| Feature | Classical Guitar | Flamenco Guitar | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Warm, deep, ringing sustain. | Bright, percussive, "snappy," dry. | | Wood Color | Usually darker woods (Rosewood/Mahogany) on back/sides. | Usually pale yellow wood (Cypress) on back/sides. | | Tap Plate | Absent. | Present (clear plastic plate below soundhole). | | Playing Style | Fingerstyle, arpeggios, expressive melody. | Rapid strumming, percussion on the body, fast scales. |
This is the archetype of the Spanish guitar. Developed in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, it was standardized by the legendary luthier Antonio de Torres Jurado in the mid-1800s. His design (wider body, fan bracing, and a 650mm scale length) remains the global standard. types of spanish guitars
No discussion of Spanish guitars is complete without mentioning (1817-1892). He is the "Stradivari of the guitar." Before Torres, guitars were smaller, quieter, and less structurally sound. Torres: | Feature | Classical Guitar | Flamenco Guitar
Here is a breakdown of the distinct types of Spanish guitars. | Usually pale yellow wood (Cypress) on back/sides
