Nylon String vs Steel String Acoustic Guitar - Which One Should You BUY?

[@ruthnash8486]

Glad I listened to gain more knowledge thanks David

[@DavidChiriboga]

Glad you were able to learn something 👍🏼

[@kokeskokeskokes]

I am sort of undecided. That is how I ended up here. My technique is very much lute-like, flesh playing. Soundwise I prefer the sound of gut strings. I am able to play machinegun fast tremolo + different rhythm at the same time using thumb and index finger, but I can only do that on steel strings. My fav guitar came with nylon strings, got stolen, and I found her outside in the rain, the thief didn't have time to pack it all, he went mainly for my violins. It is all warped now and the action is at least double of what it should be, and it is cracked multiple times, but it is a Brazilian rosewood 100 years old and smells so nice. Another of my guitars is German, classical shape, I don't know when from but the luthier died in 1890s, and it came with steel strings, it was not built for them but obviously it is tough enough. I can't get the gut strings locally, I can't afford them internationally and I don't like tuning all the time. The tremolo I can play on nylons comes very quiet, with flesh, maybe piano, more likely pianissimo, while steel strings allow at least mezzoforte and maybe even forte at best of times.

[@DavidChiriboga]

Hey, so it sounds like steel string is working for your personal situation. Seems like you answered your own dilema 😉 Since you’re playing with shorter nails and getting a better result or more volume with steel, that might be your personal best fit. That’s something I never considered, didn’t realize you would get more volume on steel string when playing with no nails, interesting… I also havnt tried gut strings. So can’t speak on them. And wow, I’m surprised you have a non steel string guitar that would uphold steel strings, normally the neck could warp or even break. So be careful. Another option is to purchase nylon to experiment on that same guitar. Just to see how it feels again…

[@kokeskokeskokes]

@@DavidChiriboga Indeed. I have seen some guitars that didn't survive it. Thanks.

[@mariposagoldenboy1]

Excellent as always!

[@DavidChiriboga]

👍🏼

[@chrisflabouris6140]

Great video! what I'd like to see is a comparison between a classical and a flamenco guitar and both styles played on both guitars and which guitar would suit if you wanted to play a little of both styles. Thanks and I"m glad I found your channel..!

[@DavidChiriboga]

Thanks man, appreciate the comment! I was thinking of making that soon, but glad you chimed in as well. I personally play pieces from both styles, and I find that having a negra/rosewood Flamenco Guitar, that has the string setup/action set somewhere medium( in between an extreme low flamenco and an extreme high classical) is ideal to play both styles. If you have a low action cypress flamenco guitar, classical won’t sound ideal. If you have a super high action classical guitar, flamenco won’t sound ideal either. Plus if you have a classical, you would need to make sure to put a tap/golpe plate on it for flamenco. In short this is the quick answer, but I’ll be happy to make a video comparison playing examples on each.

[@chrisflabouris6140]

@@DavidChiriboga Thanks heaps! I'm really looking forward to your vid and thanks for your acoustic buying tips, it's much appreciated!

[@lilyofthevalley54]

I am a total newbie. I have a baby Taylor. I got it in 1998. I don't play it because the strings kill my fingers. Your video helps alot. I am going to get some nylon strings. Ty

[@DavidChiriboga]

Awesome, glad it helped! Definitely, nylon strings are easier on the fingers for newbies. D’addario sells a pack of nylons which are made for folk/steel string guitars. That might be something to look into.

[@Nassbgtr]

Nice video! Very well explained👍🏼

[@DavidChiriboga]

Awesome, thanks for the nice feedback! 👍🏼

[@hecfern1]

Well done David! I’ll cry a little harder and a little longer when I see cracks in my guitar😂😂

[@DavidChiriboga]

I would too! 😢😂 Just don’t try putting steel strings on your Rick Larsen Guitars and you’ll be fine! 😉

[@WhiteFlowerrr]

Thanks, this is very helpful! I already play on a steel string guitar but I would like to try out a classical guitar for jazz music. I want something that is small (preference for 3/4) but with a cutaway. Is there something you could suggest?

[@DavidChiriboga]

Thanks Nuray! Some of the companies I recommend for first time nylon stringed acoustics, especially if you’re looking for a cut away and 3/4 size, are Cordoba, Yamaha, and Alhambra. They are the most reputable and have some affordable quality models and also offer some more profesional models as well. If you’re looking for something completely handmade and more sophisticated, then I can recommend a couple luthiers in Mexico or Spain. Good luck and let me know if you have any more questions I can help with or how it goes... 🙂

[@yashthakur8606]

Thankyou so much sir very nice video sir shoo I buy yamaha C40

[@DavidChiriboga]

What do you play on currently? Do you have an acoustic? The C40 is a great budget beginners classical guitar! The only thing it doesn’t include is a tap plate, which will protect the wood from the flamenco golpe techniques. So if you’d like to also play flamenco techniques, in the long run the wood may get damages and scuffed up. But you can buy a temporary tap/golpe plate or have someone put it on for you. The Yamaha CG172SF which is a little more expensive is a flamenco guitar, so it included the tap plate. But it’s also a great guitar to start with. I have the link in my description.

[@DavidChiriboga]

Yamaha Flamenco: amzn.to/3h1RbCw

[@YourDreamsBoy]

I'm still confused which is sound good steel or nylon, I want but best Guitar for singing and performance but I'm still confused which is best steel string or nylon, please someone help me, which is sound better for every type singing 👍

[@DavidChiriboga]

Depends on the styles you want to sing. For more general/broad types of singing accompaniment maybe steel string is the way to go. Unless your singing Latin American or Spanish music.

[@YourDreamsBoy]

@@DavidChiriboga i want sing all type song, american , spanish, indian. Tell me which is best acoustic steel string or other??

[@baselqt5651]

what's this song??? 0:03

[@DavidChiriboga]

Lagrima by Tarrega 🙂