Sometimes even the most virtuosic guitarists do not know exactly how an electric guitar works. There's nothing to be ashamed of, but understanding the design of your instrument can open up new horizons, new sound production techniques, or allow you to better understand how the instrument works. In this article we will try to describe in as much detail as possible what the most typical electric guitar consists of and how it works.
To make information about the structure of an electric guitar better understood, let’s divide it into two logical parts: a description of the appearance and the “filling”.
Appearance
Below is a diagram showing the parts of an electric guitar. This instrument is in many ways similar to an ordinary acoustic guitar: it also has a body, soundboard and neck, 6 metal strings, and may have pickups, but at the same time, an electric guitar is much more complex. It contains details that acoustics do not have.
Frame
If we talk about similar elements: the deck (body), then their structure is significantly different. The body of an electro is much smaller than that of an acoustic, and most often it is solid, but sometimes it is also hollow.
A solid deck is made from one or more pieces of wood glued together. The sound of this body is sharp and “aggressive”, making it popular with rock music performers. The only negative is that if the body consists of several parts, the sound may deteriorate due to a violation of the resonance at the joints of the wood.
Solid body electric guitar A hollow body is slightly wider than a solid body and has a warmer, richer sound and is used for jazz, blues and country. The disadvantage of such a body is that it has a small sustain, that is, a short sound, and a quick decay of the sound.
Hollow body of electric guitar On the shell of the body at the bottom (if you place the guitar with the neck up) there is a jack for connecting an amplifier and outputting sound to speakers. Sometimes, the input is located on the front panel of the guitar (ex. Fender Telecaster, Gibson SG)
Vulture
The neck is a very important element of the guitar because the quality of the music performed depends on its comfort. This part can vary significantly from tool to tool. For example, on some guitars it is narrower and rounder, on others it is wide and flat.
Of course, you need to select it depending on the anatomical features of your hand, but traditionally it is believed that a narrow and wide neck is convenient for playing moving passages and other techniques that are usually found in the metal and rock genres, and a narrow and rounded neck is suitable for playing chords in blues and jazz.
In general, the neck of an electric guitar is the same as that of an acoustic guitar. The only difference is the number of frets; for an electric guitar it can reach 27, and for an acoustic guitar no more than 23. The most common models usually have 21, 22 or 24 frets.
Filling
Now it's time to talk about the parts that only an electric guitar has. We'll call them the filling.
The bridge is the part on the body to which the strings are attached, i.e. in simple words bottom sill. It comes with or without tremolo. The tremolo bridge is complemented by a lever (vibrato lever) that sets it in motion. This system allows you to change the pitch of the sound by 1.5-2 tones, which makes the sound more interesting.
However, a bridge with a tremolo has several disadvantages: the guitar is more difficult to tune or tune into a non-standard tuning, has less sustain, and if one of the strings breaks, the entire instrument is out of tune. Accordingly, a system without a tremolo does not have all these disadvantages, but at the same time it is impossible to achieve interesting vibrato with it.
The pickups (usually there are three of them), as the diagram shows, are located near the nut under the strings and, in fact, pick up the sound, i.e. convert string vibrations into loud sound. They are divided into types: single and humbucker.
They differ in the nature of the transmitted sound: the first makes it purer and more transparent, and the second makes it more saturated and powerful. The single-coil is traditionally used in jazz and country, but the design of its pickups does not allow for the suppression of extraneous noise, which is why the guitar often hums when played with distortion. Accordingly, the humbucker is more suitable for playing heavy music.
The pickup selector allows you to choose between one or two of the three pickups located under the strings. As a rule, each of them gives its own unique sound, which is explained by physical properties and tool design. Therefore, by switching between them you can experiment with the sound.
The volume levers allow you to change the volume, and the timbre levers allow you to change the sound character of the instrument.
This is all the basic information that can be provided about the structure of an electric guitar. As you understand, the design of an electric guitar is quite simple. Of course, many of the elements can be described in much more detail, talking about their types and subspecies, but this will complicate the text and confuse the beginner.
Thank you for reading the article, we hope that you found answers to all your questions in it. If anything is still unclear, write in the comments and may the diagram help you. And as you probably already know, we have a VKontakte group, where we post a lot of useful materials about guitars every day, as well as sheet music and tabs of popular compositions. So subscribe so you don't miss out on new information.
