What is the Difference Between Flamenco and Classical Guitar

Flamenco and classical guitars are both types of acoustic guitars. However, there is a difference between flamenco and classical guitar in terms of their design, playing style, as well as the sounds they create.

What is the difference between flamenco and classical guitar? Flamenco guitars have a lighter build, with a thinner top and less internal bracing, while classical guitars have a heavier build, thicker top, and more internal bracing.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is a Classical Guitar
3. What is a Flamenco Guitar 
4. Similarities – Flamenco and Classical Guitar
5. Flamenco vs Classical Guitar in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Flamenco vs Classical Guitar
7. FAQ – Flamenco and Classical Guitar

What is a Classical Guitar?

A classical guitar is a type of acoustic guitar with some unique features. It has a slightly smaller, wooden body that is hollow, which helps it resonate sound naturally. Although classical guitars are technically acoustic guitars, the term “acoustic” is more commonly used today for steel-string guitars, which can often be plugged into an amplifier.

Classical guitars have six nylon strings, with the three lower ones wrapped in metal and the three higher ones made of plain nylon. These strings are softer on the fingers. Nylon strings are also essential for classical guitars because their lighter build wouldn’t handle the tension of metal strings.

When considering the design of the neck, it’s wider than most guitars, with strings spaced further apart. This makes it easier for players to place their fingers accurately, both in picking and fretting. The neck typically meets the body at the 12th fret, giving the guitar a shorter fretboard than some other types. Although the higher frets are reachable, classical guitars don’t have cutaways in the body like some other styles. Moreover, the tuning pegs of a classical guitar are positioned at right angles to the headstock, a contrast to the horizontal placement on steel-string acoustic guitars.

What is a Flamenco Guitar?

A flamenco guitar is similar to a classical guitar but has some important differences. It usually has nylon strings like a classical guitar, but it produces a brighter, more percussive, and slightly grittier sound. Flamenco guitars are designed with a lighter build, thinner tops, and less internal bracing.

Traditional flamenco guitars often use Spanish cypress or sycamore for the back and sides, which gives them a pale color. The top is usually made of spruce or cedar. Some modern versions, known as “flamenco negra” guitars, use darker, harder woods like rosewood. These woods add more volume and a richer tonal range while keeping the distinct flamenco sound.

One noticeable difference in flamenco guitars is their lower action, which means the strings are closer to the fretboard. This makes it easier to play fast and intricate techniques common in flamenco music. A little bit of string buzzing is even welcomed in flamenco as it adds to the raw, percussive feel. Most flamenco guitars also have a tap plate, or golpeador, to protect the body from the rhythmic finger taps, or golpes, that are part of the flamenco style.

The way flamenco guitarists play is also different from that of a classical guitar. They often strum or pluck the strings closer to the bridge to create a harsher, rasping sound. Techniques like rasgueado (rapid strumming) and golpe(tapping the body) bring out the lively, rhythmic essence of flamenco music. Flamenco players also tend to sit differently, usually crossing their legs and holding the guitar parallel to the ground to make these techniques easier.

Similarities Between Flamenco and Classical Guitar

1. Flamenco and classical guitars are both types of acoustic guitars.
2. They are guitars with six strings.
3. Both are played with fingers instead of a pick.
4. Both involve complex finger techniques.

Difference Between Flamenco and Classical Guitar

Definition

1. Flamenco guitar is a type of guitar used in Flamenco music, known for its bright sound and rhythmic strumming.
2. Classical guitar is a guitar with nylon strings, used in classical music, played with fingers to create soft, melodic tunes.

Materials

1. Flamenco guitars use spruce tops with cypress, sycamore, or rosewood for the back and sides.
2. Classical guitars are made with spruce or cedar tops and rosewood or mahogany backs and sides.

Sound

1. Flamenco guitars have a sharper, more percussive sound with less sustain.
2. Classical guitars produce a smooth, warm, and sustained tone.

Build and Design

1. Flamenco guitars are lighter with thinner tops and less bracing.
2. Classical guitars are built heavier with more bracing inside.

Playability

1. Flamenco guitars have lower action, which makes them easier to play fast.
2. Classical guitars have higher action, meaning the strings sit farther from the fretboard.

Special Features

1. Flamenco guitars often have a golpeador (tap plate) to protect the body from finger taps used in rhythmic techniques.
2. Classical guitars are simple in design, with no extra protection on the body.

Tuning Pegs

1. Flamenco guitars traditionally used wooden pegs, but many now also use modern tuners.
2. Classical guitars use modern geared tuning mechanisms for accurate tuning.

Playing Style

1. Flamenco guitarists strike the strings toward the soundboard, creating a raspy, percussive sound. This technique is called apoyando.
2. Classical guitar players pull the strings parallel to the soundboard for a clear, even tone. This technique is called tirando.

Use in Music

1. Flamenco guitars are used for flamenco music.
2. Classical guitars are used for classical music.

Summary – Flamenco vs Classical Guitar

There is a distinct difference between flamenco and classical guitar in terms of their design, playing style, and sounds. Flamenco guitars have a lighter build, with a thinner top and less internal bracing. Moreover, classical guitars produce a smooth, warm, and sustained tone whereas flamenco guitars have a sharper, more percussive sound with less sustain.

FAQ: Flamenco and Classical Guitar

1. Can you play classical on a flamenco guitar?

• Yes, you can play classical music on a flamenco guitar. However, the sound will be brighter and more percussive compared to a classical guitar’s warmer tone. The lower action on flamenco guitars may also cause some buzzing.

2. How to tell if a guitar is flamenco?

• A flamenco guitar is lighter, has a thinner top, and often uses cypress or sycamore wood, which gives it a pale color. It usually has lower action, a brighter sound, and may have a plastic tap plate (golpeador) to protect it from rhythmic finger taps.

3. What is the difference between classical and flamenco guitar bracing?

• Classical guitar bracing is heavier to create a warm, sustained sound. Flamenco guitar bracing is lighter, which results in a brighter, more percussive sound that responds quickly.

4. Can you play flamenco on a normal guitar?

• Yes, you can play flamenco on a normal guitar, but it won’t sound as bright or percussive as on a flamenco guitar. The technique and playing style are more important for the sound.

Reference:

1. “What is a Classical Guitar?” Classical Guitar Shed.

2. “Flamenco Guitar.” Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Classical Guitar two views2” By User:Martin Möller – File:Classical Guitar two views.jpg (CC BY-SA 2.0 de) via Commons Wikimedia

2. “Flamenco guitar” By LoverOfArt – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia

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