Types of guitars
Nine shapes cover most of what you'll run into.
Acoustic — Dreadnought
Large-bodied steel-string with a big, punchy low end. The most common acoustic shape.
Acoustic — Concert / Parlor
Smaller-bodied, comfortable seated, with a more focused midrange.
Classical (nylon-string)
Wide neck and nylon strings, played fingerstyle — the foundation of classical and flamenco.
Electric — Solid body
Bright, versatile tone from magnetic pickups. Stratocaster and Telecaster-style shapes are the archetype.
Electric — Single-cut
Warmer, thicker tone, often with humbucker pickups. Les Paul-style shape.
Bass Guitar
Thicker strings tuned an octave below a guitar, carrying the low end of a band.
12-string guitar
Six courses of paired strings for a fuller, chorused sound, common in folk and jangle-pop.
Archtop / Hollow-body
A hollow, arched body with a warm, woody tone — the classic choice for jazz.
Resonator
A metal cone inside the body amplifies the sound acoustically, giving a bright, metallic tone favored in blues and bluegrass.