Hard Tail Guitars vs Floating Bridge Guitars

A common comparison, especially when buying a new guitar (or your first guitar), is the comparison between hardtail and floating bridge guitars. The question often arises: “Which type is better?” In reality, neither is better – they are different. The hardtail may be an excellent choice for you, while the floating bridge might work better for another guitar player. This depends partly on your skill level and a lot on your playing style.

In terms of skill level, hardtail guitars are a popular choice for beginners, mainly because they can be tuned and restrung much more easily than floating bridge guitars, where you often have to adjust spring tension, fine-tuning, and intonation with almost every restringing. On the other hand, floating bridge guitars allow you to perform really cool whammy bar effects that are both impressive and don’t require too much practice to master. One thing is certain, though – whether buying a hardtail guitar or not, don’t buy a cheap one. Aim for something in the mid-range or higher, otherwise, be prepared for some serious tuning issues, like your guitar going out of tune when you bend, or consistently having incorrect intonation that can’t be adjusted. Remember, having a well-tuned guitar is essential for every guitar player!

When it comes to your playing style, the difference between these two types of guitars becomes more significant. If you want to develop yourself as a versatile guitarist, known for playing with various bands and in different genres, a hardtail guitar is the better choice for you. The main reason for this is guitar tuning Guitar Tuning - The Fast Guideline To Keeping Your Guitar Fit - When you try to tune a guitar with a piano, assuming they are exactly the same, you might break the guitar strings. Guitar tuning ensures that you produce the correct note on the appropriate string. Guitar strings vary in size and frequency. When you start tuning your guitar, you'll notice that it's tuned with a… .

Playing with different bands, you’ll find that each of them uses a different tuning. Imagine yourself in a situation where you’re playing jazz rehearsals with a band tuned in E standard, in a hard rock band The Invictas are back - Bruce Atchison is one of my (no more available Yahoo Group) best members and he wrote this great article. Bruce is a legally blind freelance writer and the author of two books, When a Man Loves a Rabbit (Learning and Living With Bunnies) and Deliverance from Jericho (Six Years in a Blind School). The first… tuned in E flat, and in a post-hardcore band tuned in Drop C, and you’ve agreed to rehearse with all of them in one single day. With the hardtail guitar, you can retune in just 5 minutes before each rehearsal, while with the floating bridge guitar, you’ll spend at least half an hour adjusting spring tension, fine-tuning, and intonation.

At the same time, if your guitar heroes are names like Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Yngwie Malmsteen, Eddie Van Halen, or any other rock guitarist, a floating bridge guitar is the way to go, as only with such a guitar can you perform all their cool guitar tricks. Simply put, the whammy bar is heavily used in rock music, and if you want to sound like these guitar virtuosos, you’ll often need to learn how to use it. Another advantage that the floating bridge offers is the ability to perform vibrato with it instead of with your fretting hand. Many guitarists don’t have good vibrato, and the whammy bar is what saves them.

Manuel Marino

Manuel Marino is a seasoned Senior Producer, Music Composer, and Artist with over a decade of experience. He specializes in branded entertainment across various mediums, including video games, films, and advertising campaigns. With 20+ years as a game music composer, Manuel has worked on numerous platforms, creating diverse orchestral soundtracks. HIRE ME