program, a musician can “transform” his electro-acoustic guitar into a completely “electric” one - a sound similar to the sound of an electric guitar will be produced from the speakers.
Electric guitar. This musical instrument has a thin one-piece body, virtually no empty (hollow) space, and a long neck. All this led to the fact that the electric guitar does not have its own local sound at all. Sounds are extracted from it only by means of electrical amplification, which is removed from the strings by a special electromagnetic pickup.
Semi-acoustic electric guitar. In principle, this instrument is a full-fledged electric guitar, however, there is some free space inside its body, through which this instrument can sound even without a special electric amplifier.
Types of guitars by number of strings
The most common and standard type of guitar in terms of the number of strings is the well-known six-string guitar. Its strings are single and have different thicknesses. Four-string guitars usually include a bass guitar (a subspecies of an electric guitar). It has a massive body, a long neck and fairly thick strings.
It is worth remembering the seven-string guitar, which is widespread in Soviet music. Unlike the six-string guitar, the seven-string guitar has a wider and more massive neck. Many professional folk musicians and bards use the twelve-string guitar in their music. It has six paired rows of strings that are tuned in unison.
Types of guitars by role in the performed musical composition
Musicians use a rhythm guitar to perform background rhythmic parts, to form the structure of a composition and to perform a chord sequence. Bass parts for rhythmic support will be played by a low-range instrument - the bass guitar. And for the performance of solo melodic lines, a lead guitar is used. With the help of the latter type of guitar, musicians play out the main melody, or perform a solo part.
