Guitar Types & Construction
What Is a Classical Guitar?
A classical guitar is an acoustic guitar normally fitted with nylon treble strings and wound bass strings. It has a broad, flat fingerboard, a lightweight resonant body and a bridge designed for tied strings rather than steel-string bridge pins.
The instrument is associated with classical repertoire, but it is also used for Spanish, Latin, folk, contemporary, flamenco-related and educational music.
Classical Guitar vs Steel-String Acoustic
Both are acoustic guitars, but they are not interchangeable string systems. A classical guitar is built for nylon-string tension and response. Standard steel strings should not be installed unless the maker specifically designed the instrument for them.
The wider string spacing supports independent finger work and polyphonic textures. The sound is generally rounded and responsive to changes in fingernail, fingertip, contact point and stroke.
Right-Hand Technique
Classical scores often use PIMA letters to assign the thumb and fingers. Two fundamental strokes are apoyando, in which the finger comes to rest against the next string, and tirando, a free stroke that clears the adjacent string.
Players use these strokes for melody, arpeggios, chords and contrapuntal lines. Consistent tone matters more than forcing volume.
Left-Hand Technique and Notation
Left-hand fingers are numbered 1 to 4. Position shifts, slurs, barres and independent voices require the hand to release unnecessary pressure while keeping required notes ringing.
Classical notation may include string numbers, position indications, fingering, ceja or barre symbols, and instructions about tone colour.
Posture and Instrument Support
Traditional posture raises the neck and supports the instrument on the left leg, often with a footstool or support. Other balanced positions are possible. The goal is to keep the shoulders relaxed, give both hands access and prevent the fretting hand from holding the guitar in place.
Beginner Classical Exercise
- Play open strings with the thumb and fingers.
- Assign p to the bass strings and i-m-a to the treble strings.
- Play a slow p-i-m-a arpeggio.
- Listen for equal volume and a similar tone from each finger.
- Add a simple chord only after the right-hand pattern is stable.
Why Classical Guitar Matters
Classical guitar develops independent voices, reading, tone production and detailed control. Its techniques also transfer to fingerstyle arranging, accompaniment and composition on other guitars.
Kalymi Tip
Separate the two hands when learning a new passage. Practise the right-hand pattern on open strings, then learn the left-hand notes without trying to reach the final tempo.
Use the fingering as a plan, not as decoration on the page. When a note must continue ringing, choose fingers and positions that preserve it instead of lifting automatically.
Listen for tone consistency between p, i, m and a. A slow arpeggio with balanced sound is more valuable than a fast pattern in which one finger disappears.
Related Terms
Learn More
- Guitar Learning Path
- Guitar Arrangements
- How to Play Classical Guitar: Lesson One
- Classical Guitar Book in Open D Tuning
- Kalymi Music Library
- All Learning Paths
Reviewed by
Brent C. Robitaille,
music educator and founder of
Kalymi Music.