PARTS OF THE GUITAR - ACOUSTIC

Whether you start with an acoustic guitar or an electric guitar, it is wise to be able to identify all the guitar parts with
their correct names. Take some time to memorize all the part names and you will find it easier to understand their
function later on. The type of guitar shown below is a steel string acoustic.

PART NAMES AND FUNCTION

 Neck – the neck is the entire length between the guitar
body and the head of the guitar
 Fretboard – not to be confused with the neck, the fretboard
is the section of the neck where you place your fingers on
the strings. Usually made of rosewood or mahogany
 Head – the end of the neck holding the tuning heads
 Frets – the metal wire across the fretboard you will use to
play notes
 Strings – normally six (can be seven or more) strings run
down the neck made of either steel or nylon (depending on
the guitar type)
 Body – the part of the guitar you will rest on your lap while
playing. Can be made out of a wide range of woods and are
many different shapes and sizes
 Bridge – where the end of the strings are held on the guitar
body
 Sound hole – allows the sound to project out from the
guitar body
 Nut – the fixed bar that holds the strings in place at the end
of the neck
 Tuning Heads – called a range of different names but all do
the same basic job- allow you to tune the guitar
 Position Markers – most guitars have some type of markers (for example, dots, diamonds, rectangles, etc) to help
you recognize your position on the fretboard
 Pick Guard – a plastic sheet on the guitar to protect the guitar body from scratches. Old guitars without pick guards
can have very obvious worn out scratches from repeated strumming over the years
 Rosette – decorative inlay around the sound hole.
 Binding – decorative edging on the guitar body.
 Heel – the end of the neck where it connects to the guitar body. The heel gives strength to the neck and body to
resist against the force of the strings
 Soundboard – the top layer of the body. A range of different woods can be used (for example, spruce or red cedar)
which greatly affect the sound
 Truss Rod (not shown) – a rod contained inside the neck in some guitars to provide resistance against the force of
the strings. The truss rod can be adjusted to change the bow of the neck
 Bridge Pins – used to hold the ends of the strings in place into the bridge (only on some guitars)
 Bridge Saddle – holds the strings in place at the bridge.

BEG-01
PARTS OF THE GUITAR - ELECTRIC
Electric guitars can come in every shape imaginable and there are a huge range of different parts available. Although
electric guitars can have many different type of parts, the basic layout and functions are normally all very similar.

PART NAMES AND FUNCTION

 Neck – the neck is the entire length between the
guitar body and the head of the guitar
 Fretboard – not to be confused with the neck, the
fretboard is the section of the neck where you place
your fingers on the strings. Usually made of
rosewood, mahogany or maple
 Head – the end of the neck holding the tuning
heads
 Frets – the metal wire across the fretboard you will
use to play notes
 Strings – normally six (can be seven or more) strings
run down the neck
 Body – the part of the guitar you will rest on your
lap while playing. Can be made out of a wide range
of woods and many different shapes and sizes
 Bridge – where the end of the strings are held on
the guitar body. Many different variations are
available with electric guitars
 Whammy Bar – available on some guitars. Connects
to the bridge and allows the pitch of the strings to
be lowered (or sometimes raised)
 Nut – the fixed bar that holds the strings in place at
the end of the neck
 Tuning Heads – called a range of different names
but all do the same basic job- allow you to tune the guitar
 Position Markers – most guitars have some type of markers (for example, dots, diamonds, rectangles, etc) to help
you recognize your position on the fretboard
 Pick Guard – a plastic sheet on some guitars to protect the guitar body from scratches. Old guitars without pick
guards can have very obvious worn out scratches from repeated strumming over the years
 Truss Rod (not shown) – a rod contained inside the neck in some guitars to provide resistance against the force of
the strings. The truss rod can be adjusted to change the bow of the neck
 Cutaway – allows greater access to the higher frets
 Pickups – the vibration of the strings is captured in the electromagnetic pickups. A wide range of types are available
and all have a huge impact on tone
 Pickup Selector – allows you to change between the different pickups and even combinations of pickups
 Input Jack – allows you to connect the guitar to an amp. Sometime people call it an ‘output jack’
 Volume & Tone Knobs – allow you to adjust the guitar’s volume and tone
 Strap Buttons – two buttons that allow you to attach a strap so you can play while standing up
BEG-01
TABLATURE is a type of musical notation that guitarists have developed to
describe what strings on the guitar are being
played at any point and what frets need to be fingered.

Strings: Finger Numbers:

① = E

② = B
③ = G
④ = D
⑤ = A
⑥ = E

Directions: Play each finger pattern on each string. Start on the first string, then the second,
third, etc... Although a little difficult at first, these exercises quickly build the motor skill
control needed to play the guitar effectively. Practice with an even,
steady rhythm. The goal is control, not speed.
Chord Blocks
CHORD BLOCKS are diagrams that tell you how a chord is to be played. They include
information about which frets are to be
played by which fingers and which strings are to be played or not.

The first two chords to be learned are the C and G7. Form and play each chord. The numbers
tell you which fingers to use.
The C chord uses only 5 strings, so be careful not to play the sixth string. The G7 uses all six
strings.
Chord Exercises
 Learn & Master Guitar

First String Exercises

Instructions: Write above each note the letter name of the note. Play each exercise using the correct finger for
each note.
E F G

1. Whole Notes get 4 Beats.

2. Half Notes get 2 Beats.

3. Quarter Notes get 1 Beat.

4.

SESSION 2 9 Reading Music & Notes on the 1st & 2nd Strings
 Learn & Master Guitar

More First String Exercises

Instructions: These exercises do not have the tablature included. Try to read the music and play slowly. Write in
the notes if needed. Play each exercise. Remember to use the correct finger for each note.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5. Continue to next line.

