Classical vs acoustic?

L

LightShot

New member
Hi everyone.
I`m really confused and i really don’t know which guitar to buy, im torn in between. I have two options. Yamaha c40 and yamaha fs80c, both cost the same. I’ve been playing guitar for a while but it’s been inconsistent. Started 4-5 years ago, started in a class, learnt it for 6 months, but stopped after that. Never really learnt it properly in the classroom, left incomplete. Only learnt playing simple songs with tabs, never shifted to chords. So two years ago i started learning on youtube again. I had an old acoustic guitar. I started with tabs again. But then i was really intrigued by fingerstyle pieces. I spend months learning my first fingerstyle song, which was the last of us theme. Loved it. Then moved to other fingerstyle songs like asturias, godfather theme, la la land theme song. Basically songs from the youtube channel “sky guitar”. Then i learnt a flamenco instrumental piece gratitude by amin toofani. But even after doing all this for almost two years. I couldn’t really play rhythmic guitar properly. So right now im torn between buying a classical guitar, and a acoustic guitar. Cause if I buy acoustic I could like playing rhythmic guitar, but what if I don’t? And I have mood swings, sometimes i even want to play electric guitar pieces :( . I`m so confused what to buy.
 
That’s an interesting predicament.
Have you considered either of these factors:
  • Nylon vs. steel strings
  • Nut width
Classical guitars will be strung with nylons and usually have a wider nut than most electrics and steel-string acoustics.
 
Really the only right answer is what is right for you. Best you can do is play both and pick the one you like more.

As for electric guitar and rhythm, you might have come to the wrong place. We are all just going to tell you to buy more guitars. You can always buy another guitar later to reflect whatever you grow into. There is actually a formula for how many guitars you need: N+1 (N= the number of guitars you currently have).

I can't tell you how many times I've started a band where I had the wrong instrument (or amp), let alone pedals. You always need to retool for a new project, so when that time comes, you just buy another guitar.
 
The flamenco players seem to get along fine playing rhythm on a nylon string, though a flamenco guitar is a bit different than a traditional classical. Lower action for easier playing and a little rasp to the sound, different woods and build to keep up with a dancer, clapping, and singing. Less sustain though. Thought about getting a flamenco guitar to split the difference?
 
Try out a classical guitar somewhere if you can. They're a different beast. Lots of knowledge is applicable between the two, but it's a different feel.

The string spacing will be wider on a classical, to accommodate that style of playing. Also, classical players tend to grow their nails slightly above the fingertip, so if you're not doing that you might find the nylon strings can have a duller attack. A classical guitar neck is going to be wider, and the fingerboard is flatter. This can be more demanding for your left hand, depending on how you hold it. Classical/flamenco players and many other nylon players often grip the neck with only their finger tips and thumbs; the palm of their hands generally isn't gliding along the bottom of the neck like with other styles. It uses your muscles in a different way and takes some time to get used to, but it's great for developing finger independence. I love it. Even when I play rock/metal, I'm playing leads with my fret hand in a classical position.
 
while you can fingerpick on both, if you plan to do more fingerstyle playing vs strumming chords, classical guitar. You can strum chords on a classical guitar, but that's not the focus of this type of guitar.

If you are going to do an equal mix of both fingerstyle/fingerpicking and chord strumming, then an acoustic guitar.

IMO
 
I would never go classical unless playing classical.

You get sweeter sound and volume out of an acoustic if trying to play songs that you hear on radio.
 
Smash said:
I would never go classical unless playing classical.

You get sweeter sound and volume out of an acoustic if trying to play songs that you hear on radio.
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I agree as a classical player myself, although by nature I’d say classical guitars actually have a sweeter, warmer sound vs the more metallic, sparkly, brilliant sound of steel string acoustic guitars. If you’re finger picking though (well at least) the classical guitar should be louder in that context and of course the steel string is much louder for strumming and flat picking. If one is primarily finger picking I’d advise a steel string acoustic more suited to that than dreadnaughts as my 2 cents
 
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