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Deciding on an acoustic guitar involves a number of things – and one of those things is getting the body shape that will be best suited to your purposes.
Below I will discuss the different acoustic guitar body types, what each type is most commonly used for and which types are most commonly used today.
Don’t worry I won’t be going into every single shape in the image above – just the more common types – just thought that was a pretty appropriate image for this post!
The Different Shapes Available
There are a number of things that influence the tonality, volume and playability of a guitar. The shape of the guitar influences all three of these.
Below I will cover the following shapes.
- Classical Guitars
- Dreadnought Acoustics
- Concert Acoustics
- Grand Auditorium Acoustics
- Jumbo Acoustics
- Mini and Travel Acoustics
I have used these names for ease of reference but there are different names for different shapes depending on the manufacturer. Below I have tried to include some of the terms used for both Martin and Taylor guitars. Other shapes from other guitar companies might be slightly different but should be relatively similar to these.
Classical Guitars
First let’s make the distinction between ‘classical’ guitars and ‘acoustic’ guitars. Some of the shapes outlined below are quite similar to the classical guitar shape.
There is a big difference though. Classical guitars have nylon strings and are built to be played with Nylon strings. There are shape varieties within the classical guitar category but these tend to be subtle.
Classical guitars also tend to have a wider fretboard which makes finger picking easier and the fretboard tends to join the body at the 12th fret as opposed to the fretboard of an acoustic guitar which tends to join to the body at the 14th fret (though you can get “12-fret” acoustic guitars too).
Note in the picture to the left that the classical guitar’s strings are tied onto the bridge (and notice the bridge pins for the other shapes below).
Dreadnought Acoustics
The Dreadnought shape is perhaps the most popular acoustic guitar shape.
The shape is defined by a very large soundboard that has an ‘un-curvy’ shape. That is to say that it has a wide, less defined waist than other acoustic shapes giving it a squarer look.
Because of the large soundboard dreadnoughts produce a louder sound. They also produce a more boomy kind of sound than the other shapes.
Dreadoughts are very popular for rock & bluegrass. So it’s no wonder they are the most popular shape today. They are predominantly used for flat-picking and strumming and not as much for fingerstyle playing but you can definitely use it for that too – it’s just not as suited to that as some other shapes.
Light Touch or Aggressive: Because of the larger size it takes a bit more oomph to get the soundboard to vibrate. So if you play with a light touch you won’t get as much volume or clarity out of it. However, it has a high volume ceiling – meaning that you can play it with a heavy hand or strum it hard and it will play louder without distorting, compared with some other shapes. This is best for those with a more aggressive style.
In terms of playability dreadnoughts can be harder to hold and therefore harder to play, and less enjoyable to play for smaller people and beginners. However the necks do tend to be quite narrow meaning it’s easier for smaller hands (but harder for finger picking).
Related: Dreadnought Guitar Reviews
Concert Acoustics
The concert guitar (a.k.a. “0” for Martin Guitars) is a smaller bodied guitar and usually has a lower bout width of around 13 1/2 inches (34cms).
There are also grand concerts (“00” for Marin Guitars (more common than the standard concert) which have a lower bout width of around 14 inches (36cms).
The concert acoustic guitar shape is more similar to the classical guitar shape and has a narrower, more defined waist than the dreadnought style – but still has a larger lower bout than a classical guitar.
It has a smaller soundboard so produces a quieter sound. But it also produces a more rounded tone. It is less bass heavy than the dreadnought and the narrower waist width helps to add more definition to the sound.
These guitars are great for playing fingerstyle. You can still strum and flat-pick with them for sure but they are at their best when used for fingerpicking.
Light Touch or Aggressive: This size/shape of a guitar is great for those who play with a light touch. You can get a lot out of this shape without having to play too aggressively. On the other hand, it has a low volume ceiling – so if you strum it hard it will distort the top easier than with a larger body type. This is great for those who play with a light touch.
These shapes are also easier for smaller musicians to play. They can also feel more comfortable playing sitting down than the dreadnought due to the more rounded shape.
Related: Concert Guitar Reviews
Related: Smaller Sized Guitar Reviews
Grand Auditorium Acoustics
Auditoriums (000/Grand Performance), Grand Auditoriums (0000/M),
Size-wise these body types are in between the Dreadnought and the Concert – typically with a 15 inch (38cm) width at the lower bout (roughly but they vary quite a bit). They are generally quite similar in shape to the concert style but just with that larger lower bout.
A Grand Auditorium has rouhly the same lower bout dimensions and body length as a dreadnought but has a narrower waist so the overall body size is smaller.
They achieve a great balance between volume, tone and playability.
Light Touch or Aggressive: These guitar shapes – sometimes referred to as medium sized guitars – are the great all-rounders. They respond to a light touch better than the likes of a dreadnought but not as well as a Concert. They have a volume ceiling that is higher than a Concert but not as high as a dreadnought. So this is a great option if you like to switch between playing with a light touch and playing aggressively.
This size/shape is also the great all-rounder in the fact that it’s equally as good for playing finger-style, strumming and flat-picking.
Next to Dreadnoughts these are the most popular acoustics today. It is a great all-rounder for playing a variety of styles.
Related: Grand Auditorium Guitar Reviews
Jumbo
Synonymous as the cowboy guitar due to its popularity with country and rock-a-billy artists in the 1940’s and 1950’s, the Jumbo acoustic is the largest acoustic guitar shape.
