Classical with steel strings

[Bain]

As the heading just wondering do any of you guys play canon in D for example classical music on a steel sting guitar I have only that type guitar would I be naughty to play classical on that or would I be frowned at .......

[TRose]

I play some blues and folk tunes on my nylon classical. I play classical pieces on my steel string guitars.
If you peruse the “Show and Tell” section of this forum you will see lots of “cross-pollination”.
I think it’s ok to play whatever you want on whichever guitar suits your fancy at the moment.
Enjoy yourself.

What TR said--but not sure what the purists would have to say....................

[ssstewart]

i started over 40 years ago by playing classical guitar for 5 yrs before i touched any other git. yet, experimentation and variety is the essence of keeping the guitar "interesting" and "entertaining" for ones enjoyment and the listeners. I play every type of music on all my guitars and have strung them all with various types of strings to entertain myself: steel/silk/nylon/etc.

some very nice sounds are born of that experimenting imo. I play "Asturias" on acoustic steel/nylon classical/ my telecaster/ & my archtop. a lot of classical guitar pieces sound awesome on anything imo.

Thats the beauty of music...always subject to interpretation. Im glad i didnt get my first amp and electric guitar till I was 15 ( 1963 ampeg gemini II- still have it)
BUT... "acoustics are what we play when we are young...and then again when we are old"- Mark Knopfler

[DDW]

Surely no classical guitarist can criticize Canon in D on steel strings, after all it was written for 3 violins and a basso continuo, not classical guitar. Play it on what you like, and how you like it!

[Tom_B]

I’d say go for it.

Below is a short piece of Bach on a steel string guitar,

https://youtu.be/q8WYJBudgVQ

[TRose]

Here are a few links to threads that seem pertinent to the topic. I hope this is helpful.

https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=534514


https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=348355

https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=350160

[Bain]

Thanks guys for the replies so it onwards and upwards for me, 👍

[j3ffr0]

I thoroughly enjoy playing classical pieces on steel strings and know of many others who do too. I also enjoy playing some things written for steel strings on classical. With either, sometimes the results are surprisingly pleasant and interesting.

I do a lot of blues with nylon strings. It gets really interesting when I throw in in some occasional distortion.

[Gitfiddlemann]

Originally Posted by j3ffr0

I thoroughly enjoy playing classical pieces on steel strings and know of many others who do too. I also enjoy playing some things written for steel strings on classical. With either, sometimes the results are surprisingly pleasant and interesting.

Totally agree.
Here's the great Andrew York playing his composition "Sunburst" on the '57 Martin D-28 his father had gifted him. He wrote this tune specifically for this guitar:

[jmat]

Originally Posted by AndreF

Totally agree.
Here's the great Andrew York playing his composition "Sunburst" on the '57 Martin D-28 his father had gifted him. He wrote this tune specifically for this guitar

Gotta love Andrew! Where would the world be without he and his peers? A smaller world for sure.

Thank you Andre. This piece would sound incredibly different on a nylon string guitar--not better or worse, just different. Muy intersante.

[ssynhorst]

Here is a brilliant piece played by Tony McManus:
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmiWlMJiq1s&ab_channel=PRSGuitars[/url]

[Mortimer Nelson]

Originally Posted by Tom_B

I’d say go for it.

Below is a short piece of Bach on a steel string guitar,

https://youtu.be/q8WYJBudgVQ

Cool, I had the same idea years ago, so I dug up and posted this old clip of mine. Not all of Bach would work as well on steel strings, but this prelude seems to ask for it, so here's the whole prelude.