There are many kinds of guitars and they all differ in various ways. The two most significantly different guitars are the acoustic and the electric, but within these two types there are many others.

Acoustic guitars are made from wood and depend solely on their body shape and strings to produce their sound. They don't need power to run them, though it may be used - for acoustic electric guitars. They don't need effects boxes of any kind, as does the electric guitar. They have a hollow body and usually have nylon strings. Of the many acoustic guitars there are: -

· Classical - the choice for most beginners. Usually played in a sitting position.
· Flamenco - similar to classical but thinner with a crisper sound.
· Steel-top - has a larger body than the classical and it is reinforced for durability. Has warmer tone.
· 12-string - each of the normal 6 strings has another one, set an octave higher. The semi-chorus effect is very melodious.
· Resonator - similar to the steel-top but has steel in the center of the soundboard that resonates. Variations of the resonator can be played on the lap like organ or piano. Frequently used for playing blues.
· Arch-top - often preferred by jazz players, but can be extremely expensive. Has f-hole design.
· Acoustic bass - usually 4-stringed but can have 5 or 6. Is played without electronic pick-ups.

Electric guitars depend on being played through an amplifier for their sound. If they are not plugged into an amplifier you can hardly hear them. They are also used in conjunction with various types of sound boxes that make different sound effects. Control knobs are used to change the tone or volume and are used to shift from treble intensive to bass intensive. Whammy bars are used to create a ?crying' sound, but are not advised for use on cheaper models as it can make the guitar go out of tune.

Electric guitars have thin, steel strings that are closer to the neck, thus needing less effort to push them down. The amplifier is a very important part of the whole set-up. Electric guitars have solid wood bodies that are smaller in size, but heavier than the acoustic. They can be shaped in a variety of ways; in fact some have been carved to look like hands. They come in both 6-string and 12-string versions.

While some acoustic guitars are also electric, the reverse is not true; viz, electric guitars are never acoustic.