The number of strings used in the instrument.
The traditional option for classical and acoustic guitars (see "Type") is
6 strings. However, in such instruments, and in other varieties, you can also find other options:
4,
5,
7,
8 and even
12 strings. Here is a more detailed description of each of them:
— 4. Traditional number of strings for ukulele and acoustic bass guitars (see "Type"); both there and there, a larger number of strings can be used, however, it is 4 that is considered the “classic of the genre”.
— 5. A variant found in certain models of acoustic bass guitars. 4 classic bass strings in such instruments are supplemented by a fifth, which expands the range of the instrument upwards. The downside is the increased cost of such basses, while an acoustic instrument does not need extended range as often. Therefore, this option is not widely used.
— 6. The most popular number of strings in modern guitars of "ordinary" varieties (acoustic, classical, electro-acoustic — see "Type"). Speaking of such a guitar, by default they mean exactly a six-string instrument. The standard tuning of such models is EADGBE (note that the traditional tuning of bass guitars and some varieties of ukuleles is also based on it).
Th
...ere are other, much rarer varieties of six-string instruments — gitalele (see "Form (view)"), as well as ukulele with a pair of double strings (usually the second and third).
— 7. Most of the models from this category are the so-called "Russian" seven-string guitars (another name is "gypsy"). They differ from the popular six-strings not only in the number of strings, but also in the tuning — DGBDGBD. As for the sound, it is generally similar, although professional musicians and musicologists consider the seven-string guitar to be a more “smooth” and richer instrument in terms of sound. Such guitars were popular mainly until the end of the 20th century — in particular, it was seven strings that were used by such famous bards as Vladimir Vysotsky and Bulat Okudzhava. However, nowadays, this variety has fallen out of mass use.
Another type of seven-string guitars, even rarer in our area, is “Brazilian”. Such an instrument uses the BEADGBE tuning — that is, in fact, the standard six-string guitar tuning with an additional bass string in tone B (electric guitars with 7 strings are also standard tuned ).
— 12. Modification of a six-string guitar, where 6 pairs of strings are used. The strings within each pair are at a minimum distance from each other and, usually, are tuned in unison or an octave — that is, roughly speaking, they sound together (however, professional guitarists also use more specific tuning options). Such an instrument is mainly used for rhythmic accompaniment: the paired strings are inconvenient for solo parts, but they give a very rich sound in chords and are great for accompaniment. Also note that within the same pair you can use strings of different materials, which gives the sound a special colour.
— 8. Instruments with this number of strings are basically ukuleles, similar in design to the 12-string guitars described above: instead of the traditional 4 strings, 4 pairs of strings are installed in them. The specificity of such instruments is similar — they have a richer and richer sound with accompaniment, but are poorly suited for solo parts.
Another, much rarer variant of 8 strings is six-string guitars, where the middle strings (third and fourth) are made paired. This is a compromise between the 6- and 12-string design, providing a richer sound without significantly complicating the design and increasing its price.
