Apart from different types of guitars, you will also hear about various guitar styles. The types of guitars can be broadly classified into electric and acoustic for the purpose of understanding different guitar styles. The following are the different guitar styles that are the most talked about.
Guitar styles – Electric Guitars
Fender introduced the Telecaster guitar style. These have two pickups, a small headstock with a three-way pickup selector for that unique sound. Some of them come with string through bodies.
Fender also introduced the Stratocaster during the 1950s, though today there are several other manufacturers who make this guitar style in different variations. The distinguishing features of the Stratocaster are a neck that is bolted on, 6 on one side tuners, two cutaways on its strat-style body, three single coil pickups and a tremolo. Some Stratocasters have humbucker pickups while some have a combination of both single coil and humbucker. These guitars are easy to modify.
Les Pauls came from the musician Les Paul known for his innovativeness in musical instruments. The Les Paul guitars come with a set neck, three on one side tuners and two humbucker pickups with a three way pickup selector switch. The body is single cut away. You will also see carved bodies depending on who manufactured it.
The Flying V guitar has a large V shaped body. Mostly in style during the 1980s these guitars were chosen more for their looks than for their ease of playing.
The SG or Solid Guitar came from Gibson. This guitar had two humbucker pickups and a set neck. These are slimmer than the Les Paul.
Guitar styles – Electric Bass
P Bass guitars or Precision guitars have a thick neck with a P bass type of offset pickup. These guitars come with a volume and tone knob with a four on one side tuning system. The earlier models had reverse tuners.
Jazz Bass guitars are slimmer, with slimmer necks than the Precision guitars and have a symmetrical body. They have two pickups and sometimes an additional tone knob for tone adjustment.
Guitar styles – Acoustic Guitars
Acoustic guitars are hollow body guitars. When the strings are plucked or strummed, the hollow body amplifies the sound. You will come across acoustic guitars with three on one side tuners, a pick guard, and a stop tailpiece bridge and usually six strings. Some acoustic guitars have twelve strings which produce a heavier sound effect compared to the six string ones. Acoustic bass guitars come with four bass strings, which produce deeper tones.
Usually one starts off with a 6-string acoustic guitar, moving on to a 12 string acoustic guitar while playing at an advanced level.
With so much choice available, it is just a matter of selecting the right kind of guitar that fits the musical style you intend to practice. Some guitars are suitable for rhythm while others are better for solos. Finally, it comes down to making the precise choice for your kind of sound.