How to choose the right CLASSICAL GUITAR for yourself

[@itstheguitarcollection]

Wonderful video, Beatrix, and thanks for the kind words! Happy to be working with you as well. 🎸

[@beatrixguitar]

My pleasure, thanks for doing such an amazing job at introducing amazing guitars!

[@beatrixguitar]

Hey friends, thanks for watching! If you want to see more videos like this one, please consider supporting what I do on Patreon! Thank you so much! www.patreon.com/beatrixguitar

[@jasonnye1436]

The first thing when picking up a new guitar is always to sniff the sound hole. Lol Seriously, though, very good video and on point. This information is absolutely applicable to steel string guitars as well.

[@beatrixguitar]

OH RIGHT!! I forgot that :D Sniffing is a good part.

[@Playsinvain]

@@beatrixguitar what am I smelling for?

[@danielleethier9026]

I recently surprised myself despite loving my 45 year old guitar that I have kept it by my side no matter where I was, and I fell in love again! I did exactly what you say, I just sat there and looked at it and that's where I really fell in love. I then loved its sound. I have had a classical guitar Aria 1979 which has a truly amazing sound and now I bought myself something quite different, the NCX5 by Yamaha which is a crossover model, acoustique electric guitar, it has the classical guitar neck width which makes it feel familiar. There are of course other differences but what I really wanted to say was that it was so wonderful to take that moment and admire, enjoy its beauty. I hadn't done that 45 years ago with as much attention. The night that I brought it home, I just sat there and admired its beauty and then I spent a long moment just feeling every inch of it. I am 67 years old and I am so privilieged to have had the chance to experience this. Thanks for your content, it is always wonderful.

[@JeepTraveller2021]

I was referred to a guitar maker in Canada who was extremely helpful in educating me about guitar construction and a particular woods’ general characteristics and potential impact on timbre. Marcus Dominelli built an incredible double top using woods we agreed on and with some dimensions tailored to a best fit and comfort for me. I am an advanced beginner/early intermediate player coming to guitar later in life but the instrument he built for me inspires me to play. The sound, sustain, balance and projection are excellent. This is a lifetime instrument and I am fortunate to own and play one of his instruments.

[@philcottone2247]

Thanks. I needed this.

[@beatrixguitar]

Glad I could help

[@conlamusicaaotraparte6206]

Very informative video, Beatrix!! It comes timely for me since I'm now looking for a new guitar. I'll take your advice. Thank you! Rodrigo

[@beatrixguitar]

Your welcome! If you are based in the US, I can only recommend Evan at guitarcollection.com 😁

[@kennethbuttle8690]

very informative. Thank you.

[@ToastandJam52]

Great video and I agree with all you have said. When trying a new guitar it is important that all the strings sound as good as possible. Also, to me it is very important that the strings are matched to the guitar. Strings can often change the whole sound and feel of the instrument. If I find a guitar that I like but it is not quite right I will ask for the strings to be changed. When guitars are so expensive I don't think this is an unreasonable request. After all that, I like having someone else play the guitar so I can listen to it from a listener's perspective. Finally I always play Spanish Romance when as a "test" piece. As you say, it involves all of the neck and open strings as well! Thanks for the video.

[@oromani1842]

I’m 6’6” (1.98 meters) tall. Picking any guitar is awkward because they all feel a little cramped. Otherwise, dabbling in both folk acoustic and classical, the action is pretty important to me. I’m a novice so I don’t have a very sophisticated opinion on sound. I know if I like a guitar or not, but it’s hard for me to quantify.

[@beatrixguitar]

I think it's hard to quantify for anybody, at least it is always tricky for me. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[@davidturner6154]

Perhaps not something that Beatrix can relate to so easily :-) I am (only) 6'5" with proportionally sized hands. I would suggest (if you continue) to take opportunities to play a variety of guitars. Some few have wider necks and longer scale lengths. Jose Ramirez was well known for these. The longer scale lengths can correlate with larger bodies, which can feel less like you're playing a ukulele. Also, try different guitar supports as opposed to a foot stool: position the guitar higher on your chest and hunch over less. The wider necks correspond to wider string spacing, which makes a big difference for me.

[@DSW964]

Excellent guide! I've collected 5 CG's over the decades, from free to pawnshop to CL to online purchase. My preference is for 50-100 year old CG's- As much for woods and construction as the history- and more importantly the value they represent vs. comparable new instrument.

[@GregDenver303]

I have a custom classical guitar that I purchased 16 years ago. Now I’m retired, play it regularly and love it. I bought a Martin acoustic guitar 5 months ago to complement my classical guitar. I don’t enjoy playing it and it sits in its case. I have fallen in love with classical guitars. I plan on selling my Martin and purchasing a parlor sized classical guitar to complement my current classical guitar.

[@foxyang7634]

spent 60 bought a used Yamaha g180, love it.

