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Writing for Acoustic Guitars
by
Eric Starr
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- Soundboard and sound box amplify vibrations
- A depressed string results in a higher pitch
- Steel string or nylon string
Although the exact origins of the guitar not fully known, it’s hypothesized by musicologists that this instrument has its roots in both ancient Greece and Mesopotamia. The acoustic guitar is used in many styles of music from folk to rock-n-roll, country & western to jazz. It’s also used in select ethnic styles, such as Irish music, and it has a deep European classical music tradition.
All acoustic guitars use a soundboard and a sound box to amplify the vibrations. For this reason, all acoustic guitars have hollow bodies and their basic design is not unlike instruments in the violin family; see Chapter 16. One major difference, however, is the fretted neck, which is a feature on (virtually) all guitars. Frets are thin metal strips that are built into the fingerboard on the guitar’s neck. Frets divide the fingerboard into precise half steps or semitones. Because of this, each string on the neck may be played chromatically. The number of frets on a guitar can vary and you may find anywhere between seventeen and twenty-four frets on any given instrument. Acoustic guitars usually have nineteen frets.
When a string is depressed or “stopped,” it temporarily shortens its length and this results in a higher pitch. Given this, the lowest note on any string is an open string. Strings are strummed or plucked by the fingers—usually in the right hand—and there are many styles of finger picking used today. (Non-classical guitarists often use a plectrum or pick instead of their fingers.)
Acoustic guitars fall into two general categories:
-or-
- Nylon (occasionally gut strings but these are rare today)
Steel string acoustic guitars are used in folk, rock, Celtic, gypsy jazz, and other popular genres where a brighter, louder, or more biting tone is desired. Nylon stringed guitars have less of a sharp attack. Instead, the sound is more rounded and full-bodied.
Nylon stringed guitars are also normally referred to as classical guitars. However, these types of guitars are also used in many styles of music outside of classical. This includes the Brazilian bossa nova, the Spanish flamenco, and even pop music. In the latter, the classical guitar is often used when a Latin or Spanish “vibe” is desired in a tune.
One popular version of a steel stringed guitar is the twelve-string acoustic. Like its six-string cousin, the twelve-string guitar is tuned to E, A, D, G, B, and E. But since there are twelve strings, the strings are tuned in pairs. Specifically, the lower four string pairs are tuned in octaves while the top two string pairs are tuned in unisons. This creates a mild “chorusing” effect between the unison strings. Lastly, on any guitar, alternate tunings may be implemented depending on the player’s preference and the demands of the music.
...from The Everything Music Composition Book. For more books, visit Adams Media Bookstore.
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