Support our educational content for free when you purchase through links on our site. Learn more
16 Types of Guitars: The Ultimate Guide (2024) 🎸
Did you know that there are more than just acoustic and electric guitars? In fact, there are a whopping 16 different types of guitars out there! Whether you’re a beginner looking to pick up your first instrument or an experienced player wanting to expand your collection, it’s important to know about the various types of guitars available. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through each type, their unique features, and the music genres they excel in. So, grab your pick and let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
- Quick Answer
- Quick Tips and Facts
- Background: A Brief History of Guitars
- 1. Acoustic Guitars
- 2. Electric Guitars
- 3. Bass Guitars
- 4. Classical Guitars
- 5. Flamenco Guitars
- 6. Archtop Guitars
- 7. Resonator Guitars
- 8. 12-String Guitars
- 9. Travel Guitars
- 10. Baritone Guitars
- 11. Lap Steel Guitars
- 12. Double Neck Guitars
- 13. Harp Guitars
- 14. Fanned Fret Guitars
- 15. Extended Range Guitars
- 16. Hybrid Guitars
- Conclusion
- Recommended Links
- Reference Links
Quick Answer
There are 16 types of guitars: acoustic guitars, electric guitars, bass guitars, classical guitars, flamenco guitars, archtop guitars, resonator guitars, 12-string guitars, travel guitars, baritone guitars, lap steel guitars, double neck guitars, harp guitars, fanned fret guitars, extended range guitars, and hybrid guitars. Each type has its own unique features and excels in different music genres.
👉 CHECK PRICE on: Acoustic Guitars | Electric Guitars | Bass Guitars | Classical Guitars | Flamenco Guitars | Archtop Guitars | Resonator Guitars | 12-String Guitars | Travel Guitars | Baritone Guitars | Lap Steel Guitars | Double Neck Guitars | Harp Guitars | Fanned Fret Guitars | Extended Range Guitars | Hybrid Guitars
Quick Tips and Facts
- Acoustic guitars are known for their warm and natural sound, while electric guitars offer versatility and the ability to amplify the sound.
- Bass guitars provide the low-end foundation in a band and have thicker strings compared to regular guitars.
- Classical guitars are used in classical and flamenco music, featuring nylon strings and a wide neck.
- Flamenco guitars have a percussive tone and are designed specifically for flamenco music.
- Archtop guitars are popular in jazz and blues, known for their warm and mellow sound.
- Resonator guitars produce a unique metallic sound and are often used in blues and slide guitar playing.
- 12-string guitars create a rich and full sound by doubling each string with a higher octave.
- Travel guitars are compact and portable, perfect for musicians on the go.
- Baritone guitars have a longer scale length and are tuned lower than standard guitars.
- Lap steel guitars are played horizontally on the player’s lap and are commonly used in country and blues music.
- Double neck guitars feature two necks and are often seen in rock and classical music.
- Harp guitars have additional strings that resonate sympathetically, creating a harp-like sound.
- Fanned fret guitars have angled frets, allowing for improved intonation and string tension.
- Extended range guitars, such as 7-string or 8-string guitars, offer additional lower or higher notes.
- Hybrid guitars combine elements from different types of guitars to create unique and versatile instruments.
Background: A Brief History of Guitars
Before we dive into the different types of guitars, let’s take a quick look at the history of this beloved instrument. The guitar, as we know it today, has evolved over centuries, with its roots dating back to ancient civilizations. The modern guitar can be traced back to the Spanish vihuela and the Renaissance lute. Over time, the guitar underwent various transformations, leading to the development of different types and styles.
1. Acoustic Guitars
✅ Music types: Folk, country, singer-songwriter, blues, rock
✅ Learning difficulty: Beginner to advanced
✅ What they offer: Warm and natural sound, portability, versatility
Acoustic guitars are the most common type of guitar and are widely used in various music genres. They produce sound through the vibration of the strings, which is amplified by the hollow body of the guitar. Acoustic guitars can be further categorized into different subtypes, including:
-
Steel-string acoustic guitars: Known for their bright and versatile sound, steel-string acoustic guitars are commonly used in folk, country, and rock music. They offer smooth transitions from low to high notes and prolonged sustain.
-
Nylon-string classical guitars: Classical guitars feature nylon strings and a wider neck, making them ideal for classical, flamenco, and fingerstyle playing. They produce a warm and mellow sound and are often used in solo performances.
