What Is the Box Attached to Guitars Called Again

Guitar Terms: Guitar Parts, Techniques, & Slang for Beginners

Learning guitar isn't just almost memorizing chords and notes, you lot also take to learn some new vocabulary! Let's look at the diverse lingo for parts of the guitar, accessories, slang, and more.

For a quick, piece of cake breakdown of these guitar terms, make sure you check out the infographic at the lesser of this article. Looking for something specific? Jump to the different sections of this article hither:

Parts of the Guitar
Guitar Terms and Moves
Guitar Accessories
Guitar and Music Slang

Parts of the Guitar

guitar parts terms

Before y'all can play, you need to acquire the lay of the state! Get familiar with your guitar with this intro to the parts and functions.

Neck

The long wooden stem that connects the headstock of the guitar to the torso. This is where the fretboard lies.

Fretbar

Strips of metal found on the fretboard or fingerboard (located on the neck). Each fretbar represents a annotation.

Fret

The infinite between each fretbar. This is where you will finger each notation.

Fretboard

Attached to the neck, this is where the frets lie, and where y'all will finger each note.

Tuning Pegs (Machineheads)

Located on the headstock. Twisting the tuning pegs increases or decreases the tension of the cord, that changes the pitch accordingly.

Strings

Metal or nylon strips of wire that produce sound through vibrations.

Pickups

Electro-magnetic strips on the body of an electric guitar. Pickups create a magnetic field which alters the vibrations and the tone of the guitar.

Single Coil – A pickup with only ane gyre effectually the magnet.
Humbucker – A pickup with two coils of opposite polarity around the magnet, which reduces hum.

Toggle Switch

A lever on the front end of the guitar that switches which pickup is activated.

Bridge

A metal or wooden office on the front of the body that holds the strings in place.

Trunk

The main part of the guitar where you tin discover the pickups, toggle switches, bridge, and dials.

Solid – Electrical guitars are solid bodied because at that place is no need for acoustic amplification.
Hollow – Acoustic guitars are hollow bodied and have a sound hole to amplify the sound.
Semi-Hollow – Some electric guitars feature a semi-hollow body that produces sound electronically, simply likewise features a audio hole. The sound hole is normally much thinner and smaller than a true acoustic guitar

Headstock

Attached to the neck, where the tuner pegs are located.

Span Pins

On well-nigh acoustic guitars, there are pins on the bridge that hold the strings in place. Learn more about guitar parts here.

Guitar Terms and Moves

guitar terms and moves

Now permit'southward get into some guitar terms that describe moves and techniques you will use to play guitar.

Hammer-on

Playing a notation by slamming hard on the fret with your finger. Opposite of a pull-off.

Pull-off

Playing a note without picking.

Place two fingers on the same string, but dissimilar frets. Release the higher note so the lower notation rings out.

Slide

A guitar movement where you play a note, and then motion that notation upwards or down on the fretboard.

Hold the note firmly every bit you move.

Barre Chord

To play a barre chord, yous need to concur down more than one annotation with just one finger.

Y'all will normally utilize your index finger to bar several strings on the same fret.

Bend

Pushing your finger forwards or backward, while holding it down firmly on the string and fretboard, to increase the pitch.

Palm Mute

Place the palm of your strumming hand over the strings about the bridge, and pick a note. This will decrease the sustain of the note essentially.

Picking

Using your finger or a pick to sound notes on a guitar. Learn how to hold and use a pick hither.

Action

The distance between the cord and the fretboard.

Typically, you would like there to be minimal altitude.

Intonation

The ability of the guitar to stay in tune with itself.

For example, the 12th fret should be an verbal octave from the open string.

Strumming

Running your finger or choice along more than 1 note.

Usually played in rhythm to create chords.

Standard Tuning

Tune your guitar to EADGBE (from the thickest cord to the thinnest).

Related: How to Melody a Guitar

Drop D Tuning

DADGBE: Much like standard tuning, but the everyman E is dropped to a D.

Driblet D tuning is one of several alternate guitar tunings you can use to play different styles and sounds. Learn more about alternating guitar tunings hither.

Open up String

Any string on the guitar played without pressing down on a fret.

Pentatonic Scale

A series of five notes found in the major or pocket-size scale. This has become the standard scale used in rock and blues music.

Power Chord

A chord that consists of the root, 5th, and octave.

For example, CGC or EBE. This is a common chord in rock music.

Pace

A step is equal to a tone or note.

One-half Footstep – Moving up or downwards one fret.
Whole Step – Moving upwards or down two frets.

Alternating Picking

Altering up and down strokes while playing individual notes.

This is the correct style to choice a scale.

Guitar Accessories

guitar terms

Here are some fun things you may want to expect into to help you play better and proceed your guitar in good condition.

Tuner

This tin can be fastened to the guitar or plugged in (electric). It reads the frequency of each note and indicates if it's in tune.

Typically it will tune to standard tuning (EADGBE).

Related: What's the Best Guitar Tuner?

Capo

A mechanical clench that attaches to the neck of the guitar.

To use a capo, place it on whatsoever fret to change the key and lower the activity.

Choice

A plastic, triangular-shaped tool you tin utilize to pluck the guitar strings

Strap

A slice of textile (usually leather or cloth) that holds the guitar around your body.

Strap Locks

Material that holds the strap in place.

Tremolo Bar / Whammy Bar

A removable metal bar fastened to the bridge on an electric guitar.

The tremolo/whammy bar changes the pitch of the strings while playing.

String Winder

A tool to remove and replace the strings.

It attaches to the tuning pegs and increases or decreases the tension (at a rate much faster than our fingers).

Guitar and Music Slang

guitar vocabulary and slang
Here are the terms all aspiring rockstars should know!

Ax

Another name for a guitar. This term became popular in the '80s.

Bar

Another name for a measure.

Tab

Short for Tablature, a course of notation used for guitarists.

Related: How to Read Guitar Tabs Similar a Pro

BPM

Beats Per Minute (refers to the tempo).

Chucking

Another term for fret hand muting, which is used more for percussive purposes.

Pb

Playing lead is the contrary of playing rhythm guitar. It refers to playing the tune.

Lick / Riff

A series of notes that create a distinguished sound. Also known as a hook.