Editing Steel-string acoustic guitar (section)

=== Types ===
Steel-string acoustic guitars are commonly constructed in several body types, varying in size, depth, and proportion. In general, the guitar's soundbox can be thought of as composed of two mating chambers: the ''upper bouts'' (a ''bout'' being the rounded corner of an instrument body) on the neck end of the body, and ''lower bouts'' (on the bridge end). These meet at the ''waist,'' or the narrowest part of the body face near the soundhole. The proportion and overall size of these two parts helps determine the overall tonal balance and "native sound" of a particular body style – the larger the body, the louder the volume.

* The ''[[Parlor guitar|parlor]]'', ''00'', ''double-O'', or ''grand concert'' body type is the major body style most directly derived from the classical guitar. It has the thinnest soundbox and the smallest overall size, making it very comfortable to play but lacking in volume projection relative to the larger types. Its smaller size makes it suitable for younger or smaller-framed players. It is well-suited to smaller rooms. [[C. F. Martin & Company|Martin]]'s 00-xxx series and [[Taylor Guitars|Taylor]]'s x12 series are common examples.
* The ''grand auditorium'' guitar, sometimes called the ''000'' or the ''triple-O'' is very similar in design to the grand concert, but slightly wider and deeper. Many 000-style guitars also have a convex back to increase the physical volume of the soundbox without making it deeper at the edges, which would affect comfort and playability. The result is a very balanced tone, comparable to the 00 but with greater volume and dynamic range and slightly more low-end response, making this body style very popular. [[Eric Clapton]]'s signature Martin, for example, is of this style. Martin's 000-xxx series and Taylor's x14 series are well-known examples of the grand auditorium style.
* The ''[[Dreadnought (guitar type)|dreadnought]]'' is a large-bodied guitar which incorporates a deeper soundbox, but a smaller and less-pronounced upper bout than most styles. Its size and power gave rise to its name, taken from the most formidable class of warship at the time of its creation in the early 20th century. The style was designed by [[C. F. Martin & Company]].<ref name="sweetwater1">{{cite web|title=Acoustic Guitar Buying Guide|date=22 May 2013 |url=http://www.sweetwater.com/insync/acoustic-guitar-buying-guide/|publisher=www.sweetwater.com|access-date=11 August 2015}}</ref> to produce a deeper sound than "classic"-style guitars, with very resonant bass. Its body's combination of compact profile with a deep sound has since been copied by virtually every major steel-string luthier, making it the most popular body type. [[C. F. Martin & Company|Martin]]'s "D" series guitars, such as the highly prized [[Martin D-28|D-28]], are classic examples of the dreadnought.
* The ''jumbo'' body type is bigger again than a grand auditorium but similarly proportioned, and is generally designed to provide a deep tone similar to a dreadnought's. It was designed by [[Gibson (guitar company)|Gibson]] to compete with the dreadnought,<ref name="sweetwater1"/> but with maximum resonant space for greater volume and sustain. These come at the expense of being oversized, with a very deep sounding box, and thus somewhat more difficult to play. The foremost example of the style is the [[Gibson J-200]], but like the dreadnought, most guitar manufacturers have at least one jumbo model.

Any of these body type can incorporate a ''[[cutaway (guitar)|cutaway]]'', where a section of the upper bout below the neck is scalloped out. This allows for easier access to the frets located atop the soundbox, at the expense of reduced soundbox volume and altered bracing, which can affect the resonant qualities and resulting tone of the instrument.

All of these relatively traditional looking and constructed instruments are commonly referred to as ''flattop'' guitars. All are commonly used in popular music genres, including [[rock music|rock]], [[blues]], [[Country music|country]], and [[Folk music|folk]].

Other styles of guitar which enjoy moderate popularity, generally in more specific genres, include:
* The ''[[archtop guitar|archtop]]'', which incorporates an arched, [[violin]]-like top either carved out of solid wood or heat-pressed using laminations. It usually has violin style f-holes rather than a single round sound hole. It is most commonly used by [[swing (genre)|swing]] and [[jazz]] players and often incorporates an electric [[Pickup (music technology)|pickup]]. 
* The ''[[Selmer-Maccaferri guitar]]'' is usually played by those who follow the style of [[Django Reinhardt]]. It is an unusual-looking instrument, distinguished by a fairly large body with squarish bouts, and either a D-shaped or longitudinal oval soundhole. The strings are gathered at the tail like an archtop guitar, but the top is flatter. It also has a wide fingerboard and slotted head like a nylon-string guitar. The loud volume and penetrating tone make it suitable for single-note [[guitar solo|soloing]], and it is frequently employed as a [[lead guitar|lead instrument]] in [[gypsy swing]].
* The ''[[resonator guitar]]'', also called the ''[[Dobro]]'' after its most prominent manufacturer, amplifies its sound through one or more metal cone-shaped resonators. It was designed to overcome the problem of conventional acoustic guitars being overwhelmed by horns and percussion instruments in dance orchestras. It became prized for its distinctive sound, however, and gained a place in several musical styles (most notably blues and bluegrass), and retains a niche well after the proliferation of electric amplification.
*The ''[[Twelve-string guitar|12-string guitar]]'' replaces each string with a [[Course (music)|course]] of two strings. The lower pairs are tuned an octave apart. Its unique sound was made famous by artists such as [[Lead Belly]], [[Pete Seeger]] and [[Leo Kottke]].