Original Articles

They unknowingly lump the classical guitar in with the folk guitar. But there are several important distinctions between classical and folk guitars which will be discussed in this article.

Like the folk guitar, the classic guitar is a six-stringed acoustic instrument. The name “classical” suggests that this instrument has been around for many centuries but this is not the case. The instrument, in its present form, did not appear until about the middle of the nineteenth century.

One immediately noticeable difference between the classical and folk guitars is the composition of the strings. Folk guitars are traditionally strung with metal strings and are often played with a pick or plectrum. Classical guitars, on the other hand, are strung with nylon strings and are picked with the thumb and first three fingers of the right hand.

The higher register strings are made wholly of mono-filament nylon. The three bass strings are made of very fine metal wire wrapped around a multi-filament nylon core. Nylon strings tend to have a much lower tension than the folk guitar’s steel strings. As such, they are easier to play and also have a less-harsh, mellower sound than metal strings.

The neck and fingerboard on a classical guitar tends to be wider and less tapered than a folk or electric guitar. The headstock is quite different from the folk guitar headstock. To begin with, machine heads or tuning pegs on a classical guitar are perpendicular to the face of the headstock and point backwards – toward the player. While, on a folk guitar, the machine heads are mounted parallel to the face of the headstock and three machine heads point upward while the other three point toward the floor.

The scale length is the nominal vibrating length of the strings. It can be calculated by measuring the distance from the nut to the 12th fret and doubling this measurement. The classical guitar has a scale length of about 25.6-inches. For reference, this is about the same scale length as a Fender Stratocaster (25.5-inches).

Another difference between the classical and folk guitars is how they are played. The folk guitar is either worn with a strap or supported by the right leg when in a sitting position. The classic guitar (when held in the proper classical guitar posture) is rested on the left leg. In this position, the neck can more easily be angled upward which presents a more natural and relaxed angle for the left hand. As mentioned earlier, a classical guitar is played with the fingers rather than with a pick.

Although it is associated with classical music, the classical guitar can be – and often is – used to play popular or folk music. Very often classical guitars are purchased by non-classical musicians who simply like the feel and sound of the nylon strings. In these cases, the guitar is played just like a folk guitar (held on the right leg) and played with a pick. In fact, the softer nylon strings often make it a good choice for the beginning guitarist.