Electric Guitar Shapes Explained

What are electric guitar shapes and names?  There are many electric guitar shapes and names, this article will briefly review the most popular electric guitar shapes and names of those shapes.  The shape of the guitar body affects the loudness and tone that is produced by the guitar.   Here are a list of shapes and their descriptions:

Electric Guitar Shapes

Fender Telecaster - The Fender Telecaster, also known as the "Tele", was the first successful solid-body electric guitar introduced in 1951 by Fender.  It features two single-coil magnetic pickups which yields a snappy raw tone commonly found in early country, blues and jazz of the time period.  The Fender Telecaster shape has a single cutaway for easy access to higher frets.  Guitarists who have played the Fender Telecaster include Elvis Presley, Waylon Jennings, George Harrison and Eric Clapton.  For the traditional guitarist, buy Fender Telecaster Electric Guitar today.

Fender Stratocaster -  The Fender Stratocaster is the iconic and typical electric guitar and has one of the most popular shapes that other manufactures have modeled their own guitars after.  The Fender Stratocaster has three single-coil pickups by default, but comes in an "HSS" version with a humbucker at the bridge position.  Guitarists who have played the Fender Stratocaster include Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, John Mayer and Tom DeLonge.  For the guitarist that wants to do it all, buy Fender Stratocaster Guitar today.

Gibson Les Paul - The Gibson Les Paul offers the single-cutaway body with more rounded curves in comparison to the Fender Stratocaster and the Fender Telecaster.  It also places the pickup selector switch above the strings rather than below in order to allow easy access for quick tone modification.  The Gibson Les Paul features two humbucker pickups and boasts an unmatched sustain.  Guitarists who have played the Gibson Les Paul include Jimmy Page, Slash, Ace Frehley, Buckethead, Sammy Hagar and Eric Clapton.  For the rock guitarists that wants to do it all, buy Gibson Les Paul today.

Gibson SG - The Gibson SG was originally to be an alternative to the standard Gibson Les Paul model, but Les Paul did not want his name to be associated with it.  With its iconic "horned" appearance, the SG made the double-cutaway body shape popular and features two humbucker pickups.  Guitarists who have played the Gibson SG include Eric Clapton, Buck Dharma, Jerry Garcia, Dave Grohl, Santana, Mike Oldfield and James Hetfield.  For the alternative rockstar, buy Gibson SG today.

Gibson Flying V - The Gibson Flying V exchanged rounded curves with straight lines and acute angles in 1958 in order to offer a more futuristic looking guitar.  It features two humbucker pickups and a tune-o-matic bridge that allowed the addition of a whammy bar for bending notes.  Guitarists who have played the Gibson Flying V include Jimi Hendrix, Kirk Hammet, Steve Jones, Lenny Kravitz, Joe Parry, Keith Richards and Eddie Van Halen.  If you want to look like a rockstar, buy Gibson Flying V today.

There are many more guitar shapes to explore, but all of the modern shapes had their start with these five models.  I hope this helps you find the right guitar shape for your playing style.

Acoustic Guitar Shapes Explained

What are guitar shapes and names?  There are many guitar shapes and names, this article will briefly review the guitar shapes and names of those shapes.  Manufacturers have different guitar shapes, the dreadnought being the most standard.  The shape of the guitar body affects the loudness and tone that is produced by the guitar.   Here are a list of shapes and their descriptions:

Acoustic Guitar Shapes

Dreadnought Guitar - The dreadnought guitar body shape is the most common guitar shape.  At first, the Dreadnought was introduced by Martin with more rounded shoulders and only 12 frets, but it was updated to its modern form in 1934.  Buy dreadnought guitar for any genre of acoustic guitar music.

BODY LENGTH: 20 (14-fret)

MAX DEPTH: 4 7/8

MAX WIDTH: 15 5/8

0 Guitar - The 0 guitar denotes the smallest size of parlour guitars made by Martin.  By standard it has a 12-fret-to-body design which produces a full-bodied mid-midrange tone.  Buy 0 guitar if you are playing blues and folk styles.

BODY LENGTH: 19 1/8 (inches)
MAX DEPTH: 4 1/16
MAX WIDTH: 13 1/2

00 Guitar or Grand Concert Guitar - Slightly bigger than Size 0, the 00 or the Grand Concert guitar was first produced in the late 19th century. The 1934 14-fret version has a thinner waist and looks more like a smaller 000.  Buy 00 guitar if you are playing  blues and folk styles.

BODY LENGTH: 19 5/8 (12-fret)

MAX DEPTH: 4 1/16

MAX WIDTH: 14 5/16

000/OM Guitar or Auditorium Guitar - The 000 guitar has a 24.9-inch scale length, while the OM (Orchestra Model) has a 25.4-inch scale length. The Martin 000-28 built for banjoist Perry Bechtel in 1929 was the first ever 14-fret flat-top acoustic.  Buy 000 Guitar and Auditorium Guitar if you are playing with a rock band.  Buy Acoustic-Electric 000 Guitar is recommended if you are playing with electric guitars.

BODY LENGTH: 19 3/18 (14-fret)

MAX DEPTH: 4 1/8

MAX WIDTH: 15

Grand Auditorium Guitar - The Grand Auditorium Guitar is the name Taylor gives to its Style 14 body, designed by Bob Taylor in 1994. It’s wider than a Dreadnought across the lower bout, almost as deep, but with a more pinched waist and forward bout. Almost always a CE (cutaway electric-acoustic).  Buy Grand Auditorium Guitar if you are playing live, especially the acoustic-electric grand auditorium guitar.  

