Left-handed and learning guitar? This article shares everything there is to know about left-handed guitars.

According to statistics, about ten percent of the world is left-handed. That adds up to about 700 million lefties on the globe. If you are a leftie, you notice that the world revolves around right-handers whenever you pull out a pair of scissors. 

So how can you play guitar left-handed? 

As a leftie, you have a few options. You can play right-handed, restring a guitar, or buy a left-handed guitar. 

Let’s see everything you need to know to become a left-handed guitarist.

What is a left-handed guitar?

A left-handed guitar is a mirror image of the average guitar. Everything from the strings to the slant of the saddle is opposite. This allows a left-handed guitarist to strum with the dominant hand and finger chords with the right hand. Since the dominant hand is more graceful, strumming and picking with the left hand can make for smoother-sounding music. 

However, left-handed guitars are a niche market, while right-handed guitars come with more options. For this reason, many lefties choose to start on a right-handed guitar as beginners. 

Before you decide to play as a leftie or learn like a rightie, it’s best to study the differences. You can even try out both designs in a guitar store to see which style is more natural for you. 

Left-handed guitars vs. right-handed: What are the differences?

The guitar is a reasonably symmetrical-looking instrument. So, it would be easy to assume that a leftie can just turn a right-handed guitar upside down to make a guitar more comfortable to play. However, making a left-handed guitar out of a right-handed guitar is not that simple. 

Here are a few key differences between left-handed and right-handed guitars:

The strings

The main difference between left-handed versus right-handed guitars comes down to the strings. The bass strings should be at the top of your guitar, and the treble notes should be below them. 

However, if you flip a right-handed guitar over to the left side, the bass notes are now at the bottom. To make a right-handed guitar a left-handed one, you need to restring the instrument from top to bottom.

The pickguard

Many acoustic and electric guitars have pickguards. The pickguard rests under the sound hole. This guitar piece protects your instrument from getting scratched up by over-enthusiastic strumming. However, if you play a right-handed guitar upside down, the pickguard would rest above the hole. This position is not very useful and looks wrong visually.

The pickguard is correct when you buy a left-handed guitar–below the soundhole. 

The saddle

The saddle angle can also reveal if the guitar is for lefties or righties. Notice that the saddle slants slightly to give the guitar a proper intonation. A left-handed acoustic guitar’s saddle needs to slant in the opposite direction. This slant ensures that the low E is the longest string and the treble strings are shorter. 

The strap peg

The strap peg on a right-handed guitar is above the guitar neck. However, if you flip it to the left side, the strap peg is now under the fretboard. This would make it awkward to play guitar with a strap! However, when you buy a left-handed guitar, the strap peg rests above the fretboard. This allows you to attach a guitar strap without interfering with the strings. 

The body shape

Some acoustic guitars have a symmetrical shape, but not all guitars do. Many guitar bodies have a single or double cutaway. This ergonomic design makes it easy for your fingers to reach the strings on the upper frets. With a left-handed guitar, you can strum with your dominant hand. This puts you on an even playing field with right-handed guitarists. 

Famous left-handed guitarists.

Suppose you are a left-handed guitarist, no worries. You are not alone on your musical journey. Many famous musicians have walked the road you are on. (But did you know they were left-handed?)

Jimi Hendrix

While left-handed guitars are available in the musical world today, Jimi Hendrix missed out on this opportunity.

He still chose to play his instrument as a leftie, but he had to flip a right-handed guitar to do it. Notice the pickguard is above the soundhole in pics of Jimi with his guitar. (Okay, we admit the flipped pickguard doesn’t look silly when it’s in this guitar icon’s hands.) Jimi Hendrix went on to write one of the 5 Best Guitar Solos of All Time.

Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney is another leftie who chose to flip the guitar on its head and restring it.

George Harrison may be the official lead guitarist of the Beatles. However, Paul certainly had some shining riffs and solos of his own. Some even argue that Paul is the better guitarist of the two. Whether you are Team George or Team Paul, it is undeniable that Paul McCartney is a gifted left-handed musician.

David Bowie 

Although David Bowie was a leftie, he learned to play the guitar as a rightie.

Left-handed guitars were few and far between, so he decided to take the mainstream route. It doesn’t seem to have slowed down his career any! 

Some lefties find it easier to use the dominant hand to finger chords since it is the naturally stronger hand. Whether you use your dominant hand to fret or strum, practice is what makes perfect in the long run.

Kurt Cobain

Kurt Cobain was a frontman for Nirvana and the face of 90s grunge rock.

He wrote and played drums right-handed, but when it came to guitar, he played as a lefty. Was he right-handed, left-handed, or ambidextrous? With Kurt Cobain, no one knows for sure. Cobain unsuccessfully for the perfect left-handed guitar and flipped several right-handed models. When he got into the spotlight, Fender designed a left-handed guitar just for him. That’s just one of the perks of being famous—and left-handed.

How to hold left-handed guitars.

The proper guitar position is a critical part of guitar playing, whether right-handed or left-handed.

