Fretted Strings: Guitar
The classical acoustic guitar may be strung with nylon or steel strings. The standard guitar tuning is (written):
N.B. All guitars sound an octave lower than written
The strings are usually numbered from I (top) to VI (bottom) and each string has a range of one octave plus a fifth. This applies to electric and other guitars too, although there numerous variations in tuning given the requirements of different musical styles. The 12-string guitar also adopts this tuning, but the lowest four strings are doubled in octaves, while the upper two are doubled in unison, giving a fuller sound. Classical guitar is usually plucked with the fingernails, but other guitars often use plectrums or picks.
Balancing the guitar in an orchestra:
The guitar as its own orchestra:
To hear the full range of the guitar, click HERE.