The body shape of an acoustic guitar affects not just how it looks, but also how it feels against your body, how it projects sound, and what tonal characteristics it possesses. Let’s explore the most common acoustic guitar body shapes and what makes each one special.

Traditional Body Shapes

Parlor

Characteristics: The smallest of the traditional acoustic guitar shapes, with a narrow waist and smaller body overall.

Tone profile: Focused midrange with excellent definition and projection. Less bass response than larger guitars.

Feel: Compact and comfortable, especially for smaller players. Great for playing while seated.

My experience: The Parlor guitar has remarkable projection and focus. When you play a single note on a Parlor guitar, there’s this immediate response that you don’t always get from larger guitars – the body just moves with you and each note has its own distinctive sound to it. 

The Parlor lets you hear the single note, where larger guitars blend everything together into a chord. It’s perfect for blues and folk music where that midrange focus really helps your playing cut through.

Best for: Blues players, fingerstyle guitarists, players with smaller frames, and those looking for vintage character.

00 (Double-O)

Characteristics: Slightly larger than a Parlor but still considered a small-bodied guitar. More defined waist than a Parlor.

Tone profile: Balanced sound with more sparkle in the highs and better bass response than a Parlor, though still modest compared to larger guitars.

Feel: Comfortable for seated playing, manageable size for most players.

My experience: The 00 is like the Parlor’s slightly more versatile cousin. You still get excellent definition, but with a touch more tonal range. There’s a little bit more sparkle on the top end compared to the Parlor, though perhaps a little less low end. The range of tones is a little bigger, making it more versatile but less distinctive in its specific sound.

Best for: Fingerstyle players, recording artists, those wanting more versatility than a Parlor but still prioritizing comfort and articulation.

000/OM (Orchestra Model)

Characteristics: Medium-sized body with a defined waist. The OM typically has a longer scale length than the 000 despite the similar body shape.

Tone profile: Well-balanced across all frequencies with good projection. The sweet spot between intimate small-bodied guitars and room-filling larger ones.

Feel: Comfortable for most players, balanced well for both sitting and standing.

My experience: The 000/OM might be the most versatile body shape of all. It’s currently one of the most popular shapes worldwide, and for good reason. You can really play it beautifully with your fingers – it’s delicate and articulate – but it’s also suitable for strumming. 

When you play an OM, you get all the highs, all the lows, and everything becomes one. My Collings OM2H is one of my absolute favorite guitars. I showcase this guitar and explain why I love it in my video “The 3 most beautiful guitars in the world!”.

Best for: Guitarists who play both fingerstyle and strumming, those seeking maximum versatility, recording artists.

Dreadnought

Characteristics: Large body with a squared-off lower bout and relatively narrow waist.

Tone profile: Powerful, bass-heavy tone with significant volume. The archetypal acoustic guitar sound in many people’s minds.

Feel: Larger and sometimes less comfortable for smaller players, especially when seated.

My experience: When you strum that first E chord on a good dreadnought, something magical happens. The room just fills with sound, and you feel the guitar pumping, moving air around you. 

In country and blues bands, guitarists were fighting to be heard over the much louder banjo players, so the dreadnought was invented. There were no PAs back in the 20s and 30s, so if you wanted to be heard, the guitar had to be bigger. 

My Martin D-42 is a dreadnought, and it’s one of my most treasured instruments. You can hear how powerful this guitar sounds in my comparison video “The 3 most beautiful guitars in the world!”.

Best for: Strummers, flatpickers, bluegrass players, those who need maximum volume without amplification.

Grand Auditorium

Characteristics: Similar overall size to a dreadnought but with a narrower waist, often described as a “blend” between a dreadnought and an OM.

Tone profile: Balanced sound that works well for both strumming and fingerpicking, with slightly less bass than a dreadnought but more than an OM.

Feel: More comfortable than a dreadnought for many players due to the narrower waist.

My experience: The Grand Auditorium is like the “love child” between a dreadnought and an OM. Bob Taylor (co-founder and president of Taylor guitars) popularized this shape, and it serves a specific purpose – providing versatility for players who want to do a bit of everything. 

The narrower waist makes it more comfortable than a dreadnought, while the overall size gives you more projection than an OM. It’s perfect for strumming and for fingerpicking – basically the ideal guitar for electric guitar players transitioning to acoustic. My Taylor 716ce has this shape. You can see and hear how this guitar sounds in my three favorite acoustics video, which you can watch here.

Best for: Versatile players, those transitioning from electric guitars, performers needing one guitar for various styles.

Slope-Shoulder Dreadnought

Characteristics: Similar to a standard dreadnought but with rounded, sloped shoulders where the body meets the neck.

Tone profile: Slightly warmer than a square-shoulder dreadnought with more natural compression. Excellent for recording.

