In Lesson 02, we will learn the proper way to hold and play your guitar. Being able to hold your guitar properly will be essential to your comfort and ability to play when you get to the more-advanced levels.
Study page 01 and use it to identify the parts on your own guitar.
HEAD - The top-most part of the guitar, where the strings come to an end.
TUNING KNOBS - Small attachments to the head of the guitar which, when turned, adjust the tightness, and therefore the pitch, of the strings.
NUT - The thin piece of plastic or wood between the head and the neck of the guitar upon which the strings are held in place.
STRINGS - The long wires extending across the length of the guitar which, when strummed, emit a tone.
FRETS - The thin pieces of wood or plastic along the neck of the guitar between which the player places his or her fingers to change the pitch of the strings.
NECK - The long piece of wood extending from the guitar's body to its head.
PICK GUARD - The piece of plastic along the sound hole of many guitars designed to protect the guitar from scratching due to striking the guitar with a pick while strumming.
SOUND HOLE - The usually-round opening in the body of the guitar from which the sound from strumming the strings emits.
SADDLE - The thin piece of plastic or wood between the sound hole and the pegs on the body of the guitar, upon which the strings are held in place.
BRIDGE - The piece of wood, plastic, or metal upon which rests the saddle and the string pegs.
BODY - The hollow shell of the guitar which contains the sound hole, bridge, saddle, and pegs.
PEGS - Small plastic pieces which hold the strings into place at the base of the guitar.
When you think you know all the parts, try to identify all the parts of your guitar without looking at the paper. Have a friend check your answers by looking at the paper.
Print out a few copies of page 02. Practice writing in the parts of the guitar without looking at the answers on page 01. Once you've gotten them down, you are ready to move on to Lesson 02.
