Music Resources

Anatomy of an Acoustic Guitar

Have you ever looked at an acoustic guitar and found yourself wondering what all the things on the guitar do? Or what all the parts are called? We explore the anatomy of the acoustic guitar to help you identify everything on your instrument.

A) Bridge

The bridge is the wooden block at the back of the guitar that holds the saddle. The saddles are the individual metal blocks that each string sits on.

B) String Pins

The string pins are responsible for holding the guitar string in place. The can be made from a variety of materials ranging from plastic to artificial ivory.

C) The Saddle

The strings run over the saddle before being held in place by the string pin. The saddle can be made from a variety of materials ranging from plastic to artificial ivory.

D) The Soundhole

Acoustic guitars use the resonance of the guitar to produce sound. When playing, the whole top vibrates, and the sound is amplified by the guitar body. The soundhole allows the air in the guitar to escape, which increases the volume of what you’re playing. The soundhole can be located anywhere on the top of the guitar, but it is traditionally found in the middle of the guitar top.

E) Fret Wire

If you play on a piano, you will notice how every key is a different note. For guitars, each fret is a different note. The frets are separated with fret wire, the metal wire on each side of the fret.

F) Frets

The space between two fret wires.

G) Tuning Peg

The machine head does most of the work when it comes to tuning, but without the tuning peg, it would be useless. The tuning peg is the part of the guitar that you turn in order to tune your guitar.

H) Machine Head

When putting strings on your guitar, they will wrap around the machine head. By tightening or loosening the machine head, you can tune your guitar up or down.

I) Headstock

The headstock is the part of the guitar that holds the machine heads. This is where you would traditionally find the logo for the brand of the guitar. IN this case, you’ll notice the Faith Guitars logo.

J) The Nut

While the bridge is found at the base of the guitar, the nut is found next to the first fret. The nut holds the strings in place as they go to the tuning peg.