Feel: Similar to a standard dreadnought but sometimes slightly more comfortable due to the rounded shoulders.

My experience: There’s something special about slope-shoulder dreadnoughts. While they’re very similar to standard dreadnoughts, they have this wonderful natural compression. 

When you strum hard, the low end doesn’t overwhelm the rest of the sound – you can control it. Your right hand really controls the low on that slope shoulder, where with a regular dreadnought, it’s harder to control. This makes slope-shoulder models excellent for recording.

Best for: Recording artists, performers who want dreadnought power with more balanced EQ, vintage enthusiasts.

Jumbo

Characteristics: The largest standard acoustic guitar body shape, with a wide lower bout and relatively narrow waist for its size.

Tone profile: Big, bold sound with significant bass and volume. Often paired with maple back and sides to counterbalance the large body size.

Feel: The largest and potentially most unwieldy body size, especially for smaller players.

My experience: Jumbos are statement guitars, both visually and sonically. They’re big and bold. The natural jumbo sound has a lot of low end, which is why they’re often built with maple back and sides to add some clarity to the tone. There’s not as much midrange, so the tone is quite scooped in the middle. 

It’s a great guitar for those who really like to play big and powerful open chords. When I think of a jumbo, I immediately picture Elvis Presley with his Gibson SJ-200. It’s a flashy guitar, and it’s also a guitar with the most beautiful inlays.

Best for: Strummers, performers, players with larger frames, those wanting maximum volume and visual impact.

Modern and Specialized Body Shapes

Mini/Travel Guitars

Characteristics: Scaled-down versions of full-size guitars, sometimes with alternative body shapes designed for portability.

Tone profile: Varies widely depending on design, but generally offers more projection than their size would suggest.

Feel: Very comfortable for smaller players, easy to transport.

Best for: Travelers, younger players, those wanting a “couch guitar,” recording artists looking for unique sounds.

Cutaway vs. Non-Cutaway

Many modern guitars offer cutaway options, where a portion of the upper bout is removed to allow easier access to higher frets.

Pros of cutaways: Better access to upper frets, modern appearance.

Cons of cutaways: Slight reduction in acoustic volume and resonance (though often negligible).

Best for: Players who frequently play in higher positions on the fretboard.

How to Choose the Right Body Shape: A Practical Guide

Playing Style

• Primarily fingerstyle? Consider Parlor, 00, 000/OM, or Grand Auditorium shapes for their clarity and articulation.
• Mostly strumming? Dreadnought and Jumbo shapes offer more volume and bass response.
• A mix of techniques? 000/OM or Grand Auditorium shapes provide excellent versatility.

Physical Comfort

• Smaller frame? Smaller body shapes will be more comfortable, especially for long playing sessions.
• Back or shoulder issues? Consider lighter, smaller guitars or those with ergonomic features.
• Play standing or seated? Some shapes (like dreadnoughts) can be less comfortable when seated due to their size.

Sound Preferences

• Want focused, midrange-rich tone? Smaller body shapes like Parlor and 00 excel here.
• Need maximum bass and volume? Dreadnought and Jumbo shapes are your best bet.
• Seeking balanced tone? 000/OM and Grand Auditorium offer excellent balance across the frequency spectrum.

Body Shape Decision Tree

Start here:

What style(s) of music do you primarily play?

• Folk, Blues, or Fingerstyle? → Consider smaller body shapes (Parlor, 00, 000/OM)
• Bluegrass, Country, or Heavy Strumming? → Larger body shapes might be better (Dreadnought, Jumbo)
• A mix of styles or singer-songwriter material? → Versatile shapes will serve you well (000/OM, Grand Auditorium)

Next, consider your physical build:

• Smaller frame? → Avoid Jumbo and possibly Dreadnought shapes
• Average to larger frame? → Any shape could work physically, choose based on sound preferences

Play primarily seated? → Shapes with more defined waists (000/OM, Grand Auditorium) may be more comfortable

A Personal Note on Body Shapes

The body shape is perhaps the most fundamental choice you’ll make. While you can change strings, modify electronics, and even upgrade tuners, the body shape is permanent and defines much of the guitar’s character.

I’ve found that different body shapes serve different musical purposes. There’s no “best” shape—just the shape that best suits your playing style, physical build, and sonic preferences. I have three main acoustics that I use regularly – my Martin D-42 dreadnought, my Collings OM2H orchestra model, and my Taylor 716ce grand auditorium – and each one serves a different purpose in my playing. 

You can see and hear these guitars in my video about my three favorite acoustics here. And for a more detailed comparison of how different acoustic guitar body types sound and feel, check out my video here.

My advice: try as many different shapes as possible before buying. The difference in feel and sound between various body styles is profound, and finding the right match can make the difference between a guitar that sits in the corner and one you can’t put down.