Types Of Guitars

Acoustic Guitar:

Electric Guitar:

Parts Of The Guitar

The headstock of a guitar is where you'll find the tuning machines. They are used to tune the guitar. You tighten the strings to make them sound at a higher pitch, or to loosen the strings, hence making them sound at a lower pitch. We'll learn how to tune the guitar in the next segment.

On the neck of the guitar you'll find the fretboard. The fretboard contains metal strips that are called frets. Each fret on a guitar is a note, but the note is not produced by placing your finger on the actual fret itself. Instead you place your finger behind the fret on the fretboard. The string will come in contact with the fret to sound the note.

At the top of the fretboard is a plastic piece (usually plasic, but sometimes it's wooden or even metal). This is called the nut.

How To Hold A Guitar

In sitting position:

Place the curve of the underside of the body on your right knee if your right handed or on the left knee if you are left handed. You'll drape the arm of your picking hand (right hand if you're right handed and left if you are left handed) over the part of the body behind the bridge.

The guitar should be completely balanced with the combination of your picking arm, knee, and while leaning against your chest and stomach. Your fretting hand (opposite of the picking hand =) should have complete freedom without having to support the guitar in any way.

In standing position:

Arm placement is the same as in sitting position, only you'll be using a guitar strap instead of your knee. When setting the guitar strap length, be sure you don't set it too low. It might be fashionable to have a low hanging guitar, but it will hinder your playing.

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