They can be up to 17 inches (43cms) at the lower bout. Size-wise they rival the dreadnought but shape wise they are more like the Grand Auditorium – though that large lower bout does give it a distinctive shape.
Jumbo’s are great for strumming and produce a lot of volume. This can be great for around the campfire.
Light Touch or Aggressive: These definitely need a bit of oomph to get them to sing – but the volume ceiling is very high so you can really give it some without any distorting of the top. Definitely best for more aggressive type playing – they’re particularly good strummers.
Not as common these days but you can still find them.
Mini & Travel Acoustics
These are essentially smaller sized versions of the some of the shapes above. They can take on more of a dreadnought shape or more of a grand auditorium shape.
They are perfect for smaller musicians and those who want a guitar they can easily travel with.
Related: Smaller Sized Guitar Reviews
A couple of other shapes that I haven’t discussed here are the Grand Symphony and Grand Orhcestra – these are both Taylor shapes – check out the link below for more on body sizes/shapes including the Grand Symphony and Grand Orchestra shapes.
Flat Top and Archtop
Acoustic guitars can also come with a top (soundboard) that is arched or flat. Whilst flat tops are far and away the most common shaped top on a guitar you can still find plenty of options for an archtop.
Archtops are mostly used by Jazz players but are used by other styles from time to time.
A lot of people would argue that the archtop produces a more pleasing sound. Archtops have been said to produce a purr rather than a roar. That is to say that the archtop may not be as loud or as lively as the flat top but can be a more pleasant sound to listen to.
What’s the Best Shape for You?
Of course guitar shapes don’t fall exactly within these dimensions and there are variations on the ‘standard’ shapes.
What shape you go with will depend on your physical size, your playing style, your tonal preferences and your genre preferences.
It’s a good idea to try out some different shapes to see which ones you prefer in terms of playability, response, volume and tone.
What shape do you prefer? Let me know in the comments below. Any other questions or comments also very welcome.
>>Acoustic Guitar Reviews by Size and Shape
Photo Credits
Top Photo by Larry Jacobsen [CC BY 2.0], via Flikr
Really liked the right up gave me a better understanding of the acoustic guitar and playing styles
Hi Tom
Thanks for your message. Awesome to hear that the post has helped you to better understand acoustic guitar shapes and styles. Always nice to know that people are learning from the posts on the site.
Hello,
Thank you for all this information. Now I know why (I”m a small person) didn’t quite enjoy taking guitar lessons with my dreadnought guitar. It felt too big for me. Now my 11 year old wants to start taking guitar lessons, and I’ve been told that I should get a 3/4 acoustic guitar for him. He is going to play modern pop/rock music.
Any advice please?
Patricia
Hi Patricia
You’re very welcome. Sounds like the Dreadnought was too big for you, for sure.
For your son, I would say for that style of music that something like a dreadnought or a Grand Auditorium – a larger bodied or mid-to-large bodied guitar would work well.
But since he is only 11 something like that might be too big for him at this point – so something smaller is probably a good idea for getting started.
I’m not sure what your price range is but I think something like a Taylor GS Mini would be a good way to go for him. It’s a smaller guitar but packs a pretty good punch for its size. I have a review of the Mahogany (Mahogany wood on the top of the guitar) version but there is also a version that has a Spruce top and Rosewood back and sides which might be more suited to his style. You can see my review of the GS Mini at the link below.
~ Taylor GS Mini Mahogany Review
You could also check out some of the other smaller sized guitar reviews on the site at the link below. This is only a small selection of smaller guitars available but will give you a place to start.
~ Smaller Sized Acoustic Guitars Reviews
Hope this helps
I am looking to buy an acoustic guitar. I’m in my mid-20s and have wanted to play my whole life. Any suggestions for someone who not only is just learning, but is planning on holding on to that guitar for quite a while?
Hi Jessica.
Thanks for your message. And good work for learning the guitar!
Check out the post below for more about buying a good beginner guitar.
>>What is the Best Acoustic Guitar for Beginners
Of course, if you want something that will last you, you can up the budget a bit. Check out the next link for some options in different price ranges.
>>Acoustic Guitar reviews by Price Range
Also check this next link out – if you want the guitar to stay with you for the longer term, then you might want to think about the kind of tone you want – something you may not necessarily think about if you were looking for a beginner guitar to just start out on.
>>How to Choose an Acoustic Guitar
Let me know how that goes and if you want me to recommend some makes/models, I’d be happy to help.
Hi,
I’m now 27 years old and I want to get back into guitar playing (played nylon classic when I was a kid for a year but quit due to other hobbies).
I now want to get back into guitar playing and really make it my main hobby.
As such I’m willing to up the budget and I’ve set a budget of around 500 euro.
(I’m willing to spend more if it’s quality stuff i don’t have ot upgrade anymore for sound quality).
I’d I play solo 95% of the time and have no intent of joining a band or playing at a free podium / live stage.
As such I’m looking for superb quality sound that I can also reliably play in my apartment.
So ideally my guitar is both suited for finger picking and strumming but inside the apartment I’ll do more figer picking than strumming I guess 🙂
So far I’ve visisted some shops and they recommended me to go with the:
– Eastman AC 120
What would you personally recommend please?
I like both acoustic covers but also enjoy playing a rock song now and then 🙂