In the art of guitar, performers often operate not only musical terms, but also by designations of parts of the tool. In order to understand many points, you need to know the structure of the guitar at least general outline. And if it comes to changing strings, adjusting individual components or repairs, then you should delve into this topic further and further. When explaining most performing technical aspects, guitar terminology is constantly used. Without its knowledge, as they say, it’s like without hands, you can play, but in the process you will have to make up a lot. Therefore, every regularly practicing guitarist should master the initial terms and notations.
Guitar structure diagram
The proposed figure shows the structure of the guitar and indicates its main elements. It’s good if you have a tool at hand and you can find them by your own example. Information in parts is better absorbed if you know what each part is intended for. Let's take a closer look.
Frame
The body is the main part of any guitar. It consists of many elements, which will be discussed below. The power and timbre of sound depends on the structure and material of the body. The mobility and strength of the tool also depends on the assembly.
Bottom deck
The back is the back side of the guitar. Most often, the fullness of sound depends on the wood from which it is made. One of the load-bearing parts. If we consider the structure of a classical guitar, then for concert performance the “back” is made of mahogany, as it provides the best sound characteristics.
Top deck
The most important element. It is this that is the connecting link between the extraction of sound from the string and the transmission of its vibrations into the air. The best quality is to make “Top” from a single piece of wood. The classics use cedar and alpine spruce. On cheaper instruments (including acoustic ones) plywood is used. The timbre and sound quality largely depends on the Top.
Cutaway (cutaway)
An element that is mainly found on pop guitars. It is necessary primarily for those who like to perform solos on the extreme frets (further than 12) and allow them to reach the necessary upper notes.
Stand (bridge)
Most often it is a wooden plate, which gives rigidity to the structure of the entire body and allows it to provide resistance to the tensioned string.
Edges
They are located along the edges of the upper deck and provide it with protection from external factors. Creates a little extra strength for the body. They also give an aesthetic effect due to their design.
Straplock
A plastic or metal “button” that is installed specifically to secure a belt. Maybe one or two.
Shell
This is the part that connects the top and bottom deck. It is a resonator conductor from the leading upper deck to the lower one and ensures the formation of sound volume. Approximately 10 cm wide. Made from the same material as the lower deck.
Foot sill
It is also called a “bone” (made from plastic or bone). A plate that has pads underneath for adjusting the strings. Has little effect on sound properties.
Socket
Sound hole
An important element for the appearance of sound. Thanks to the voice box, the guitar resonates and releases sound vibrations from deep within the body. If you close it, you get a dull and very quiet sound, similar to a mumble.
Pegs for fastening strings
Also called pins. White oblong pieces of plastic that have grooves in their cross-section for attaching strings there. The pin, together with the string, is lowered into the hole in the stand and securely “sealed”.
Overlay (golpeador)
A plastic shaped overlay that is installed on the top deck just below the socket. Used in flamenco and pop guitars - the main purpose is to protect the soundboard from accidental blows with a pick and from percussion strikes with the fingers and palm.
Vulture
- the second main part, on which the strings are tensioned, the tuning is adjusted and, in fact, playing with the left hand.
Fingerboard
– a wooden covering that occupies the “working” part of the neck.
Frets
Metal plates that separate one fret from another. They show the length that needs to be clamped to get a particular pitch.
Vulture head
The part that contains the mechanism for winding and tuning the strings. Also often used to place a company logo.
Headstock Fingerboard
Made from the same material as the body. A thick piece of wood that covers the head of the neck. It strengthens it and covers the junction of the head and “neck”.
head crest
The “Heads” element, which is used only as a design solution for aesthetic purposes. Various small details create differences in tools from different manufacturers.
Tuning mechanics
It consists of interconnected gears, which are secured with metal plates on both sides of the neck. The strings are threaded into oblong rollers and wound using handles. Classical guitars are open, while acoustic guitars are closed.
Pegs of tuning mechanics on a classical guitar
Unlike acoustic mechanisms, they are open “outward”.
Heel
The part that connects the neck and body. Can be glued or screwed. Most often located on the border of the 12th and 14th frets.
Heel pad
A wooden covering that creates an additional connection between the heel of the neck and the shell.
Strings
Metal or nylon - form the main element for creating sound.
Upper sill
Also called “zero”. A plastic or bone plate used to install strings and fix them in one position. Easily removed and sharpened if necessary.
