The classical guitar. 

 

Over the years I have found that many people are unclear as to the different styles of guitar and have only the vague idea of ‘wanting to play the guitar’. Of course some prospective students are well informed and know exactly what they want to achieve and may even have studied the instrument before, but many parents looking for a guitar teacher for their child are unaware of the options. Unlike most other instruments the guitar has a diverse history and there are many different styles or genres of music that the guitarist can aspire to learn. Some of these are usually played on different types of guitar so it is wise to check before buying a particular instrument that might be unsuitable for the music the student desires to play. 

 

The classical guitar (or Spanish guitar) is a versatile instrument on which most styles of music can be played and makes for a good start for the beginner uncertain of exactly what they want to do. This guitar has nylon treble strings and is played with the fingers rather than with a plectrum or fingerpicks. The acoustic guitar has metal strings, a larger body and a thinner neck. The acoustic guitar is suitable for folk or pop music and can be used for strumming chords to accompany singers or other instruments. The electric guitar is almost exclusively used for pop/rock music though some contemporary classical composers use it in which case it is nearly always played by a classically trained performer who can read musical notation.

 

It is usually a good idea to start children with the classical guitar as they will then learn correct posture, to use their fingers efficiently, read musical notation and play pieces of quite diverse styles (classical music encompasses over 500 years of music from different countries, different idioms so isn’t simply Bach, Beethoven and Brahms!). 

 

For those who are still unsure as to the styles of music that can be played on the classical guitar, the following links are to YouTube videos of recommended performances by classical guitarists.  Obviously these are not pieces for beginners but something to aspire to once one has ‘caught the bug’! 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDAHl54V0CU

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzRiAoEeiB0

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7aDW1kWbAU

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPcjtg6FvX8

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmry5uquwDI