If you have chosen to learn the acoustic guitar, you are in for a fun and interesting journey. To purchase a good guitar for your acoustic guitar lessons, you need to understand the different types of acoustic guitars and the types of strings used. In this article, you will learn more about acoustic guitars, nylon strings, and steel strings. We will also give you the basic differences between nylon strings and steel strings in acoustic guitars which will certainly help you to decide which is best for you.

What is an acoustic guitar? How is it different from other guitars?

In an acoustic guitar, the sound produced through the vibrations of the strings is amplified without any external electronic amplifier. The sound box is the hollow body of the guitar. The soundboard is the front of the guitar’s body. These amplify the sound of the guitar. The strings and the hollow body of the guitar play a huge role while playing the acoustic guitar.
The top of the guitar is generally made using spruce or cedar. Some low-cost guitars may be constructed with laminates.

Electro-acoustic guitars or acoustic-electric guitars have electronics fitted to them so that they can be connected to an amplifier. We should not confuse these with the semi-acoustic guitar which is an electric guitar with a hollow body that allows the guitar to produce a warmer sound.
Electric guitars do not have a chamber that allows the sound to resonate. They are connected to an external amplifier. Hence the sound can be modified too. Electric guitars are usually played using a pick.

Acoustic guitars are usually made with nylon strings or steel strings. Generally, when we refer to acoustic guitars, it is with steel strings. The nylon-string acoustic guitar is referred to as classical guitar.

Nylon-string vs steel-string acoustic guitar

Nylon strings result in warm, mellow sounds which are good for classical and folk music. These guitars have a smaller body and a wider neck. The wide neck allows more spacing between the strings. For beginners who are trying to learn the acoustic guitar with nylon strings, this may be advantageous.

Steel-string acoustic guitars produce a brighter and more powerful sound as compared to guitars with nylon strings. They have a larger body and many come with pickguards to protect them.

Which is better for beginners?

When you start to learn the acoustic guitar, you need to weigh the pros and cons. Here are some aspects that you need to consider while purchasing your first guitar for your lessons-

1. Finger or pick
   Musicians usually use fingers to play classical guitars with nylon strings. Using a pick can damage the instrument. So when choosing your guitar as a beginner, you need to consider whether you will be using your fingers or a pick. If choosing a steel-string acoustic guitar, then be sure to have sore fingers during your music training journey as steel strings have a lot of tension and you will need to pluck the strings with greater effort. Nylon strings may be softer for your fingers especially when you are just beginning your guitar training course. Some musicians even grow fingernails and use them to play the guitar.
   
2. Music genre
   As you already know, nylon-string acoustic guitar and steel-string acoustic guitar produce different sounds. So, you should decide the type of guitar based on the kind of music you would like to play.

Choosing the right kind of guitar for your music classes is extremely important. During the initial days of your guitar lessons or your guitar training course, you may face some challenges. Purchasing a good guitar can solve most of these challenges.

Although, you can learn to play the guitar through self-learning, for proper guidance it is advisable to book a professional guitar teacher who can help you throughout your music training journey. A good private instructor can make your guitar learning process easier and faster.

Online guitar lessons

The pandemic has curbed our freedom by keeping us within our homes. However, in a positive light, it has opened new possibilities using technological advancements. People who were once skeptical about learning music through online classes have started pursuing their passion through various online music courses. In general, students aspiring to learn music or to learn a musical instrument have been finding private online music lessons to be more effective and flexible.

Online guitar courses for aspiring guitarists have become quite popular in recent times. If you are looking for a good guitar teacher to help you learn the acoustic guitar, check out the experienced and skilled guitar instructors at Music4humans who teach online guitar lessons for various skill levels. Book your favorite teacher today.