BODY LENGTH: 20

MAX DEPTH: 4 5/8

MAX WIDTH: 16

Round-shoulder Dreadnought guitar:  The round-shoulder dreadnought guitar was made popular by the Gibson J-45 and J-50, this shape is descended from Gibson Jumbos of the 1930s (not to be confused with the Super Jumbos). The dimensions, although various, put them in dreadnought range. J-45s/50s/Southern Jumbos have a 24.75-inch scale; the original Advanced Jumbos were 25.5.  Buy round-shoulder dreadnought guitar for strumming and rhythm guitar parts.

BODY LENGTH: 20

MAX DEPTH: 4 7/8

MAX WIDTH: 16

(Super) Jumbo guitar - Originally known as a ‘Super Jumbo’, the term ‘Jumbo’ is used to describe something like the Gibson J-200 from 1937. The Jumbo Guitar has a huge body which yields deep bass and a nice finish of trebles.  Buy jumbo guitar for giant strummed parts.  This body style is not ideal for picking and arpeggiations.

BODY LENGTH: 21

MAX DEPTH: 4 3/4

MAX WIDTH: 17

Guitar Styles Explained

What guitar styles are there?  How do I choose the right guitar style?  If you are wondering what style of guitar you should buy, here is a brief overview of guitar styles to help you choose.

Acoustic Guitar -  Acoustic Guitars are the most common since they do not need amplification.  Acoustic Guitars are hollow and the strings vibrate over a hole which naturally amplifies the sound.  Acoustic guitars can use steel or nylon strings depending on the body shape.  Buy acoustic guitar if you are wanting to learn guitar as it is inexpensive and portable.  Acoustic guitars come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Electric Guitar -  Electric Guitars have a solid body and require amplification to be heard.  Electric guitars are common in modern music from rock and country to jazz and rhythm and blues.  Electric guitars need a guitar amp and a guitar cable to connect to the guitar amp.  Electric guitars use metal strings which vibrate over electric pickups.  Buy electric guitar if you want to play with a distorted tone common in all types of rock and metal.  Electric guitars come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Acoustic-Electric Guitar -  Acoustic-Electric Guitars are built like regular acoustic guitars, but they have an electric pickup to send the sound to a guitar amplifier.  Acoustic-Electric guitars are a must have if you are looking to perform acoustic songs directly over a PA system without a microphone.  Acoustic-electric guitars are great for the singer/songwriter that wants to play the occasional gig but still wants to be able to play without being tied to a guitar amp.  Buy acoustic-electric guitar if you need to be able to play with and without amplification.

Semi-hollow body Guitar -  Semi-hollow body Guitars are unique in size and shape.  They are electric guitars that are built in a way to include acoustic tonal qualities while functioning as an electric guitar does.  Unlike an acoustic-electric guitar, they still require amplification to be enjoyed.  Buy semi-hollow body guitar if you are playing jazz, country, blues, folk music.

There is a guitar style catered to every musical application, I hope this article helps you decide which guitar style will be best for your needs.

Guitar Sizes Explained

What guitar sizes are there?  What guitar size is the right size for you?  Here is a list of guitar sizes to help you choose the right one for your music education needs.

1/4 Size Guitar - For the young student, buy 1/4 size guitars for students between the ages of 4 and 6 ranging in height from 3'3" to 3'9".

1/2 Size Guitar - Buy 1/4 size guitar for students between the ages of 5 and 8 ranging in height from 3'10" to 4'5".

3/4 Size Guitar - Buy 3/4 size guitar for students between the ages of 8 and 11 ranging in height from 4'6" to 4'11".

Full Size Guitar / 4/4 Size Guitar - Buy full size guitar or a 4/4 size guitar for those 11 or older who are taller than 5 feet.

Is it easy to learn guitar on your own?

Is it easy to learn guitar?  Is it easy to learn piano?  Can I learn piano or guitar on my own?

If you've found yourself asking these questions, the answer is yes!  With or without formal instruction, the easiest way to learn guitar and piano is with the right attitude and a plan of action.  If you have never played a musical instrument and you don't know where to start, here are five things you should do to prepare.

1. Get ready to focus.  You will learn basic techniques of playing guitar and piano when you are without distraction.  Start preparing by scheduling at least one half-hour period per day where you can study and practice in an appropriate setting without having to worry about having to stop to take care of other things.  The more time you spend with uninterrupted and focused practicing the faster you will learn the basics to get to the things you want to learn to play.
2. Buy the right instrument for your playing level.  Is your guitar the right size?  Has it been set up properly?  Did you inherit your piano from your grandmother and it has broken keys and out-of-tune?  It will be difficult to learn the basics if your instrument is not in working order or if it is not the right size for you.  Be sure your instrument is ready to go before you are, or you'll find you won't be going anywhere in your musical education!
3. Buy music education books by a trusted publisher.  Not to discount your next-door neighbor's ability to play guitar or piano, but his hand-me-down handwritten notebook may be difficult to understand especially if you're not familiar with piano and guitar terminology.  Buy trusted music education material written by professional, well educated music instructors.  Hal Leonard and Berklee Press are two household publishers of sheet music and music education materials.  Definitely don't forget to buy a fingering chart for guitar or a fingering book for piano; these are paramount.
4. Buy guitar and piano accessories that will aid in the learning process.  You need more than just an instrument to learn how to play it.  Buy things like a music stand for sheet music, a guitar footstand for proper position with a guitar and definitely don't forget to buy a metronome to work on rhythm.
5. Practice makes perfect!  The more you practice, the faster you will excel.  Prepare to devote yourself to your instrument and stick to it!  Try video recording yourself after the first month of playing and then again after the sixth month, I promise you will see an improvement!

Just by reading this article you are well on your way to learning piano or learning guitar!  It always helps to get lessons from a professional educator, but if you aren't able that shouldn't deter you from learning on your own.  Follow these five steps to prepare to learn guitar or learn piano and you will reach your goals!