[@sergioruiz9388]

I liked your suggestions. Interesting ideas and recommendations. Perhaps some thoughts on the size/scale length of the guitar would have been helpful. I gravitate now towards smaller guitars - 650-654mm or 24.9 inches. Both, Spanish and acoustic guitars. Thanks for the video…👍

[@roywhiston5658]

For me I include holding/playing comfort. After 5 years of strumming, I still haven’t found a comfortable position or posture. Despite the use of aids (footstool, seat height guitar rests). I persevere.

[@rubenniesvizky2541]

wonderfully didactic video. thank you. can you comment on the maturing/aging process of a new guitar; how much and for how long do you play it to find the ideal point. How to know when the peak is reached.

[@JohannesNel-n8c]

Thanks for a great video.

[@beatrixguitar]

Glad you liked it!

[@garyball1545]

Thanks Beatrix. The first thing I do is tap on the top and then the back of a guitar. I usually know, especially with classical guitar, if I will appreciate the guitar

[@beatrixguitar]

Wow I thought that trick only works with the raw wood before making the guitar out of it. I’ll have to try this

[@ebbenielsen7]

I check every note on the guitar to make sure it sounds reasonably good and that, for example, the frets don’t interfere with the tone. I also check whether the guitar is in tune across all frets. And most important: How it feels in my hands and on my body - so to speak.

[@9guitarman]

Hi Beatrice, Thank you for this lesson. Good you have mentioned the balance between bass strings and treble This aspect is not often talked about. Could you please raise awareness of checking each individual strings by playing chromatic scale from I bar to XII using rest stroke. By this you immediately find out if the string will buzz in the mid section. Do this test on fully tuned guitar (not many shops keep them in full tention tuned) especially for beginner students, where this is often overlooked. Ted from Australia

[@susannekalejaiye4351]

At 15 I HAD to have a guitar, but really knew nothing about them, so a relatively cheap steel string guitar arrived. Somehow it didn't fit my dream. I think it was the following year that I found a guitar which I loved the sound/tone of and fortunately I was able to buy it. However, I never really learned anything, so eventually passed it to a worthy school where it could serve people more talented than me. Fast forward 50 years and I bought a guitar from a friend who was doing exactly what I'd done 50 years earlier. Now, because of the internet, I know what I've purchased is considered a very good beginning student classical guitar. I'll never be good, but I will play, I am learning. Will I buy another guitar? Probably not or maybe a "junior" size as I am getting smaller as I age. But what I have is quite good enough for anything I will ever be able to play. I changed the saddle recently, because the G string never sounded good, and I noticed the saddle had a chip under the G string. Sounds much better now. I especially liked your discussion of how you'd listen and what you would and wouldn't play - and why! very important if considering upgrading an instrument.

[@beatrixguitar]

Thanks for sharing your story! I actually prefer playing a smaller scale guitar even now, but probably because my hands are quite small. Happy to hear you found your way back to playing guitar!

[@alexandrevalente9994]

Yes, you are right about the wood. Having a guitar of that type of wood doesn't necessaery means it will sound like expected. All depends on how it was built. Then the wood may give her signature. Personally I check how t stay tuned all along the neck playing octaves. from lower bass to highest notes. Then I check how the G string remains tuned while playing. I don't know why but every guitar I have have the G string detuning after a while and also it is not easy to tune it correctly. It looks the right coma is not reachable while turning the tuners. I have the issue on a 100€ classic guitar, on 1500€ Ovation guitar and on many 1000+€ electric guitars (Ibanez, Fender, whatever). I can tune it by ears or using a tuner... I still have the same issue. Then the playability of the neck and how the note sustain and fade and also the strength of the sound.

[@johnlay3040]

You have provided a good set of advice. But, it is good for those who can already play reasonably well to at least intermediate level. Beginners or low level players won't be able to apply your advice effectively. In some countries, good guitar shops are rare, especially for good brands. So, people cannot compare, but go to internet shopping instead. In that case you will be at the mercy of the suppliers. If the supplier is helpfull, he might be willing to do a video recording of the guitar you are interested in. Maybe one spruce and one cedar of the same model. I bought one guitar that way successfully. It happened that the owner of the shop was a good guitarist who could demonstrate some essential aspects of the guitars. The first thing I worry about when buying, whether new or used, is the straightness of the neck. I will avoid buying a new guitar with cedar neck w/o reinforcement. Mahogany neck is fine in general, but not cedar. Yamaha's Nato wood is stronger than cedar, and it is good. Another important thing I always check is the relative power of the treble strings, i.e. the e,b,g. They must be equally strong at a given position. There shouldn't be a drop in volume at that same position, especially in higher ones after about the 10th fret. Some guitars could have almost good balance all over, but then suffer badly high position, especially the 'e' string. The bass must also be bright and ringing, especially the E string. The E string is quite often tubby/dull. I hope those extras, on the top of Beatrix's excellent advice, might be of any help.

