Parts of a Guitar

Here, we will look at different parts of a guitar.
Guitars for an acoustic guitar lessons and for classical guitar lessons looks very similar, except that generally, the classical guitar uses nylon strings instead of steel strings, has a wider neck, has lesser accessible frets, and the distance between frets are wider compared to acoustic guitars.

We will look at acoustic guitar here. Parts of an acoustic guitar

Back
The part of the body that holds the sides of the guitar. Usually made of two or three pieces of wood. Some guitar makers, such as Ovation, uses a round back instead of the regular angular back.
Body
The main box that provides an anchor for the neck and bridge, and creates the playing surface for the hand. It includes the sound chamber.
Bridge
The wooden plate that anchors the strings to the body.
Fretboard
The flat, plank-like piece of wood that is attached to the neck where you place your fingers to produce notes and chords. It is also known as the fingertboard, as this is where the frets are embedded onto.
Frets
Thin metal, plastic, or wooden strips that run perpendicular to the strings that shorten the effective vibrating length of the string. Pressing different frets while striking the corresponding string allows you to produce different pitches.
Headstock
The top end of the guitar that holds the tuning machines.
Neck
The long, wooden piece that connects the headstock to the body.
Nut
A grooved strip that stops the strings from vibrating beyond the neck. From the bridge, the strings pass through the grooves on the nut before reaching the the tuners on the headstock. As such, the nut is only one of two points at which the vibrating area of the strings end, the other being obviously the bridge.
Pickguard
A piece of synthetic plastic affixed to the top that protects the surface from scratches and damage from the end stokes of strumming.
Sound hole
The amplifying sound chamber that produces the guitar’s tones and sounds. Also known as sound chamber.
Strings
The six metal (nylon for classical guitars) strings on the acoustic guitar that, drawn taut, produce the sound of the guitar with the help of the sound hole.
Tuners
Geared mechanisms that raise or lower the tension of the respective strings, drawing them to different pitches. The string wraps tightly around a post that sticks through the top of the headstock. The post then passes through to the back of the headstock, where the gears connect it to a tuning key. Also commonly known as tuning pegs or tuning gears.

Parts of an guitar for electric guitar lessons as shown below:

As some of the parts are already mentioned above, only parts that are specific to the electric guitar will be explained.

Bar
A metal road attached to the bridge that varies the tension of the strings by tilting the bridge back and forth. Also commonly known as the tremolo bar, wang bar, whammy bar, vibrato bar and twang bar.
Input Jack
The insertion slot for the cord that connects the guitar to an amplifier or other electronic devices.
Pickups
Bar-like magnets that pick up the vibration of the strings and transforms them into electric currents, in which the attaching amplifier converts into music and sound. (Or to some people, noise.) Most modern electric guitars come in a combination of singe coil (one bar) and humbuckers (two single coils combined as one).
Pickup Selector
A switch that allows the guitarist to select which pickups are currently active.
Strap Button
Metal posts where the ends of a guitar strap connect.
Volume & Tone Controls
Knobs on the top of electric guitars that vary the loudness, bass, and treble frequencies.

How to choose the right guitar

Assuming you have started your guitar lessons and is looking to buy a guitar. For a start, you need to decide on a budget. What other factors do you need to consider when buying a guitar? Choosing the right sized guitar is important, especially for kids. A correct size guitar ensures a comfortable playing posture, and that helps in building momentum and motivation. On the other hand, a wrong size guitar cause one to play in an awkward positions, causing one to lose interest and usually one will buy another guitar, or give up playing.

The following points are some factors one need to consider before buying a guitar.

Price of the Guitar
Guitars can cost anything from 2 digits figure to as much as 5 figure sum for vintage and limited edition guitar models. Having a budget which you are willing to pay narrows down your options down, and allows one to dive on the range of guitars that fit one budget.

Test as much guitars within your price range
Price does not indicate the quality of the guitar entirely, as there are affordably priced guitars that are built well and produce decent sounds. A few strums or pluck on the guitar is often good enough for one to judge the quality and sound the guitar produces. If you like the sound, take note and then try other models.

Corect body style
Now, guitars come in different body styles – from jumbos, regular size to travel size. For people play acoustic guitars, the body style influences the sound projection and tonal quality. Some body styles feature a single cutaway design that gives you access to the higher frets, while others will have semi-parabolic back, which will yielded the most efficient guitar body. Whatever the case, when it comes to body styles, one has to determine whether one wants good sound quality vs playing comfort.

Strings of the Guitar
Guitars in shops are not restrung as often as those used often by guitarists, so an excellent guitar could produce a dull and poor quasound due to its worn out strings. Singapore’s hot and humid weather is often the main cause of corrosion on the strings of the guitar, especially when the guitar is left in open environment. Guitar strings can have a very direct influence on the sound of the guitar, even more so for acoustic guitars.

Built material
Now, guitars are usually made from wood, and certain types of wood produce certain type of sounds. Makers of guitars believe that the material used for the guitar top is the most important for deciding tonal quality. Depending on what you are going to use the guitar for (live, recording, or casual playing), some wood material may produce a more balanced sound, hence more suitable for recording in studio.

Finally, what guitar to choose is a personal decision. What may feel good and right to you may sound awful to another person. Be sure to test the guitar out and ensure you feel comfortable and sounds is right before commiting to buy one. If you are buying for someone else, it is best that the person playing the guitar be with you during the purchased.