| Do you need a special type of guitar? | | | | rough on my guitars so I never got precious about an |
| The simple answer is No! For a beginner, any (nylon | | | | instrument. When my guitar needed replacing, I just |
| stringed) classical guitar will do the job. | | | | visited the local second hand guitar shop and spend an |
| Having said that, there are 2 points of confusion that | | | | hour trying out different classical style guitars. A guitar |
| are worth mentioning. They may seem obvious to | | | | does not have to be expensive; it just needs to "speak |
| most people, but I'm here to tell you they are not | | | | to me". What I mean is that it needs to feel |
| obvious to everyone. | | | | comfortable and have a strong tone. |
| 1) Any guitar with steel strings on it is NOT suitable. | | | | 8) One consideration that I think is important is whether |
| There was a time when certain styles of Country and | | | | the strings maintain good tone even if they are fairly |
| Western and jazz guitars were advertised as | | | | worn. This has more to do with the guitar than the |
| "Spanish guitars" for some unknown reason. (I think | | | | strings themselves. That's why trying old guitars in a |
| because they have roughly the same shape as a | | | | second hand shop is a good idea if you just want a |
| classical / flamenco guitar). If you look hard enough | | | | cheap beginners instrument. I would try those with |
| you may even find a few books of the 1920's , 30's, | | | | worn strings first. The problem is that many guitars |
| and 40's which have plectrum style music for these | | | | sound all terrific and sparkly with band new shiny |
| "Spanish guitars". The equation seems to be: Flamenco | | | | strings but quickly lose their tone after a few days. |
| = Spanish music = let's play it on my grandpa's Spanish | | | | Strings - Which brand? What tension? |
| guitar. Now where did he put those plectrums? Or | | | | A brand of strings that suit one guitar may not suit |
| something like that. | | | | another. The best way to determine which is best for |
| 2) Another common misconception is that the bass | | | | your guitar is through experiment. Some popular |
| strings on a classical guitar are steel. On the outside | | | | brands are Savarez, La Bella, Augustine and D'Addario. |
| they look the same as their steel brothers but that's | | | | If you're not sure about tension choose normal tension. |
| where the similarity ends. Classical guitar bass strings | | | | Extending string life |
| have many fine strands of nylon woven together | | | | 1) Bass strings will naturally wear as a result of contact |
| inside the copper winding. If you look closely you will | | | | with the fret wires. Before this wear becomes |
| see these strands poking out of the end of the string. | | | | excessive, loosen the string and pull it through the hole |
| 3) The action needs to fairly low without producing | | | | at the saddle about a centimeter or so. The idea is to |
| excessive string buzz. | | | | shift the worn section so it appears over the spaces |
| 4) A solid wood top produces a better tone than a | | | | between the frets when you tighten it back up again. |
| factory laminated wood guitar. | | | | 2) Reverse the bass strings when they become worn |
| 5) A tapping plate (golpador) needs to be attached on | | | | so that you end up with a fresh section over the |
| the top of the guitar. Genuine flamenco instruments | | | | sound hole. |
| already have these but any decent guitar repair shop | | | | 3) Use a cloth impregnated with lemon oil before and |
| or Luthier can stick one on for you. Right hand tapping | | | | after playing. |
| techniques can certainly damage the guitar if this | | | | Brighten up dull strings |
| protection is not there. | | | | 1) Perspiration on the hands may dull the resonance in |
| 6) Flamenco guitars are generally lighter in construction. | | | | the bass strings. If this occurs, loosen the strings and |
| I personally don't like heavy guitars. For me a guitar | | | | tighten them up again. |
| must feel comfortable and "user friendly". Heavy wood | | | | 2) Another, more radical method is to wipe the |
| guitars like some classical guitars don't do it for me. | | | | tightened string with a cloth soaked in methylated |
| 7) When I was learning I bought cheap guitars only. | | | | spirits. Lift the string a couple of centimeters at the 12th |
| Mainly because I could not afford to pay $500 or more | | | | fret and let it slap back to the finger board. This should |
| for a expensive hand made guitar by a respected | | | | loosen and shake some of the gunk out of the strings. |
| luthier. That doesn't mean a second hand | | | | Changing strings |
| non-flamenco factory made guitar is no good. For | | | | It is always a good idea to change the strings one at a |
| example, I think Yamaha makes good beginner | | | | time in order to maintain a constant tension on the |
| classical guitars that are more than suitable for learning | | | | neck and bridge. Tune each new string up to concert |
| flamenco with an attached golpe plate. I was pretty | | | | pitch before removing the next old one. |