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Playability of Classical Guitar

by Bob McIntyre
(Norfolk, VA)

I appreciate the opportunity to ask a question. I am an intermediate guitarist...frustrated on a plateau of age.

Nuff said, as you said in one of your instructions.

In any event, I am wondering if there are differences in the "action" of good classical guitars. Are some much more "playable" than others?

Electric and acoustic (steel) guitars are often set up to be "extremely fast." I have a suspicion this wouldn't work so well with classical guitars, but may be wrong.

I would appreciate any information you can provide.

Thanks,

Bob McIntyre

Hi Bob,

You are right on both accounts. The electric is "set up" to play faster and some classical guitars do have a faster action.

As an example, I have played most of my pieces on this site (youtube videos etc) on my old Yamaha Grand Concert guitar. It's a pretty good guitar but when I recently bought a much more expensive Paluino Bernabe guitar I didn't realise how much "faster" the action was. It seems even "silky smooth" to play and the sound quality is definitely better.

Another thing that may help is the strings that you use. I just found a supplier of Hannabach strings that are my favorites. I haven't used them for year’s ages ago but now I'm back with them I won't let them go so easily this time. I don't know if I'm imagining it but they also seem to help with my playing too.

Hope this has been of help.

Kind regards,
Trevor M.

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Playability of Classical Guitar

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Your kind response
by: Bob McIntyre

Trevor,
Thanks for your input. I have a Martin Classical Guitar (that some folks may not know much about) from 1970. (I wouldn't be surprise if this guitar were worth $1200-1800) It has always seemed decent, but I have never even held a really decent classical guitar. Not that I am naive...I have played many guitars and own seven. I just have never had the opportunity to play a $5000 or $7000 guitar.

Oh well. On another site that I found after posting my note, a guitar instructor, Mark Markle, discussed the importance of proper playing technique. He espoused getting rid of the vice grip (which is named after me "McIntyre Vice" and using the weight shifting of the left arm (if the player is right handed of course) to make difficult fingerings. I have tried in the past couple of days, but see no miracles. But then of course, the response is "patience, my son."

It is very tempting to play the classical stuff on my Godin electric classical. Extraordinarily playable like an standard rock electric but with "nylon" strings and a classical neck. (Actually, my neck is 1 7/8" at the nut--wider than a classical. Godin makes a 2.0" at the nut guitar, which I regret I did not purchase.

Thanks for all comments.

Bob

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