Fret markers
Points that serve for quick orientation along the main frets - 5,7, 12, etc. Markers located on the plane of the fingerboard itself are used more to decorate the instrument. Most often, inserts made of mother-of-pearl or hard plastic are made in these places.
Interior
Electrical elements are used in certain types of guitars and can be installed separately if desired.
Spring system
Occupies an important part in the structure of the guitar. Its strength and the location of the resonators depend on their quality. The vibrating string transfers its energy into the structure itself. Sound waves travel through nodal points from the sill. The spring has an important task - to distribute vibrations so that the output produces the desired timbre and correct intonation. In addition, a fan spring system supports the entire structure and ensures its strength.
Anchor rod
Located inside the neck. Consists of steel. Protects the neck from sagging due to string tension. made when it is necessary to change the angle of the neck position (in case of out of tune, or ringing ). Classical instruments do not have it.
Anchor adjustment nut
In electric guitars it is located mainly in the area of the first fret, right behind the zero threshold. For acoustics it is located either, like for electric ones, or inside the voice box, approximately in the region of the 20th fret.
Preamplifier
Available on electric-acoustic guitars. The task is to process the signal that comes from the pickup. Powered by batteries. Has an equalizer to adjust the tone. Often has a built-in tuner.
Pickup
The so-called “under saddle” pickup is Under Saddle Transducer. This is a small wiring that ensures sound quality. Processes deck vibrations, converting them into an electrical signal, and transmits them to the preamp (see above).
Jack type connector
A socket built into the body of the guitar for connecting it to external speakers or an amplifier. Jack connectors are generally used with a diameter of 6.3 mm.
Today I will talk about the design of the guitar, how the neck and body of the guitar are structured, I will also give a diagram of the structure of the guitar and talk about the materials from which this or that part is made.
General information
Acoustic guitar is divided into 2 main types:
- Classical
- Variety
Rice. 0 Acoustic and pop guitars
Classical guitar Most often used for the performance of classical works, folk, folklore, flamenco, bard and marching songs. The classical guitar is also called the Spanish guitar, since it was first made in Spain. The classical guitar has a wide neck and nylon strings.
Pop guitar is universal for all musical styles, but personally I associate it with genres such as blues, folk and country. The pop guitar is also called a western guitar or simply an acoustic guitar. The pop style has predominant metal strings and a narrow neck compared to the classic version.
Acoustic guitar structure (diagram)
Both classical and pop guitars consist of two main parts: housing And neck.
Fig.1 Guitar design diagram
1 -Grif. 2 - Headstock. 3 -Fingerboard. 4 -Heel of the neck. 5 - Pegs. 6 -Top threshold. 7 -Fret nut. 8 - Frets. 9 -Top deck. 10 -Bottom deck. 11 -Shell. 12 -Resonator hole. 13 -Bridge (tailpiece). 14 -Bottom threshold. 15 -Button. 16 -Protective pad.Guitar neck structure
The neck consists of a headstock (2), a fingerboard (3) and a heel (4). On the headstock there are pegs (5) - a mechanism that is designed to fasten and change the tension of the strings. Also on the headstock there is a top saddle (6), which is designed to reduce string vibration. It is usually made of plastic or bone. 
Rice. 2 Upper sill made of bone
Notches are made in the fretboard on a special machine, into which the fret nuts (7) are subsequently pressed. The saddles protrude above the guitar neck and separate its frets (8) (the distance between the two saddles is called a fret). The neck heel is glued or bolted into the body of the guitar. If the heel of the neck is glued into the body, then the distance between the strings is adjusted by an anchor bolt, which runs along the entire length of the neck and is located under the pickguard.
Rice. 3 Anchor under the guitar fingerboard
The head of the truss rod is located either in the headstock or at the bottom near the rosette. Bolt fastening allows you to adjust the height of the strings.
Guitar body structure
The body of the guitar consists of a top (9) and a back (10), which are cut in a figure eight shape. They are connected to each other by the walls of the guitar with the so-called shells (11). On the front deck, under the strings, there is a round resonator hole (12), which is usually called a rosette. In cheap guitars, which are made from low-quality materials, the rosette is decorated with plastic or paper stickers, while in more expensive guitars, it is decorated with veneer or mother-of-pearl. 
Rice. 5 The resonator hole is decorated with mother of pearl.