The right hand’s job on left-handed guitars

As a beginner, it’s best to start sitting down with the guitar. Remember to keep your back straight and your feet on the floor. You can also raise one foot slightly to balance the guitar. 

With a left-handed guitar, your right hand plays the frets. You don’t want to bend your wrist. Instead, keep the wrist straight and curve your fingers. Place your digit behind the fret bar to finger a chord. This finger position gives you the clearest sound. Play in the middle or on top of the fret can give you unwanted string buzz. Keep the thumb of your right hand upright and rest it on the back of the guitar neck for support. 

The left hand’s job on left-handed guitars

On a left-handed guitar, the left-hand strums or picks the strings. First, get a comfortable grip on the pick. You should hold it between the first knuckle of your pointer and thumb. Keep your wrist straight and strum using your entire forearm. Generally, you want to land your strokes between the soundhole and bridge. However, you can experiment with different strums for unique sounds. 

Check out How to Hold a Guitar Properly for more techniques on holding your guitar correctly. Just substitute the terms right and left with dominant and non-dominant to play a left-handed guitar.

The five best left-handed guitars on the market.

If you feel more comfortable strumming with your left hand and fretting with your right, a left-handed guitar may be for you. Here are some of our favorite options on the market for lefties:

1. Best for beginners: Lyx Pro Left Hand 39-Inch Electric Guitar Starter Kit

This small-scale Lyx Pro electric guitar is perfect for beginning guitarists ten years old and up. The starter pack includes all the necessary equipment for a budding rockstar to begin his musical journey. The 39-inch guitar has a beautiful Canadian Maple top and rosewood fretboard. Its classic SSS pickup and 20-watt amplifier produce a satisfying sound for practicing at home. A headphone jack allows students to practice with a favorite song or a backup track. Extra amenities include a clip-on digital tuner, replacement strings, and an instruction booklet. 

The Lyx Pro left-handed electric guitar is an affordable option for a beginning guitarist. This complete kit can make dreams become a reality.

2. Best budget acoustic model: Fender CC-60S Left Hand Concert Acoustic Guitar

This concert Fender guitar is comfortable to hold and easy to play. Beginning guitarists can learn the fretboard and strum patterns as they play this small-scale concert guitar. 

The classic dreadnought body with its spruce top is perfect for either strumming or fingerpicking. It gives off a rich sound without an amp. 

This left-hand concert-size acoustic is an inexpensive model compared to many other left-handed guitars. However, the quality of the build and sound is everything you expect from the Fender brand.

3. Best mid-range electric guitar: Ibanez GRX 6 String Solid-Body

The Ibanez brand builds a quality guitar that musicians love. However, they make models to fit into a variety of budgets. This mid-range Ibanez electric guitar looks snazzy on stage with its iridescent blue poplar guitar body. The New Zealand Pine fingerboard and white dot inlays give this guitar great aesthetic appeal. And the sound doesn’t disappoint. The infinity R humbucker pickups create a warm, high-output sound. You can also try out the 5-way selector switch and T106 tremolo to add a unique touch to your pieces. The great looks and sound quality of the Ibanez guitar make it a perfect choice for beginning or advanced leftie guitarists. 

4. Best for performing: Candy Apple Red Fender Newporter 

The Fender Newporter acoustic guitar has a sound you can take to the stage. The glossy solid spruce top with cream accents provides visual appeal. This lightweight instrument also packs in the sound with superior sound resonance and sustain. You can also plug in this instrument for added volume. However, the natural acoustic tones still shine through. You can play solo riffs with this instrument. Or, use it to back up a lead vocalist. Whether you go solo or join a band, this high-performing, unconventional instrument is ready to bring a sound that doesn’t disappoint. 

5. Best luxury model: Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar 

This mid-century style guitar is a carbon copy of the Fender 1965 Jaguar that Kurt Cobain played at the forefront of the band Nirvana. This luxury electric guitar has a solid alder body, metal accents, and pearlescent fret markers. Not only is it a gorgeous instrument, but it also includes a super distortion bridge pickup and a three-position toggle switch. Some extra perks are its hardshell case and an exclusive Fender book on Kurt Cobain. The Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar is a professional instrument built for legends. 

These are some of our top picks for left-handed electric and acoustic guitars. You can also check out some of our favorite right-handed kids’ guitars for comparison: Kids Guitar: How To Buy A Guitar For Children.

Left-handed guitars for the win.

For a leftie who wants to play the guitar, two roads diverge. You can choose to invest in a left-handed guitar or a right-handed design. 

Whether you play a guitar upside down like Jimi Hendrix, right-handed like David Bowie, or decide on a left-handed guitar like Kurt Cobain, regular practice is key. You can build strength and grow your skills with the Simply Guitar app in as little as five minutes daily. This app takes you from the basics and lays a solid framework for more advanced material. Choose to try it free for two weeks and see if it works for you!

FAQs.

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Do you know what an arpeggio is, and why do you need them to play the guitar? In this article, we cover all the essentials of guitar arpeggios.

We know that arpeggios are essential to guitar playing because guitarists waste no time telling us they are.

