In this lesson
Knowing the names of guitar parts makes tuning, lessons and setup advice easier to follow. The photograph below shows one electric guitar. Acoustic guitars share many of these parts, but their bodies, bridges and electronics can differ.
Headstock and tuning machines
The headstock sits beyond the nut and carries the tuning machines, also called machine heads or tuners. Turning a tuner changes the tension of its string and therefore its pitch. Some guitars have all six tuners in a row; others have three on each side. Headless designs put their tuning hardware elsewhere.
Locking tuners clamp the string at the post. You still turn the tuner to set the pitch. They are different from a locking nut, which clamps the strings near the end of the fingerboard. Follow the instructions for your hardware when changing strings.
Nut
The nut guides the strings where they pass from the headstock to the fingerboard. On a typical guitar, its slots set the strings’ spacing and their height at that end of the neck. The open string normally vibrates between the nut and its bridge saddle. Some designs use a zero fret as the open string’s support instead.
A nut slot that is too high, too low or binding can cause playing or tuning problems. Identifying the symptom is useful; filing slots is a separate repair task. Start with the setup troubleshooting guide.
Neck, fingerboard and frets
The neck supports the fingerboard, also called the fretboard. On a fretted guitar, metal frets cross the fingerboard. Press a string just behind a fret to shorten its vibrating length and play a higher note. Pressing directly on top of the fret or far behind it can make a clean note harder to produce.
Position markers help you find your way along the neck. Their pattern varies, so check your own guitar. The fingerboard’s width, curvature and the neck’s shape affect how it feels in your hand; a material name alone cannot tell you whether it will be comfortable.
Many guitars have an adjustable truss rod inside the neck to control its curvature, or relief. Some do not. Read the truss-rod guide before attempting an adjustment; it is not a general-purpose string-height control.
Body and pickguard
The body is the large section that rests against you. A conventional acoustic guitar has a hollow body and a vibrating top that helps radiate the strings’ sound. Electric guitars include solid, hollow and semi-hollow constructions.
A pickguard protects part of the surface near the strings. On some electric guitars it also holds pickups and controls. Its presence and shape depend on the model.
Bridge, saddles and tailpiece
The strings pass over saddles at the bridge. Each saddle supports a string at the body end of its vibrating length. Some guitars use separate saddles; a typical acoustic has one saddle across several strings.
The string ends may anchor at the bridge, through the body or at a separate tailpiece. Many steel-string acoustics use bridge pins; classical guitars commonly use a tie block. These are different fastening systems, so use the correct restringing instructions.
Some electric bridges move when you use a vibrato arm, often called a tremolo arm or whammy bar. This changes string tension and pitch. Other bridges are fixed. Adjustment methods depend on the bridge; see intonation and scale length for the underlying terms.
Pickups and controls
On many electric guitars, magnetic pickups sit under the strings. Their signal travels through the guitar’s controls to the output jack. A pickup nearest the bridge is called the bridge pickup; one nearest the neck is the neck pickup. A guitar may also have a middle pickup. The pickup lesson explains their operation and sounds.
A selector switch chooses pickups or wired combinations. Volume and tone controls change the output level and tonal balance. The number of knobs and switch positions does not establish the circuit: follow your model’s diagram or the controls guide.
An acoustic may have a pickup and preamp too, although the pickup need not be visible beneath the strings. An acoustic-electric guitar is an acoustic equipped for amplified use.
Output jack and strap buttons
The output jack connects the guitar to an amplifier or other audio equipment. It is often a quarter-inch socket. On an acoustic-electric it may be combined with the end pin. Avoid pulling the cable sideways against the socket.
Strap buttons are attachment points for a strap. Some instruments have two; others need a different arrangement. Check the strap guide before relying on an unfamiliar attachment.
Find the parts on your guitar
Locate the tuners, nut, fingerboard and bridge first. Then identify any pickups, controls and output jack. If a part looks different from the photograph, look up your model’s manual before adjusting it.
Fender’s acoustic manual includes an acoustic anatomy diagram. Its Standard Stratocaster service manual provides an electric example; the details apply to the listed model, not every guitar.