Some guitar models have an additional sound hole, which is located at the top of the soundboard and gives the guitar special acoustic properties: 
Rice. 6 Guitar with additional resonators.
On the top deck there is a so-called bridge (tail holder) (13). On the tailpiece there is a lower saddle (14), which is made of plastic or bone. The strings are attached to the tailpiece using special buttons (15), which are made of plastic. A protective pad (16) is glued to the top deck to avoid scratches and chips.
Since the guitar is subject to very unpleasant forces from the tension of the strings, it is reinforced from the inside with special slats, which enhance the strength of the body structure, but also affect the sound of the guitar, enriching the sound with very noticeable acoustic properties. 
Rice. 7 Slats that strengthen the guitar from the inside.
Materials
The bodies of the cheapest guitars are made of ordinary plywood, which has a very lousy sound, are equipped with tuners that practically do not stay in tune and strings that need to be changed immediately after purchasing the guitar. The necks of cheap guitars are made from pressed plywood and God knows what else. The top and bottom saddles are made of low-quality plastic, and the fret saddles are made of some kind of bi-metal. 
Rice. 8 Rosewood guitar body
The bodies of expensive guitars are made of mahogany, rosewood and maple. They are equipped with good tuners that stay in tune and, of course, strings that are pleasant to play. The necks of expensive guitars are made of beech, mahogany and other durable woods. The top and bottom saddles are usually made of quality plastic or bone, and the frets are made of quality metal.
Recommended content:In this article you will learn the structure of an electric guitar so that you have a clear idea of this instrument.
Let's take a closer look at the electric guitar:
1st neck
2-building
3- pickups (sensors)
4- headstock
5- pegs
6- bridge (machine)
7- volume and tone knobs
8- socket for connecting the cord
9- saddles and frets
10- pickup switch
11 strings
12- top sill
13- lever
Let's take a closer look at the structure of an electric guitar.
Body (or deck)
The body (or soundboard) of a guitar significantly affects the acoustic properties of the instrument, which determine the sound of the guitar through an amplifier. Decks can be thick or thin, made of soft or dense wood.
It is believed that dense, heavy woods such as ash and mahogany provide greater sustain. But it is not only the weight of the wood that determines the sound of the instrument.
Listen to guitars made from maple or alder - medium density and weight species - these are the woods Fender makes most of its instruments from. Or, for example, very light guitars made of linden or swamp ash. Guitars made from all these types of wood are in the arsenal of the world's great guitarists.
This means that by the weight of the instrument you cannot definitely say whether it sounds good or not. Light woods sound as neutral as possible, without embellishing the sound. They absorb string vibrations more than they reflect them.
Decks best electric guitars made from one piece of wood. Cheap tools are made from large quantity small pieces of wood, with a lot of gluing. The more there are, the more likely the appearance of so-called “tops” - notes that differ in sound from the rest. The optimal number of pieces of wood is three. Such guitars usually sound much worse due to the loss of the resonant properties of wood in places of gluing.
Of particular note are guitars like the Gibson Les Paul, which deliberately use different types of wood (mahogany for the back and maple for the top) in order to give the guitar the desired coloration to the sound.
Stratocaster
Les Paul
So, let us note that mahogany guitars give a softer, lower sound and greater sustain ( les Paul, PRS, Ibanez and ESP).
And guitars made of alder, American linden, and ash give a more ringing, bright sound (for example, Fender Stratocaster).
The neck is the most important part of any guitar. This is the surface on which you will play, the part of the instrument that will come into direct contact with your hands. The width and thickness of the neck determine how comfortable it will be for you to play this instrument.
Fans of hard, fast music - those who play a lot with tapping, legato and other fingerboard playing techniques - will appreciate wide and thin necks (you can try guitars Jackson Soloist, Ibanez RG, Washburn N series).
Fans of classical styles - rock and blues - usually prefer standard, more rounded necks, which are good for playing chords (it's worth checking out guitars Fender And Gibson Les Paul).
Necks with a compound radius fingerboard represent a reasonable compromise: the neck is rounder closer to the head, and flatter closer to the soundboard (pickups, machine). True, such necks are installed only on certain models of instruments and are more expensive than regular ones.
The fingerboard material also makes a significant contribution to the sound of the guitar, as the fingerboard itself receives vibrations from the strings and transfers them to the neck and body of the instrument, or reflects these vibrations.
