Guitar becomes an improved color organ

In order to learn how to play the guitar, we must first learn the basic terminology and lingo used by people in the guitar milieu. Some of the words used might sound complicated or weird, but they are commonplace among guitarists and musicians in general. They refer to the parts of the guitar, as well as some of the techniques that help us become better at this unique instrument.

The largest part of the guitar is where the sound of the strings resonates. Acoustic guitars have a large hollow wooden body, which also known as sound box.

Electric guitars do not always rely on their resonation boxes. They use magnetic pick-ups that capture the vibration of the strings and transform it to electrical signals that are sent to an amplifier. Electric guitars might have solid bodies, which can only produce sound through electronic pick-ups, or semi-hollow bodies, which have a resonation chamber but also use pick-ups to amplify their cleaner sound.

Headstock

This is also called the peghead, and is where the tuning keys are. The machine heads are used to control the tension and pitch of each string. The headstock is connected to the neck by a nut.

Nut

It is the small strip of bone, plastic or metal, connecting the headstock with the neck. It has grooves that hold the strings and guide them. This important piece marks the start of the vibrating length of the strings.

Neck

The longest section of the guitar is what holds the tension of the strings. This is where the fret board is located.

Fret Board

This device is often attached to the bridge. It is used to change the tension of the strings and produce a pitch-bending effect or vibrato effect. It is also .

Riff

A melodic phrase that is often repeated as a part of a song. It is the basic building block of composition, and serves to accompany the main melody.

Reverb

It is the residual sound caused by the reflection against walls or objects. When playing in large halls, the sound of the guitar seems louder and fuller as it has great reverberance. This distinctive sound can be emulated digitally by using effect boxes or amps that have built-in reverb effects.

Tablatures

Guitar tablatures, or “tabs”, are the written expression of music especially directed at guitar players. They do not usually contain classical notation, and the notes are expressed in finger positions on a fret board. They are easy to read and very useful when learning to play the guitar.

Vibrato

When playing a melody, a vibrating sound is often used to add certain feeling to the phrase. This is achieved by bending the string slightly in quick successions.

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