A Resonator or Resophonic Guitar is an acoustic guitar whose sound is produced by one or more spun metal cones (resonators) instead of the wooden sound board (guitar top/face). Resonator guitars were originally designed to be louder than regular acoustic guitars, which were overwhelmed by horns and percussion instruments in dance orchestras. They became prized for their distinctive sound, however, and found life with several musical styles (most notably bluegrass and the blues) well after electric amplification solved the issue of inadequate guitar sound levels.​

Resonator guitars are of two styles:

    Square necked guitars played in the lap steel guitar style
    Round necked guitars played in the conventional guitar style or lap steel guitar style