Last Updated on May 5, 2023 by Teemu Suomala
This is a list of commonly used terms that are in our articles. Many guitarists – especially beginners – may not know what they mean. It is very important to understand the terms when it comes to choosing a guitar for you.
We are dedicated to being your one-stop source for all things guitar-related! We strive to provide you with the most accurate information so that you can make a more informed decision when purchasing your next (or your first!) guitar.
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Who crafted this post:
Author: DL Shepherd
Editing & Research: Teemu Suomala
General Terms
These terms are used with both acoustic and electric guitars.
Action
The distance between the strings and the frets. On a guitar with a close action, the strings are closer to the frets. On a guitar with high action, the strings are further away from the frets.
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Attack
Used to describe the initial sound of the guitar. Ex: A pick adds more attack than a guitar plucked with bare fingers.
Bass
Used to describe the low sounds of a guitar. Also used to describe a bass guitar, which is tuned to lower octaves to provide low-end balance to a sound mix.
Mix
The overall volume and tone of multiple instruments played in unison. Ex: A band with a bassist, drummer, two guitarists, and a keyboard player will have a thicker mix than a band with only a drummer, bassist, and a single guitarist.
Nut
A piece of hardware located at the top of the neck that is usually made of bone, metal, or plastic. It helps transfer the vibration of the strings to the guitar as well as maintain a secure distance between strings when it comes to string spacing.
Bridge
A hardware component generally made of wood (acoustic) or metal (electric) that supports the strings as they travel over the body of the guitar. It helps transfer vibration throughout the guitar body, and supports the saddle(s).
Nut width
The width of the neck at the nut. This is measured by the distance between the high E string and the low E string.
String Spacing
A measurement taken either at the saddle or around the 14th fret that shows the distance of the string spread as it gets closer to the nut. It is measured by the distance of the low E string and high E string. The measurement depends on the manufacturer, and this information can usually be obtained via their website.
Saddle
A piece of hardware and the first point of contact located on top of the bridge of a guitar. The saddle can be a single piece of bone or plastic on an acoustic or metal on an electric. The saddle has 2 specific functions: 1. Transfer the vibration of the string to the guitar body. 2. Keep strings spaced evenly and securely while playing.
Fingerboard radius
Also known as fretboard radius; it is the measurement of the curvature of the fingerboard across the neck from low E to high E. It only takes into account the curvature of the fingerboard, not the back of the neck.
Scale length
Determined by measuring from the nut to the 12th fret of the guitar and then multiplied by 2. Some also measure scale length by measuring the distance between a nut and brdige.
Intonation
Technically defined as “pitch accuracy”; in the world of guitars, this is the pitch of a note when fretted along the fretboard. Ex: a guitar with poor intonation will sound out of tune when chorded and strummed even if the open strings are in tune.
Truss rod
A metal rod that runs through the middle of the guitar neck to add support and keep the neck from bending under the pressure of the strings. Most modern guitars employ an adjustable truss rod to adjust the neck relief, while some older guitars have a truss rod that is not adjustable.
This video explains how to use a truss rod and different ways to access a truss rod:
Neck relief
The intentional concave curvature of the guitar neck, when set correctly, allows the strings to vibrate freely without buzzing against the frets. You can adjust neck relief with a truss rod (check the video above).
Sustain
How long a note rings out after being plucked. A guitar with “good” sustain will allow a note to ring out longer while a guitar with “bad” or “short” sustain will allow the note to decay quickly into silence.
Binding
Strips of decorative wood, plastic, or other material that is added to the edge of the guitar where the top and back meet the sides. It can also be applied to the neck and headstock.
Cutaway
Used to describe the body of a guitar where the areas at the neck joint are “cut away” to allow access to higher frets. Cutaways are most common on electric guitars, but are also found on many modern acoustic guitars as well. May be referred to as a “single cutaway” (ex: Gibson Les Paul) or a “double cutaway” (ex: Fender Stratocaster).
Acoustic Guitar Terms
These terms generally apply only to acoustic guitars.
Dreadnought
A body style developed by C.F. Martin & Company in 1916 that was characterized by a larger body size with a louder volume. This is the most common type of acoustic guitar body today that is copied by nearly every acoustic guitar manufacturer.
Sound board/Top
Referred to more commonly as the “top”; it is the piece of wood that makes up the top of an acoustic guitar body. This is the main part that resonates to create the sound of the guitar when a string is plucked or strummed.
Bridge pins
Small, rounded pieces of plastic, bone, wood, or metal that are grooved on the bottom. Their function is to anchor the strings to the bridge to keep them in an exact position. Also responsible for helping transfer vibration to the bridge and soundboard of a guitar.
Soundhole
The opening on the surface of a soundboard to enhance volume and resonance. Acoustic guitar soundholes are usually near the neck joint, but can be any shape, size, or location on the top of the guitar (such as “F-holes”).
Rosette
A decorative piece of plastic, wood, or other material that goes around the sound hole of a guitar. They also help add structural integrity to the instrument by acting as a sort of brace to prevent the wood around the sound hole from cracking.
Flatpicking
A style of guitar playing where the player uses a flat pick to strum and pluck the strings of an acoustic guitar instead of the fingers. This term is typically associated with bluegrass and American folk music.
Here you can see and hear some Flatpicking:
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Electric Guitar Terms
These terms generally apply only to electric guitars.
Volume/tone pot
Short for “potentionmeter”; a rotating control that controls the volume, tone, or other additional function of an electric guitar by increasing or decreasing resistance within the circuit.
Pickups
Magnetically wound coils that sense vibration of the guitar strings and convert it to electrical signals. Variations can be found on acoustic-electric guitars as well.
Toggle switch
A switch that is used to change the flow of electricity in an electric guitar’s circuit. These switches typically allow players to isolate certain pickups in a guitar or even individual pickup coils (coil tapping). Toggle switches have a wide variety of applications on electric guitars.
Conclusion on Guitar Terms
We hope that this post helped you out! If you think that something should be added, just leave a comment.
We wish you all the best and keep rocking!
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