Baritone Guitar Vs. Standard Guitar - Why You Need a Baritone Acoustic Guitar

I've been playing a baritone guitar for years now and wanted to talk about the distinct differences between standard guitar and baritone, and why they matter. I use baritone acoustic guitar heavily in my fingerstyle playing and it's become an important part of how I write instrumental guitar music. What are the differences between baritone guitar and a regular guitar? How do these instruments differ in construction? Let's figure it out.
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[@koine2002]

As a bass, I can easily sing an octave lower for most popular songs. However, my poor baritone friends can’t do that. The baritone guitar is a wonderful thing.

[@brianalstadt]

Hey great video! I’d also add that for baritone singers who struggle to hit the high notes on popular songs, a bari guitar makes it so easy to play in lower keys without changing the fingering. Such a flexible instrument.

[@TomInBoston]

Definitely! So much more to baritone.

[@Harlem55]

​​​@@TomInBostonThe best way to explain a barritone is that it combines the middle and high ends of a bass with the low end of an alto range. (The textbook tuning of a barri instrument in most winds is an octave higher than the bass per same written note). A contralto would typically tune an octave higer than a barri. With a tennor being in the middle of a high barri and a low contralto.

[@evertongentil]

I play on a baritone guitar that was built by a luthier here in my city, on my channel I have a cover of Calum Graham - Nomad and I was allowed to release this version on streaming platforms. I love my baritone and the creative possibilities I'm doing for my next album! 😍

[@TomInBoston]

Right on! Baritone is great for exploring new sounds and ideas.

[@onixinstrumentos4560]

Grande Everton, dahora seus covers de fingerstyle moderno, abraço

[@onixinstrumentos4560]

Great Video, few artists use baritone, the ones that come to my mind are Andy Mckee, Adrian Bellue and you. And one of the most cool song is Darmstadium by Richard Berret, but that is a 8 strings Baritone.

[@TomInBoston]

I'll have to check that one out! I'm out here campaigning for there to me more baritones out in the wild.

[@ZPRNOW]

excellent video, concise & informative! as a metalhead who uses extended-range guitars (7 & 8 strings), understanding scale lengths is essential to producing the coveted DJENT. shoutout to baritone edition of Words Won't!

[@TomInBoston]

Glad you liked it! Thanks man!

[@fredanderson3386]

Hey Tom, Great video. I agree with everything you presented. I bought an 8 string baritone about a month ago. It has opened a whole new world for me. Like you, I have experimented with open A and love playing the tunes that I played in open D on my standard guitars. The baritone also has returned a few tunes that I could no longer sing in standard tuning. I'm 72 and the pipes just are not what they use to be. Thanks!!

[@TomInBoston]

It really does change your perspective on how you can write/arrange. There is also the added benefit you mentioned of accompanying a lower singing register. What guitar are you referring to? I'd be curious to see it.

[@lynnglidewell7367]

Interesting that the late great iconic Pete Seeger play an 12 string baritone acoustic guitar for more the 65 years. There are videos on KZbin of him doing so. Beautiful.

[@jeffcourcelle8989]

What a great explanatory video, thanks so much Tom! Should I buy another guitar right now? No. But also yes.

[@firecrest8154]

Thanks. Can't believe I didn't know these existed.

[@richardfagen1186]

Sum greatest finger picki g ...so clean srisp !!!!!🙌🙌🙌

[@BouseFeenuxTV]

That baritone is Phunkayyy

[@joeloesch1219]

Thanks for this. All the songs I wrote in, say, Em, now want a Bm or thereabouts because my voice strained at tenor but sounds rich in a lower key. I've been using open C tuning a lot, on standard (Guild) guitars. But pulling it lower than C, the guitar is a little slack. Heavy Thomastik-Infeld strings help a bit. But I'm wondering why I didn't go out and just get a baritone guitar before this.

[@christydud]

Great video! Very informative! I absolutely love my baritone.

[@TomInBoston]

They’re so fun!

[@MechanicallyMusical]

I always though if you had a standard 6 string and a 12 string that was pretty much it for acoustic until I learned about resinators and now Baritone guitars I had heard the phrase use but this video was awesome to clarify the difference. What roll does a baritone guitar generally fill in a musical setting are they more commonly used for rhythm or fingerstyle? (I would guiess rhythm but am not sure)

[@mosselizabeth1042]

Don't forget about classical guitars

[@WillColeman1992]

Love Baritone Acoustics. Great Video and Great Playing Sir!

[@HiGlowie]

Very succinct and to the point. Thank you

[@rockkicker8896]

Thanks for the video Tom. I watch you play on Twitch and was curious about the differences!

