Before learning how to play a guitar, it is in your best interests to know about the guitar. Basic guitar lesson available online offers an overview of the various components of a guitar and its workings that constitute this musical instrument. Beginner guitar lesson designed for beginners comprises of lessons on chords, frets, scales, tabs, strumming patterns, and songs to strum.
Know thy Guitar
In the broader sense, there are two types of guitar – acoustic and electric guitar. A standard guitar has six strings. Let us get an idea of the way a regular guitar is built from top to bottom.
Headstock – It is situated right at the top housing the machine heads used to fine-tune the strings that affect the pitch. Some guitars do not have headstock, in which case you will find the tuners either on the body or the bridge of the guitar.
Nut – This small strip of semi-hard material is located at the junction where the headstock meets the fretboard. The nut is usually used for lateral string alignment and some guitars are fitted with roller nut to reduce string friction.
Fretboard – It is also known as the fingerboard, a piece of wood inserted with metal frets and its length effectively decides the pitch. It is commonly made of rosewood, ebony, and maple.
Frets – The metal strips on the fingerboard are called frets and are usually made of nickel alloy or stainless steel. The frets are situated at exact points dividing the scale length. You have to press the strings against the fret to produce the pitch.
Neck – It is a long wooden extension that connects the guitars frets fretboard, tuners, and the headstock. The rigidity of the neck determines if the guitar can hold a consistent pitch while tuning and strumming. It distinguishes good guitar from the bad.
Strings – The most important part of the guitar are the strings. They are made of metal, polymers, or animal or plant product materials. Some guitars have four, eight, ten, eleven, thirteen, or even eighteen strings instead of the usual six.
Bridge – It transmits the string vibrations to the soundboard, resonating inside the guitar, and hence amplifying that sound to create the desired music.
Pickguard – It is a scratch plate protecting the finish of the top of the guitar from plectrum or fingernails.