Best Baritone Guitars for Deep and Dreamy Riffs

Baritone guitars made their first appearance in the late 1950s. They’ve been somewhat of a novelty and slowly gained popularity with their larger appearance and distinctive style. If you’ve reached a creative slump, a baritone guitar can be just the thing to get you inspired, learning new skills, and growing as a musician. Here’s what you need to know when choosing the best baritone guitar for inspiring and versatile sounds.

What Makes Baritone Guitars Different?

Baritone guitars come in electric and acoustic variations and are found in the catalogs of all major guitar producers. Being non-standard instruments, they require enthusiasm, a sense of curiosity, and patience to master.

Regular guitars are tuned E to E, whereas baritone guitars have a lower pitch and are usually tuned B to B. The 6-stringed, long-scale guitar has heavier and longer strings with a larger body to accommodate the lower range of notes. Scales and chords are identical to other guitars, however, it is the pitch that changes. A common baritone guitar has a scale of 28.5 inches which is 3 inches longer than a regular guitar.

Baritone guitars essentially allow guitar players to explore a new sonic range with familiar chord and scale combinations. They are versatile across genres from metal and pop to jazz.

Things to Consider When Buying a Baritone Guitar

Size

A guitar should always fit your own proportions, especially if you are a beginner. If your instrument is too big or heavy, the ease of playing your guitar will be significantly reduced. Not only will it be uncomfortable, but it’s also pretty discouraging. Baritone guitars are even larger and longer than regular guitars so it's even more important to make sure you get one that fits you well and that you can play with comfort.

Type

The main decision you will need to make is whether you want to get an acoustic or electric guitar. This depends on your own style, skills, and preference, Baritones are available in both types and less commonly you can also get your hands on an electroacoustic hybrid.

Features

This will include attributes like pickups, tuning, controls, and tremolo. These details will impact your overall playing experience and may also be subjective to your style and preference.

Design

Baritone guitars are available in a variety of remarkable designs, styles, and colors. Although this may not be the most important feature when looking for an instrument, most musicians will probably agree that the look of your guitar is partly what solidifies the bond you have with your guitar.

Tips for Buying a Baritone Guitar

1. Baritone guitars are not as commonly available as other guitar types. This means that your options might not be as broad as you hope, but it can also make choosing the right one a little easier. Many models need to be purchased on backorder, so you might need to wait a little longer before you can start playing.
2. Baritone guitars use higher gauge strings than standard guitars. Regular guitars generally come strung with .010 and .046 strings while electric baritones will come strung with .013 to .062 strings and acoustic baritones feature gauges between .016 and .070.
3. You may need to adjust your technique when switching to playing a baritone guitar. Acoustic baritones react poorly to fast and explosive strumming. Your fingers and hands may feel tender after the first few sessions, but you will get used to it quickly with consistent practice.
4. Initial guitar setup may be required before you get going. This includes modifying intonation and adjusting the truss rod. Make slow incremental changes as this adjustment alters neck relief, which affects the string action. If you aren’t sure you have the right tools for the job, rather get a professional to do it.