No one can deny the popularity of guitar, one of the oldest yet easiest of the musical instruments. However, there are multiple types of guitars and each one of them has its own unique characteristics. Learning a bit about the guitar types will be of interest to those that love playing guitar or wish to learn about it.

Let us have a look at some of the popular as well as unusual guitar types.

Flamenco Guitars

Similar in construction to classical guitars, Flamenco guitars are associated with more percussive tone. A host of sizes and shapes are associated with these guitars. For instance; in Mexico the mariachi band includes a whole range from the tiniest to the largest guitars. On the other hand in Colombia, the traditional quartet is something different as they include a range of instruments alongside the guitars. In most other Latin American countries the type appears as the complimentary member of the guitar family.

Extended Range Classical Guitar

Extended range classical guitars usually have strings in the range of 6-13. Some of the differences between the classical and flamenco guitars are –

• Flamenco guitars are lighter in construction; classical guitars are heavier;
• Flamenco guitar has cypress body as well as spruce tops;
• Classical guitars have tuning pegs like violins while modern Flamenco guitars have machine heads.
• Unlike the classical guitars, the flamenco guitars have tapping plates that are usually glued to the table. These plates protect them from the taps made with fingernails.
• A hybrid form of flamenco guitar with the classical is the flamenco negra.

Flat Top Steel Ring Guitars

Steel ringed guitars have a lot of similarities with the classical guitar. Difference however is that steel ringed guitars is sufficiently larger in size than the classical guitars. Narrow and strong structural designs render these guitars extremely robust. Originally these guitars used gut strings but later they were replaced by nylon chords. A strong system allows the guitar to withstand the tensions quite suitably. Usually the steel strings offer a brighter note as well as louder sounds. It was variously used in many musical scores including Parlour, Jumbo, and ovations.

Archtop Guitars

Another very popular variation of the classic guitars; archtop guitars are saddled with steel string instruments. Top of the instrument is carved from the solid billet in a curved shape. Highly inspired by violin, the f-hole design is the core architecture of the archtop guitars. Typically the guitar is large and deep with a hollow body and clones the mandolin and other violin family instruments closely. Archtop guitars are mostly used for jazz music with flat wound strings.

Selmer-Maccaferri Guitars

Perhaps the most unusual looking instruments among the guitar family, Selmer Maccaferri guitars are distinguished by a large body and squarish bouts. Some of the features of this type of guitar are that –

• Sometimes the sound holes are D shaped and at other times is shaped as oval sound hole.
• Strings are usually gathered at the tail like the archtop guitar but the difference is in its top.
• Formed from very thin spruce that is forced inside a shallow dome, the guitar has wide fingerboard.
• With loud volume and penetrating tone, the guitar is very suitable for single note solos.
• It is also used as the lead instrument in gypsy swings.

Electric Guitar

Electric guitars are manufactured using the principles of electromagnetic induction that converts vibrations of the strings into electric signals. However the signals are weak and cannot drive the loudspeaker. Therefore, the signals are amplified before sending it to the speaker. Electrical signal has the flexibility of changing them for addition of colors to the sounds. Impact and influence of electronic guitars on the evolution of music, especially western, has been enormous. It has been an indispensable part of the jazz music since its arrival on the scene in the year 1931.

Today, the electric guitar has evolved into an instrument capable of offering multiple music and sounds combined with exotic styles.