Electric guitar facts for kids
A 1954 Gibson Les Paul Custom electric guitar
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| String instrument | |
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| Other names | Guitar, solid-body guitar |
| Classification | String instrument (plucked or picked or strummed) |
| Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 321.322 (Composite chordophone) |
| Developed | 1932, United States |
| Playing range | |
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An electric guitar is a special type of guitar. Unlike an acoustic guitar, it needs to be plugged into an amplifier to be heard loudly. It uses small devices called pickups to turn string vibrations into electrical signals. These signals then travel to an amplifier and loudspeakers, which make the sound.
Players can change the guitar's sound in many ways. They use amplifier settings or special effects pedals. Effects like reverb or distortion create unique sounds. Distortion is very important in blues, jazz, rock, and heavy metal music. Some guitars even mix electric and acoustic features, like semi-acoustic and acoustic-electric guitars.
The electric guitar was invented in 1932. Jazz guitar players first used it to play loud solos in big bands. Famous early players included Les Paul and Charlie Christian. By the 1950s and 1960s, it became super important in popular music. Today, you can hear electric guitars in almost every music style. This includes pop, rock, folk, country music, blues, and jazz. It helped create genres like rock and roll and heavy metal music.
Electric guitars come in many shapes and designs. They can have different necks, bridges, and pickups. Some have a fixed bridge. Others have a special bridge with a spring-loaded bar. This bar lets players "bend" notes or add vibrato effects. Guitarists also use cool playing techniques. These include string bending, tapping, and slide guitar playing.
There are several main types of electric guitars. Early ones were hollow-body semi-acoustic guitars. Later, solid body guitars became popular. Most electric guitars have six strings. They are usually tuned E, A, D, G, B, E. Some guitars have seven, eight, or even twelve strings for different sounds. In rock music, electric guitars often play two roles. A rhythm guitar plays chords and riffs. A lead guitar plays melody lines and solos. Sometimes one guitarist does both jobs!
Contents
How Electric Guitars Changed Music
People experimented with amplifying string instruments for a long time. In the 1910s, they tried putting telephone parts inside violins. By the 1920s, hobbyists used small microphones on guitar bridges. However, these early methods gave a weak sound.
Electric guitars were first made by companies that built acoustic guitars. Big bands became very popular, and guitarists needed to be louder. They couldn't be heard over all the other instruments. So, they looked for ways to make their guitars louder. The first electric guitars for jazz were hollow archtop acoustic guitars. They had special electromagnetic parts added to them.
Early Electric Guitar Innovations
The very first electric string instrument sold was a lap steel guitar. It was made of metal and nicknamed the "Frying Pan". George Beauchamp and Paul Barth designed it in 1931. George Beauchamp and Adolph Rickenbacker also invented the electromagnetic pickups. These pickups used coils of wire around a magnet. They turned string vibrations into electrical signals that could be amplified. Production started in 1932 by the Ro-Pat-In Corporation. This company later became Rickenbacker in 1934.
Beauchamp received a patent for his "Electrical Stringed Musical Instrument" in 1937. By then, other companies were already making their own electric guitars. Early makers included Dobro, National, and Gibson.
In 1935, Rickenbacker released the Electro-Spanish Model B. They also made the Electro-Spanish Ken Roberts. This was the first electric guitar designed to be played standing up with a strap. It also had a "Vibrola," an early hand-operated vibrato device. This allowed players to change the pitch of notes. Very few of these special guitars were made.
The Rise of Solid-Body Guitars
A solid-body electric guitar is made from a solid piece of wood. It does not have hollow spaces for sound to resonate. The first solid-body Spanish-style guitar was offered by Vivi-Tone around 1934. Rickenbacker also sold a solid electric guitar made of Bakelite in 1935. By 1936, Slingerland introduced a wooden solid-body model.
Gibson released its first electric guitar, the ES-150, in 1936. "ES" meant "Electric Spanish." It cost $150, which included the guitar and an amplifier. This guitar became famous because Charlie Christian, a jazz guitarist, played it.
In 1940, Les Paul built his own solid-body electric guitar as an experiment. He called it his "log guitar." It was a wooden post with a neck and two hollow body halves attached for looks. This was different from the Gibson Les Paul guitar that came out in 1952.
Solid-body guitars helped solve a problem. Hollow electric guitars often created unwanted feedback (a loud, ringing sound). Solid bodies helped keep the amplified sound clear and focused on the strings.
Exploring Different Electric Guitar Types
Solid-Body Guitars: Built for Power
Solid-body electric guitars do not have a hollow space to make sound louder. Instead, they rely completely on their electric pickups and an amplifier. The solid body helps make sure the amplified sound is only from the strings. This avoids loud, unwanted feedback. These guitars are usually made from strong hardwood. They often have a shiny finish.
Les Paul was one of the first to invent a solid-body guitar. However, Gibson didn't think solid-body guitars would be popular at first. The first mass-produced solid-body guitar was the Fender Telecaster (originally called the Broadcaster) in 1950. The Gibson Les Paul guitar came out soon after in 1952. Another very popular design is the Fender Stratocaster, introduced in 1954. It became famous for its many sounds and comfortable shape.
