If you’re a budding musician or simply curious about how electric guitars work, understanding the different parts of an electric guitar is essential. From the body and neck to the pickups and bridge, each component plays a crucial role in producing the unique sound that electric guitars are known for.
Here, I’ll break down each part of an electric guitar and explain its function. If you’re a beginner guitarist looking to learn more or just interested in the mechanics behind your favorite instrument, this guide has got you covered. So grab your pick, and let’s dive into the world of electric guitars.
Different Sections of Electric Guitar
An electric guitar comprises three parts: the body, the neck, and the headstock. These three components are included in every electric guitar, albeit their form and size may fluctuate across models and manufacturers.
Guitar Body
The pickups, volume, and tone controls, and numerous other electronics, including a preamp for an active electric guitar, are all housed in the guitar’s body.
The body is commonly built of hardwoods such as alder, mahogany, or maple, although other hardwoods can be used. The type of wood also influences the tone of the guitar. The hardwood body has been colored and varnished to make it glossy and appealing.
Most electric guitars are solid-body; however, semi-hollow and fully-hollow guitars are also available. As the name implies, a semi-hollow has a sound chamber but is considerably smaller than an acoustic guitar. In contrast, a full-hollow may have a larger chamber but is much smaller than an acoustic guitar.
Guitar Neck
The fretboard is located on the neck, extending from the instrument’s body. The neck is made of solid wood and is distinct from the body, normally securely affixed to it. One of the most important pieces within the guitar neck is the truss rod, which generates counter tension to stabilize the neck from string tension.
Headstock
The machine heads or tuners are housed in the guitar’s headstock or head. Many guitars have a straight headstock when viewed from the side, and it is part of a single wooden piece that forms the neck. Wood is bonded to the neck if a guitar has an angled headstock.
The tuners in the headstock can be 6-in-line (as seen in the image), which is common among Fender’s electric guitar range, or 3+3, with three tuning pegs on each side.
Aside from that, headstocks nearly usually include the manufacturer’s name and logo, making them one of the most essential cosmetic components of an electric guitar.
Different Parts of an Electric Guitar
Now that the essential parts are over let’s talk about the different parts of an electric guitar and what they do.
Tuning Pegs and Tuning Posts
The tuning pegs and tuning posts make up the machine heads. A gear mechanism connects these two parts. Because the pegs can be turned clockwise and counterclockwise, the tuning posts with holes can also be turned.
The rotation changes how tight the strings are and lets the guitarist tune them to their liking. The tuners on different brands are set up in different ways. Not all of them have all six tuners on one side. Some have three on one side and three on the other. They work the same way, no matter what the arrangement is.
String Retainer
These are often found on guitars with a straight headstock, like Fender guitars. They are also called string trees. Their job is to keep the string from pulling out of the nut’s slot because the headstock is at a right angle. Based on the model, there may be one or two string retainers.
Nut
Sometimes, the nut is made of metal, sometimes bone, and it has holes or grooves where the strings sit. They are a small but essential guitar part. They decide how high the strings should be above the frets. This is known as string movement.
A bad nut could make the sound buzz or mess up the pitch. The person can’t change it, so it’s best to leave it alone for the most part. You will only need to fix the nut when trying to string the guitar again with strings that are too thick and won’t fit in the holes. In this case, you should get help from an expert woodworker.
Strings
From thinnest to most comprehensive, an electric guitar’s six strings are tuned to E, A, D, G, B, and E. Strings are made of electromagnetic materials, such as steel, and picks turn vibrations into electrical signals. This signal is then boosted to produce sound. The strings can be coated in different ways, be made of other materials, and have different shapes.
Each of the six strings in a set has a different width, making the different pitches possible. In the same way, you can get string sets with different lengths. Thinner strings sound brighter and have more height, while larger strings sound fuller and have more bass. The tone is also changed by the products used.