[@AuditingWithAutism]

Great video! For me, it's octave harmonics and tonal resonation, which are the most important guitar qualities.🎉

[@beatrixguitar]

Can you explain a bit what do you mean by tonal resonation? Might be a language thing but I don't quite understand that

[@AuditingWithAutism]

@beatrixguitar Hi Betty! Sure, I'd love the chance to explain. Here is the Google definition of these words: Tone: a musical or vocal sound with reference to its pitch, quality, and strength. Resonate: to produce or be filled with a deep, full, reverberating sound. So basically, I am saying that what I look (hear) for in a guitar is to have a sound I like, which also lasts a while after producing the note.🌟

[@Therapyxx]

There are some huge problem, which I had for past year, while changed 4 guitars. Two of them I ordered online, Another 2 I took and carefully selected in the guitar stores. Playability and Sound - this is exactly the points, which requires time and long-term investigations. 1) Sound: Yes, you can hear the difference between X and Y while comparing them at the store. But the problem is that the setup is mostly different. Also you don't know how old the strings and how often they were played. As comparison - daddario XS for acoustic guitar. Its great strings, they keep long, but the difference between first 1-3 days (100% of sound) and after - 80% of sound. Those 80% will last for another month or more. But first days are eating those 20%. Also which strings? Same guitars + different strings = different sound. 2) Playability: The strings height, trussrod adjustment, how nut was setup etc... Even little differences may inpact the feel that cheap guitar will feel better than 5000$ Martin from Factory. Also in long-term, as example, I bought Furch Red Deluxe, its really expensive guitar, I was amazed how it sounds, feels etc. And I was happy pretty long time, but I always had a problem with my Thumb finger - it constantly had a pain after long practise sessions. I was always thinking that its because I'm beginner and I need to develop my hand more. But once I realized that the neck angle isn't correct and sent it for repair - I took my old Yamaha with C-shape neck and magically I didn't have any problems. Then I took back taylor from my friend with 44.5mm nut (bigger than yamaha) and same - everything is just perfect. After that I got my Furch back and OMG, AGAIN. Again that sh*t in my Thumb with Soft V fat neck. What do I mean with all that text? - You won't realize such things while trying the instrument in the shop. So if you buy something you like. Make a setup as quick as possible and don't forget about return policy.

[@Beachbarn76]

Any suggestions for people that live in rural areas that don’t have access to quality guitars to try out?

[@beatrixguitar]

6:46

[@drewpiacine9612]

Im solo accoustic opener act. NotClass. But busy fingers both hands. I pluck/check low E. It's my bass player / my entire low end. lol ; ) -DtrX

[@originalmusic1111]

Solid top makes a difference but some laminate guitars sounds even better I owned alot of acoustic guitars classical guitars electric I mostly give them away some I sold come to think of its too silly too much at the end of the day guitar is a guitar its the player that makes a difference if you practice but always have fun if you are not take up something else.

[@kuntmeister23]

How many times am I gonna hear the piece at 16:52 and Asturias on this channel

[@ralphditchburn1456]

Is that a plexiglass guitar stand? Removes to play? Is that a product to buy? If so.where please?

[@ralphditchburn1456]

Brexit?

[@ralphditchburn1456]

Beatrix. Oh boy

[@long-termjournal8055]

👌👌👌👍👍👍

[@steveb9325]

Love your post. To your point about the top wood being the most important; cedar or spruce. You should get another Classical guitarist and do a blindfold test. I bet each one of you is incorrect in guessing 50% of the time of what the top wood is sound wise. Cause, as you know its all the hands of the player. i agree it's an important decision. But one can still fool people with how they play the instrument. Especially professionals like you. That would be a very intersesting post. You should do it with Iva 😂

[@Sherman1862]

Do you use Standard Tuning? I just bought my first Classical Nylon String Guitar, just wondering. thank you! : )

[@beatrixguitar]

I mostly do however it’s funny that you ask this now because yesterday evening was the first time I tried writing a short piece in dadgad 😃

[@DevanSabaratnam]

I notice you have a sound port on the guitar you are demonstrating on. What is your view on those? Does it help you to hear more of what your audience is hearing? Does it affect the projection of your guitar much?

[@beatrixguitar]

I prefer soundports, yes, but I only care for the one that's on the upper part of the guitar. SOme instruments have 2 to be symmetrical, idk. But I really love it, it makes a big difference for me

[@davidrobertson799]

how does it feel, emotionally

[@michellegault4122]

Nobody wants to be told by other guitarists that they picked the "wrong" guitar. I bought a nylon string guitar with a cutaway. A fellow guitarist told me "well.... that's not really a classical guitar". I didn't give a rats ass lol I liked it, so I bought it.

