The first step in learning how to play an instrument is to learn how the instrument works. If you want to learn how to play the guitar, you must first decide which kind of guitar you want to play and then learn how it works. There are two main categories when it comes to the guitar: acoustic and electric. While a great deal of guitar music can be played on either the acoustic or the electric guitar, there are some differences in sound and the effects which can be utilized on the guitar. The acoustic guitar can create sound effects by manipulating the strings themselves whereas the electric guitar can create a variety of sound effects using the electric hookup and sound pedals. Once you have made your decision about which type of guitar you want to play you will be ready to move on to the next step: learning the parts of the guitar.
If you want to learn how to play the guitar and have chosen the acoustic guitar as your instrument, you must know all of the parts of your instrument and how they work together. The bottom of your acoustic guitar is called the body. The body is large and hollow and it contains the sound hole, pick guard, saddle, and bridge. The sound hole is the part of the instrument which allows the sound of the strings to be projected and the pick guard serves to protect the body of your guitar from scratches as you use the pick to strum the strings. The saddle is a small piece, often made of wood or plastic, which holds the strings away from the body and the bridge is what keeps the strings in the correct position. The long, narrow part of your acoustic guitar is called the neck and at the opposite end of the neck from the body is the head of the guitar. The head is home of the tuning keys which, when tightened and loosened can be used to adjust the pitch of the guitar string attached to it.
There are several parts to the neck of the acoustic guitar - the fingerboard, the strings, the position markers, and the frets. The fingerboard is also called the fretboard and it is the front of the guitar. The frets are small pieces of metal that divide the fingerboard in different places so that, when you press them and strum or pluck the strings, different pitches are sounded. Position markers are simply small circles on the fingerboard placed there to help guide you. Once you have gained an understanding of the parts of your instrument you will be ready to learn to play the guitar. Good luck!
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