Frets
Frets are strips of metal that are usually put on the fretboard and held in place with adhesive. When a string is pushed against a fret, the length of the string’s vibrating component changes, causing the pitch to shift.
The spacing of the frets on the fretboard is determined by the guitar’s scale length, which is determined by the neck size. Frets may need to be replaced after a certain amount of time (typically several weeks to a few months of intensive playing) if they wear out.
Fret Inlays
Fret inlays or markers are little dots on the fretboard used to designate specific frets and for decoration. A standard guitar may include single dot inlays on the third, fifth, seventh, and ninth frets, double inlays on the 12th, and single inlays on the 17th, 19th, and 21st frets. Inlays on Gibson guitars are often significantly more extensive and trapezoid-shaped.
To be visible, these inlays are generally a contrasting hue to the fretboard. Guitarists can use them as a reference to rapidly find the frets, especially those lower down the fretboard. Many guitars include little dots on the side of the neck facing the player that serves as a guide instead. The fretboard inlays in this example are mainly cosmetic.
Fretboard
It’s made of a thin piece of wood glued to the guitar’s neck. It’s also called the fingerboard. There may not be a separate fretboard on some guitars; the fretboard may be made of the part that goes around the neck.
It is one of the most essential parts of a guitar that the frets are put out on. Because our fingers constantly touch the keyboard, cleaning it often is necessary.
Strap Button
These buttons are where the guitar straps are connected. The belt is put over the shoulder so both hands can move around. Electric guitars are prominent instruments, and straps let you free up your arms and even keep the guitars from falling over by mistake.
Many times, wider straps are more comfortable. You should also change the length so the guitar hangs at a level that lets you fret and strum without stretching.
Pickups
Pickups are the core of electric guitars because they turn the strings’ vibrations into signals. Many different types and varieties of pickups are available; however, most electric guitars use electromagnetic pickups.
The majority of the guitars feature two or three pickups. The one closest to the bridge is referred to as the bridge pickup, the one in the middle as the middle pickup, and the one closest to the neck as the neck pickup.
A standard guitar will allow you to select which pickup(s) you want to receive the signal from. The tone of your sound will be affected if you use various pickups or a mix of them.
Bridge
The strings are attached to the tuners on one side of the instrument and the bridge on the other. The bridge is crucial in electric guitars since a poorly tuned bridge may damage your tone. Most electric guitar bridges have a mechanism for fine-tuning the strings’ intonation and action (height).
Some bridges (like the one seen in the image) may feature a removable arm known as the tremolo arm, which allows for sophisticated effects such as vibrato.
Several factors can affect a guitar’s intonation, action, sustain, and tuning stability. Therefore, a good quality, adequately adjusted bridge is necessary for the best sound.
Saddles
Saddles are a type of bridge to which individual strings are attached. The adjustable saddle on most electric guitar bridges contains screws on the side to set the intonation. Some higher-end bridges may additionally have individual saddle height adjustments that may be used to regulate the action of the different strings.
Vibrato/Tremolo Arm
Some guitars include a tremolo, vibrato, or whammy arm, a removable “arm” on the bridge. In layman’s words, these bridges have a separate spring-loaded frame that supports the saddles and is movable by the bar.
This briefly alters the tension of the strings and, consequently, their pitch, allowing effects like pitch bending, vibrato, and “dive bombs” to be achieved. Many tremolo systems are available that can be adapted to most electric guitars.
Jack-Plate And Output Jack
Most electric guitars include a 14-inch jack that delivers a mono-signal output. This jack links the guitar to the amplifier or effects pedals (which are then connected to the amplifier).
The jack plate protects the guitar’s body from unintentional scratches caused by the jack connector plug. It also improves the appearance of the instrument.
Tone And Volume Controls
The volume knob determines the amplitude of the output signal as well as its loudness. The tone knob on most guitars (passive) functions as a low-pass filter, controlling the bass and treble output. Lower numbers reduce more of the upper-end frequencies. At the same time, higher values allow more treble frequencies to come through while restricting lower-end frequencies.
