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Question about Classical Guitar

G

Greenman72

May 16, 2023
514
860
#1
I know the name of this site isn't "TalkGuitar", but I don't know where else to ask this question. I apologize in advance?

Short version - Why do classical guitars have extra-wide necks, and why don't more people play classical style on electrics?

Long version - Like most people, I began my stringed journey on guitar. (Yamaha Pacifica 012, for the record.) After about a month, I figured out that my giant sausage fingers couldn't play guitar on a standard 43mm (1 11/16 inch) nut. So I switched to bass.
Since I had a guitar, I decided to order a a new neck that was 46mm (1 7/8 inch). My guitar playing (what little I do of it) improved immediately.
Now, I'm about to get another guitar with a standard-size nut. And since the headstock matches the body, I will never change the neck. (Ibanez Premium S1070PBZ Electric Guitar - Cerulean Blue Burst)
So now I'm thinking about changing the neck on my old Pacifica to a 54-mm nut (2 1/8 inch). This will allow me to play classical guitar style on an electric. Don't know if I'll ever actually get around to playing it well, but at least I'll have it if I ever do.
Why doesn't anybody else do this? Is this a dumb idea? (Note - I am not, nor will I ever be a professional musician. This is just a toy, as are pretty much all my instruments.)
 
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#2
From TB member @ChatGPT:

Classical guitars are known for their wider necks compared to other types of guitars, and there are a few reasons for this design choice:

  1. Fingerstyle Playing: Classical guitarists often use fingerstyle techniques, where they pluck the strings with their fingers rather than a pick. The wider neck provides more space between the strings, allowing for easier finger placement and manipulation.

  2. Classical Repertoire: Classical guitar music often involves complex chord shapes, intricate fingerpicking patterns, and wide stretches between notes. The wider neck accommodates these techniques and facilitates the execution of challenging passages.

  3. Nylon Strings: Classical guitars typically use nylon strings, which are thicker and have a wider diameter compared to steel strings. The wider neck provides sufficient space for the strings to vibrate freely without feeling crowded or cramped.

  4. Comfort and Ergonomics: The wider neck of a classical guitar can also offer increased comfort, especially for players with larger hands. It allows for a more natural hand position and reduces the likelihood of fingers inadvertently muting adjacent strings.
As for why more people don't play classical style on electric guitars, there are several factors at play:

  1. Tonal Differences: Classical guitar music is characterized by its warm, mellow tone produced by nylon strings and the resonance of the instrument's body. Electric guitars, on the other hand, have a brighter and more aggressive tone, especially when played with distortion. The tonal characteristics of electric guitars may not always complement the nuances of classical music.

  2. Technique Adaptation: Classical guitar techniques, such as fingerstyle playing and intricate fingerpicking patterns, may not translate seamlessly to electric guitar. The narrower neck and different string tension of electric guitars may require adjustments in technique, which can be challenging for classical guitarists.

  3. Amplification and Feedback: While electric guitars offer the convenience of amplification, classical guitarists may encounter feedback issues when using microphones or pickups to amplify their instruments. The acoustic nature of classical guitars makes them more susceptible to feedback at higher volumes, which can be a hindrance in certain performance settings.

  4. Cultural Tradition: Classical guitar has a rich tradition and repertoire that is distinct from other guitar styles, such as rock, blues, or jazz. Many classical guitarists are drawn to the genre for its unique musical heritage and aesthetic appeal, preferring to focus on mastering the intricacies of classical technique and repertoire rather than adapting to electric guitar playing styles.
Overall, while classical guitar techniques and styles can certainly be applied to electric guitars, the differences in tone, technique, and cultural tradition often lead classical guitarists to stick with their preferred instrument. However, there are certainly musicians who successfully blend classical and electric guitar elements in their playing, demonstrating the versatility and creative potential of both instruments.
 
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#3
dalkowski said:
From TB member @ChatGPT:

Classical guitars are known for their wider necks compared to other types of guitars, and there are a few reasons for this design choice:

  1. Fingerstyle Playing: Classical guitarists often use fingerstyle techniques, where they pluck the strings with their fingers rather than a pick. The wider neck provides more space between the strings, allowing for easier finger placement and manipulation.

  2. Classical Repertoire: Classical guitar music often involves complex chord shapes, intricate fingerpicking patterns, and wide stretches between notes. The wider neck accommodates these techniques and facilitates the execution of challenging passages.

  3. Nylon Strings: Classical guitars typically use nylon strings, which are thicker and have a wider diameter compared to steel strings. The wider neck provides sufficient space for the strings to vibrate freely without feeling crowded or cramped.

