The long skinny piece of wood that extends out from the body. It is the area of the instrument played by your left hand (assuming you are right-handed). Glued to the neck you will find the fretboard and the frets. These are used to help shorten the vibrating length of the string, which changes the pitch when playing the guitar.

THE FRETBOARD

The thin, flat slab of laminated wood on top of the neck. The fretboard is generally made of a hardwood such as rosewood or maple. It is also sometimes referred to as the fingerboard.

THE FRETS

The thin metal bars laid into the fretboard. The frets are used to shorten the vibrating length of a string being played. Most guitars have between 18 and 24 frets.

FRETTING NOTES

Gently press a fingertip onto a string to the left of one of your frets. This shortens the length of the part of the string which vibrates. When you pluck that string, it will vibrate from the saddle up to the fret where you are pressing. By shortening the vibrating the length of a string, you raise the pitch of a string.

OPEN STRING

• The sound a string makes when you pluck it without pressing any of the frets.