Many guitar players don’t even touch their songs without warming up with scales and arpeggios. But for beginners, guitar arpeggios can be more complicated than strumming along to actual songs. 

So, where do you start? Is there an easier way to play arpeggios than hunting down each note across the fretboard?

The key is to learn arpeggios methodically and increase your skills step-by-step.

Also, you can learn shortcuts to help you simplify the process.

Let’s look at some practical examples to learn how to play arpeggios on the guitar.

What are guitar arpeggios?

An arpeggio takes basic chords and breaks them apart so you can hear each note separately. It’s similar to a broken chord, except broken chords allow notes to overlap in sound. 

For arpeggios, you want to articulate one note without the sound bleeding into the next. This note progression requires finger dexterity on the guitar.

When you play an arpeggio, you strum the three or four notes inside the chord separately instead of strumming the notes together.

After you play each note, you should lift your fretting finger to mute the sound before moving on to the following one. Articulate notes as you play the arpeggios going up or down the fretboard.

Why are guitar arpeggios important?

Many guitarists recommend practicing arpeggios in addition to scales on the guitar. But why are arpeggios so important? 

Improve finger skills on the guitar

Arpeggios break up chord blocks into individual notes.

Your fingers must intentionally fret a note without string buzz. Then your finger should stop the note before moving on. 

When you play each fret separately, intentionally position your finger against the fret to get a clear sound with no fret buzz.  Then, each finger knows its part when you put the notes back together in a block chord. Arpeggios can help you become familiar with chord shapes and note articulation.

Add depth to guitar songs

Arpeggios also allow you to highlight the harmony in a piece and improvise.

Take a blocked chord and replace it with an arpeggio to play over the melody line. You can add rhythm and movement to a song or guitar solo. 

While arpeggios can be a great way to improve finger dexterity, they can also add depth to a piece. Especially in jazz or blues guitar rhythms, arpeggios are invaluable.

Playing through arpeggios is especially useful for guitar beginners trying to land chords and add interest to songs. 

The differences between guitar arpeggios & scales.

You often hear how important it is to practice scales and arpeggios, but are those the same thing? While scales and arpeggios are similar in some aspects, they have different purposes. 

A regular scale hits every note available in a key signature. In Western music, the scale uses whole and half steps. However, arpeggios can include different intervals. 

Use a scale that matches your key signature as you improvise guitar riffs. Or, you can play an arpeggio in the harmony line instead of strumming a blocked chord. 

Practicing scales and arpeggios can help you become familiar with the notes and chord shapes in different key signatures. To learn more about guitar scales, check out: How to Play the Major Scale on Guitar for Beginners. 

Learning scales and arpeggios can help you learn your way around the fretboard until you know it like the back of your hand.

Triads and arpeggios.

Chords have at least two notes but can have five or more. You can choose to arpeggiate any chord on the guitar. However, the most common arpeggios in guitar music are major and minor triads. 

A triad contains only three notes. And you can build one on the guitar by using intervals of thirds. 

To form an arpeggiated major triad, start with the root note of the key. Then add the third and fifth tones. Make a minor triad by simply lowering the third tone a half step. 

In addition to major and minor arpeggios, you can also have augmented, diminished, and suspended triads. 

Read up on other common chords in Guitar Chords for Beginners: Ultimate Guide.

Examples of guitar arpeggios on the fretboard.

Once you know what arpeggios are, you need to know how to apply your knowledge to the fretboard. So, what are some practical ways to play arpeggios on the fretboard?

Pick a key signature

To play arpeggios on the guitar, first, pick a key. You can start with the G key since this is one of the simplest keys in standard tuning. Then, run through the G scale from low G to high G and back down.

Play a chord in the key’s root position

Find a chord on the guitar in the same key signature as your scale. Since triads are common chords, you can use the root, third, and perfect fifth. In the key of G, you can play a triad using the notes G, B, and D. Now, arpeggiate the chord using those same three notes.

Try a two-octave arpeggio

Once you play the basic G arpeggio scale, add in another octave. Take the two-octave arpeggio up and then back down several times. Two-octave arpeggios force your fingers to find the same G, B, and D notes in different places on the fretboard. 

Play the arpeggio diagonally

Playing the two-octave arpeggio keeps the pattern in a vertical position. However, you can expand the arpeggio by playing it diagonally. You can use a metronome to play up and down the fretboard. Start slowly. Then, as you become more confident in your finger positions, you can speed up the pace.

Try different strum patterns

When you master your arpeggios, you can play them using different techniques and strum patterns. 

Try out techniques such as:

• Alternate picking– Pick strings using an up-and-down motion.
• Hammer-ons–Play one note and “hammer” a second note on the vibrating string using your finger.
• Finger rolling–Roll your finger from one string to the next to play successive notes.

You can kill two birds with one stone when you try new fingering techniques as you play arpeggio patterns.

Guitar arpeggios shapes.

Focusing on playing each note in an arpeggio can be overwhelming. That’s a lot of different finger positions to learn! To simplify the process, zoom out to look at the big picture. Paying attention to the shape of the chord blocks can help you fret the right notes. 