[@jaredpons7253]

I’ve never played any guitar. You make it look fun.

[@dpedros7182]

Your guitars look like they are Stonebridge or Furch. I have a Stonebridge Dread and OM and they are wonderful instruments.

[@TomInBoston]

They are indeed! I really do love the instruments Furch makes.

[@L.J.P]

Thumb work! 👍

[@yumeriaaoyayi99]

its like right in between a guitar and a bajo quinto

[@haihoapixandgearrecon9466]

I was considering trying to make a Flamenco Baritone guitar in a Spanish guitar making class in Malaga. Flamenco guitars are known for their lowered bridge and closer action than, say, a standard classical guitar. I was just wondering with the lower and more lively bass strings, do you think it is possible to make a flamenco style guitar using flamenco guitar materials and still come up with a guitar with low action and tones that are colorful and full ( and without excessive buzzing)? Thanks in advance...i hope this question is not too vague.

[@tallbrun]

Great vid, thanks! Btw, what’s the nice tune playing in the background while you’re discussing the construction?

[@sarthakq]

Good video, next up make a custom guitar which has double the neck of a standard one... let's see what it sounds like.😅😅

[@HowMing]

I would say the biggest challenge to own a Baritone guitar is the strings less choice of coated strings in .016 in the market, may I know what strings are you using?

[@TomInBoston]

I use Elixir Nanoweb baritone gauge strings. I love 'em.

[@vaughanthomas7277]

PLEASE do a lesson on that funky little riff you used in the video?

[@TomInBoston]

I don't quite have a tutorial but the tab is actually available for free on my video of that groove! kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWqve2uMm6yMoas

[@vaughanthomas7277]

@@TomInBoston Thank you. . Beautiful Playing

[@ethnofalcon]

I'm a bass player and trying to learn guitar has been hard. My fingers do not want to articulate properly for chords. I would think a baritone guitar would be easier to learn on with the longer scale length. Would that be the case? I'm not concerned with the drop tunings for the music I play, but I have not had luck finding one in a shop near me to try. Thinking about purchasing an HB just to give it a shot, but I also don't want to just buy something I'm not going to use. Good explanation though and great playing!

[@TomInBoston]

Hey man - to be honest with you I don't think a bari would be better for learning guitar. My experience is that the more difficult a baritone is to play, the better it sounds. I failed to mention this in the video but the baritone I play is setup with comparatively high action. It sounds killer but it can be a workout to fret chords and stuff. If you're finding that guitar has been challenging due to neck size/length, know that there are other guitars out there with different scale lengths and wider necks that may be worth looking into. However it's also worth noting that transitioning from playing bass to playing guitar can be kind of a trip. They are similar but the approach to each instrument is quite different and can take a while to get used to. Keep at it!

[@ethnofalcon]

@@TomInBoston thanks for the reply. A couple of my friends have said the same as you. Oh well, I'll keep at it though. Cheers!

[@stephenblyskal5666]

I have a bass/baritone voice and can’t sing tenor or even high baritone musicians in the original keys. My 6 string Taylor baritone allows me to “capo down” so I can play the original chords/key, which can be important for some songs. My 326e Ltd is hog/ Blackwood and is great for lead playing.

[@theart8039]

I tried playing one once and found it very difficult

[@TomInBoston]

They definitely take some getting used to. It's my experience that the harder they are to play, the better they sound. Definitely something having to do with setup.

[@9jmorrison]

Strings gauge the same? Tuning down makes it easier to fret.

[@9jmorrison]

You answered the above, save feel, if the beefy strings are compensation for the tuning.

[@TomInBoston]

Baritone gauge is .016! They're like bridge cables. The string gauge and scale length work together to make up for the low tuning.

[@galmagen7696]

thank you for the information, i was wandering about the harp guitar that you have, where did you get it ?

[@TomInBoston]

It's a Timberline harp guitar! I purchased it directly from Timberline themselves - it's a nice instrument.

[@joshedge73]

Hi! Which furch would you recommend for a really warm and mellow tone? I'm looking for a guitar to play fingerstyle, but also to work on my project with lyrics (a little bit), but mostly for fingerstyle. Thanks :)

[@HiGlowie]

Neck pickups are sound more warm and mellow to me if you’re talking electric.

[@sanyouaung]

Which brand do you use for baritone?

[@TomInBoston]

I use a Furch yellow series baritone. Love it.

[@alexanderklamm3802]

👌👍😎✌️

[@TheAethelwulf]

Now do harp guitar.