  4. Comfort and Ergonomics: The wider neck of a classical guitar can also offer increased comfort, especially for players with larger hands. It allows for a more natural hand position and reduces the likelihood of fingers inadvertently muting adjacent strings.
As for why more people don't play classical style on electric guitars, there are several factors at play:

  1. Tonal Differences: Classical guitar music is characterized by its warm, mellow tone produced by nylon strings and the resonance of the instrument's body. Electric guitars, on the other hand, have a brighter and more aggressive tone, especially when played with distortion. The tonal characteristics of electric guitars may not always complement the nuances of classical music.

  2. Technique Adaptation: Classical guitar techniques, such as fingerstyle playing and intricate fingerpicking patterns, may not translate seamlessly to electric guitar. The narrower neck and different string tension of electric guitars may require adjustments in technique, which can be challenging for classical guitarists.

  3. Amplification and Feedback: While electric guitars offer the convenience of amplification, classical guitarists may encounter feedback issues when using microphones or pickups to amplify their instruments. The acoustic nature of classical guitars makes them more susceptible to feedback at higher volumes, which can be a hindrance in certain performance settings.

  4. Cultural Tradition: Classical guitar has a rich tradition and repertoire that is distinct from other guitar styles, such as rock, blues, or jazz. Many classical guitarists are drawn to the genre for its unique musical heritage and aesthetic appeal, preferring to focus on mastering the intricacies of classical technique and repertoire rather than adapting to electric guitar playing styles.
Overall, while classical guitar techniques and styles can certainly be applied to electric guitars, the differences in tone, technique, and cultural tradition often lead classical guitarists to stick with their preferred instrument. However, there are certainly musicians who successfully blend classical and electric guitar elements in their playing, demonstrating the versatility and creative potential of both instruments.
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Good points. Also, classical guitar is most commonly played with a combination of fingernail and fingertip flesh, and steel strings are gonna tear up your nails more than nylon strings do. Personally, I use my fingers on nylon-string acoustics but a pick (albeit not brilliantly) on steel-string and electric guitars.
 
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#4
I really like the responses above, but the exception to the rule would be Matteo Mancuso.
He plays mostly Yamaha electrics and his right hand technique is classical with some adaptations and twists
He is technically adept and he plays as fast as any flatpicker i have seen. He keeps up with Al DiMieola note for note on youtube
 
#10
They do. Some guitar players play with custom wider necks.

The main reason is the playing technique. Classical guitar is played more polyphonic, meaning you want the other strings ring when you strum notes in general. If the strings were too close, your fingers would mute the open strings which is the exact opposite of what you want.
 
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#11

While I can play almost anything, my first les paul was built locally, with a flatter, wider neck. For that, I'm eternally grateful. The luthier — who likes things that way as a rule — made it for himself, I discovered. (Always a good sign:ninja:) Lovely chap. I got him to build me a steel-string with the same dimensions, on the strength of that:)

Don't hesitate. Do what you wanna do, as they say in the classics.
​
 
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#12
Greenman72 said:
For the record, this is my second-favorite comment on TalkBass.
#1 being "A $200 bass and $800 lessons will take you a lot farther in life than a $1000 bass and no lessons." (by Cat On A Bass, I think)
Click to expand...
Why thank you! I'm touched. In all fairness those words were spoken by Jake the Dog of "Adventure Time":



They're my words to live by as I embark on a late-career career change.
 
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#14
do yourself a favor, get a classical guitar. you won't be able to play 'classic-styled' on an electric guitar just with a thick neck. those are very different and differently refined instruments. maybe your instrument is a classic, not an electric.

yamaha in the current electroclassic guitar line makes both: with wide nut and with narrow nut (52/48mm), multiacs have 48. some people prefer them wider, some a bit slimmer. what you do prefer -- it's up to you to decide. your first classic doesn't have to be electric at all, but it's a totally different instrument with a different technique.

this said, I prefer narrow nuts and string spacing as my left hand better mutes the unneeded strings around the one, I'm picking. but that's me.
 
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#16
Mostly been covered, but the TLDR is that a) the width accommodates fingerstyle playing, which can be uncomfortable with a pick/ strumming chords and b) the more ‘song playing’ approach of acoustic and electric guitars is significantly more difficult on the wide and flat neck of a classical; in other words, CAGED chords and barre chords are relatively uncomfortable; classical guitar gives you room to play the more intentional and exotic chords of the repertoire, but the simpler chord vocabulary of singer/songwriter guitar is relatively more difficult as a tradeoff.
 
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