What is the difference between an electric guitar and a classic guitar?

Question

im going to take lessons and i would like to know the difference.

Thanx

^_^

Answer 1

Theoretically, they're the same, in the sense that the strings are tuned the same, and scales and chords and such that you learn on one kind of guitar can be played on the other.

But in terms of sound they're VERY different, and are used to play very different styles of music. Music intended to be played on an electric guitar (rock, heavy metal, blues, etc) would sound wierd, or just not very good at all if played on an acoustic classical guitar.  Music intended to be played on a classical guitar (classical, folk, bossa nova, some styles of fingerstyle jazz) would sound wierd played on an electric.

If you're going to be playing music primarily by yourself, you'll probably want either a classical guitar (which has nylon strings) or a steel-string acoustic guitar (which has -- no surprise! -- steel strings and a louder brighter sound.  Acoustic guitars (whether nylon or steel string) tend to sound full and complete when played by themselves or as accompaniment to singing.  Although you can play acoustic guitar in some kinds of bands as well.

If you have plans or hopes of joining a band some day or just playing music with other people, and your musical interests are more focused towards rock, metal, etc, you'll eventually want an electric guitar.

Answer 2

Classic - or acoustic guitar - does not have an amplifier. It is only as loud as you play it. You can strum, pluck, pick or whatever, but the sound that comes out is not electronically boosted.

There are many advantages to classic guitar over electric - the first being that you don't have to plug it in anywhere. That means you can take it to the beach, serenade the sunset, take it wherever you want without worrying about bringing your amplifier with you.

It also has a purer tone, and a mellower tone.

Answer 3

Classical guitars are such different animals from electric guitars that the only thing they have in common is the use strings.

Classical guitars use Nylon Strings, are hollow bodied, have a thick nut... 2 to 2 1/8 inches on the cheaper models, have that charasteric slotted head where the tuning mechanisms are mounted; don't have a scratch plate on the top; are not amplified; do not have the inlays between the frets and SOUND A WHOLE LOT BETTER than Electrical guitars.

Electric guitars are basically just a 2 x 4 piece of lumber with strings and pickups mounted on it... The original one that Les Paul built was a 4X4 piece of lumber with a crystal mic taped to the bottom.  Later he added the wings to make it look better, but ALL electric guitars are still nut a 2X4 piece of lumber with strings.

Classical guitars can by played softly or loudly and made to express your mood and ability as a musician... Electric guitars, on the other hand, are called "Axes" for a reason... You have no control of the voicing, just the electrical toys to change the sound.