It is worth noting that about 2/3 of the string length passes over the pickguard, and only one third - over the body. And if the guitar body can, in principle, be replaced, then a poor-quality pickguard is a damaged neck, and therefore a damaged guitar.
What separates the best bar from the worst? First of all, it is a tree. Necks are made mainly from maple or mahogany.
Necks can also be made from composite materials (used in modern aerospace and other applications) such as "never dry" graphite.
Fingerboards that are made of wood are usually varnished to prevent them from warping due to drying. However, note that many celebrities, such as Van Halen and Joe Satriani, prefer to play on unvarnished necks.
The material of the fingerboard plays no less important role in the sound of the instrument. There are three standard options: maple, ebony and rosewood.
Maple (the light wood seen on guitars like Fender Telecaster) is soft to the touch and has a bright sound.
Ebony, almost black in color, sounds much denser and deeper.
Rosewood is an intermediate option between the dense sound of ebony and the bright sound of maple. This breed has a reddish-brown hue. It is the most porous of the three rocks presented, and has, perhaps, the “warmest” and softest sound.
Typically, manufacturing companies have in their arsenal a large number of models, some of which are made of maple, some of which are made of rosewood, and the most expensive ones - signature models of famous guitarists - are made of ebony.
At the same time, it is impossible to say for sure which necks with which fingerboard sound better than others - these three types of wood simply sound differently. Maple grows in many countries of the world, it is easy to process, so its cost is low. The maple fingerboard gives the guitar a bright tone.
Rosewood is more expensive to process than maple, and grows only in rare southern countries, so it costs more. The standard pickguard on a decent guitar is made of rosewood, although this wood is also often found on expensive signature series instruments, such as Ibanez Joe Satriani and Frank Gambale models, Fender Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton.
Ebony is the densest wood. It is brought to Europe and America from the southernmost points of the planet. It is very expensive to process and requires special drying and storage conditions. You will never see an ebony fingerboard on an inexpensive instrument.
We can say that ebony is an elite wood that is only used on expensive signature guitars. Guitars with ebony fingerboards are played by Steve Vai, Nuno Bettencourt, George Benson and many others.
In general, we can say that each guitarist chooses for himself which tree is more comfortable for his fingers to play.
Remember!
The neck along with the soundboard are the most important parts of the guitar. Basically they determine its cost. You can change pickups, a machine, pegs - anything, but replacing a neck or soundboard is the most expensive and sometimes impossible. It's easier to buy another guitar!
Pickups (sensors)
From a purely physical point of view, a pickup (or sensor) is a device that converts one type of energy into another. In the case of a magnetic sensor, the vibration of a string in a magnetic field is converted into an alternating current electrical signal, which is then fed to an amplifier.
This happens as follows: the string vibrates in the field created by the permanent magnet (magnets) of the sensor. Inside the coil of wire wound around these magnets, an electric current is generated, which is fed through the wires to the amplifier.
Often, purchasing more expensive pickups can improve the sound of budget instruments and give a new color to an expensive guitar, so let’s dwell on this topic in more detail.
Pickups are divided into Single and Hambacker, passive and active.
1.Single or Hambacker. They are even visually different.
Hambecker
Singles- sensors with one coil (single). They are characterized by a bright, “clean” (not distorted) sound. Their design is usually based on 4 or 6 permanent magnets, around which 7 to 10 thousand turns of copper wire, 0.06 mm thick, are wound. Due to their high sound quality, these sensors are very popular.
As a result, in addition to the sound of the strings, you can also hear extraneous noise or background. This is especially noticeable when playing with drive or distortion effects.
However, now they are releasing split single-coils with a humbucker effect. Two windings, each surrounding its half of the magnets, are connected in antiphase. The magnets inside each have opposite polarity. As a result, the problem of interference and noise is solved, while the sensors produce traditional single-coil sound.
The most popular single-coil guitar is the Fender Stratocaster.
Humbuckers(hambacking - noise reduction) - pickups with two coils that are connected in series, but in antiphase, with each of them facing the strings with different magnet poles.
As a result, extraneous noise or background is mutually subtracted, and the useful signal is added, and the output level is twice as high as that of a single.
However, the sound of the humbucker itself turns out to be poorer, lower and lacking “highs”. The reason for this is that the coils, which are spaced apart (15-17 mm), produce two different signals, which leads to the subtraction of some high-frequency components.
