Guitar Wiki
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Reference         "Music, the greatest good that mortals know, And all of heaven we have below." --Joseph Addison

Acoustic[]

Anatomy
  • Body - The largest part of the guitar, the body is hollow and amplifies the sound.
  • Bridge - The wooden peice that holds the strings to the body.
  • Endpin - Circular metal peice at which a strap can be connected. On an acoustic electric, the endpin often doubles as an output jack.
  • Fretboard - Top of the neck where the frets are. Also known as the fingerboard.
  • Markers(Inlays) - Used to help the player identify key frets. Located at the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th, and 17th frets generally.
  • Headstock - The top of the guitar where tuners are located.
  • Neck - Holds the body to the headsock and is the location of the fretboard.
  • Nut - The nut guides the strings from the tuners to the straight path they follow on the fretboard.
  • Pick Guard - Protective sheet on the body that shields against scratches.
  • Sound Hole - Opening into the body that sound travels through.
  • Tuners (Machine Heads) - Allow the player to change string pitches by changing tension and length of strings. Tuners are located at the head.

Electric[]

Electricguitaranatomy
  • Bridge - Strings are attached to the body through the bridge. Sometimes connected to a Whammy Bar.
  • Body - Main peice of the guitar where electronics and one end of the strings are connected. The pickups take the place of the soundhole on an electric.
  • Electronics - Volume and other adjusters.
  • Frets - The elevated metal peices on the fretboard which allow a user to change the length of string thus altering pitch.
  • Headstock - The top of the guitar where tuners are located.
  • Inlays - Markers used to help the player identify key frets. Located at the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th, and 17th frets generally.
  • Machine heads - Allow the player to change string pitches by changing tension and length of strings. Tuners are located at the head.
  • Neck and fretboard - The long part of the instrument where the strings pass over and where the frets are located.
  • Neck joint - Where neck meets body.
  • Nut - The nut guides the strings from the tuners to the straight path they follow on the fretboard.
  • Pickguard - Protects the body of the instrument from scratches as a result of rocking out(strumming).
  • Pickups - Acts similar to a microphone and is used to catch and relay sound to the amplifier.
  • Truss rod - A rod that extends through the fretboard and can be adjusted to increase or decrease tension on the instrument.
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