Like mastering anything else in life, you have to start at the beginning and learn the fundamentals before you can move forward. When it comes to playing the guitar, a solid foundation will set you on the right path to mastery.
Understanding the basic components that make up any guitar will help both your playing and benefit you when it comes to buying a guitar. Before moving on to the types of guitars available, it is recommended to know what parts make a guitar the instrument it is.
This is the biggest part of the guitar. It’s usually shaped somewhat like a snowman. On an electro-acoustic/acoustic guitar, this section is hollow, while it is usually solid on an electric guitar.
Sometimes this is called the neck, it has fret lines which make different sounds when pressed at different places. The longer a fretboard, the wider range a guitar has. This means it can reach a higher pitch than a shorter fretboard.
These are the parts of the guitar which keep the strings tight and off the fretboard. The nut is at the top of the guitar on the headstock and the bridge is connected to the guitar body, and it’s where the strings are tied or connected to.
This one is self-explanatory.
These are the twistable pegs on the headstock that are used to tighten and loosen strings, which in turn, tunes the guitar.
There’s the body and then there’s the head, this is the top of the guitar, usually where the brand logo is.
On electro-acoustic and acoustic guitars, this is the hole in the body of the guitar which turns the strings vibrations into booming, beautiful sounds.
Electric guitars don’t have a sound hole and therefore make hardly any sound when not connected to an amplifier. In its place are pickups, these electronically turn the strings vibrations into sound, and blast them out through speakers.
Now that you have an idea of the basic anatomy of any guitar, it’s a prime time to introduce you to the three main types of guitars. Each has their specific pros and cons and which one you will pick is up to you. But it is advisable to know the differences and to know what makes each type special.
If you learn to play one, the skills are transferable to another, but most guitarists have a preference and one kind which they are best and most comfortable playing.
This is a popular option for beginner guitarists. It has a thinner fretboard which makes gripping the guitar easier as well as a longer fretboard, which gives you a wider range when it comes to playing the lead.
On electro-acoustic guitars, the strings are metal, so it may take a bit of time to get used to, but once your fingers callous a little bit, the sound it produces is worth the initial discomfort.
These are highly recommended if you want to be a rhythm guitarist, who enjoys strumming and keeping the melody.
Acoustic guitars usually have a larger body and a thicker fretboard. This may make it somewhat difficult for stubbier hands to handle, but since its strings are nylon, they are softer on the fingertips.
This kind of guitar is recommended if you want to play advanced, classical music, either written originally for the guitar or older lute music.
This is where everything started and you’ll find that if you learn how to play classical guitar first, you’ll have a greater understanding of how music is written, you’ll practice good technique exercises and scales and have a good musical foundation.
It’s a little bit like dancing, many dancers start with ballet because a lot of technique and steps comes from it.
Acoustic guitars are perfect if you don’t want to plug in your guitar, but just want an instrument that works well by itself.
This is the choice you should opt for if you see yourself playing heavy metal or shredding some wild solos. The fretboard on these is thin and long, allowing the greatest range.