The CAGED system makes it easy for many beginning guitarists to find the correct chord positions on the fretboard. CAGED focuses on five basic chord shapes. These include C, A, G, D, and E. This memorization tool is a shortcut to help you play arpeggios like a pro without diving into complicated guitar theory. 

Most arpeggios use each of the five CAGED shapes. However, the diminished 7th arpeggio has only one shape. 

Minor arpeggio shapes

Major arpeggios tend to sound upbeat and happy and are slightly more common than their minor counterparts. However, you also run into many minor guitar songs, so it is necessary to know both major and minor arpeggio scales.

Minor arpeggios usually sound poignant, dark, suspenseful, or mysterious. 

Once you know the major open-string arpeggio shapes, it is easy to play the minor arpeggio shapes with a few adjustments. The basic chord shapes are the same. Keep the root note and the perfect fifth. Then, lower the 3rd interval for each major arpeggio a half step to make it minor. 

To practice, each of these arpeggio shapes starts on the root note of a chord. Then play the arpeggio notes up and down the frets until you land on the root note again. 

Guitar arpeggios all day.

Once you learn basic guitar scales and chords, you are ready to tackle arpeggios on the guitar. At first, arpeggios can seem complicated to play. However, they become easier when you stop focusing on each note and start memorizing them in CAGED shapes. When you master scales and arpeggios, you can start playing the guitar like a pro.

Learn more about the basic skills you need to play the guitar using the Simply Guitar app. With this structured program, you can learn guitar theory fun and easy.

FAQs.

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What is guitar intonation? How to check guitar intonation? You will find out all the answers in this article.

The guitar is a beautiful-sounding instrument–when it is in tune.

However, sometimes you may notice that some areas of your fretboard are perfectly in tune while other notes sound sharp or flat.

It may mean that your intonation is off. 

Let’s look at how to get the perfect intonation for your guitar.

What is guitar intonation? (And why is it important?)

The intonation on a guitar (or any instrument, for that matter) is synonymous with pitch accuracy.

It may sound much like tuning. However, intonation and tuning differ slightly.

Your guitar can be in-tune according to your tuner, but the pitch can still sound off.

Bad pitch can be a guitarist’s worst nightmare–especially if you play in a band.

You may need an intonation adjustment if the notes are sharp or flat even after you tune the guitar strings.

Fixing intonation can be as simple as adjusting how you finger your guitar. Or, you may need to intonate your guitar by adjusting the action, strings, or saddle.

A guitar with perfect intonation allows your chords to sound in tune wherever you choose to play them on the fretboard.

How to check guitar intonation.

A guitar may be in tune and still have poor intonation when you sit down.

You may notice that part of your fretboard sounds in tune, and other areas of your fretboard sound sharp or flat. 

Here’s how to check your guitar’s intonation:

First, play an open string and check the note for pitch accuracy on a tuner.

Let the open-string ring while you play the same note on the 12th fret. If you have good intonation, the pitches should sound the same.

To double-check the intonation, you can also test a harmonic. Play an open string, and then play a harmonic at the 12th fret. 

You want to check the intonation of each string at the 12th fret. Why the 12th fret, you ask? The 12th fret is generally at the halfway point of the fretboard. It’s at an even distance between the nut and the guitar bridge.

A few of the strings on a guitar may have poor intonation, while others may not need any adjustments. This is especially true for classical guitars with nylon and metal strings on one guitar.

If the fretted or harmonic note is several cents sharp or flat, you may need to adjust your guitar’s intonation. 

What can cause guitar intonation problems?

When you play an instrument, you want it to be in tune.

So, when one or more strings have poor intonation, this can be frustrating. It would be best to sit down with a guitar tuner and painstakingly adjust your guitar. 

However, there are a few ways to prevent intonation problems in the future. Here are a few ways to keep your guitar in tune all across the guitar:

Tips for adjusting guitar intonation.

Adjusting the intonation on your guitar can be a task. You want to do the job right the first time around. 

Here are a few tips to make your job easier and save you time:

Make small intonation adjustments

A little goes a long way when you adjust your guitar.

Make small adjustments and check the intonation with a tuner as your work.

Once you finish an adjustment, retune your guitar.

Also, make one change to your guitar in one sitting. For example, if you adjust the truss rod, allow this change to settle for a few days.

If the guitar doesn’t pass the intonation test in four days, try another adjustment, such as moving the bridge.

If it ain’t broke…

You don’t need to intonate your guitar if a simple tuning can do the trick. Before adjusting the bridge saddle or truss rods, check the easy “fixes” first.

Ensure your guitar is in tune, your strings are in good condition, and you use the proper fingering techniques. 

If your guitar fails the intonation test, you should buckle down and adjust your guitar’s intonation.

How to intonate a guitar.

If it’s not an issue with the strings, the weather, or your fingering technique, it’s most likely a problem with the bridge saddle. Once you determine that you need to adjust the guitar’s intonation at the saddle, find a reliable tuner and get to work.

Adjust the truss rod

The bow of the neck can affect the intonation of your guitar.

If the truss rod is too tight, the guitar neck begins to bend.

