| Playing the guitar can get you a lot of attention at a | | | | chords. |
| party or in a group of friends. People always turn to | | | | The P's are humorous sounding, but their meanings |
| the guy with the guitar and ask him to play part of a | | | | do not come close to their auditory assumptions. For |
| recognizable song. This can make you feel ignored if | | | | instance, pickups do not relate to getting a partner |
| you have nothing to offer to the situation. | | | | with your music, but they are actually a characteristic |
| But if you are musically inept, there are ways you | | | | of the electric guitar. They serve the same purpose |
| can compete with the guitar guy. If you learn some | | | | that frets do on an acoustic instrument, but the |
| things about the guitar, such as terms and mechanics | | | | pickups will determine the vibrations before sending |
| of the instrument, you can impress your friends and | | | | them to an amplifier. |
| possibly even the guy holding the guitar at your next | | | | The pickguard is the piece of plastic that is located |
| dinner party. | | | | right under the hole of an acoustic, or it can be a |
| The three B's are what you should learn first. The | | | | piece of metal that is attached to the body of the |
| binding is the trim that runs along the top and sides | | | | guitar. Basically, the pickguard is there just to make |
| of the guitar. The binding can give the guitar a more | | | | sure that you don't scratch up your instrument, or |
| polished look, and it protects the edge of the guitar | | | | break your nails. Lastly, there is the plug, which is |
| from small scratches and bumps. | | | | used as a means to plug in your amplifier. |
| The second B is the body of the guitar. The body | | | | There are a few other phrases that you can brush |
| can be one piece of wood (electric guitars) or it can | | | | up on in order to get a better feel for guitar jargon. |
| consist of the top, back, and sides. The third B is the | | | | However, some of them are basic and |
| bridge. The bridge is the piece that separates the | | | | self-explanatory. For instance, if you don't know what |
| strings from the anchor part of the instrument. The | | | | strings are, you don't need to talk about guitars (or |
| bridge can also anchor the strings depending on the | | | | live outside of the large rock that you have been |
| type of the guitar. | | | | hiding under). Tone control, volume control, tailpiece, |
| The neck is probably the most important part of a | | | | and the top should all be terms that you can figure |
| guitar. The neck is what attaches the strings from | | | | out without breaking too much of a sweat. |
| the base of the guitar to the tuning pegs. The | | | | The mechanics of a guitar doesn't really make for a |
| fingerboard is attached to the neck and is usually | | | | fascinating conversation at a party. It hardly |
| made of a specialty wood, such as rosewood or | | | | compares to being able to actually play a cool tune |
| walnut. | | | | on the guitar. |
| On the fingerboard are frets - the raised pieces of | | | | If you want to learn about guitars, do it for your |
| metal or wood that helps keep the string from | | | | own benefit and knowledge instead of to try to |
| vibrating too much so a better sound comes out of | | | | impress people at a party. If the guy playing the |
| it. Many guitars also have dots on the fingerboard for | | | | guitar at the party bothers you, the best thing to do |
| a quick and easy reference for playing notes and | | | | is to get over it and just enjoy the atmosphere. |