A guitar is one of the most popular musical instruments, and it is made up of several important parts that create its unique sound. From the headstock and tuning pegs to the strings, frets, and body, each part has a special role. In this article, we’ll explore the main parts of a guitar in English, making it simple to learn their names and functions.
List of Guitar Parts
- Head stock
- Machine head
- Neck
- Sound hole
- Pic guard
- Side of body
- Sound board
- Bridge
- Bridge saddle
- Fretboard
- Nut
Guitar Parts and Their Definitions
- Headstock
At the top of the neck is the headstock or peghead of the guitar, which holds the tuning pegs and keys that allow the guitar to be tuned.
- Machine head
Machine heads vary from instrument to instrument.
- Neck
The neck of the guitar projects from the main guitar body and includes the fretboard, frets, headstock, and truss rod.The neck of your guitar is the long, narrow piece of wood that runs from the head of your guitar down to the body.
- Sound hole
Sound holes help with sound projection, though it is a misconception to think this is the main source of a guitar’s sound.
- Pic guard
The pick guard or scratch plate of the guitar does exactly what its name indicates: protect the soundboard from being scratched or damaged by a pick.
- Bridge
The bridge is the piece where your guitar’s strings are attached to the body.
- Bridge saddle
The guitar saddle is a think piece of bone or plastic attached to the bridge that lifts the strings to the desired height and transfers vibration through the bridge to the soundboard.
- Fretboard
Frets are the raised bits of wire the run across the fingerboard’s width. In essence they enable strings to be ‘shortened’ by pressing it down behind them, but to lengths that correspond to exact half notes.
- Nut
The thin piece of material that supports the strings on the end of the neck of the guitar closest to the headstock is called the nut.
Learn more about different parts of a microscope in English.