-
Archtop guitars: Popular in jazz and blues, archtop guitars have a distinctive curved top and f-holes, similar to a violin. They offer a warm and mellow sound with a heavy mid-range, making them perfect for big band settings.
-
Resonator guitars: Resonator guitars produce a unique metallic sound by using one or more metal cones instead of a traditional soundboard. They are commonly used in blues and slide guitar playing.
👉 CHECK PRICE on: Steel-string Acoustic Guitars | Nylon-string Classical Guitars | Archtop Guitars | Resonator Guitars
2. Electric Guitars
✅ Music types: Rock, blues, jazz, metal, pop
✅ Learning difficulty: Beginner to advanced
✅ What they offer: Versatility, amplified sound, wide range of tones
Electric guitars revolutionized the music industry with their ability to produce a wide range of tones and be amplified. They rely on pickups and electronic amplification to produce sound. Electric guitars are commonly used in rock, blues, jazz, and metal music. Here are some popular types of electric guitars:
-
Solid-body electric guitars: Solid-body electric guitars are the most common type and are known for their versatility. They have a solid body, which helps reduce feedback and allows for a wide range of tones.
-
Hollow body electric guitars (semi-acoustic, thinline): Hollow body electric guitars have a hollow body, similar to an acoustic guitar, but with electric pickups. They offer a warm and percussive tone, making them popular in jazz and blues music.
-
Archtop electric guitars: Similar to their acoustic counterparts, archtop electric guitars have a curved top and f-holes. They offer a heavy mid-range percussive sound, making them perfect for big band settings.
👉 CHECK PRICE on: Solid-body Electric Guitars | Hollow body Electric Guitars | Archtop Electric Guitars
3. Bass Guitars
✅ Music types: Rock, jazz, funk, metal
✅ Learning difficulty: Beginner to advanced
✅ What they offer: Deep and powerful bass frequencies, rhythmic foundation
Bass guitars are the backbone of any band, providing the low-end foundation and rhythm. They have thicker strings and a longer scale length compared to regular guitars. Bass guitars can be categorized into different types:
-
Electric bass guitars: Electric bass guitars are the most common type and are used in various music genres. They offer rich and deep tones, making them essential in rock, jazz, funk, and metal music.
-
Acoustic bass guitars: Acoustic bass guitars produce a deep and gritty bass sound, similar to that of a double bass. They are commonly used in unplugged performances and genres like rock, pop, and Mexican Mariachi music.
-
Semi-acoustic bass guitars (semi-hollow): Semi-acoustic bass guitars have a hollow body with electric pickups. They offer a warm and clean sound with great sustain, making them popular in jazz, blues, and swing music.
-
Headless bass guitars: Headless bass guitars have a unique design with the tuning pegs located at the bridge or body. They offer a warm and clean sound, making them popular in rock and pop music.
👉 CHECK PRICE on: Electric Bass Guitars | Acoustic Bass Guitars | Semi-acoustic Bass Guitars | Headless Bass Guitars
4. Classical Guitars
✅ Music types: Classical, flamenco, fingerstyle
✅ Learning difficulty: Beginner to advanced
✅ What they offer: Warm and mellow sound, nylon strings, wide neck
Classical guitars, also known as nylon-string guitars, are specifically designed for classical and flamenco music. They have a wide neck and use nylon strings, which produce a warm and mellow sound. Classical guitars are popular among both beginners and advanced players.
5. Flamenco Guitars
✅ Music types: Flamenco, Baroque, Renaissance music
✅ Learning difficulty: Intermediate to advanced
✅ What they offer: Percussive tone, gritty sound, thinner top
Flamenco guitars are similar to classical guitars but are specifically designed for flamenco music. They have a percussive tone and a thinner top, which allows for a gritty sound. Flamenco guitars are known for their ability to produce rapid strumming and intricate fingerpicking patterns.
6. Archtop Guitars
✅ Music types: Jazz, blues, rockabilly
✅ Learning difficulty: Intermediate to advanced
✅ What they offer: Heavy mid-range percussive sound, big band instrument
Archtop guitars are popular in jazz, blues, and rockabilly music. They have a curved top and f-holes, similar to a violin. Archtop guitars offer a heavy mid-range percussive sound and are often used as a big band instrument.