Most guitars with steel strings have a truss rod to support the guitar neck. If your intonation is off, you can try adjusting this guitar piece.

To adjust the truss rod, see if your guitar neck needs a tighter or looser adjustment.

You can do this by laying your guitar on a flat surface. Is the guitar neck bending away from the strings, toward the strings, or straight?

This lets you know if you should loosen the strings, tighten them, or leave them alone. 

If you need to adjust the truss rod, look for the point of entry. Usually, there is a hole or cover near the guitar’s headstock.

Tighten the rod by turning it to the right or loosening it to the left.

Once you adjust the neck to the proper position, tune the strings and wait for it to settle.

In two to four days, you can check your guitar’s intonation. 

Adjust the bridge saddle 

 The most common way to intonate your guitar is to adjust the bridge saddle.

Moving the bridge can raise or lower your guitar’s intonation. To know which way to move the bridge, compare a fretted note on the 12th fret with its corresponding harmonic. A tuner can let you know if it is sharp or flat.

If the guitar’s intonation is sharp, move the guitar saddle away from the fretboard. This increases the string length and lowers the pitch.

If the intonation is flat, move the guitar saddle closer to the fretboard. This tightens the strings and raises the pitch. 

Now you know the direction to move the bridge… but how?

Adjusting different types of electric guitar bridge saddles

For electric guitars, adjusting the saddle is relatively simple. However, there are many different styles of bridges and saddles you may run into on electric guitars. 

Some guitars may tighten by turning to the right. However, others tighten by turning the screwdriver the opposite way. As you make adjustments, go slowly and check the string with a tuner to see if you are going in the proper direction.

Six adjustable saddles: Often, electric guitars have saddles you can adjust separately for each string. These include brands like Fender, Gibson, and others. Adjusting each of the six strings’ saddles, you can get close to perfection.

Most of these saddles use screws which are fairly simple to adjust. However, other guitars like Floyd Rose use hex nuts instead of screws. Adjusting six hex nuts can be more complicated because you must loosen the strings to reach the nut. 

Hex nut saddles require more time and patience. However, you still get a precise result at the end of your labor.

One saddle bridge: Some bridges don’t have separate saddles. Instead, all the strings share one saddle. This gives you less control. However, you can still move the bridge for better intonation. These bridges usually come with two adjustment screws at each end of the bridge. You can move both screws if all the strings need adjustment. Or, you can angle the saddle by adjusting only one side. (Most often, the low strings are slightly longer than the treble strings for proper intonation.)

Acoustic Guitars

The saddle can be slightly more difficult to adjust (and less precise) if you have an acoustic guitar. These guitars usually have one saddle spanning the bridge. You can replace the bridge if you notice wear or file down a saddle that is too high.

You can also use a compensated saddle with different height levels for the high and low strings. This offers different levels of tension to intonate your guitar.

Make sure your guitar saddle is at a slight angle. This allows the low-sounding strings to be longer than the treble strings for the best intonation.

Can you ever really get perfect guitar intonation?

You may notice that however often you adjust your guitar, the intonation is never quite “perfect.” Don’t sweat it. You can get very, very close to perfect intonation with proper adjustments to your guitar. However, with fretted instruments, you always have tone variations on the fretboard. 

If this imperfection bothers your perfect pitch, you can always try a fretless guitar. But be warned–with a fretless guitar, the intonation relies more on your fingering than the instrument. Want to try it? Check out What is a Fretless Guitar and How to Play It.

Final words.

To play expertly, you want a guitar in tune anywhere on the fretboard. Adjusting your guitar’s intonation can give you an instrument that is satisfying to play. With proper intonation, you can sound like a pro.

Got a great-sounding guitar and want the skills to match? Try out the Simply Guitar app. This app lets you learn the guitar step-by-step and gives you real-time feedback. It’s flexible, fun, and, for the first two weeks, it’s free! Follow the link to start your free trial. See if Simply Guitar is for you!

FAQs.

The post Guitar Intonation: How To Intonate A Guitar appeared first on Learn to Play an Instrument with step-by-step lessons | Simply Blog.

This buyer’s guide explains everything you need to know before buying a guitar hanger. Check out some of the best guitar hangers in 2022.

Looking for the ideal way to store your guitar? 

You can keep it in the case, but taking it out is a bit of a hassle. To make things more convenient, you can use a guitar stand. 

This blog details everything that you need to know about guitar hangers, from how to install them to which ones you should buy.

What is a guitar hanger?

A guitar hanger is a small device that lets you hang your guitar on a wall.

They’re commonly made with metal, wood, and plastic and use foam or rubber to cushion your guitar’s headstock.

Why should you use a guitar hanger?

Guitar hangers and stands are game-changers for storing your instrument, providing your guitar with safety and accessibility. 

One potential drawback of using a guitar hanger is storing your beloved instrument in a seemingly precarious spot. That’s a fair concern. However, people worldwide use them without issue. 

Guitar stands work splendidly for many guitarists; they keep their instruments secure (much closer to the ground) and out in the open–ready for you to pick them up and play. 

