a guitar (typically 6-stringed) with 3 nylon strings and 3 of wound steel. the adjective classical belies the range of this musical instrument, which is used to play everything from original and transcribed works of the classical repertoire to ragtime to jazz to flamenco to bossa nova, etc., etc. long used by performers in solo recitals, it is also used today in ensembles such as the assad duo, the de falla trio, and the los angeles guitar quartet.