7. Resonator Guitars
✅ Music types: Hawaiian music, blues, swing
✅ Learning difficulty: Advanced
✅ What they offer: Metallic sound, different tunings and playstyles
Resonator guitars produce a unique metallic sound by using one or more metal cones instead of a traditional soundboard. They are commonly used in Hawaiian music, blues, and swing. Resonator guitars offer different tunings and playstyles, making them a favorite among slide guitar players.
8. 12-String Guitars
✅ Music types: Folk, rock, country, blues
✅ Learning difficulty: Intermediate to advanced
✅ What they offer: Rich and full sound, “chorus” effect
12-string guitars are similar to regular acoustic or electric guitars, but with double the number of strings. Each string is paired with a higher octave string, creating a rich and full sound. 12-string guitars are commonly used in folk, rock, country, and blues music and offer a unique “chorus” effect.
9. Travel Guitars
✅ Music types: Various genres
✅ Learning difficulty: Beginner to advanced
✅ What they offer: Portability, compact size
Travel guitars are designed for musicians on the go. They are compact and portable, making them perfect for traveling or practicing on the road. Despite their smaller size, travel guitars still offer a decent sound and playability.
10. Baritone Guitars
✅ Music types: Various genres
✅ Learning difficulty: Intermediate to advanced
✅ What they offer: Longer scale length, lower tuning
Baritone guitars have a longer scale length and are tuned lower than standard guitars. They offer a deeper and richer sound, making them suitable for various music genres. Baritone guitars are often used in alternative rock, metal, and jazz music.
11. Lap Steel Guitars
✅ Music types: Hawaiian music, blues, country
✅ Learning difficulty: Intermediate to advanced
✅ What they offer: Horizontal playing position, slide guitar sound
Lap steel guitars are played horizontally on the player’s lap using a slide. They are commonly used in Hawaiian music, blues, and country. Lap steel guitars offer a unique slide guitar sound and are known for their smooth glissando and sustain.
12. Double Neck Guitars
✅ Music types: Rock, classical music
✅ Learning difficulty: Advanced
✅ What they offer: Two necks, versatility
Double neck guitars feature two necks, usually one with six strings and another with twelve strings. They offer versatility and the ability to switch between different sounds and tunings. Double neck guitars are often seen in rock and classical music.
13. Harp Guitars
✅ Music types: Country, bluegrass, classical
✅ Learning difficulty: Advanced
✅ What they offer: Harp-like tone, warmth of a classical guitar
Harp guitars have additional strings that resonate sympathetically, creating a harp-like tone. They offer a unique sound and are commonly used in country, bluegrass, and classical music. Harp guitars combine the warmth of a classical guitar with the versatility of additional resonating strings.
14. Fanned Fret Guitars
✅ Music types: Various genres
✅ Learning difficulty: Intermediate to advanced
✅ What they offer: Angled frets, improved intonation and string tension
Fanned fret guitars have angled frets, with the bass strings longer than the treble strings. This design allows for improved intonation and string tension across the fretboard. Fanned fret guitars are used in various music genres and offer enhanced playability and tonal balance.
15. Extended Range Guitars
✅ Music types: Various genres
✅ Learning difficulty: Intermediate to advanced
✅ What they offer: Additional lower or higher notes
Extended range guitars, such as 7-string or 8-string guitars, offer additional lower or higher notes compared to standard guitars. They are commonly used in metal, progressive rock, and jazz fusion music. Extended range guitars provide extended tonal possibilities and allow for more complex chord voicings.
16. Hybrid Guitars
✅ Music types: Various genres
✅ Learning difficulty: Intermediate to advanced
✅ What they offer: Combination of features from different types of guitars
Hybrid guitars combine elements from different types of guitars to create unique and versatile instruments. They can feature a combination of acoustic and electric components, or incorporate features from other types of guitars. Hybrid guitars offer a wide range of tones and are popular among experimental musicians.
Conclusion
And there you have it, a comprehensive guide to the 16 types of guitars! From acoustic to electric, bass to classical, each type has its own unique features and excels in different music genres. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, exploring different types of guitars can open up new possibilities and inspire your musical journey. So, go ahead and try out different types of guitars to find the one that resonates with you the most!
Recommended Links
- Guitar Brands Showcase
- Guitar Buying Guide
- Acoustic Guitars
- Guitar Brand Guides
- Bass Guitars
- What are all of the guitar names?
👉 CHECK PRICE on: Guitar Brands Showcase | Guitar Buying Guide | Acoustic Guitars | Guitar Brand Guides | Bass Guitars