How the guitar is laid out
Concept
Before we name anything, let's get oriented. A guitar has 6 strings that run the full length of the neck. The metal bars crossing the neck are frets — pressing a string down between two frets shortens it and raises its pitch. Your fretting hand chooses the pitch; your picking hand makes the sound.
The parts you'll hear named over and over
From the tip of the neck down to the body: - Headstock — the wide piece at the top that holds the tuning pegs (tuners). - Nut — the small ridge where the strings leave the headstock. It's effectively 'fret 0.' - Neck and fretboard — the long part you press strings against. - Frets — the metal bars across the neck. They're numbered starting at 1 nearest the nut. - Body — the big resonating part. On acoustic it has a soundhole; on electric it has pickups. - Bridge and saddle — where the strings anchor on the body.
Fretting hand vs picking hand
Your fretting hand changes pitch by pressing strings against frets. Your picking hand sets strings vibrating by strumming or picking.
A chord is just a particular set of fingers placed on particular frets. A note is a single string at a single fret. Everything else builds on this.
Fret markers — your map
Look at the side or face of your neck for dots (or inlays) at frets 3, 5, 7, 9 and a double-dot at 12. These are landmarks. When someone says 'play at the 7th fret,' you can spot it instantly without counting.
Key takeaways
- •Frets and strings are the grid. Notes live where they cross.
- •Fretting hand sets pitch, picking hand sets sound.
- •Dot inlays at 3-5-7-9 and 12 are your fast-find landmarks.
Glossary
- Nut
- The ridge at the top of the fretboard. Acts as fret 0.
- Inlay
- Decorative marker on the fretboard, usually at frets 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 15.