Acoustic guitar players, two questions for you...

[WildRosie]

Why do some instruments have a curved back-section (I think it's called a bowl body) rather than a flat wood panel ? Also, why do some classical guitarists play their instrument almost upright to the point they're almost imitating cellists ?

I'm not a guitarist but a trainee pianist (grade 2-3 ish). However, guitars and similar stringed instruments have always interested me.

Thankyou.

I’ll take a stab but wouldn’t call myself a guitarist!

The shape of the back of the instrument changes the way it projects sound, I know one guitar I was looking at has a curved back and this apparently helps it sound louder for its size.

Regarding how guitarists hold their guitars, I think the wrist position changes and that may help with particularly complex fretting, but someone more knowledgeable will probably come along and correct me!

Thankyou Bluegrass. I did wonder if the shape of the back was a sound consideration or simply for the comfort of the player.

I play classical guitar.. so left leg raised on a foot stool and guitar held very upright.. it makes it easier to move around th frets ..easier access to the first and beyond the 12th (as classicals don't have a cutaway shape) Also your fretting hand is also doing much more complicated stuff and it's less cramping on both hands which are in a different position to someone strumming.

I'm no expert (not by a LONNG shot) but I now find classical position easiest even if I'm strumming some easy song at school with my class... I can't hold it the 'normal' way

Guitars vary SO much too. I have a cutawy electric acoustic nylon string, a standard electric, a yamaha silent nylon (awesome) and a rather expensive classical guitar and they are all shaped differently. Can't beat the sound of my beautiful classical guitar tho!

Thankyou, medusa. Sorry for coming back late; my tablet couldn't access this thread this morning. It seems then that there are different 'holds' for different types of guitar. I've seen some classical guitars with a stand on the end of the body - much (again) like a cello. Looks rather odd.

Whenever I've seen David Gilmour, for example, play acoustic guitar, it has always been a flat-backed type (I think he plays Gibson). Neil Diamond likewise with a Martin. Conversely, I've never seen Barry Gibb play anything other than a bowl back. Horses for courses etc.