Sorry - got carried away! I just graduated from a technical university...J
As a result, with a clean sound they produce a smoothed, rounded sound; with overdrive they sound aggressive, distinct and without background. Example of a guitar with humbuckers - Gibson Les Paul.
2.Passive and active.
The operating principle of passive sensors is described above. Active sensors have fewer turns in their coils, giving them a wide frequency range and a weak output signal.
To amplify it, a preamplifier is attached to the guitar, powered by a 9-volt “crown” battery. Active pickups come in both single-coil and humbucker pickups.
Single EMG
Hambacker EMG
Critics of active transducers say they produce a sterile, unnatural sound that is the result of an artificially created frequency response.
The opposite side claims that in addition to low noise levels, active pickups expand the guitarist's capabilities. He can play an unconventional sound and then switch to a more conventional sound.
The most famous manufacturers of "passive" - Di Marzio, Seymour Duncan, Fender, Gibson; "asset" - EMG.
I almost forgot: when describing pickups, such terms as “Hot”, “Vintage”, “Pro” are very subjective and buying a pickup without listening to it (for example, in a store) is a complete lottery.
Bridge (machine, tailpiece)
Bridge- This is a device with which the strings are attached to the soundboard.
There are two types of bridges: with and without a tremolo system. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.
1. Bridges with tremolo system.
A more common name is machine: Fender, Floyd Rose, Kahler, usually found on Stratocasters or Strat-like instruments. Their advantage lies in the ability to lower and, in some models, increase right hand the pitch of the notes on the guitar. There is a lever for this purpose.
Guitars with cars Floyd Rose And Kahler equipped with a locking threshold “clothespin” and micro-adjustment. Thanks to this, when actively using the lever, the instrument does not get out of tune, and it is always possible to adjust the tuning without unscrewing the “clothespin” screws.
Such machines allow you to swing the string up and down by 1.5 - 2 tones and perform some funny tricks in the spirit of Steve Vai. Therefore, you can greatly diversify your game.
The main disadvantages are the following:
If a string breaks, the guitar immediately goes out of tune;
- to replace a string, you need to do a lot of manipulations (reach for the key from the “clothespin”, unscrew, insert, twist, etc.);
- the guitar is more difficult to tune;
- the guitar is more difficult to rebuild into a different tuning;
- machines of this type “eat up” sustain (duration of notes) the most;
- due to the large number of parts, these machines most often fail;
Guitars with cars Fender freed from all tricks:
Thanks to their simpler design with them less problems, but still:
- if a string breaks, the guitar immediately goes out of tune, although not so much;
- you need to use the lever more carefully, the guitar may go out of tune;
- the sustain still decreases, although this adds its own flavor;
- these machines only allow you to lower the pitch (pump the lever down).
2. Bridges without tremolo. They are used on guitars such as Les Paul, Telecaster, some Heavy Metal and semi-acoustic guitars. Their design is even simpler, the number of parts is reduced to a minimum:
They stay in tune better, sound more melodious, and have fewer problems at concerts. There is only one drawback, as you may have guessed, - it does not have the capabilities that the machine provides.
Which bridge you choose is up to you, but if you're a beginner and don't have much money for a guitar, choose one with a simple tremolo or no tremolo at all. With cheap Floyd Rose much more problems.
Electronics (volume and tone knobs, pickup switch, cable jack).
These parts, with the exception of the jack, serve to change the character of the guitar's sound and adjust its volume.
The pickup selector is used to select the desired pickup. Depending on the wiring diagram and the number of “sounds,” each switch position gives a unique guitar sound.
The jack is used to connect the guitar to the amplifier using a cord.
Thresholds and frets.
Metal inserts cut into the fingerboard perpendicular to the strings are called nuts. The areas of the fingerboard between the saddles are called frets. By pressing the strings at different saddles, the length of the string changes, and thus sounds of different heights are produced.
Upper threshold.
A plastic or wooden plate with slots for the strings that prevents the strings from vibrating outside the fingerboard.
Strings.
The strings pass through the slots in the nut and are secured to the pegs. The sound of any guitar can be degraded by using old or low-quality strings. This is an expense item in any guitarist's budget.
The most common string manufacturers: D"Addario, DR, Ernie Ball, GHS, Dean Markley, La Bella. Elixir.
Pegs.
Six worm-gear mechanisms that let you raise or lower your guitar's tone by turning the pegs and tightening or loosening the string tension.
