How Acoustic Guitar Sound is Produced

How is the sound of an acoustic guitar shaped? What are the factors that define acoustic guitar tone?
How does an acoustic guitar create sound?
The guitar is made up of different parts, each of which contributes to creating the sound with its own particular tone. While it is evident that the sound is generated by the vibration of the strings and amplified by the body, it is shaped by the bridge, the nut, the soundboard, sizes and back, the fret material, the fingerboard wood, among other things.
In this article we will review the impact and importance of each of the parts of the instrument in shaping and shaping the sound of the guitar.
What are the different factors that affect the sound of an acoustic guitar?
The tone of a guitar is shaped by a variety of factors. While the most important and subjective component is the guitarist’s fingers and playing style, here we will look at the objective factors, that is, the instrument.

The most relevant factors that affect the tone of a guitar are:
- Woods used for the construction of the guitar
- Shape and size of the guitar
- Bridge and saddle: type and material used
- Guitar Nut Material
- Pickups and electronics on electric guitars
- Settings and configuration
Now let’s review one by one each of the parts that make up the guitar and define the sound and tone characteristics of the acoustic guitar.
Woods used for the construction of the guitar
The choice of wood for the construction of a guitar is crucial. Both the soundboard and the body can be made from different types of wood, such as spruce, cedar, maple, mahogany and rosewood. Each type of wood has unique tonal characteristics that influence the tone, resonance and response of the guitar.
You might also be interested in our selection of good and cheap acoustic guitars for beginners.
Wood from the soundboard or top of acoustic guitars
In acoustic guitars, spruce tops tend to have a brighter and more defined tone. On the other hand, cedar tops tend to sound warmer than spruce, and have less headroom than spruce. That is why many guitarists who play strong chords tend to prefer spruce. Finally, another option that has become very popular in recent decades is guitar tops made of mahogany. This option is characterized by being rich in mid-frequencies, which allows for a “bigger” sound to the musical instrument, although its tone is usually less defined and clear than that of the other options.

Wood of sides and back of acoustic guitars
Just as the top is the great sound shaper of an acoustic guitar, the back and sides are a sort of equalization adjustment for the sound. Thus, rosewood back and sides usually give a more open sound with a wide sound in the bass, mids and highs. On the other hand, there is mahogany, which gives a sound more focused on midrange frequencies, and not so much on bass and highs. Also, you can find maple back and sides of the guitar, which emphasize the high frequencies more.
Most Popular Acoustic Guitar Body Configurations
The most commonly used configurations for acoustic guitar body are:
- Spruce top and rosewood back and sides: ideal for balanced and rich sounds across all frequencies. This configuration is used by all major acoustic guitar manufacturers such as Martin, Taylor, among others.
- Spruce top and mahogany back and sides: perfect for musicians that seek a classic sound more focused on midrange frequencies. This is the configuration most used by Gibson, the most traditional manufacturer of steel-string acoustic guitars.
- Cedar top with rosewood back and sides: ideal for those looking for a classic open sound but with less strident highs.
- Mahogany top, back and sides: perfect setup for those looking for a big, warm sound.
Another key factor is whether the top, sides and back of the acoustic guitar’s body are made of solid or laminated wood. Solid wood guitars sound richer and louder than laminated ones.

Acoustic guitar neck wood
The neck is another of the main shapers of the sound of any guitar. The wood used in the guitar neck has a great influence on the tone of the guitar. The most commonly used woods are mahogany and maple. Mahogany is characterized by giving a very warm tone to the sound. On the other hand, maple is a wood that usually gives more brightness and definition to the tone of the guitar. Thus, if you are looking for a brighter and clearer sound, maple will be the right choice for you. On the other hand, if you are looking for a warmer sound, mahogany is the right choice for the neck of your guitar.
Acoustic guitar fretboard wood
The fretboard is another important factor in shaping the guitar’s sound. The wood used on the guitar’s fretboard has an influence on the guitar’s tone, but mainly on the attack of its sound. Thus, the harder the wood, the more pronounced, louder and clearer the attack will be. Thus, woods such as maple and ebony will have a faster and clearer response when you play the strings. On the other hand, rosewood and walnut will have a softer and warmer attack.
Bridge and nut
The bridge and the nut, where the strings make contact with the guitar, play an important role in transmitting the vibrations of the strings to the guitar body. Thus, the nut and bridge of an acoustic guitar affect the resonance, clarity, and sustain of the sound. For this reason, it is important to have a good quality nut, bridge and saddle.

The materials used for the nut are bone or a similar synthetic material, metal, or plastic. In the case of the bridge, this is made up of the bridge itself and a saddle, where the strings rest. Normally, good quality saddles are made of the same materials as the nuts: bone or a synthetic material similar to bone. While the bridges are usually made of ebony or rosewood – normally the same wood as the fingerboard.
On cheaper guitars, these parts may be made of plastic. It is always advisable to replace plastic nuts and saddles with bone ones. This will significantly improve the sound of your acoustic guitar.
Shape and size of acoustic guitar
Acoustic guitar body size
The shape and size of the guitar also play a major role in the sound. Acoustic guitars can have small (Parlor), medium (Dreadnought), or large (Jumbo) sized bodies. The body size of an acoustic guitar affects sound projection, bass response, and playing comfort. Thus, large guitars have more low and mid harmonics, giving it a bigger, deeper sound. In contrast, small guitar bodies typically sound brighter, clearer, and more cheerful.
If you want to know more about guitar sizes, we recommend that you read the following article on guitar sizes.

Acoustic guitar scale length
The scale length of a guitar is the distance between the bridge and the nut. The longer the scale, the more tension the strings have. Thus, more tension makes the guitar sound more percussive, with more attack. On the other hand, shorter scales, having less tension, usually have less sound decay, which gives more sustain.
Guitar pickups and electronics
For electric guitars, pickups and electronics are crucial factors in the sound. Pickups capture the vibrations of the strings and convert them into electrical signals. Good quality pickups are essential for a good sound when you amplify your guitar.
Guitar Settings and Setup
Finally, in addition to the factors mentioned above, aspects such as string height, truss rod adjustment, string action and string gauge also affect the sound of the guitar. These adjustments can influence playing comfort, playability and tonal response. A guitar with an action that is too low – the distance between the strings and the fretboard – can affect its resonance and the duration of notes. It is important to find a balance between an action that is low enough to be comfortable for the player to play, and an action that is high enough so that the string vibrates correctly without rubbing against the frets, and the guitar sound has good resonance and sustain.
Other relevant topics on the science of guitar sound
So far, we’ve covered the main factors that shape the sound of an acoustic guitar. However, there are many other factors that influence the tone of a guitar. Some of these additional topics include:
- The gauge and composition of the guitar strings.
- The effect of aging wood on guitar sound.
Understanding how all the parts of your guitar work as a system to form the sound is fascinating. Every guitar has its own sound personality. Thus, understanding the factors that influence its sound can help us appreciate even more the magic that this instrument gives us and be able to adjust it to our liking.
Tell us about your experience in the comments section.