How many types of guitars exist?

How many types of guitars exist?

The most common and practical way to classify them is by their body type and how they produce sound. Under this system, there are three primary categories, each with several important subtypes.

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Here’s a breakdown of the main types of guitars:

1. Acoustic Guitars

These guitars have a hollow body that amplifies the sound of the strings acoustically (without electricity). The vibration of the strings is transferred to the soundboard via the bridge, creating sound.

• Classical (Nylon-String) Guitar:
  • Strings: Nylon (softer on the fingers).
  • Neck: Wide and flat, designed for fingerstyle playing.
  • Sound: Warm, mellow, and soft. Ideal for classical, flamenco, bossa nova, and folk music.
  • Key Feature: Tied-on strings (instead of pinned bridge) and often no fretboard markers.
• Steel-String Acoustic Guitar:
  • Strings: Steel (brighter and louder than nylon).
  • Neck: Narrower than a classical guitar.
  • Sound: Bright, crisp, and loud with more projection and “twang.”
  • Common Body Shapes:
    • Dreadnought: The most popular shape. Large, bold, and powerful with a strong bass response. Great for strumming and flat-picking.
    • Concert / Grand Auditorium: A versatile mid-size shape, good for both strumming and fingerpicking.
    • Jumbo: The largest body, offering huge volume and deep bass. Famously used by Elvis Presley and George Harrison.
    • Parlor: A small-bodied guitar from the 19th century, enjoying a modern revival. Quieter but with a distinct, articulate sound.
• Archtop Guitar:
  • Body: Features a violin-like arched top (and often back) with f-holes instead of a round soundhole.
  • Sound: Associated with jazz (often played with a bow for a cello-like sound) and rockabilly. Can be fully acoustic or semi-acoustic (electrified).
• Resonator Guitar (Dobro®):
  • Sound: Doesn’t use a standard soundhole. Instead, it has one or more metal cones (“resonators”) that amplify the sound, making it much louder and with a distinctive metallic, buzzing tone.
  • Use: Essential for blues and bluegrass slide guitar.

2. Electric Guitars

These guitars have solid or semi-hollow bodies and require an external amplifier to produce significant sound. They use electromagnetic “pickups” to convert string vibrations into an electrical signal.

• Solid-Body Electric:
  • Body: Made of solid wood. The most common type of electric guitar.
  • Sound: Highly versatile, with tone shaped by pickups, amplifiers, and effects pedals. Ranges from clean and bright to heavily distorted.
  • Famous Models: Fender Stratocaster, Fender Telecaster, Gibson Les Paul, Gibson SG, PRS Custom 24.
• Semi-Hollow Body Electric:
  • Body: Has a solid center block (for sustain and reducing feedback) with hollow “wings.” Features f-holes.
  • Sound: A warm, rich blend of acoustic resonance and electric power. Prized in jazz, blues, and rock.
  • Famous Models: Gibson ES-335, Epiphone Casino.
• Hollow Body Electric:
  • Body: Fully hollow, like an archtop but with pickups.
  • Sound: The most “acoustic” sounding electric, but prone to feedback at high volumes. The classic jazz box.
  • Famous Models: Gibson ES-175.

3. Hybrid Guitars

These guitars blend features from both acoustic and electric worlds.

• Electro-Acoustic (Acoustic-Electric) Guitar:
  • What it is: Essentially a standard acoustic guitar (steel-string or classical) that has been fitted with a pickup system and preamp, allowing it to be plugged into an amplifier or PA system.
  • Use: Essential for performing live without sacrificing the natural acoustic sound.
• Solid-Body Acoustic Guitar:
  • What it is: Has the shape and feel of an electric guitar but is designed to produce an acoustic tone, often through piezo pickups and onboard modeling.
  • Use: Popular for touring musicians who want the comfort of an electric guitar’s neck and body but need an acoustic sound.

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Other Important Ways to Categorize Guitars

• By Number of Strings:
  • 6-String: Standard.
  • 12-String: Has six courses of two strings each, creating a rich, shimmering chorus effect.
  • 7 & 8-String: Extended-range guitars used in metal and jazz for lower notes.
  • Bass Guitar: Typically has 4 strings (but also 5, 6, or more), tuned an octave lower.
• By Design Features:
  • Travel / Mini Guitars: Smaller-scale guitars designed for portability.
  • Left-Handed Guitars: String order is reversed for left-handed players.
  • Multi-Scale (Fanned-Fret) Guitars: Frets are set at an angle to improve intonation and tension, common in modern extended-range instruments.

So, how many types exist?

If you count the primary categories based on sound production, there are three: Acoustic, Electric, and Hybrid.

If you count the main distinct playing styles and body shapes within those categories, you could easily list 10-15 common types (e.g., Classical, Steel-String Dreadnought, Steel-String Parlor, Resonator, Archtop, Solid-Body Electric, Semi-Hollow, Hollow-Body, Electro-Acoustic, 12-String, Bass Guitar).i

The number grows much larger if you include all historical, regional, and experimental variations. But for most practical purposes, the list above covers the vast majority of guitars you will encounter.

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