Guitar Glossary of Terms

Term

Definition

Picture

Action

Height of the strings from the fretboard to the string itself. The closure the action the easier to play, but the more "fret buzz" you may hear.

 

Arch Top (Carved Top)

Refers to the body of a guitar that has been carved or shaped for either the tone or looks of the guitar

 

Body

  The main part of the guitar.

Bolt on neck

Attaching the guitar neck to the body of the guitar with bolts.  The screws or bolts are attached with a neck plate in the back of your guitar.

Bridge

The Bridge is located on the body of the guitar and transfers sound from the strings to the body of the guitar.  This can be held in place by screws or string tension.

Coil Tap

Switch used to break up a humbucker into single coil sounds or vice versa

 

Combo Amp

In addition to types of amplification such as solid state and tube, guitar amps come in different configurations. Combo Amps are self-contained units containing the amplifier and speaker in one cabinet, as opposed to a separate amp “head” and cabinet.

Cutaway

A cutaway is the deign of the body that allows easier access to the upper frets. Compare to Dreadnought.

Dreadnought

A term used to describe large sized acoustic guitars, without a cutaway.  

F- Hole

Sound hole carved into instruments.

Fret

The metal strips along your fretboard. 

Fretboard

The top of the neck is the area that the string is pressed to create a note.  They usually have a Dot or inlay that are used as a point of reference for moving your fingers along the fretboard

Head Stock

Top of the instrument where the tuners are located

Humbucker

Two single coil pickups, wired side by side so a that the electronic hum you get with most single coil pickups is canceled out.

Inlay

Markers on your fretboard that give players with a frame of reference.  There are a variety of dot inlays shapes and designs.

Jack

The receptacle the guitar cord is plugged into on the guitar and on the Amp.

Neck

The neck is sort of the middle of the guitar.  It's where the strings are stretched over the fretboard.

Neck Through Body

A neck joint that is used exclusively in solid body and semi-solid body guitars. The neck is part of the guitar's body and extends the entire length of the instrument.

Nut

Piece of plastic or metal between the headstock and fretboard.   Guides the strings from the headstock and tuners over the fretboard

Pick / plectrum

Pickguard

Piece of material placed on the body of a guitar to protect from pick scratches.

Pickup

The device that converts string vibrations into an electronic signal.  The signal is then used by an amplifier to create the sound you hear. 

Saddles

Piece of bridge that holds the string in place

String Through

The strings run through the body of the guitar after the saddles.  This has the effect of increasing sustain.

Set Neck

When a neck is glued into the neck pocket of the body of a guitar.

Single Coil

A magnetic pickup design that uses one coil of wire around a magnet.

Solid Body (guitar)

A guitar made of solid wood, without resonating airspaces within it.

Stoptail Bridge

A Stoptail bridge is a combination of bridge and Stop tailpiece mounted directly to the body of solid body guitar. A Stop tailpiece is a separate bar, mounted on the body behind a movable or fixed bridge that holds the strings.

Strings

Stretched between the tuners and the bridge of guitar.

Truss Rod

A long rod inside your guitar neck used for stabilizing a wooden neck

Tune-o-matic Bridge

Attached to guitar's body by two posts and has adjustable saddles

Vibrato Tailpiece

A component found on many electric guitars that allows players to produce a vibrato effect - a series of pitch changes, up or down, on notes.

Whammy Bar

Used to stretch the strings on a tremolo or vibrato system