The Different Types of Acoustic Guitar

The Classical Guitar (Nylon String)

It is a traditional guitar that is sometimes called the "Spanish guitar".  It is a 6-stringed plucked string instrument that most flamenco players use. The strings G,B,E are nylon with the remaining 3 bass strings E,A,D are made of nylon fiber wound with metal thread. The strings of the classical guitar are typically made of nylon today, but animal gut strings from the old days are still being used by some guitar players.

The Acoustic Guitar (Steel String)

It is a modern of guitar descended from the classical guitar. It uses steel strings for a louder and brighter sound. It can be strung with a pick or plucked with fingers.

The Acoustic Resonator Guitar

The sound of this guitar is produced by one or more spun metal cones or resonators instead of the wooden sound board. It is designed to have a louder sound than conventional acoustic guitars. This guitar can be played in different ways like the Lap steel guitar style, finger style, and it can also be played using a bottle neck. It is commonly used in Blues grass and Blues music.

The 12 String Acoustic Guitar

It is an acoustic guitar with 12 strings in 6 courses, that produces a richer, more ringing tone than the usual six-string guitar. It produces a natural chorus effect due to the subtle differences in the frequencies produced by each of the two strings on each course. It is bigger and heavier, and is also tuned the same way as the usual six-string acoustic guitar.

Parts of The Acoustic Guitar

I've decided to write a topic about the Parts of The Acoustic Guitar since not every beginner guitar player knows what are those and the purpose of those parts.

Gaining a knowledge about the different parts of a guitar helps a guitar player in many ways such as when watching guitar instructional videos or reading tutorial books, because there are times when a teacher in most videos or books will most probably mention these parts.

You can use this knowledge also when buying spare parts for your guitar. Remember, that there are times when some parts of your guitar may wore out and will need a new one. So at least before learning how to play a guitar, learn first what are the parts of it because it will benefit you in some way in the future.

Here are the parts and are divided into six sections. (Note: Refer to the section numbers and sub sections to avoid confusion and If you're having trouble with the image, please click the image for a larger view.)

Click the image for a larger view.

1.)Headstock
    1.a.)Tuners (Tuning Pegs, Machine Heads) - Loosens/Tightens the
           tension of the strings.
    1.b.)Strings

2.)Nut - Keeps the strings of the fretboard.

3.)Neck
    3.a.)Fretboard
             3.a.a.)Fret marks - Guides the user through the fretboard.
             3.a.b.)Frets - Provides the notes of the guitar.
  
4.)Sound hole - This is where the sound of the guitar comes out.

5.)Bridge
    5.a.)Saddle - Also keeps the strings of the fretboard from the end.
    5.b.)String Pegs - Holds the strings from the end.

6.)Body
    6.a.)Pick guard - Protects the body of the guitar when using a guitar
           pick.

I hope this guide can help you to better understand more about the guitar. Cheers and God bless!!