The main thing is not to overdo it when you install new strings!
Headstock.
The upper part of the neck on which the pegs are attached.
If you also want to know
- how to choose an electric guitar depending on your style preferences.
How to buy a really good tool, and not “plywood”.
- What types of amplifiers, amps, guitar effects, processors and other devices useful for a guitarist are there?.
How to connect an electric guitar and other equipment.
- And many more interesting and useful things for the beginning guitarist...
The guitar is a magical instrument. Her parts can be heard in any style of music - from classical to modern rock compositions. The history of this goes back to ancient times. After all, for more than 4000 years, humanity has been using the related cithara, zither, and lute. You can often find this wonderful instrument in our homes, but not everyone wonders what a guitar is made of.
History of origin
Translated from Persian “chartra” means four-string. It was instruments with four strings that came to the countries of the Middle East and Europe from Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Then a fifth string was added to the guitar. This happened in Italy during the Renaissance. At this time, the number of frets on the neck also increased from eight to twelve. The six-strings we are familiar with appeared in the mid-17th century, and since then the structure of classical guitars has remained virtually unchanged. In the 30s of the last century, a kind of guitar revolution began, and musical instruments electronic components, amplifiers, and, in the following decades, various sound effects were added.
Structure and features of classical guitars
The predecessors of classical instruments were the Spanish flutes. They had five double strings and a not quite familiar string. Then, in the 18th and 19th centuries, a sixth string was added to the Spanish one; musical masters experimented with shapes, scale lengths, and invented new tuning mechanisms. The result is a classic that has come down to us.
So what does a classical guitar consist of? The main parts of the instrument are the head, neck and body. Strings are attached and tensioned on the headstock with the help of pegs, and it itself is equipped with frets and frets to change the length of the vibrating string and thereby the frequency of the sound. The body of the instrument consists of a top deck, a back deck with a shell, a resonator hole and a stand - the place where it is connected to the body. Next, let's look at what an acoustic guitar consists of.
Design and features of acoustics
What is this type of guitar made of? The acoustic design is almost no different from classical instruments. The difference lies in the size of the body and the strings - they are metal. Depending on their size, such instruments are divided into dreadnoughts, jumbo and folk guitars. Widely used in musical styles such as blues, rock, bard song, and many other song genres.
A variety of wood species are used to make instruments. Although guitars made from exotic woods are not uncommon, acoustics are made from certain species. After all, every wooden element of its structure affects the sound.
The structure and features of an electric guitar
Electric guitars differ from acoustic and classical guitars in the presence of pickups and an electrical circuit with adjustment knobs and switches. Such guitars require sound amplification equipment. For playing at home, the most popular are tube and transistor combo amplifiers with a power of 4-35 W.
Magnetic pickups appeared in the mid-20s of the last century at Gibson. The guitar revolution came a decade later, when jazz musicians discovered the wide range of possible electric guitar tones.
If we talk about the appearance of instruments, the most original and popular forms are:
Other guitar models from various manufacturers in one way or another borrowed the features of these instruments.
Materials for manufacturing
Above we discussed what parts a guitar consists of. What are they made of? The top has the most significant impact on the sound.
The traditional material for classical and acoustic guitars is spruce. High level instruments have a body made of red spruce. For simpler models, cheaper varieties are used. Used for the production of top soundboards and cedar. Instruments made of cedar and spruce sound differently, but beautifully in their own way: the former have a brighter sound, while the latter have a softer and more enveloping sound.
Mahogany is the most popular back and sides material. The same material is used to produce these guitar parts. In addition to mahogany, you can find instruments made of rosewood, maple, walnut, bubinga wood and koa.
Vulture acoustic guitar most often made from mahogany. The second most popular are maple vultures. The most common fretboard is rosewood. Acoustic and electric guitars have more high class made of ebony - ebony.
Electric guitars, like acoustic and classical instruments, are made from wood, although there are metal guitars and models made from synthetic materials. "Classic" Gibson layout: mahogany body and neck, maple top, mahogany fingerboard.
Fender Instruments: Alder body, maple neck, maple or rosewood fingerboard.
Structure and features of bass guitars
Bass guitars differ from other types of instruments in the thickness of their strings, increased scale length and, as a result, larger dimensions.
This guitar is a relative of the double bass. There are usually four or five strings, although six or more stringed instruments are found. They play with their fingers, using a specific technique, or with a pick.
