How the guitar works
Guitar parts and descriptions
- Body: Main bulk of guitar.
- Jack socket: Connection where a 1/4" (usually) jack plugs into the guitar. A patch cable will bring the signal to an amplifier for final tone production.
- Pick guard: Protects guitar finish from errant picking strokes.
- Guitar Bridge: The guitar bridge is the physical connection between the strings and the body of the guitar. It is at this point that the vibration of the strings is transfered to the body and visa versa.
- Pots: Guitar pots allow control of elements of the guitars volume or tone.
- Pick-ups: Pick-ups translate the physical vibration of metal strings into electrical current. This current can then be amplified to produce a tone. Pick-ups act in a similar fasion to microphones.
- Selector switch: On guitars with more than one pick-up, a selector switch allows the player to choose an individual or a combination of pick-ups.
- Neck: Provides playing surface (fretboard).
- Frets: Thin metal bars upon which strings are pressed.
- Markers: Dots inlyed on the fretboard of the guitar which help players orient themselves. Usually found on the 3rd, 5th, 7th 9th, and 12th frets.
- Nut: Spaces guitar strings and acts as transition point between headstock and neck.
- Headstock: Final destination for strings. Contains tunig pegs.
- Tuning pegs: Allows tightening and loosening of string tension to adjust pitch of guitar strings.
Acoustic vs. Electric
Many parts of an acoustic guitar are the same as the parts on an electric guitar. However, the ways in which the guitars produce sounds are different. An acoustic guitar has a hollow body which allows it to amplify the tone of the vibrating strings without need for an external device.
Which to buy? When deciding which instrument to learn, first consider what style of music you wish to play. If you are into heavier rock, alternative, metal or punk you will most likely want an electric. If you are into folk, mellow or acoustic sounding music then you will most likely want an acoustic guitar. Electric guitars are generally easier to play as the strings are generally thinner and therefore easeir to press against the fret in order to create a tone. Electric guitars also have smaller bodies and necks which also make them easier to use. Money considerations are also necessary. Acoustic guitars are ready to play as they are, while electric guitars require not only the guitar, but also external amplification, patch cords and optional effects boxes.
- Body: Main bulk of guitar. Generally hollow on an acoustic.
- Pick guard: Protects guitar finish from errant picking strokes.
- Sound hole: Where sound from the hollow body escapes.
- Guitar Bridge: The guitar bridge is the physical connection between the strings and the body of the guitar. It is at this point that the vibration of the strings is transfered to the body and visa versa.
- Neck: Provides playing surface (fretboard).
- Frets: Thin metal bars upon which strings are pressed.
- Markers: Dots inlyed on the fretboard of the guitar which help players orient themselves. Usually found on the 3rd, 5th, 7th 9th, and 12th frets.
- Nut: Spaces guitar strings and acts as transition point between headstock and neck.
- Headstock: Final destination for strings. Contains tunig pegs.
- Tuning pegs: Allows tightening and loosening of string tension to adjust pitch of guitar strings.
Brief sound introduction for guitar
Basic Sound theory for guitar:
Plucking a guitar string induces that string to vibrate. This vibration is transferred into the wood of the guitar through the guitar bridge and nut. The wood vibrates sympathetically with the strings (ie. at the same frequency). The combined vibration of the wood in the guitar and the strings is changed into sound in one of a few ways.
Acoustic guitar: Vibration of wood and strings transferred to air molecules inside the guitars hollow body. This is translated into 'modulations in air pressure' which the ear translates as sound.
Electric guitar: Vibration of metal strings trasferred into electrical current through pick-ups. Signal is sent along a patcch cable to an amplifying device which ultimately sends the signal to a speaker. The speaker vibrates at the same frequency as the guitar string. This vibration of the speaker creates 'modulations in air pressure' which are translated by the ear into sound.
Basic music introduction
Sound can be described using 4 basic characteristics.
- Pitch: Relative highness or lowness of a tone
- Duration: Length of the sound
- Intensity: Volume or loudness
- Timbre: Color or quality of sound
The Pitch of a note in standard music is denoted by
an upper-case letter from 'A' to 'G'. Between these tones are 'semi-tones'
each of which make up a 12 tone chromatic scale.
A - A# - B - C - C# - D - D# - E - F - F# - G - G#
Note: Each sharp (#) sharp note can also be expressed as a
flat (b) of the tone above.
eg.) A# = Bb, C# = Db
It is important to be able to translate a verbal 'pitch' into a physical note
on your instrument
eg.) An 'A' note could be achieved by playing the 6th string at the 5th fret
Any serious guitarist will know each note of each string on each fret of
the guitar. You should know at least the 5th and 6th strings by heart.
Knowing the notes on your instrument is the basis for all music theory, from
scales to intervals and chord formations. All music is based on the
relationship and interaction between notes.
Duration of a note is the length for which it is played.
Most music is counted in groups of 4. In fact, you can often tap your feet
along to music chanting 'One - Two - Three - Four' and you should hear the
musical resolution.
Without getting complicated, it is possible to play on or around the beat
of the song. The beat is what you would tap your feet along with. Most
often this is done simply by feel - by placing the notes where the 'sound'
like they should be played.
Traditional notation breaks muscial durations into whole notes, half notes,
quarter notes and sixteenth notes. Check the reference links if you wish
to pursue this further.
Intensity is how loud or soft a note is played. In all cases it is partially determined by how hard you pluck the string. It is also determined by the characteristics of your insturment. In the case of an electric guitar, the intensity can be increased and deacreased by changing the amplification value.
Timbre is the color or 'feel' a sound has. Think of the sound
a violin makes as opposed to the sound a trumpet makes. Both may be playing the
same pitch at the same intensity for the same amount of time, however both sound
completely different.
You will often hear guitarists searching for the perfect 'tone'. In fact, many
of the most respected guitarists are known for their ability to create
beautiful tone.
Unfortunately, tone is a fairly indescribable quality of sound. It is affected by
almost everything you do as a guitarist. Among the many things affecting tone are:
the guitar you play, the wood the guitar is made from, the strings on the guitar,
the metal the strings are made from, the thickness of the strings, how tightly wound
the strings are, what size, thickness, material your pick is. This list could go on
forever.
Quality tone production comes with years of practice and attention to the
sounds you make. If you focus only on producing and incredible tone, you
will become an excellent guitarist.