Guitar hangers are more practical. They’re much smaller and cheaper, and because you mount them on a wall, they allow you to be more spatially efficient. Practicality aside, they also turn your instrument into a cool wall decor when you’re not using it.

How to install a guitar hanger.

Guitar hangers are perfect storage accessories. Generally, they come with two or more screws, so all you need is a screwdriver and a stud finder. 

Follow these steps to install your guitar hanger safely:

1. Gather the necessary tools (screwdriver, stud finder, hanger).
2. Find a beam in the wall and mark down where you’ll screw your device.
3. Remove the hanger from the packing.
4. Screw the base of the hanger into the beam. You must screw your handle into a beam, not the gyprock because it supports your instrument. 
5. Screw the base of the fork into the piece connected to the wall. 
6. Vacuum the dust.

Voila! Your guitar hanger is secure and ready for use.

Types of guitar hangers.

When it comes to guitar hangers, there a many creative designs. Some offer additional security, others focus on aesthetics, and some go with a more straightforward design.

While shopping for guitar hangers, you’re likely to encounter many different brands–each with unique details. Generally, there are three types of hangers. 

Average price.

Like anything, the price of a guitar hanger depends on the quality of the device. A guitar hanger can range from under $10 to $300. Some hangers are made with better materials than others. Many guitar hangers have more intricate designs, offering you more security or the ability to store many instruments. All of these factors determine the cost of the device.

3 excellent guitar hangers you can buy now.

There are tons of guitar hangers available. Here are three of the best you can buy today.

Hercules GSP38WBK Plus

One of the main concerns people have when buying a guitar hanger is the possibility of your precious instrument falling. For this reason, at the top of the list of our best guitar hangers of 2022 is the Hercules GSP38WBK Plus!

This device has an automatic locking system that helps to keep your guitar secure. With an ‘attractive’ wooden base, it compliments almost any interior. Additionally, the hanger has two rubber pieces that you can attach to the fork, which shortens the distance between each support pillar–allowing you to hand virtually and guitar on it.

String Wing Guitar Keeper Bundle

The String Wing Guitar Keeper is ideal for people with several guitars. It offers people a secure and convenient way to showcase and store their favorite instruments. This wall mount is handcrafted and comes with five adjustable hangers–ideal for collectors, shop owners, and guitar enthusiasts. And with a lifetime warranty, you rest easy knowing your instruments are in good … hangers. 

String Swing Hardwood Home and Studio Guitar Hanger

We present the String Swing Hardwood Home and Studio Guitar Hanger for those looking for a practical guitar hanger. It’s a durable and simple device, and ingenuity is imbued.

The forks curve upwards, and by doing so, secure your instrument without a locking mechanism. With foam padding for your headstock and quality materials, it’s a wall mount that you can depend on.

A guitar hanger is a practical and aesthetic solution for storing your instrument. They’re affordable and reliable, clear up a ton of space, and come in all shapes and sizes–so you can find the perfect device for your home. 

Practicality, affordability, and reliability are all essential characteristics of any tool. Ideally, your approach to learning the guitar incorporates those values. Simply Guitar is the perfect tool for anyone learning the guitar, allowing you to choose when, where, and how long you practice. 

Designed by music teachers, the app offers bite-sized lessons that effectively teach you how to play your instrument, read sheet music, and much more! You can use the program as a supplement to guitar lessons or as a primary source. Give it a try today.

FAQs.

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This article teaches you how to tune your electric guitar with and without a tuner.

Tuning your instrument is an essential part of being a guitarist. 

An untuned guitar has a dramatic impact on the music you create. 

It affects synchronicity in a band. 

It makes you sound off (to put it lightly).

There are many ways to tune an electric guitar, which usually only takes a few minutes. 

As a beginner, you may be unsure about tuning your instrument. 

That’s why we put together this guide. 

It helps you understand tuning and explains a few methods to tune your electric guitar. 

The essentials of guitar tuning.

Tuning your guitar means assigning a particular pitch to the open strings of your instrument. 

There are many tunings. 

Drop D, Open G, Open D, and GABDEG, to name a few. 

People use them for playing particular genres. 

For instance, many guitarists tune their instrument to ‘Drop C’ when playing metal!

As a beginner, you don’t need to worry about the different types of tunings for now. 

The standard tuning (the one we are focusing on) for a guitar is E-A-D-G-B-E.

Tuning pegs

There are six tuning pegs on the guitar’s headstock.

By turning them, you tighten and loosen the strings of your electric guitar. 

When your instrument is out of tune, a string is either too tight and sharp (#), or too loose and flat (♭). 

The tuning pegs allow you to tighten or lengthen the strings to change the pitch of your guitar.

How to tune an electric guitar with a tuner.

There are tons of effective, affordable, and easy-to-use tuning devices available. 

We cover the different guitar tuners and how to use them in our blog post, How to Use a Guitar Tuner Step-by-Step. 

Regardless of the tuner, you have, tuning your electric guitar is the same. 

Guitar tuners gauge your instrument’s pitch in sound or vibration. 

