ETUDE
September 1942
volume LX
number 9
page 641, 648

The Guitar – Classic, Plectrum, Hawaiian?

By George C. Krick

AT THE BEGINNING of another teaching season a question will be asked by many prospective guitar students – one that has come to us frequently by letter: What type of guitar do you advise me to take up? Thirty or more years ago this problem was quite simple, since before that time we knew of only one type – the “standard,” or as we call it now, the “classic guitar,” strung with gut and silk strings and played with the fingers. Then there came upon the American scene some players from Hawaii, singing their native songs and playing a guitar with six metal strings, using a steel bar placed across the strings with the left hand, and striking the strings with right hand fingers, the thumb and first and second fingers being enforced with steel thimbles. This is the instrument we know as the Hawaiian guitar; its sentimental charm and appealing tone qualities, when rendering the native Hawaiian music or ballads of other lands have endeared it to a large portion of the American public.

Then later we witnessed the birth of another type of guitar, one also with six steel strings, but played with plectrum or pick, and with fingerboard technic similar to that of the classic type. This so-called “plectrum guitar” was the answer to the prayer of dance band and orchestra leaders for a new voice in their ensembles; they wanted an instrument with a sonorous, mellow and subdued tone quality, in dispensing their “sweet music,” and they found that this guitar ideally suited their purpose. In order to compete with the penetrating tone of the saxophone, clarinet and trumpets, it was deemed advisable to increase the size of this guitar. The top and back were carved like the violin and violoncello and the F holes contributed further to its appearance as a professional instrument. In recent years electric amplification has been the means of providing this guitar with a tone volume equal to that of any of the other orchestral instruments.

Now in order to advise anyone intelligently on what type of guitar he should choose, it is necessary to take into consideration a number of things, bearing in mind that another question usually comes up at the same time, “Which is the easiest to learn”? Here we have children and also grown ups, who know almost nothing about guitars, but who were attracted to it by hearing someone play on the radio. They do not know whether it is a Spanish or Hawaiian guitar, but simply that they liked the tone of it. In this case, the teacher should demonstrate the different types, by playing a simple melody on each one in turn and then get the listener’s reaction. Let us suppose that the prospective pupil is strongly impressed with the Hawaiian guitar and wants to know what he can do with it.

The Hawaiian Guitar

This guitar has some things in its favor, especially in the case of children. It is inexpensive. Its tone is appealing. Using the steel bar and picks seems more like playing than practicing; even during the first lesson most pupils learn to get a fairly good tone from the instrument, and after a few lessons they begin to play tunes. If, furthermore, the teacher uses a properly graded course, pupils will progress rapidly, and they will keep interested especially after they begin to take part in ensemble playing with others of their own age. Care must be taken in selecting the right kind of music, which should be no trouble to the teacher, as there is a large volume of standard and popular music available for Hawaiian guitar. The same holds true for grown ups who prefer this type of guitar. Even if their practice time is limited, they will progress rapidly, if they are properly guided by a competent teacher, and in time will be able to play their instrument well enough to pass many enjoyable hours in their own home. While this article is intended primarily for amateur players, we cannot refrain from stating that those with exceptional talent will find many opportunities for financial and artistic advancement in the radio and orchestra field.

The Plectrum Guitar

This instrument is often called “Spanish guitar.” Although most Spaniards play the instrument with the fingers, it is played also with a pick, and for that reason, we recommend it for children. They are able to get a fairly good tone from it in a short time and to play easy pieces after a few lessons – achievements which keep them interested. It is well adapted to playing popular music and especially for playing accompaniments to songs and taking part in ensemble work. The heavy steel strings do not break easily and they keep in fairly good tune, which helps to keep young pupils from getting discouraged. During these busy times children as well as grown-ups usually find their time for practice limited, but if this time is intelligently used, progress will surely result. As already remarked the main purpose of the Plectrum guitar is to enhance the rhythmic section of the dance orchestra. A competent professional guitarist is continually in demand. But again we say that the guitar is the instrument “par excellence” for the amateur player and always will be so.

The Classic Guitar

The word “classic” is applied to this instrument, not because of the music of the old masters which may be performed upon it, as it is also capable of producing any of the modern compositions, but because of its romantic history dating back several hundred years. To play and appreciate this guitar requires a person of discriminating tastes, with an acute ear and love for the beautiful in music. It is not our purpose to give here a history of the guitar or speak of the many great artists and composers who have devoted their lives to the development of this instrument and its music. This has been done in previous issues of this column. Our aim is to give a word of advice to those thinking of taking up the study of this guitar. If you wish to select a musical companion for life that will never fail you long as you remain true to her; if you love a beautiful quality of tone, if you are willing to devote from one to two hours daily to delve into its intricate technic, until you are able to play the music of Tarrega, Giuliani, Mertz, Bach, Schumann, Albeniz, Granados and others, then by all means decide on the classic guitar. Whether you as an amateur confine yourself to the easy compositions of these masters or those of medium difficulty, whether your ambition and perseverance help you to become a concert artist, in either case you will have no occasion to regret it. The satisfaction of having mastered this instrument will amply repay you for the time and effort you have spent on it.

We could recite many instances where not only young students but players of outstanding ability on the Plectrum guitar later turned to the classic guitar and found it an additional outlet for artistic endeavor.