Classical vs Acoustic Guitar Nylon or Steel Strings

They look alike from across the room, but a classical guitar and a steel string acoustic are built for different jobs. The strings are the heart of the difference.

Nylon strings

A classical guitar uses nylon strings. They are soft under the fingers and the sound is warm and round. The neck is wide and flat, which gives each finger room for fingerstyle and classical pieces. Nylon is the sound of classical, flamenco and bossa nova.

Steel strings

A steel string acoustic is louder and brighter. The neck is narrower, which makes chords easier to wrap your hand around. It is the sound of folk, country, bluegrass and most pop songs played on acoustic guitar. The strings are firmer, so fingertips need a few weeks to toughen up.

Never swap the strings

Do not put steel strings on a classical guitar. Steel strings pull much harder than nylon and a classical guitar is not built to take that tension. It can damage the bridge and the neck.

Which is easier to learn on

Nylon is kinder to sore fingers in the first weeks, which is why it is popular for young children. The wider neck can feel like a stretch for chords, though. If the songs you want to play are strummed songs, a steel string acoustic will sound right and keep you motivated.

How to choose

Pick the one that makes the music you love. Classical, Latin and gentle fingerstyle point to nylon. Strumming and singing point to steel. For help with steel string models see how to choose your first acoustic guitar, and for children see guitars for kids by age and size.

Every instrument we ship is set up by hand on our bench in Athens, Tennessee first. Read what a guitar setup is to see what that covers. Browse acoustic and classical guitars.