[@beatrixguitar]

Loool that person was very insensitive. I also have a cutaway btw, some stuff are just easier on that

[@michellegault4122]

@@beatrixguitar it didn’t matter to me really and my guitar wasn’t there to hear it lol. But that’s what I mean : it’s such a personal choice that at the end, you can’t be wrong going with your gut feeling. But professionals like you help with tricks to avoid picking a lemon and that’s appreciated for those of us who are not experts :)

[@mer1red]

What makes a guitar classical is not in the first place the presence of a cutaway. I believe this feature should become more a standard option. It does not necessarily have a negative impact on the sound quality. The improved access to the upper notes is a real advantage. Some wrongly think that a cutaway automatically means a crossover guitar, which is indeed not a classical guitar.

[@michellegault4122]

@ my teacher was sent a Godin Multiac (looking for an endorsement maybe) and at first his thoughts were that it was just an imitation trying to be the real thing. Later he changed his mind saying “You know.. it is what it is and I’m going to judge it for what it is”.

[@mer1red]

@@michellegault4122 There is indeed no wrong or right guitar, if it has no defects. It depends on what you want to do and what sound you are after. The Multiac is an electric-acoustic guitar where you go for an amplified sound, which is different from a classical instrument. The string spacing is acceptable for playing with nails unless you have thick fingers, but demands a little more stroke precision. On the other hand it allows playing a wider range of styles such as jazz, because the most classical guitars have an overtone spectrum that makes jazz harmonies sound weird.

[@theyjustwantyourmoney4539]

I was a bass player and someone gave me a classical guitar with no strings because they were getting rid of junk from their garage, that's how I started playing classical guitar and I love it.

[@wholovesyababy5574]

I’m a woman with small hands. I need a small guitar to not injure my hands. If you custom order a guitar, how can you know how it will sound?

[@beatrixguitar]

you could always try to find short scale guitars that are already made and try them first. But when you like a certain luthier's works in general, it's more likely that you can trust them and you'll like the custom model they make for you

[@endresac369]

day 10237 of asking you to eat those kurzgesagt birds🍗

[@beatrixguitar]

I may consider on day 20000

[@P.B.andJam]

I would make a suggestion to not buy on the internet. without testing, Buying local is best because its been acclimated to the environm, look around all the pawn shops for a proper classical guitar and youll eventualy find a cheap guitar worth thousands of dollars. Ive found 3 holy grail brazilian rosewood and flamenco guitars this way for about $150 dollars each, worth multiple thousands of dollars. classicals all look the same and they tend to undervalue them if the employees are metal heads and they dont bother to do research. Iook for Fret buzzing (warped neck) action, intonation, sustain, sympathetic harmonics, and eveness of tone/volume across the strings. Hammer-on volume test. Also try to buy guitats 40+ years old, even the old plywood guitars can sound awesome, something to do with the dryness and the tree sap being crystalized. I always look for the lightest wieght guitars with the thinnest soundboards that act more like a drum(flamenco). And finally, if you ever find a cheap A1 guitar with a cracked or repaired soundboard , buy it! It really doesn't affect the sound quality and the buzzing from the cracks are easily solved by super gluing the ends of the crack.

[@conradperez2992]

Hi started looking at you and advices I like it , am going to try and learn , am told nylon strings , what about size of arm wide, kind small hands, also nylon sounds ugly compared with regular strings. Help me choose right guitar and price, ( new guitar please am in Lompoc ca. call me Gavilan.appreciate it. Thanks.

[@ScreamingEagleFTW]

you know they are a serious guitarist when they have injuries to their elbow from playing .

[@Incognitosingx]

Aren't you hungarian?

[@beatrixguitar]

I am!

[@Incognitosingx]

@beatrixguitar tudtam!

[@aureliomartinez2633]

What happens when out the blue you want to learn guitar your ears dont know anything a bout soud

[@beatrixguitar]

Then you just have to trust reviews and other peoples opinion. But something cheap so you won’t regret when it turns out to be not that good

[@willianfujimoto265]

02:08 Thats what she said

[@nakajimaarts5955]

You Are so cute and beautiful

[@LiamWakefield]

Thank you. Stop making me blush 😊

[@bernhardkumminger9794]

Well. Evan might not be the solution for an average guitar player, since you would need to pay 10k and much more for his "collection"....sorry to ask: was this a joke? 😅

[@beatrixguitar]

Many players are looking for high end guitars, most of my amateur students have more expensive guitars than I do, so yes, there's a demand and market for thise guitars among hobby and amateur players too, not to mention professionals. That's my personal experience.

[@medardoamaya6330]

What's whith you classical music player i Don you to show me the matirial as or how many string the guitar has .just show me the progression

[@medardoamaya6330]

I don't need to know howmany string the guitar has just ge to the progression.bla bla bla