Acoustic guitars fall into two families: steel string and nylon string. Steel-string guitars are favored by folk and country players, while nylon-string guitars are traditionally used by classical players. When people speak of acoustic guitar, chances are they're talking about a steel-string acoustic. Some of the important names in acoustic guitar manufacturing are Martin, Taylor, Ovation, Gibson, and Fender.

Since these guitars don't rely on electronics, the only tonal differences you'll find among them are in the woods used to construct them. Currently, many acoustics are available with an optional electric pickup to help amplify the sound. Even if you don't plan on playing with an amp, it's a good idea to have a pickup on your guitar. Many sound technicians prefer to use the internal pickups rather than place a microphone in front of an acoustic guitar for sound reinforcement.