‘Guitar Shapes: Exploring the Musical Magic of Different Styles.’
Musicians everywhere have different opinions on what makes a guitar stand out, but one of the biggest factors they all seem to agree on is the shape of the instrument. The variation of shape and form of the guitar provides it a distinct sound and certain advantages depending on its size and style. Different guitar shapes can significantly alter the way sound is produced, its physics being instrumental in determining the type of sound it produces.
No matter the genre, taking a deeper look into the different shapes and styles of guitars present an exciting and informative insight into the instruments and how the styles informed the history of music. In this blog, we’ll explore in further depth the different shapes of guitars and their significance.
The most commonly seen and recognized guitar shape, is of course the classic ‘Dreadnought’ shape. As we’ll see, this shape offers particular advantages for players. A dreadnought is essentially a large acoustic guitar, with a pronounced rounded lower bout and a tapering upper bout. This classic and popular shape is instantly recognizable, with its bold and rounded shallow sides. The shape came to prominence in the 1930s, during which time the C.F. Martin and Company dreadnought was first manufactured. {1.}
Since the iconic design hit the scene, the production of the dreadnought shape has proven to be a perennially popular choice among musicians. The shape produces an impressively deep and powerful sound, with a wide range and booming bass. The shape allows the resonance to be kept as close to the chords as possible, leading to a distinct and bold echoing.
Unlike the classic shape, a Jumbo style acoustic body is distinguished by its large size and deep round body. Visually, the shape may conjure memories of a classic fifty’s style rockabilly guitar. The body of the Jumbo shape is much deeper when compared to the classical shape. This design was first popularised by Gibson in their ‘Super Jumbo’ model in the early thirties and continues to be one of the most beloved and recognizable shapes. {3.}
The Jumbo shape produces a warm, yet projected sound; taking on an authoritative range, balanced out with pleasing and powerful resonance. As with the Dreadnought shape, this is thanks to the sound being projected closer to the chords. This sound is sought out most frequently by musicians who play with a fingerstyle, who favour the fullness of this warm structured sound.
Finally, the smaller shape, or ‘parlour,’ guitar produces a brighter and more balanced sound. This shape is typically the smallest of the body types, making it ideal for fingerpicking and carrying around whilst still allowing for a strong tone production. The shape goes back as far back as the 1860s, but the more familiar parlour shape was considered the typical size for a classical guitar up until the late 1940s. {4.}
The beauty of the parlour shape is that it doesn’t limit the player to one specific genre for playing. This makes it a great option for players who want to switch between genres, as its size gives it more flexibility and makes it much easier to transport. Its buzzy bass and clearer, brighter highs make it a popular choice.
Ultimately, the shape of a guitar is only one component of its production of sound – other influential factors include the materials its constructed from and the strings attached. However, the shape is still a highly notable factor, adding to the character and traditional elegance of the instrument. Each shape presents its own advantages, depending on the musician’s needs. Simply learning the basics of different shapes is enough to give any budding musician a better understanding of the overall character and sound of the Instrument.
From the classic dreadnought shape, to the beautiful and powerful Jumbo-style, the parlour’s smaller size, there is always something different to learn and explore from the different sizes and shapes of guitars. Taking the time to understand their unique characteristics and advantages can provide an important insight into the instrument and its past. Back-to-basics guitar education can be fun for players of all levels of experience.
References
{1.} https://blog.musicandsound.com/2012/05/dreading-guitar-shapes/
{2.} https://www.guitarworld.com/amp/gear/beginner-dreadnought-acoustic-guitars-review/42917
{3.} https://www.guitarcoop.com/guide/jumbo-acoustic-guitar/
{4.} https://www.acousticguitar.com/Gear/Features/Acoustics_101_The_Parlour_Guitar/