By playing an open string, the tuner interprets the pitch and shows you if you’re off and by how much.

To tune your electric guitar, find a quiet room and follow these steps:

1. Open your tuner and set it to the desired settings (i.e., standard tuning E-A-D-G-B-E).
2. Grab your guitar and plug it into your amp (make sure any modulations are off).
3. Play the open E chord and tighten or loosen the string as indicated on the tuner.
4. Repeat the process for each string.

Just like that, you’re ready to play!

How to tune an electric guitar without a tuner.

There are a few ways to tune your guitar without a tuner. However, they require experience and a deeper, more intimate understanding of the correct pitch. 

Relative tuning

Another tuning technique is known as ‘relative tuning.’ This is the process of using one string to tune the next. 

The sixth (low E) string must be in the correct pitch. 

It serves as the reference point for tuning the rest of the strings. 

By holding the fifth fret down, you know what the following lower string needs to sound like. 

Follow these steps to apply the relative tuning technique:

1. Play the sixth string at the fifth fret and adjust the open fifth string (A string) so it sounds the same.
2. Repeat the process for the next two strings (fourth and third).
3. When tuning the second string, play the fourth fret on the third string as the reference point for the correct pitch.
4. Use the fifth fret on the second string for the first and final strings. 

If this process is still unclear, check out this YouTube video that walks you through it.

How often should you tune your electric guitar?

Now that you know some tuning techniques, it’s good to know how often you should tune your instrument.

Many variables affect the pitch of your strings. 

It depends on the frequency and intensity that you play. 

The strings you use and your guitar itself affect how quickly they get out of tune. 

And even when you’re not playing, the humidity affects the guitar’s tone.

It would be best if you tuned your guitar before every session. 

Today, tuning is super convenient. 

You can download a free guitar tuner on your phone. 

We recommend Simply Tune. It’s easy to use and keeps your instrument sounding right. 

Tuning out.

Tuning is an essential skill that every guitarist needs to learn. 

Otherwise, all the music you create will be, well, out of tune. 

There are tons of options available to you when it comes to tuning your instrument, from quality tools to effective techniques. 

At Simply, we help beginners get the most out of their musical journey. 

Whether you’re learning how to play the guitar or write music, we provide content and tools that give you to best information and environment to grow. 

Simply Guitar is an app that teaches you everything you need to know about playing guitar, from basic chords to reading sheet music. 

Learn at a rhythm that works for you!

FAQs. 

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This article covers guitar techniques that every beginning guitar player needs to learn, how best to implement them into your playing, and some cool ways to intertwine multiple techniques in your music.

Learning how to play the guitar is an amazing journey.

It can seem daunting at times—learning your first chords, scales, and songs can feel like you are far from being the skilled guitarist you dream to be.

That is where learning some simple guitar-playing techniques comes in.

Several cool guitar techniques are easy to pick up and help you learn songs, chords, and scales more easily.

So let’s look at ten guitar techniques that are easy for beginners.

1. Proper hand positioning

Hand positioning is one of the most important guitar techniques every beginner should know. Knowing the correct hand position helps you play the guitar more easily and efficiently. If you don’t learn how to hold your fretting hand the right way in the beginning, it can take years to break the habit later on.

Remember a few things when positioning your hands on the guitar: Where your thumb and index finger should be and how to hold the strings down with your other fingers. If you are playing guitar in an open position, place your thumb on the back of the neck near where the next chord or note is to be played.

2. Picking techniques

There are many ways to hold a guitar pick. The style of music you play often dictates how you hold your pick. In general, you should hold your pick downward towards the body of your guitar.

3. Palm muting

There is probably no more famous technique in Rock and Roll, Metal, and even Blues music than the palm mute. It’s one of the basic guitar techniques that are easy to learn and adds a lot of depth to your guitar playing.

To palm mute, you take the palm of your hand on the pinky finger side and rest it just above the bridge on the desired string or strings. The more pressure you put on the strings, the more mute effect you get.

The closer your palm is to the bridge, the deeper the sound. This is how you get that chunky metal sound with overdrive or distortion.

You can mute with the fingers on your fretting hand as well. Hold your finger lightly on the strings at the top of the fretboard towards the headstock, then strum the guitar.

4. Hammer-ons & pull-offs

This technique is common in musical styles ranging from Jazz to Metal. Guitarists like John Mayer, Joe Pass, and Chuck Berry are masters of this versatile and easy-to-learn method.

These are two basic techniques that every guitarist should know—using your fretting hand to strike or “hammer” the string to play a hammer-on. The desired note plays without using your picking hand.

Pull-offs are the opposite. Using your fretting hand, pluck the string while letting go or “pulling off” of the note. This drops or raises to the next note you’re holding on the same string.

Both of these guitar techniques add complexity and depth to your guitar playing. Some great examples of these techniques in action are the songs “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room’ by John Mayer and “Trapeze Swinger’ by Iron & Wine.

5. Guitar sliding

This guitar technique, not to be confused with slide guitar, is a fun way to make songs more dynamic. You hear this technique in almost every genre, especially Jazz. You can use it with single notes and chords too.

