Guitar for a long time found a lot of fans around the world due to its unique sound. It can also act as an accompanying and as a solo instrument. She was under the power of music to play a variety of styles and trends: from folk to jazz. There are several kinds of guitars, among which there are the folk guitar. What kind of tool, what its differences and peculiarities of varieties and sound, described in the article.
What it is?
Folk guitar - a kind of acoustic or semi-acoustic six-string instrument, including classical, but only adapted for metal strings. It has a fairly strong and rigid body due to specially designed mounting springs upper decks, a narrow neck, a fortified central anchor bolt cutout (Catavi) in the case is classified as for free access to the left hand fingers the strings of the XII fret.
What is different from other models?
Already in the XIX century, it was proposed to replace the strings of nylon on metal strings on acoustic guitars. The reason was the desire to make the sound more loud and sonorous. However, the difference is not only that. Creator of folk guitars could be called Christian Martin - specialist guitars. It was he who made significant changes to the instrument unit. By this it has pushed the seriousness of the problem of deformation of the upper deck and at the sagging neck classical instrument due to high tension steel strings.
Guitar model "folk" is different from the classical to the following items:
- the neck - a narrower, has a rounded surface;
- bridge (lower tailpiece) is moved from the center of the bottom of the oval hole closer to the resonator;
- larger dimensions of the housing and the tool as a whole;
- number of frets is 20-22 versus 19 to "classic";
- strings - metal or bronze.
Since the strings are made of metal, it means that they are more difficult to clamp. For this reason it is not recommended to immediately start learning the folk guitar. Such a decision may complicate the learning process. A child can start to play it with only 12 years of age. Better to start with a guitar with nylon strings (both children and adults). Classical guitar is more soft and pliable tool for teaching.
In addition, a large body could deliver the complexity of the learning process. It is simply inconvenient to hold at first, especially to children.
Structure
As a result of changes made by K. Martin, get a model with a reinforced upper deck. And also it developed a completely new design of fastening the neck to the body of the anchor with adjustable string arrangement altitude above the stamp tool.
There are additional characteristic features of folk guitars that distinguish them from other models, as well as aimed at expanding the functionality and improving sound. Let's list these features:
- The presence of picgard - plate, serving deck protection, located below the outlet, from contact with the fingers of the musician;
- Availability of catabase (cutaway) - cutout at the bottom of the guitar case under the vulture for a more convenient and comfortable game in high freaks;
- The lower deck in the form of an oval made from carbon fiber (can only be found on the Ovation brand models).
In structure, the folk guitar case is divided into 3 types:
- Dreadnought (or Western guitar): it is characterized by a large body with low deep sound, ideal for the execution of music in the style of country or blues;
- Jumbo: a guitar with a large body in the form of a pear, where smooth rounded shapes dominate (there are guitars with a large body and even sharp sound - super jamby);
- Flattop is a model with a flat housing.
How does it sound?
Folk guitar sounds loud and ringing, and this allows you to perfectly play jazz music. Depending on the type of housing, the sound is different. So, dreadnought to this day remains the most common type. It is popular among professional musicians, as it has immediately recognizable and peculiar to him only deep sound. However, this option is more suitable as an accompaniment, rather than the execution of solo work.
But the orchestral models of this type of tool have a smaller body. But they have a more even and soft sound balanced in frequencies. This Folk guitar option is an excellent soloing tool. It is convenient to work with it in the studio.
Jambo - guitars with the largest body, allowing to extract the most powerful, juicy sound.
Guitar options Flattop have a hollow acoustic body, which makes the sound strong and loud even without additional electric powerakers.
The sound of a folk guitar as a whole objectively loud and ringing. Such guitars are ideal as accompaniment, game fights, performing fast, rhythmic, dynamic compositions.
All types of buildings allow you to extract deep and surround sound. The loudest, of course, are the models of super jambo.
Folk guitar is an excellent option for those who love rock, singing, gathering by the fire in a friendly company. Consider playing on this type of tool, you can easily play on the electric guitar, as they have the same styles. But for beginner guitarists, such a type of tool is not suitable due to the fact that strings made of metal or bronze are very heavy for beginners - can create large problems at the initial stage of training.
