Guitar 101: Classical Guitar | Blog

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In this piece, we'll briefly go over what the classical guitar actually is it's history and origins as well as a few things to keep at heart when you learn to play.

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•   What is a Classical Guitar?
•   The types of music that Make Use of Classical Guitar
•   How Do I Play a Classical Guitar

 What is an Classical Guitar?

While classical guitars were transformed into electric and acoustic guitars that we can hear in pop music, they're still very popular today, and cherished for their unique tone and playing style.

Classical Guitar Origin

The guitar-like instrument has been in use for thousands of years, but it wasn't until the 15th century that Spanish musicians began playing instruments that closely to what we now know to be the guitar. The shape of the instrument as well as the string count varied over the years, until finally, in 1817, Spanish guitar maker Antonio de Torres came up with a model that gave an emergence to the guitar of today. It is the reason it's often referred to as the Spanish guitar.

The first models of classical guitar used strings made of animal guts. nylon strings weren't introduced until 1948.

 Types of Music That Use Classical Guitar

A majority of the songs we listen to today are played with steel string guitars. But, the nylon guitar can be used to perform classical, Spanish, bossa nova flamenco, as well as various types of jazz.

Classical and. Flamenco Guitar

The flamenco guitar is lighter than classical and its strings are placed close to the neck, which makes it easy to play fast and incorporate inventive techniques, like tapping on the fretboard. This also often results in some buzzing, a character of the flamenco style. The flamenco guitar also typically has a protective cover around the sound hole, helping to minimize damage to the instrument's finish when players use percussive techniques.

The classical guitar sound, in contrast it is very clear and does not involve any buzzing or percussion.

 What is a Classical Guitar

In certain ways it is true that playing a nylon acoustic guitar is similar to playing one with a steel string. The strings, tuning chords, scales, and theory are all identical.

Below are some of the most important factors that must be considered when playing:

1. Playing the position

Classical guitarists place the instrument under the left side of their knees, and the left leg rests on a stool that's elevated. The guitar's neck to be pointing upwards at an angle of 45 degrees, which results in a more relaxed posture for playing with the left hand. You can also keep your left foot flat on the ground and place a special support between your thigh and the guitar in order to keep it elevated.

Other thing you should keep to be aware of is the positioning of your left thumb. Modern guitar players often place their thumbs on the one of the necks of their guitars or use it to fret on the lower E string. Doing this on a classical guitar will lead to a poor hand position and limit the other fingers. Keep your thumb in a tucked-in position near in the middle of your neck of your guitar.

2. Using Fingernails

While you can use a pick to pluck the strings of the guitar by using your right hand, the guitar is typically performed with your hands. When strings were created out of animal guts, classical guitarists used the flesh of their fingers to plucked strings. After the switch to nylon strings in addition to the requirement to produce more volume and fill large auditoriums the practice was adopted using one's fingers.

If you prefer to utilize the finger flesh or use your nails is dependent on you. If you choose the latter make sure you do some study on what you can do to maintain strong and healthy nails.

3. The importance of Learning Theory

With modern acoustic and electric guitar, you're likely to get away with not learning anything about music theory. Instead, you can practice chords or browse for tabs that can tell you exactly which strings to play and where to place your fingers onto the guitar's fretboard.

Unfortunately, that's not the case for classical guitar. Since classical guitar is a form of playing with fingers, it's crucial to be aware of which fret-string combinations correspond to which note. Also, you'll need to master scales. They are crucial in developing a good technique and getting used to playing at a fast pace.

Alongside learning the theoretical concepts, it's highly advised to learn to read music sheets. If you are planning to play the classical genre most likely to be composed in the form of the form of music notation rather than tabs. In the beginning, learning even the simplest songs by composing sheet music can benefit your playing greatly in the end.

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