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[T655]The Parts Of A Guitar

by Gray Rollins, Gra

Let's start with the body of the Acoustic and Electric guitar. This is where any electronic hardware (such as in the Electric guitar) is located. The Acoustic guitar, unlike the Electric, has a sound hole. This is where the sound that you hear comes from when you hit a string. A sound hole serves to amplify the vibration (sound) produced by the strings. Without a sound hole, the sound produced by the vibration of strings on the Acoustic guitar would be minimal.

The Electric guitar, on the other hand, does not have a sound hole. As a result, when you hit a string on the Electric, the sound is very low because the vibration isn't amplified like on the Acoustic. If the Electric guitar is plugged into an amplifier, the sound produced will be as loud or as low as you need it.

On the body of the guitar, you'll also find the bridge. The bridge is where the strings on the guitar are threaded through. On the Acoustic guitar, there are also bridge pegs in the bridge which hold one end of the string in place. This isn't the case with the Electric, as the strings are secured to the bridge without the use of a peg.

Attached to the bridge is what is known as a tremolo or whammy bar. This mechanical device, found only on Electric guitars, allows a guitarist to reduce tension on all 6 guitar strings at once.

Also located by the bridge are pick-ups, found in Electric guitars, which amplify the vibrations the strings make. These are used in conjunction with an amplifier. Electric guitars may have as many as three pick-ups, with each having a distinct function.

On Electric guitars, there are a set of Control knobs. Each knob represents a control for the guitar. There are two types of knobs: volume knobs and pick-up knobs. You use the volume knobs to control how much noise the guitar makes, while the pick-up knobs are used to control the pick-ups.

Finally, located by the bridge on most stratocaster Electric guitars is a socket. On other styles of Electric guitars, the socket is located on the side of the body. This small hole, typically found only in Electric Guitars, is where you plug in one end of a guitar cable. The other end of the cable is plugged into an amplifier or computer.

Next, there is the neck, a long piece of wood that is attached to the body and Nut of the guitar. On the neck is the fretboard. There are 20-24 pieces of metal on the fretboard, each representing a fret. Each fret represents a musical note. Additionally, there are inlays (either dots or special designs) on the fretboard. Like the pieces of metal on the guitar, these also serve as a guide to notes. The 12th fret on the guitar, for instance, is commonly represented by two dots.

Connected to the neck is the nut which is connected to the Headstock. On the headstock you'll find tuning pegs. The other end of a string is slid through a tuning peg. A tuning peg allows you to either increase or decrease the tension of a string, thereby raising or lowering the sound of the guitar. More information on tuning can be found in our tuning article.

And there you have it. You've covered a lot of things in this lesson, all of it helpful to your guitar studies. You can now move on to the next lesson—learning how to play the guitar.

New guitar players are often surprised to learn that there is occasionally the need to buy guitar parts. These can range from supplies as minor as picks or strings to more significant parts such as tuning pegs or bridges. Some parts can be replaced easily by the guitarist, but others need the skilled knowledge of a good luthier.

Probably the most frequently replaced parts will be the strings of the guitar. The stress encountered from playing and grease and debris left by fingers can slowly deteriorate the strings. Old, worn strings can lead to more frequent tuning, poorer sound quality, and breakage. Various parts can also be purchased that make restringing a guitar easier and more efficient. There are tools that can safely remove the pegs from the bridge, making it easier to remove old strings and retie new ones without the risk of breaking the peg. String winders make short work of winding long lengths of string around the tuning keys, and can even come in handy for regular tuning.

Picks are also replaced regularly, usually due to loss or breakage. Picks come in varying thicknesses, each producing a different result. The choice of pick depends on many factors, including the desired sound and the individual playing style of the guitarist. They are also available in a variety of materials such as nylon and steel. Nylon picks are the most widely used, but tend to wear out more rapidly. Conversely, harder picks such as those made from steel are much more durable, yet tend to cause additional wear and tear on strings. Regardless of your personal preference, there is sure to be a pick that meets your needs effectively. Additional pick-related accessories are easy to find, include pick holders that help keep picks organized and protect them from loss.

Of course, not all guitar parts can be replaced so easily. Damage to the guitar itself often requires repair by a skilled luthier. Pick guards, which protect the body of the guitar from damage due to picking, often take quite a bit of abuse, and may need to be replaced. This may involve heating the area to soften the glue, allowing the old guard to be removed. Once it has been lifted, a "tan line" may be apparent, where the wood under the pick guard is of a different hue than rest of the guitar body. This can be caused by light or smoke exposure or even atmospheric conditions. The effect is hard to completely correct, but can easily be remedied by simply placing a new pickguard in its place that entirely covers the affected area.

While at first glance they may appear to be simple in design, guitars are quite intricate instruments. Many guitar parts are used in their construction, and over time, some of these will need to be replaced. If there is any doubt about how a part should be repaired or replaced, someone knowledgeable in the craft should be consulted to avoid serious damage to the guitar.

Article Source : Pg. 51

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Both Gray Rollins & Ian Jefferson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Gray Rollins has sinced written about articles on various topics from Property Investment, Guide Guitar and insurance agents. Gray Rollins is a featured writer for GuitarsLand.com. If you're interested in , then be sure to check out. Gray Rollins's top article generates over 368000 views. to your Favourites.

Ian Jefferson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Golf Guide, Panic Attacks and Used Car. TeachYourselfHowToPlayGuitar is an online portal with expert articles about . To learn more about how to effectively lear. Ian Jefferson's top article generates over 60500 views. to your Favourites.