Different solid-body guitars have different types of pickups. Common types are "single-coil" pickups or "humbucker" pickups. For example, the Stratocaster often has three single-coil pickups. Many famous electric guitars have become iconic. Companies even sell miniature models of them, like the Gibson SG used by Angus Young from AC/DC.
Chambered-Body Guitars: Lighter Feel
Some solid-body guitars have hollow spaces inside their bodies. These are called chambered bodies. Examples include the Gibson Les Paul Supreme. These chambers are designed to make the guitar lighter. They can also give the guitar a slightly different, more open sound.
Semi-Acoustic Guitars: A Blend of Sounds
Semi-acoustic guitars have a hollow body, much like an acoustic guitar. But they also have electric pickups built into them. They work like solid-body electric guitars. However, their hollow body also vibrates, adding to the sound the pickups capture. Many semi-hollow models have a solid block of wood running through the middle. This helps reduce feedback.
These guitars are not loud enough to play unplugged in a band. But they are great for quiet practice. Semi-acoustic guitars are known for their sweet, smooth, or funky tones. They are used in jazz, blues, funk, and indie rock. They often have F-shaped sound holes, like a cello.
Acoustic-Electric Guitars: Amplifying Your Acoustic
Acoustic-electric guitars are regular steel-string acoustic guitars. They have a special system built in to make their sound louder. This system usually includes piezoelectric pickups under the bridge. It might also have a small microphone inside the body. These pickups capture the vibrations of the guitar's body, not just the strings. This means they amplify the acoustic sound without changing its natural tone. They are still considered acoustic guitars, even with the electronics.
Understanding Electric Guitar Parts
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Electric guitars have many different designs. But most share some common parts. The photo above shows the main parts of an electric guitar.
The Neck and Headstock
The headstock (1) is at the top of the guitar. It holds the machine heads (1.1), which are used for tuning the strings. The nut (1.4) is a small strip that holds the strings in place at the headstock end. The neck (2) extends from the body. It has a fretboard (2.1) with metal frets (2.3). When you press a string against a fret, it changes the note's pitch. Small markers (2.2) on the fretboard help players find their way. Inside the neck is a truss rod (1.2). This metal rod helps keep the neck straight against the string tension.
The Guitar Body and Electronics
The body (3) is usually made of wood with a hard finish. The strings vibrate over the pickups (3.1, 3.2). These pickups create an electric current. This current goes through volume and tone knobs (3.8). These knobs let you control the sound. Finally, the signal leaves the guitar through the output jack (3.9). Some guitars have a plastic pickguard. This protects the body from scratches.
Bridges and Tailpieces: Shaping Your Sound
The bridge (3.4) and tailpiece hold the strings at the body end. They work together to affect how you play and the sound. There are four main types of bridge systems:
- A hard-tail bridge holds the strings firmly to the guitar body. This is common on guitars like the Gibson Les Paul.
- A floating or trapeze tailpiece attaches to the base of the guitar body. You can find these on Rickenbacker and Gretsch guitars.
- A tremolo arm or vibrato tailpiece system, often called a whammy bar (3.6). This lever lets players temporarily loosen or tighten strings. It creates cool bending or vibrato effects. Modern designs, like those by Floyd Rose, help guitars stay in tune better.
- A string-through body system. The strings pass over the bridge and then through holes in the guitar body. This design is believed to improve the guitar's sustain (how long a note rings out).
Pickups: The Heart of the Electric Guitar
Electric guitars make very little sound on their own. They need pickups to create an electrical signal. Pickups are magnets wrapped with fine wire coils. When strings vibrate over them, they create a small electric current. This current is sent to the amplifier.
There are two main types of pickups:
- Single-coil pickups are known for a bright, clear sound. However, they can sometimes pick up unwanted buzzing sounds.
- Humbucker pickups have two coils. They were invented to "buck" (or cancel out) the buzzing sound. Humbuckers often produce a thicker, "fatter" tone.
Guitar Necks: Shape and Feel
Electric guitar necks vary in length and shape. The scale length is the vibrating part of the string. Fender guitars often have a 25.5-inch scale length. Gibson's Les Paul guitars typically have a 24.75-inch scale length. Shorter scale lengths mean the frets are closer together.
Necks attach to the body in different ways:
- Bolt-on necks are screwed to the body. They are easy to adjust or replace.
- Set-in necks are glued to the body. This is a traditional way to build guitars.
- Neck-through designs mean the neck extends through the entire body. This makes the guitar very strong.
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Strong hardwoods like maple, mahogany, and ash are popular for necks. The fretboard can be made from different woods, like rosewood or ebony. Some modern guitars use materials like carbon fiber for necks.
Neck shapes can vary, often described as C, U, or V shapes. These refer to how the neck feels in your hand. Different sizes of fret wire are also available. Thin frets are good for playing chords. Thicker frets make it easier to bend notes. Some guitars even have no headstock, with tuning done at the bridge!
See Also
In Spanish: Guitarra eléctrica para niños
- List of electric guitar brands
- Bass guitar
- Bolt-on neck
- Distortion (guitar)
- Effects pedal
- Guitar amplifier
- List of guitars
- List of guitarists
- Neck through construction
- Pickup
- Set-in neck
