Anatomy of the Electric Guitar: Know Your Instrument
If you're just getting into electric guitar, it helps to know what all the parts are called - and what they actually do.
Here’s a quick beginner’s guide to the main parts of an electric guitar and how they work together to help you shape your sound.
🎸 Main Parts of the Electric Guitar
1. Headstock
Located at the top of the neck. This is where the tuners (also called tuning machines) are, which let you tighten or loosen the strings to keep them in tune.
2. Nut
A small grooved piece (usually plastic, bone, or graphite) that guides the strings from the headstock to the neck and helps maintain spacing.
3. Neck & Fretboard
This is the long part of the guitar you hold with your fretting hand.
The neck houses the truss rod and supports the fretboard.
The fretboard (or fingerboard) is where you press the strings down to change pitch.
Frets are the metal bars that divide the neck into notes.
4. Body
This is where most of the electric guitar’s magic happens. It holds the pickups, controls, and bridge. Solid-body guitars like Stratocasters, Telecasters, and Les Pauls each have different shapes - but the basic layout is similar.
🎛️ Electronics & Hardware
5. Pickups
These are magnetic coils that “pick up” string vibrations and send them to your amp.
Single-coils have a bright, clear tone.
Humbuckers are thicker and more powerful.
Some guitars have both!
6. Pickup Selector Switch
Lets you switch between pickups (or combine them), changing your tone instantly.
7. Volume and Tone Knobs
Volume knobs control how loud your guitar signal is.
Tone knobs roll off high frequencies for a warmer or darker sound.
8. Bridge
Anchors the strings to the body.
Some bridges are fixed, while others (like tremolos) let you bend pitch with a whammy bar.
9. Output Jack
Where you plug in your cable to connect the guitar to your amp or effects pedals.
💡 Why Learn the Parts?
Knowing your guitar’s anatomy helps you:
Communicate with teachers, techs, and other players
Set up and maintain your instrument
Experiment with tone more confidently
Need Help Choosing Your First Electric Guitar?
At Morris Guitar Company, we carry a rotating selection of used and refurbished electric guitars - professionally set up, inspected, and ready to rock. contact us for a recommendation!