Electric Guitar FAQ
An electric guitar is a version of guitar that uses pickups to convert the vibration of strings into an electrical current which is made louder by an amplifier.
Electric Guitar History
The first solid body electric guitar was created by Leo fender in the last 1940’s with only one pickup. The two pickup version was named the Telecaster. In 1954 after a series of innovations and advances the Fender Stratocaster or ‘Strat’ was introduced to the world. This innovative design and sound is considered to be the start of the modern electric guitar era. Today there are hundreds of brands available in all types of shapes and sizes for different styles of music.
The Parts of An Electric Guitar
The electric guitar is madeup of some basic parts that include the head or headstock, neck, body, and strings. The headstock includes the tuning gears which allow the string tension to be changed, thus altering the tuning.
The neck is divided into frets, also known as the fretboard. Depending on where the fingers are placed on the fretboard different musical notes can be played. The body or bottom part of the guitar is where the bridge, pickups, tremelo bar, volume and tone control knobs, and fine tuners are located.
How an Electric Guitar Works
The user takes a guitar pick or their finger across a single string or multiple strings to create vibration that the pickups translate into electric current or sound. A guitar amplifier takes that sound and makes it louder and alters the tone with built in effects. Each guitar has it’s own unique sound depending on the size and shape of the body, pickups used, and the strings that on the guitar. The tremelo or ‘whammy bar’ as it is sometimes called can be moved when notes are played to create a variation in pitch or a vibrato effect.
Other guitar pedals and effects are available that can be purchased separately to change the sound to about anything that the user wants. From country to blues and rock, the electric guitar can be used for a variety of different sounds.
Learning How To Play The Electric Guitar
It can be frustrating for new guitar players as the electric guitar can be a difficult instrument to master. Electric guitar lessons are a recommended way to learn playing techniques and methods that can be used to increase skill levels. This site has many resources focusing on electric guitar lessons.