Selector Switch For Pickups
Many electric guitars contain a pickup selector switch that allows you to choose which pickup or group of pickups to use to acquire the signal. Neck pickups often provide a softer, mellow tone, whereas bridge pickups produce a brighter tone. The center pickup is more balanced than the other.
Most three-pickup electric guitars contain a five-way pickup selector switch that allows you to select each pickup individually and two in unison bridge-and-middle and middle-and-neck. Some guitars with three pickups may include a three-way selector switch that will enable you to set each pickup individually.
Pickguard
Pickguards, as the name implies, protect the guitar’s body from being scratched by the pick while playing. It is often composed of plastic and covers the hollow in the guitar body where the wiring and electronics are housed.
Apart from the pots and wires, a passive guitar has little electronics. Still, an active guitar might contain many circuits inside the cavity the pickguard covers.
Nut for Truss Rod and Truss Rod
It is usually visible behind the guitar nut that the truss rod nut is adjustable using an Allen key. A plate may cover this tiny aperture on some guitars.
This Allen-key nut is attached to the steel truss rod within the neck and is accessible from the outside.
The strings of a guitar are incredibly tight, and this rod keeps the neck from bending. Loosening the truss rod nut causes the neck to bend slightly when the strings pull on it while tightening it straightens the neck. This, in turn, influences string height or action, particularly toward the middle of the neck.
Why Do You Need To Know Electric Guitar Parts?
Every guitarist should understand the different parts of an electric guitar, regardless of their experience level. Several components contribute to the overall sound and tone.
How Electric Guitar Work?
Electric guitar parts are essential for knowing how the instrument works and enhancing your overall playing experience. Before deciding which guitar suits your playing style, it is necessary to learn about each guitar component, including its body, neck, fretboard, pickups, and controls.
Easy To Learn
Learning the guitar’s anatomy will help beginners navigate the instrument and communicate more effectively with other musicians and guitar technicians. A guitar’s body, neck, fretboard, pickups, bridge, tuning pegs, and bridge are some key components to learn. Every part plays a crucial role in producing sound and manipulating tone. These components can help beginners gain a solid foundation in electric guitar playing and enhance their learning experience.
Easy To Maintain Electric Guitar
You can troubleshoot any problems with your guitar if you know the different parts. For example, if you’re experiencing a buzzing sound, adjusting the truss rod or saddle height can help resolve the problem. Furthermore, knowing electric guitar parts will help you prolong the life of your instrument and ensure optimal performance.
Final Words On Parts Of An Electric Guitar
Electric guitar parts are essential to every guitarist, regardless of their experience level. Every component plays a critical role in shaping the sound and feel of the instrument.
By familiarizing yourself with these parts, you can better understand how they work together to create your desired tone and playability. So, whether you’re looking to upgrade your current guitar or purchase a new one, knowing the various components will enable you to make informed decisions and enhance your overall playing experience.
FAQs
What Is The Long Part Of An Electric Guitar Called?
A guitar’s neck is the long part that protrudes from the body. In a guitar, you hold the neck with your left hand if you are right-handed and your right hand if left-handed.
What Is The Most Important Part Of The Guitar?
A fretboard or fingerboard is laminated to the front of the neck and is essential. It influences playing style, tone, and comfort.
What are the internal parts of an electric guitar?
The pickups and switches on passive guitars are usually connected by pots (potentiometers) and wiring. It’s connected to the output jack at the end of the cable. These are placed inside a cavity in the guitar’s body and covered with several screws by the pickguard.
Active guitars contain electronic PCBs and require batteries, which make them more expensive. There is usually a preamp and EQ onboard, allowing for more control over tone while generating a stronger signal.
What Makes Electric Guitar Play?
A pickup is a device embedded in the body of an electric guitar. String vibrations are converted into an electric signal by pickups, which are then sent to an amplifier over a shielded cable. In the amplifier, the electric signal is converted into sound and played.