Your Guitar
Before you play, it helps to know what you're holding. Acoustic, electric, or classical—the same core parts apply.
Main Parts
Body — the large part you rest on your leg (acoustic) or against your torso (electric). The sound hole (acoustic) or pickups (electric) live here.
Neck — the long piece with frets (metal strips). Press a string behind a fret to change the pitch.
Headstock — the top of the neck with tuning pegs (machine heads). Turn these to tighten or loosen strings.
Strings — six on a standard guitar. From thickest to thinnest in standard tuning: E, A, D, G, B, e.
Bridge — where strings anchor at the body end. Nut — the small strip at the top of the neck where strings pass before the headstock.
Fretboard (fingerboard) — the flat surface on the neck where you press strings. Fret 0 is an open string (no finger down).
How It Makes Sound
Pluck or strum a string → it vibrates → the body amplifies the vibration (acoustic) or pickups send a signal to an amp (electric). Pressing behind a fret shortens the vibrating length and raises the pitch.
Open String Pitches
Each open string has a letter name—the foundation of tuning and tab reading:
X:1
T:Open String Names
K:C
M:4/4
L:1/2
E,2 | A,2 | D2 | G2 | B2 | e2 ||
Play this in Music Buddy. Turn on Tab to see which string each note comes from. Match the pitch on your guitar—if it sounds wrong, you may need to tune (covered in the next lessons).
Frets and Numbers
Fret numbers count from the nut: 1 is the first fret, 3 is the third, and so on. Tab shows string and fret; notation shows pitch on the staff. Both describe the same notes.
X:2
T:Same Note Two Ways — Open E String
K:C
M:4/4
L:1/4
E, E, E, E ||
Four plucks on the low E open string—simple, but it's how you'll check tuning and build rhythm.
(Justin Sandercoe)—clear names for the body, neck, headstock, frets, bridge, nut, tuners, and electric controls.
Practice tip: Point to each part on your guitar while naming it aloud. You'll see these terms in every lesson and video from here on.
Further viewing
- (Lauren Bateman)—body parts, string names, tuning, posture, and a first-song overview
- —acoustic, semi-acoustic, and electric guitar differences for new players
Next: comfortable posture, pick grip, and how to hold the guitar so practice stays pain-free.
©Music Buddy