The Classical Guitar

You can go straight to some links if you wish.

The classical guitar has six strings, just like most other kinds of modern guitar. (Traditional Russian ones, lutes, Narciso Yepes and Steve Vai's Ibanez Universe excepted.) However, unlike folk or electric guitars, the strings are made of nylon. The three treble strings (which produce the highest pitches) are made of solid nylon whilst the three bass strings are made of fine strands of nylon wrapped in wire. (Nylon is the modern substitute for catgut.)

This is necessary because the pitch a vibrating string produces depends on the tension (more tension: higher pitch) it is under, its length (more length: lower pitch) and its mass per unit length (higher mass: lower pitch). A solid nylon string that was thick enough to have a high enough mass per unit length to produce a low pitch under a decent amount of tension would be so stiff that it wouldn't vibrate properly and the overtones of the note would be sharp. Clear?

No, your guitar does not have three nylon strings and three metal strings.

Never put steel strings on a classical guitar. It will cave in. Folk and electric guitars have a metal truss rod in the neck to cope with the frightening tension of steel strings. The front of a classical guitar (the soundboard) is very thin, sometimes only a millimetre or two thick. It has to be as thin as possible, so that the guitar can produce a decent amount of sound.

Don't put nylon strings on a folk guitar. Just don't. Okay?

Also, I wouldn't really try to play classical guitar music on a folk guitar. It will hurt, and I don't think it will sound as good.

Flamenco guitar isn't the same as classical guitar, and the instruments aren't the same either:

Classical guitars almost always have backs and sides made of rosewood. Brazilian rosewood is traditional, but only makers who have accumulated large stocks of this wood can still use it for reasons which may occur to you. Indian rosewood (not strictly rosewood, but, hey...) is an alternative. Flamenco guitars traditionally have backs and sides made of cypress, possibly since this was originally cheaper. It has a brighter tone than rosewood apparently. However, cypress is becoming rare and "flamenco negra" guitars made with rosewood are becoming popular.
Flamenco guitars have a thinner soundboard than classical guitars, which means that they don't last as long but the sound is brighter with less sustain.
Flamenco guitars have a golpeador: a board fitted to protect the soundboard from those finger taps.
Flamenco guitars tend to have friction pegs in a flat headstock, whilst classical guitars have machine heads and a notched headstock. Again, this isn't always true.
Flamenco guitars have a lower action, which means it's easier to play very fast on one, but the strings are more likely to buzz against the frets.
Flamenco guitarists tend to play with their plucking fingers closer to the bridge than a classical guitarist would, which creates a brighter tone.
Flamenco guitarists don't use vibrato like classical guitarists do.

I'm not an expert, though. E & OE. YMMV.

Recitals and stuff:

(Subject to whatever.)

18th April 1998: 11th Annual Guitar Workshop in Rugby.
11th May 1998: Lunchtime recital (featuring one solo spot from me plus other solos, duets and quartets) at 1:10pm in the Ensemble Room at the University of Warwick Music Centre.
16th June 1998: Lunchtime recital as above, at 12:30pm somewhere in Coventry University.
20th June 1998: The guitar classes of the Leamington Spa Competitive Festival, at Newbold Hall in the Royal Spa Centre.
25th June 1998: The Warwick University Music Centre Students End of Year Extravaganza, featuring one solo piece from me and one piece from the quartet.
24th June 1998: I did my Grade 8 guitar exam (Associated Board) and I passed with distinction.
31st July 1998: Masterclass in Stapleton with Robert Brightmore.
22nd ~ 28th August 1998: 8th Classical Guitar Festival of Great Britain.
11th September 1998: Follow-up masterclass in Stapleton with Robert Brightmore.
6th February 1999: Guitar Festival in Oxford
29th May 1999: Guitar Classes of the Leamington Spa Competitive Festival
27th June 1999: Montiverdi's Vespers, performed by the University of Warwick Chorus, Chamber Choir, and Symphony Orchestra but featuring me doing guitar continuo.
1st July 1999: The Warwick University Music Centre Students End of Year Concert, featuring a solo piece from me.
7th August 1999: I played at a wedding.
21st ~ 27th August 1999: 9th Classical Guitar Festival of Great Britain.
30th January 2000: Guitar Festival in Oxford
14th March 2000: Guitar Festival in Chipping Norton
27th May 2000: Guitar Classes of the Leamington Spa Competitive Festival
29th June 2000: The Warwick University Music Centre Students End of Year Concert.
22nd July 2000: I played at the wedding of a friend.
4th September 2000: I took part in a Latin American/European Music and Poetry Soiree.
3rd February 2001: Guitar Festival in Oxford
12th March 2001: Guitar Festival in Chipping Norton
26th May 2001: Guitar Classes of the Leamington Spa Competitive Festival
2nd June 2001: Recital Classes of the Leamington Spa Competitive Festival
28th June 2001: The Warwick University Music Centre Students End of Year Concert.
11th February 2002: I moved to Switzerland
12th April 2002: My guitar moved to Switzerland...
June 2002: We both moved to Italy...
21st February 2003: Incidental music between readings at a local bookshop, on the theme of peace.

Classical Guitar sites for your perusal:

The classical guitar newsgroup: rec.music.classical.guitar.

A Villa-Lobos Article by Stanley Yates.

Guitar Salon International is the largest dealer of fine Classical and Flamenco guitars in the world.

The Classical Guitar Centre in Birmingham, England.

Some publishers of classical guitar music:

Chanterelle Verlag.

Editions Orphée.

Mel Bay Publications, Inc.

Ashley Mark Publishing Company are responsible for Classical Guitar Magazine.

John Williams is on the Sony Classical label.

Naxos have lots of good stuff.

A string company:

J. D'Addario & Company

Last updated: 16^th May 2005

Email: danny at chrastina dot net