8,720
edits
Changes
m
→Advanced Parts
=== Strings ===
''Strings'' - strings are numbered 1-6 (on a six-string guitar), with 1 being the thinnest and 6 being the thickest. Sometimes they are called by their open pitch in standard tuning (covered in [[Tuning and Harmonics]]). Ex. the 2nd string is also called the b string. Since there are two open e strings in standard tuning, they are called "high e string" or "low e string". High/Low refers to pitch, so "high e" is 1st string; "low e" is 6th string. Electric guitar strings are typically made from nickel-plated steel. A typical set of electric strings has 6 strings - 3 wound and 3 unwound. Wound strings have a straight "core" string with another string wound around it - this adds mass and lowers the string's resonant pitch while maintaining higher elasticity than simply using a single thicker solid string. Strings typically have one end with a metal or plastic "ball" ending with the other side being simply cut. The ball ending is used to hold the string in place in the guitar's tailpiece/bridge, while the cut end is placed through the tuner and wound tight.
== Non-guitar Parts ==
This covers common parts that, while not absolutely essential to learning or playing guitar, are used very often.
=== Pick or Plectrum ===
The ''pick'' or ''plectrum'' is a small, flat, usually triangular piece of plastic (or other materials) used to excite the strings. They generally have a ''tip'' used to make contact with the strings. There are a large variety of picks; I recommend you follow the instructions in the [[Choosing a Pick]] section to determine what you are most comfortable with.
=== Tuner ===
Unlike the ''tuners'' attached to the guitar, a ''tuner'' is a device that detects and displays pitch used to tune all the strings to the desired pitch. Tuners typically use one of the following sensors to determine pitch: electrical, vibrational, or audial. Electrical tuners are connected to the guitar via an instrument cable, using the electrical signal generated by the pickups. Vibrational tuners clamp or stick onto the guitar and use the vibrations induced by the resonating string. Audial use a microphone to listen to the sound produced by the resonating string.
'''I like electrical best''', but this only works if you have an electric or acoustic-electric guitar. For more info, see [[Tuning and Harmonics]].
=== Cables ===
Professional audio typically makes use of analog cables with 1/4" diameter jacks. Cables are generally described by how many lines they hold or how much power they can carry, which generally describes what they are used for. The jacks on each end of a cable
* Instrument - Designed to handle single low-level signals generated by sensors or transducers, such as guitar pickups. Typically connects the guitar to an amplifier or pedal and uses 1/4" male TS jacks.
* Line-Level - Designed to handle medium-level signals generated or amplified by electronic equipment before power amplifiers. Typically connects pedals or effects units to each other and to an amplifier's front input or effects loop and uses 1/4" male TS jacks if mono, TRS if stereo.
* Speaker or Power - Designed to handle high-level signals generated by power amplifiers. Connects power amplifiers to speakers. Uses 1/4" male TS jacks.
* Balanced - A balanced cable uses 2 lines instead of 1 to send and recieve signals, which can reduce noise or other interference found in unbalanced cables.
* XLR - Usually a line-level cable, but uses 3-prong XLR jacks. Typically used as a balanced cable, but is also capable of 2 independent signals, such as a stereo signal.
* TRS - Same as XLR but uses a 1/4" jack with 3 connections - tip, ring, sleeve (hence, TRS).
* Coax - Looks similar to a standard RCA A/V cable, but uses a different resistance. Used to connect digital devices using S/PDIF encoding.
* Y-cable -
=== Amplifier ===
=== Pedals/Effects ===
== Advanced Parts ==