a guitar (typically 6-stringed) with 3 nylon strings and 3 of wound steel. the adjective classical belies the range of this musical instrument, which is used to play everything from original and transcribed works of the classical repertoire to ragtime to jazz to flamenco to bossa nova, etc., etc. long used by performers in solo recitals, it is also used today in ensembles such as the assad duo, the de falla trio, and the los angeles guitar quartet.

The classical guitar is usually played on the left leg. There are two basic strokes which are mastered to play the classical guitar, the rest stroke and the free stroke. These are both usually performed over the rosetta of the guitar, that pretty ring around the soundhole. The rest stroke consists of placing one's finger below the string and pulling it up, letting go, and resting on the string above it (pretty hard to describe, but easy to see). There is also the free stroke. This consists of merely plucking the string and letting it ring.

Another tidbit... In guitar music, the fingers on the right hand are assigned letters.

P - thumb

I - index

M - middle

A - ring

These, of course, are not abbreviations of the english words. :-)

If any other classical guitarists would like me to make any minor additions, or corrections, please /msg me.

What actually distinguishes a classical guitar from any other guitar is the shape of the guitar. On a classical guitar the fret board is wider than steel-string guitars. Also, the body of the guitar (assuming the guitar is not a cutaway) comes to the twelve fret of the guitar. The body is quite a bit smaller than the usual big steel-string guitars. The guitar can be strung with nylon stings or steel strings. Most commonly it is indeed strung with nylon, but there are some guitarist who prefer the tone of the steel strings. Prior to either nylon or steel they made the strings out of the guts of animals, usually lamb. The classical guitars nick name is actually the gut string guitar, which is just an oh so pleasent thought.

The shape of the guitar is the only thing that makes it different. The style of playing classical guitar would be an entirely different thing.

Note: I do not suggest stringing a normal classical guitar with steel strings. Classical guitars are usually not built for that kind of pressure. Although, some guitar companies make classical guitars with the ability to withstand the pressure of steel strings.