The Notes on the B or Second String

B C D
1

Second Second String Second String

String First Finger Third Finger
Open First Fret Third Fret
SESSION 2 10 Reading Music & Notes on the 1st & 2nd Strings
 Learn & Master Guitar

Second String Exercises

Instructions: Write above each note the letter name of the note. Play each exercise using the correct finger for
each note. Practice slowly. Remember to give each note the proper number of beats.
B C D

1.

2.

3.

4.

More Second String Exercises

Instructions: Try to read the music and play slowly in an even rhythm. Write in the notes if needed. Play through
each exercise until there is no hesitation between notes.

1.

SESSION 2 11 Reading Music & Notes on the 1st & 2nd Strings
 Learn & Master Guitar

2.

3.

4.

5.

First and Second String Exercises

Instructions: Play each exercise slowly in an even, steady rhythm. Be careful to use the correct finger for each note.

1.

2.

3.

SESSION 2 12 Reading Music & Notes on the 1st & 2nd Strings
 Learn & Master Guitar

4.

More First and Second String Exercises

Instructions: Try to read the music and play slowly in an even rhythm. Write in the notes if needed. Play through
each exercise until there is no hesitation between notes.

1.

2.
Quarter rest, 1 Beat.

3.
Half rest, 2 Beats.

4.

5.

6.
Session 2 Assignment
· Play through all of the First and Second String Exercises several times. (pages 9-13)
· Play Ode To Joy, both notes and chords. Write in letter names of notes. (page 14)
· Play Jingle Bells, both notes and chords. Write in letter names of notes. (page 15)

SESSION 2 13 Reading Music & Notes on the 1st & 2nd Strings
 Learn & Master Guitar

Theme from Symphony #9

Ode to Joy
Jam Along CD #1
Track 2 - Slow Version
Track 3 - Medium Version Ludwig van Beethoven
Track 4 - Fast Version (1770-1827)
Play the notes then practice strumming the correct chord for each beat. If a measure does not have a chord change over it then continue
to play the previous chord until the chord changes.

SESSION 2 14 Reading Music & Notes on the 1st & 2nd Strings
 Learn & Master Guitar

Jam Along CD #1
Track 5 - Slow Version
Track 6 - Medium Version
Jingle Bells
Track 7 - Fast Version

SESSION 2 15 Reading Music & Notes on the 1st & 2nd Strings
 Learn & Master Guitar

SESSION 3- Notes on the 3rd & 4th Strings

Estimated Time to Learn These Concepts - 2 Weeks

“I would teach children music, physics, and philosophy; but most importantly music, for in the patterns of
music and all the arts are the keys of learning.”
~ Plato

Ties
A TIE combines the rhythmic values of two notes and is represented by a curved line between two notes of the same
pitch. The first note is played for the duration of both notes and the second note is not played.

1. 2.

Dots
A DOT following a note changes the rhythmic value of the note. DOTS add one half of whatever note value they are
attached to.

DOTTED HALF NOTE DOTTED WHOLE NOTE DOTTED QUARTER NOTE

3
Beats
6
Beats
1Beats
1/2
(2+1) (4+2) (1+1/2)

Repeat Signs
A REPEAT SIGN is a double bar line with two dots. It means to repeat a section of music. You would repeat back to
where a previous backwards repeat sign was or to the beginning of the song, whichever comes first.

Repeat back to beginning Repeat these two measures then proceed on

SESSION 3 16 Notes on the 3rd & 4th Strings

 Learn & Master Guitar

Eighth Notes
An EIGHTH NOTE receives 1/2 a beat so it takes two of them to make 1 beat. If you have several eighth notes
together, they are grouped together by a beam.
EIGHTH NOTE EIGHTH NOTES BEAMED TOGETHER

Eighth Note Exercises

Instructions: Play slowly in an even rhythm. Write in the notes if needed. Play through each exercise. Try not to
hesitate between notes. When you have several eighth notes of the same pitch in a row, then alternate your pick-
ing (Down-Up-Down-Up).

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

SESSION 3 17 Notes on the 3rd & 4th Strings

 Learn & Master Guitar

The Notes on the G or Third String

G A
2

Third String Third String

Open Second Finger
Second Fret
Third String Exercises
Instructions: Play each exercise using the correct finger for each note. Write in the notes if needed.

1.

2.

3.

SESSION 3 18 Notes on the 3rd & 4th Strings

 Learn & Master Guitar

4.

The Notes on the D or Fourth String

D E F
2
3

Fourth String Fourth String Fourth String

Open Second Finger Third Finger
Second Fret Third Fret

Fourth String Exercises

Instructions: Play each exercise using the correct finger for each note. Write in the notes if needed.

1.

SESSION 3 19 Notes on the 3rd & 4th Strings

 Learn & Master Guitar

2.

3.

4.

Session 3 Assignment
· Play through the Eighth Note Exercises until they can be played without hesitation. (page 17)
· Play through all of the Third and Fourth String Exercises several times. (pages 18-20)
· Play Yankee Doodle, both notes and chords. Write in letter names if you need to. (page 21)
· Play When The Saints Go Marchin’ In. (page 21)
· Play Aura Lee. (page 22)

SESSION 3 20 Notes on the 3rd & 4th Strings

 Learn & Master Guitar

Jam Along CD #1
Track 8 - Slow Version
Track 9 - Medium Version
Yankee Doodle
Track 10 - Fast Version

Jam Along CD #1
Track 11 - Slow Version When The Saints This song includes chords
that are covered in

Go Marchin’ In
Track 12 - Medium Version Session 5 (page 31).
Track 13 - Fast Version

SESSION 3 21 Notes on the 3rd & 4th Strings