Your Classical Guitar Input Here

Cutaway guitars - pros and cons?

by Pete
(Conway, AR (USA))

Hi, Mr. Maurice
I've been enjoying your site immensely for some time now while waiting for my lessons to start, so first, thank you so much for the wonderful material you have up here.

I'm looking to upgrade my guitar, and wondered if you had any thoughts on whether or not to get a cutaway. Do you really need one to get to the higher frets, and are those frets necessary anyway? Does the cutaway affect the sound quality? Or the price (i.e. if I forgo the cutaway can I afford a nicer sounding guitar)?

Hi Pete,

Thanks for the nice comments, they're much appreciated.

I have a cutaway myself but don’t use it much. And no, you don’t need a cutaway to get to the higher notes on the upper frets but you do need to have mastered the technique of “hinging” your thumb to allow you to reach up to the higher frets.

If you play the Segovia scales the A Minor one will help you develop this technique. As you move past the 12th fret your thumb “slips” down the bottom of the fret board with the tip of the thumb still touching the base of the fret board. The lower part of the thumb is also resting on the lower bout just where the bout connects to the fret board at the 12th fret. This allows you to extend the fingers up to the higher frets to complete the scale.

Obviously, it’s the more advanced repertoire that uses the upper regions of the fret board but you need to practice “getting there” via scales so when you’re playing the advanced music you’re already prepared.

I don’t really think the cutaway affects the sound but I’m sure there would be many who disagree with me. And in terms of the price I think it’s a “much-of-a-muchness”, as they say.

Hope this helps.

Kind regards,
Trevor M.