8 Things to Consider When Choosing Guitars for Your Classroom
Guitars help teach harmony and melody across a wide variety of musical genres, setting students up for a lifetime of interest and engagement that extends beyond their stay in the classroom. But how do you decide which guitar is right for your classroom? Here are 8 things to look for and consider:
1. Nylon vs Steel Strings
While some school settings utilize steel-string instruments (also known as folk guitars), but the majority of instruction programs use nylon-string instruments (also known as classical guitars). Steel-string guitars have a bright, explosive sound that's well-known in pop and rock, while nylon-string guitars are softer and easier on the fingers of new players. Nylon-string guitars also have wider necks, making it easier to hold down notes without fingers feeling crowded. Additionally, nylon strings also tend to last longer and require less maintenance. Anything that can be played on a steel-string guitar can also be played on a nylon-string guitar.
2. Size
Guitar sizes are similar to clothing sizes – while a large shirt of one brand might be too big, a large shirt of a different brand might be too small! Student guitars generally are marketed at 1/2-size, 3/4-size, and full-size, although the differences and dimensions vary by brand. It's recommended to purchase up in size to give students room to grow into their guitars. For younger, elementary students, 1/2-size is a good fit, while 3/4-size can work for most ages. Full-size guitars will likely be too large for younger and smaller students. Some adults even prefer the 3/4-size (sometimes known as a "parlor guitar") for comfort. All guitar sizes will be pitched to the same notes, with the larger sizes having a fuller tone and more projection, allowing you can mix and match sizes in your classroom if needed.
3. Solid vs Laminate Wood
Laminate is made from gluing together several very fine layers of wood – only the nicest guitars are built from all solid wood. Intermediate or mid-level guitars will often have a solid top piece of wood with laminate back and sides, while the most economical guitars are made from all laminate. Solid wood does a better job capturing the guitar's vibrations and amplifying it into a musical sound, but laminate does just fine and is much more affordable and a bit more durable.
4. Wood Type
The two most common types of wood for classical guitar top pieces are spruce and cedar. Cedar is traditionally used for classical guitars, but spruce tends to be a bit stronger, with a more balanced tone for a larger variety of musical styles. Out of all the things to consider when choosing a student guitar, the type of wood shouldn't be at the top of your list. Wood type makes a much greater difference when comparing more expensive guitars with more nuanced tones.
5. Glossy or Matte Finish
Gloss finishes look nice and shiny, but they're notoriously difficult to keep clean of smudges, smears, and fingerprints. They can help protect against light dings and scratches; however, a gloss finish can also dampen a guitar's tone compared to a matte or satin finish.
6. Endpins for Straps
Are you wanting to play your guitar standing up with a strap? Check for an endpin! Classical guitars traditionally don't have an endpin and instead utilize a special strap that clips onto the sound hole. Thankfully, many classical guitars designed with students in mind come with an endpin preinstalled, allowing the instrument to be used with most regular guitar straps.
7. Gig Bag or Case
Do the guitars you're looking at come with any accessories? Do you even NEED those accessories? How were you planning on storing your guitars – will your guitars fit on your rack with the accompanying gig bags? Make sure you know what comes with your purchase, that you need those accessories, and can make use of them, so you aren't wasting your budget on unnecessary extras.
8. Price
Look for guitars that are sold in bundles or with quantity discounts. This indicates they were designed for a group setting and not intended to be purchased for individual use.
Purchasing a classroom set of instruments for the first time doesn't have to be stressful. Check out our selection of Classroom Guitars to make an informed decision and put your new knowledge to use!
Ryan Brondyke
Ryan Brondyke is the Category Manager for guitars, ukuleles, folk instruments, and sound and recording equipment at West Music. Ryan has been playing fretted instruments for 23 years and has worked in the music retail industry for 4 years. In addition to overseeing sales, marketing, and inventory of guitars and ukuleles at West Music, he teaches guitar lessons, builds and fixes effects pedals, plays guitar in a classic rock cover band, and plays drums in alt/indie/rock band Casual Disasters. You'll find Ryan representing West Music at our ukulele booth at the TMEA conference in San Antonio - stop by and say "hi!"
