Your shopping cart is now empty.
Know your gear: A Guide to Acoustic Guitar Body Shapes (12/18/2022)
To a non-musician, a guitar is a guitar is a guitar…but once you enter the world of guitar playing, you’ll find that the variations of guitars are nearly endless! In this guide, we’ll go over some of the most common body styles of acoustic guitars that you’ll find on the market today: the dreadnought, grand concert, and grand auditorium cutaway.
 |
DreadnoughtThe most common body shape on the market is the dreadnought. In fact, when you close your eyes and picture an acoustic guitar, a dreadnought is likely what first comes to mind. It’s easy to distinguish a dreadnought from other body styles because of its square shoulders and bottom. The dreadnought has a large body and is designed to promote volume with great sustain. Many players gravitate towards the dreadnought for its bold sound, snappy midrange, and strong low end.
This body shape is an excellent choice for singer-songwriters, and musicians playing with a full band. You’ll often find dreadnought guitars in rock, country, and bluegrass music, the dreadnought is a standard acoustic shape that’s inspired decades of music history.
It is worth noting that due to it’s large size, a dreadnought isn’t always the most comfortable choice for beginners, youth players, or an adults with smaller hands. If you’re in the market for your first guitar, you may want to consider checking out a smaller body shape for their easier playability.
Check out our selection of dreadnaught guitars here |
Grand ConcertSimilar in size to a classical guitar, the grand concert body shape features a tapered, narrow waist to deliver a well-balanced mid-range tone. Generally brighter than a dreadnaught, the grand concert is known for its lighter harmonic overtones. This body shape is perfect for fingerstyle players who favor clarity and balance in their sound.
When it comes to the playing experience, the grand concert’s compact shape and lower string tension make for an extremely comfortable guitar, especially when sitting down. If you’re looking for a model that you can practice on for hours, the grand concert is a great place to start. Another perk? The lightweight body is perfect for travel.
Check out our selection of Grand Concert guitars here |
 |
 |
Grand AuditoriumLastly: the versatile grand auditorium. This middle-size body shape strikes a great balance between dreadnought and grand concert acoustics. Overall, the grand auditorium is fairly similar to the concert shape, except for the lower bout which is closer in size to a dreadnought. This is a great middle ground for volume and playability. Featuring a well-balanced, clear tone, the grand auditorium is a versatile choice for both strummers and fingerstyle players.
What makes grand auditoriums extra unique is the cutaway (a scooped indentation) in the upper bout near the neck. Though you won’t find a cutaway on every grand auditorium model, it’s a common feature that you’ll see on many. The primary use of a cutaway is for better high fret access. If you’re a fingerstyle player looking to play higher up on the fretboard, a cutaway is an absolute must.
Check out our selection of Grand Auditorium guitars here |
