Guitar Anatomy

This article will go over all the different parts of the guitar and what they do. You will learn all of the guitar anatomy terms every player should know. As well as where they every part is and how to use them. Also I will go over all the components of acoustic guitars and electric guitars separately.

The main sections of the guitar are called the headstock, the neck and the body.

Headstock

The top of the guitar is called the headstock. this is where the tuning knobs, tuning pegs and the nut is. The headstock is also the best way to identify the model of each guitar. The guitar maker is usually shown on the front. The serial number is usually on the back of the headstock.

The tuning knobs seen at the back of the headstock is where you go to tune the guitar. Turn the knobs clockwise to loosen the strings and counterclockwise to tighten the strings. Some guitars come with locking tuners. This make the guitar stay in tune longer and is mostly used by people that use the whammy bar a lot. The whole tuning mechanism is sometimes called the tuning machine.

The tuning pegs are where the strings are connected to the headstock. When you turn the knobs on the headstock, the tuning pegs twist the strings around the peg making the pitch higher or lower.

The nut is the notched piece on the headstock keeping the strings lined up. Many different materials are used for the nut including metal, plastic, graphite or bone. It is supposed to effect the tone of your guitar, although not very important.

Guitar Neck

The middle of the guitar is called the neck. This is where the fretboard, strings, frets and fret markers are. If the serial number isn’t on the headstock it will be on the back of the neck.

There are two main types of neck designs, neck-through and bolt-on. Neck-through style guitars are more expensive. The wood used for the fretboard/neck is said to affect the tone but overall not very crucial.

Guitars will have between 12-24 frets or jumbo frets. Fret markers are shown on fret one, three, five, seven and nine with a unique fret marker on fret twelve. Standard guitars have six strings. Guitars with seven or eight strings are also popular.

Electric Guitar Body

The main part of the guitar is called the body. This is where the pick guard, bridge, pickups, volume knob, pickup selector switch and tone knob are located. For electric guitars, the inside components can be accessed by removing the pick guard or the back panel. There are many different styles of body types for guitar like the jaguar, the mocking bird, the warlock, the explorer etc.

The bridge and the saddle are where the strings are connected to the body and lined up with the nut. Electric guitars have springs under the bridge for the tremolo system.

Guitar pickups are metal coils embedded under the strings. Copper wire coils as well as magnets inside the pickups are how electric guitars “pickup” the sound.

The switch on the body is the pickup selector switch. Flipped to the left selects the neck pickup, flipped to the right selects the bridge pickup and the center position selects both at the same time. The neck pickup has a different tone than the bridge pickup. Use the middle position for a more balanced tone.

Most electric guitars have a volume knob and a tone knob as well. The easiest modification you can make to your guitar is replacing plastic the knobs with shiny metal knobs.

The Whammy Bar is seen right next to the bridge. Also referred to as a tremolo arm or vibrato arm. The whammy bar is detachable by turning it counter clockwise until it is loose and then pull out. There are many different styles of whammy bars.

The output jack is on the very bottom on the guitar and is where you plug in your cable. Electric guitars take 1/4 inch cables.

Guitar strap buttons are located at the bottom of the body and also near the neck. Strap locks are a popular choice to make sure your strap doesn’t fall off while playing. There is a classic trick to use a beer bottle cap as a strap lock specifically the Golsch bottle.

Acoustic Guitar Body

The body of an acoustic guitar is hollow and usually made from spruce, mahogany or rosewood. The sound is amplified through the sound hole. Acoustic guitars can be modified to have microphones/pickups installed in them to make live performances easier.

The pick guard is a decorated cover under the strings that protects the body of your guitar from scratches.

The bridge and the saddle are where the strings are connected to the body and lined up with the nut. The material used for the saddle will also effect your tone. It is important for a good guitar setup that your saddle is aligned well.

The sound hole in the center of the body is how the sound gets amplified. When recording acoustic guitar with a microphone, sometimes a foam sound dampener is used to tame the sound. This is called a feedback suppressor.

Accessories

A 1/4 inch guitar cable to plug into amplifiers. Fifteen feet is a good size for guitar cables.

Guitar picks are essential for all guitar players to have. You can never have enough of them.

Tuners are a device all guitar players should have for keeping your guitar in tune. You can also use a free phone app.

Guitar straps are very useful for playing while standing up comfortably and they come in many different styles. Not a high priority overall.

Extra pack of strings are highly recommended to have around. Maybe even an extra high E string because they always seem to snap. For only .80 cents, why not?

A capo is a little device used to easily hold down all the strings on a certain fret. This is for changing the key of the guitar and is needed for playing certain songs. For example Wonderwall is played with a capo on the fourth fret. Click here for the full tab Wonderwall Guitar Tab by Oasis.