ABSTRACT
In Africa as abroad, the guitar commonly has two types: acoustic and electric. These types accommodate many structural variations, which embrace distinctive sonic qualities, depending on the number and types of strings, the kinds of wood for the sound box, and-in electric guitars-the number and placement of pickups, the use of distortion, and other electrical or electroacoustic elements, such as solid body or hollowbody (semiacoustic) design. The Spanish or classical guitar, with a fretted neck and six strings (tuned E-a-d-g-b-e')> is a structural prototype for many varieties. There are several tablature notations for the guitar. Staff notation normally puts guitar music in the treble clef, to sound an octave lower than shown.
