Anatomy
The visible parts of a guitar and where they sit.
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Start With the System
Use categories when you know the part of the guitar, or search the full list when you know the term.
Measurements
Scale length, radius, action and other dimensions.
Browse termsPlayability
Terms that describe setup, feel and adjustment.
Browse termsElectronics
Pickups, controls, wiring and signal terms.
Browse termsMaterials
Woods and other instrument-building materials.
Browse termsConstruction
How body, neck and hardware are assembled.
Browse termsA–Z glossary
Definitions With Measurement Context
Values are labeled as examples or common ranges where a single universal specification does not exist.
16 terms shown
Action
The distance between a string and the top of a fret at a stated measurement point.
Bridge
The assembly that anchors the strings at the body and defines one end of the vibrating length.
Controls
Knobs and switches used to adjust volume, tone and pickup selection on an electric instrument.
Fingerboard
The playing surface attached to the neck, usually carrying the frets.
Frets
Raised metal strips that divide the fingerboard into fixed pitch positions.
Headstock
The end of the neck that commonly holds the tuning machines.
Intonation
How accurately notes stay in tune across the playable range of the instrument.
Neck
The structural section between the body and headstock that supports the fingerboard and string path.
Nut
The slotted component that supports string spacing at the headstock end of the fingerboard.
Output jack
The socket that connects an electric instrument to a cable and external equipment.
Pickups
Transducers that convert string vibration into an electrical signal.
Fingerboard radius
The curvature across the width of a fingerboard, normally stated as the radius of a circle.
Scale length
The intended vibrating string length, commonly described from the nut to the bridge saddle.
Tonewood
A broad trade term for woods selected for musical-instrument construction; results depend on the full design.
Truss rod
An adjustable reinforcement inside many necks used to manage neck relief.
Tuners
Machines on the headstock used to change and hold string tension.
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