Acoustic guitars rely on sound waves entering through the sound hole of the guitar, bouncing off the interior of the hollow body, and returning from the hole. Acoustic guitars are not as loud as their electric brothers, which can be adjusted to play louder with a volume control. There are some methods that can be used to enhance the sound of an acoustic guitar. Find out what you can do to make your acoustic guitar louder.
Play harder. This is the easiest way to make an acoustic guitar louder. The harder you strum or pluck the strings, the louder your acoustic guitar will sound. Playing position can affect the sound as well. Playing the strings closer to the bridge will simulate the sound of an electric guitar.
Buy a clip-on microphone. These microphones are available at most music outlets and range in price from $30 to $200. The microphones clip to the outer edge of the sound hole on your acoustic guitar. There are wireless models available, models that have small built-in amplifiers and models that plug into external amplifiers.
Purchase an acoustic guitar that has a pickup and volume control in it. These are called semi-electrics. They are built like acoustic guitars so they can be played without external amplification, but you can also plug them into amplifiers. You can also install a pickup, volume knob and cord jack on your existing acoustic guitar if you'd like. You can purchase a kit at just about any music store and do it yourself with a few simple tools.
Play your guitar in any small room. The confined space bounces the sound more rapidly, causing greater amplification. Your acoustic guitar will always sound louder in a smaller room.