Spanish guitar is the name to describe the family of nylon-string guitars. Since both classical guitar and flamenco guitars are nylon-string guitars, both are also called Spanish guitars. In other words, a classical guitar and a flamenco guitar is a Spanish guitar. But a classical guitar is not a flamenco guitar.
Generally, flamenco guitar strings consist of the top three strings being made of nylon, while the bottom three are usually wound with a heavier metalic material. This does depend however on many factors such as the type of guitar you have, the sound you´re looking for and your own personal taste and playing style.
The major difference between the steel-stringed Acoustic Guitar and the nylon stringed Classical/Flamenco Guitar is the strings and the width of the neck. The steel strings on the Acoustic Guitar will be harder on the fingers at least until callouses are developed.
Sound – classical guitars produce a soft, mellow sound, whereas flamenco guitars produce a cut-through, louder sound. Purpose – classical and flamenco guitars are typically used in different music genres, as their name suggests.
Flamenco is a specific style of guitar that's slightly different from nylon string classical guitar. Of course you can play Flamenco on a steel string, but it won't sound or feel the same. Just like an electric guitar solo won't sound the same on an acoustic guitar.
Compare with similar items
| This item Yamaha CG172SF Nylon String Flamenco Guitar | Cordoba GK Studio Negra Cutaway Flamenco Acoustic-Electric Nylon String Guitar, Iberia Series |
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| Customer Rating | 4.5 out of 5 stars (48) | 4.0 out of 5 stars (19) |
| Price | $39999 | $74900 |
| Sold By | Instrumentpro | Amazon.com |
| Hand Orientation | Right | Right |
Yes, the flamenco guitar is incredibly difficult to master. There are members of the Foro (Ricardo and Grisha come to mind) who have mastered it. My flamenco guitar maetro and good friend, Paco de Malaga, who has spent a lifetime playing flamenco, has nothing but praise for Ricardo's playing.
This would be a scale of 650 mm for a flamenco guitar. Flamenco guitars are often built with longer scales, e.g., 660. There are various reasons for this such as sound, harder string action, etc. In the meantime, there are a few good guitar builders who build guitars with 650 mm scale.
Spanish guitar brands like Alhambra Guitars, Raimundo Guitars, Ramirez Guitars, Admira Guitars, Camps Guitars, or Prudencio Saez Guitars are among the most reputable and best sounding guitars in the world. These guitars are manufactured in Spain, the land of the flamenco guitar and the classical guitar.
Key quality and technical checks that you should look out for when considering any guitar, include:
- Make sure the guitar is tuned to concert pitch.
- Check for 'wolf' notes.
- Check for 'buzzes'.
- Check the playability. Check the height of the strings above the fingerboard.
- Check notes on the first string.
- Alhambra, the most popular.
- Raimundo: Handcrafted for students.
- Admira, the affordable one.
- Almansa: High quality from a smaller outfit.
- Camps: Great choice for intermediate level.
- Amalio Burguet: Artisan guitars.
- Prudencio Saez: Great value for students.
- Esteve, a traditional range of affordable quality.
Acoustic guitars are available with either steel strings or nylon strings. Guitars with nylon strings are often referred to as classical guitars.
Yes, you can. Not so much the other way round, as steel strings on a guitar built for nylon strings may snap the neck entirely due to the increased tension, but popping nylon strings on a guitar built for steel strings will work.
And while you can certainly fingerpick on a steel-string guitar, it's simply much easier to do so on a classical, given the extra space between your strings.
Silk and steel strings are a great option for beginners because they are softer on the fingers. You will get less finger soreness playing silk and steel than you would playing 80/20 bronze strings (somewhere in between nylon and 80/20 bronze).
Yes, nylon strings are softer and more gently on players' fingers, so beginners generally won't have to worry about finger pain or developing the callouses that will help them practice pain-free. And steel strings are, well, made out of steel, so sore fingers are definitely in your future.
The vast majority of electric guitar strings are steel wires with the three thickest strings being plated in nickel, though pure nickel and pure steel strings have become more popular in recent years (when we say pure we mean that the thickest strings aren't plated with a different metal).
The thickest string is called the 6th string. In standard guitar tuning, this is tuned to E and is often referred to as the "low E string," meaning the lowest note you can play.
Nylon string guitars are traditionally played using the fingerstyle technique without a pick, while steel string guitars are commonly played with a pick. Nylon strings produce a more mellow sound in general, so a pick can be a good option for maintaining projection when playing with other instruments.
