Warm tone, bright attack, and lasting sustain are just a few of the hallmarks of a high-quality acoustic guitar. Plus, you can play an acoustic guitar in any situation—from street corners to sports arenas—and it is suitable for a wide range of musical genres, all of which makes an acoustic guitar a very important part of any guitarists collection. There are two main types of acoustic guitars: nylon string guitars, which have a soft, warm sound typically used in classical and folk music, and steel string guitars which have a louder, brighter sound for use in blues, jazz, rock, country, and folk music. Most acoustic guitars are made of wood, though some feature synthetic materials, and they come in many different sizes and shapes. But all of them feature a sound hole for projecting and resonating the sound of their reverberating strings. Because their strings tend to be heavier, steel string acoustic guitars typically require more finger strength than electric guitars, but that can be a good thing. Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones advocates playing an acoustic guitar when he’s not on stage to build up finger strength for his electric guitar playing. And no one who has heard the music of Robert Johnson, Tony Rice, or Paco De Lucia would ever accuse an acoustic guitar of lacking power, expression or grit.

So, which acoustic guitar is right for you? It all depends on what, where, and how you want to play. You can start with our Acoustic Guitar Buyers Guide or contact a Sam Ash guitar tech at 800-472-6274 to help you find your match.