What kind of music do you like? Classic rock? Folk? How about jazz? Classical? Country? Hip-hop? New age? Music has always been one of the most beloved pastimes enjoyed almost universally, but some people do not know how many similarities exist among these styles. For example, did you know that virtually all the genres listed above make use of at least one electro acoustic guitar?

The guitar is very versatile, and the existence of the electro acoustic guitar proves that. This instrument can be used to play a variety of song styles - everything from soothing meditations or lullabies to invigorating rock and roll anthems. You can use the instrument's acoustic capabilities to complement any low-key musical composition, or if you're looking for something more attention-grabbing, you can use it as electric.

Acoustic guitars and electric guitars differ primarily in that the acoustic is able to be played using no cables or amplifier. The acoustic has mellower and more soothing sound than the electric, so it has generally been used for music genres requiring a more quiet and calming sound. It can be played by strumming with fingertips or using a guitar pick.

The electric requires an amplifier and cable to connect it to the guitar. It is almost always played with a pick. The electric can arguably be used to create a greater range of sound styles than the acoustic, because it has one important advantage: it can be used with an effects pedal.

These pedals, which are connected to both the guitar and the amplifier, enable the musician to dramatically change the sounds his guitar produces. For example, he can use an echo effect to delay the emergence of sound from his instrument, or he can use a pedal to create the effect called "distortion" that is widely popular in rock music today.

This difference is significant, but there is a way of bridging the gap: the electro acoustic guitar. This guitar frequently looks like an acoustic, but it has what is called a "pick up" that allows the musician to plug his instrument into an amplifier. The musician can thus achieve the best of both worlds: he marries the soothing tones of the acoustic with the effects and volume possibilities of the electric. For any player who wants to bridge genres, the electro acoustic guitar is a must-have!