Introduction to Guitars

Introduction to Guitars

Austin Hughes
Mrs. Ferguson
ENGL 0096
10-17-12
The World of Guitars
People have been making and playing guitars for hundreds of years. Over this large time period guitars have changed immensely. They range in all kinds different shapes, sizes, colors, styles, and brands. The main three categories that guitars fall under are the acoustic guitar, the electric guitar, and the acoustic-electric guitar.
Some of you are wondering “What is a guitar?” A guitar is an instrument made up of wood and metal that uses vibrations to produce sound. A guitar is comprised of three different sections; the head (top), neck (middle), and body (bottom). Starting at the head there are sets of gears, one for each string. Usually there are six strings so there are six sets of gears with knobs attached to turn them. The strings slide through individual holes, and then the knob is turned to tighten or loosen the string. Next the strings travel down the neck where there are metal strips called frets used to hit different notes. At the other end of the neck there is the body which amplifies sound through different means.
The acoustic guitar is a beautiful instrument. It can let out sounds that will bring a listener to tears, touch the heart, and bring hope in the hands of a good guitarist. The way the acoustic guitar makes sound is through the vibration of six to twelve strings. When these strings are picked or strummed the vibrations echo throughout the hollow body, exploding through the sound hole. A sound hole is a hole cut into the body, under the strings, to let in and out vibrations in the air. An acoustic guitar can be made up of many different woods; with many different types of strings that can be used. Although some of the most common woods used to make an acoustic guitar are mahogany, spruce, cedar, and rosewood. Guitar strings are usually made of either bronze, nickel, or steel.
The infamous electric guitar has rocked the world since the early 1900’s. It is set up very...

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