The Classical Guitar

The Classical Guitar

The classical guitar is the member of the guitar family used in classical music. It is an acoustical wooden guitar with six classical guitar strings as opposed to the metal strings used in acoustic and electric guitars designed for popular music.

Classical music goes back way into the 16th century where classical music was the only music available. The classical guitar varies from one shape to another, depending on the period it was in.

In the Renaiisance and barouque periods, the guitars have bright a bright sound, rich in overtones and the double strings used at the time gave the guitar a very specific texture.

Baroque and Renaiisance 

Early romantic guitars are single-stringed, but their design and voicing are still such that they have their tonal energy more in the overtones giving it a bright, intimate tone.

Early Romantic

Later in Spain a style of music emerged that favored a stronger fundamental:
With the change of music a stronger fundamental was demanded and the fan bracing system was approached.  The guitar tone has been changed from a transparent tone, rich in higher partials to a more "broad" tone with a strong fundamental.

Modern Classical Guitars

Performance techniques and positions

The modern classical guitar is usually played in a seated position, with the instrument resting on the left lap - and the left foot placed on a footstool. Alternatively - if a footstool is not used - a guitar support can be placed between the guitar and the left lap

Correct posture for playing the classical guitar

Fingering

In guitar scores the five fingers of the right-hand (which pluck the strings) are designated by the first letter of their Spanish names namely p = pulgar (thumb), i =índice (index finger), m =mayor (middle finger) a = anular (ring finger)), c = chiquito (little finger)

The four fingers of the left hand are designated 1 = index, 2 = major, 3 = ring finger, 4 = little finger; 0 designates an open string, that is a string that is not stopped by a finger of the left hand and whose full length thus vibrates when plucked. On the classical guitar thumb of the left hand is never used to stop strings from above (as is done on the electric guitar): the neck of a classical guitar is too wide and the normal position of the thumb used in classical guitar technique do not make that possible.

Overall, classical music is the complete contrary of the music teenagers listen to today. The art of playing the classical guitar is getting lesser patrons as time marches on as people are more akin to take up more modern music. I however enjoy playing classical music and hope to teach others of the uniqueness of the classical guitar and serenade the world with it.

Czech guitarist Pavel Steidl performing his own piece  "Lambada für Elise"