To utilize this technique,  slide your hand or finger to the next note without letting go of the strings. For instance, starting with a G major chord and sliding up into an A chord without breaking contact with the strings.

6. Harmonics

Professional guitarists often use harmonics to tune the guitar – but we also can use them in music. The high-pitched, ringing tone can add a touch of brightness or darkness to any song.

Performing a harmonic is easy, even for the novice guitar player. When you look at your fretboard, there is usually a series of inlays starting with the third fret. Harmonics can resonate by gently placing a finger of your fretting hand across the string or strings above these inlays and strumming or plucking the desired strings.

The easiest harmonics to play are the 5th, 7th, and 12th frets.

7. Augmenting chords

You become familiar with different chords when first learning to play the guitar. It’s easy to take these chords as gospel when first starting. But remember that you can augment any chord to better suit your song.

Don’t be afraid to change a C minor into an augmented G chord. The freedom of augmenting chords can help the budding songwriter find that missing piece and get past writer’s block.

8. Dropped, open, and other tunings

There are many more tuning arrangements than the standard E on guitar. The first alternate tuning you may learn as a beginning guitarist is dropped D. This tuning presents itself in many styles of music. However, it is most common in Hard Rock and Metal arrangements.

Another popular choice is open tuning. Artists such as Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, and Barry Gibb are well known for using this tuning, and major label bands, including Pearl Jam. There are also modal and instrumental tunings, among others.

Utilizing these tunings requires learning guitar playing techniques specific to the tuning arrangement.

9. String bending

Guitar masters of the past and present use string bending to spice up their musical arrangements on guitar. Blues, Jazz, Rock, and Metal guitarists implement this technique in their songs. It can even be heard in classical arrangements.

String bending is when you hold a note or chord and either push the strings up towards you on the neck or pull them away. This gives the guitarist more range in notes and tone on the fly.

10. Vibrato

Regarding basic guitar techniques, vibrato is an absolute must for any guitarist to learn. This technique is similar to string bending with much smaller movements. By holding the note and moving the finger repeatedly on the fretboard, you can slightly change the sound and make the note quiver to the listener.

It takes practice to master the vibrato. String bending is easier to learn for the beginner. However, once you add this to your repertoire, you can play in a much more dynamic fashion in no time.

Guitar techniques takeaways.

Testing these guitar techniques is the best way to determine which works best for your goal. As a guitarist, you may incorporate them into your music in one way or another.

If you are frustrated or having trouble learning a certain technique, put it on the shelf and move on to another. By the time you come back to it, you likely won’t be struggling anymore.

Are you interested in taking your guitar playing to the next level? Then download the Simply Guitar app and start learning today!

FAQs.

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What is the purpose of muting on the guitar? This article teaches you the most common guitar muting techniques.

When you practice guitar, you want to hit all the right notes. However, muting guitar strings can be just as essential as fingering the correct frets. 

Guitar muting can take some time and effort to learn. Sometimes, it requires your fingering hand to stop unwanted strings from sounding. At other times, your picking hand is responsible for muting. 

With the appropriate techniques and a bit of practice, you can play the right strings and mute like a pro. Let’s look at the best ways to mute guitar notes and get the clearest sounds.

What is the purpose of guitar muting?

Guitar muting can add interest to your strum patterns, give you crisp staccato notes, allow you to play slide guitar with clear sounds, and stop the music for rest notes. You can also dampen notes to cut down on reverb and change the dynamics of your piece. Guitar muting gives you more control over your sound and is a great learning tool for beginning guitarists.

To mute the guitar, you may use techniques in your right hand or your left. Sometimes you may need to mute guitar strings with both hands. 

Here are some of the best guitar muting techniques for fretting and strumming hands.

Six guitar muting techniques.

Muting strings on the guitar may sound simple. However, it can take a week or more to get just the right touch. Here are a few guitar muting techniques to add depth to your pieces.

1. Muting guitar strings with your index finger.

Playing guitar with a smooth, legato touch is lovely. However, if you let one note bleed into another, you can quickly get a muddy, unclear sound. It’s like pressing down a piano’s sustain pedal for too long. 

For clear notes, stop the string’s vibration before you move on to the next. Or, you can block other strings from sounding and highlight just one note. This technique is useful in classical guitar playing when you have to pluck individual notes in a melody line. 

Mute by lightly releasing a string in the left (or non-dominant) hand. Let your finger hover on the note as you lift with precisely the right amount of pressure. If you release a note too quickly, you might create jarring notes. However, if you don’t press down hard enough, this can cause the string to buzz. 

A quick touch from the left index finger can stop a string from ringing. As you move on to new notes, you cut down on reverb to get a clear sound.

If you need to use your index finger to fret, simply use the pad instead of your fingertip. This intentionally sloppy fingering lets you fret one string while stopping the string next to it using one finger.

You can use this technique for:

• Rest notes
• Slide guitar
• Transitioning from one note or chord to the next

2. Mute with the thumb or fingers of your strum hand.

You can also mute strings with the strumming hand. Use the side of your thumb to stop the vibration. If you want to mute more than one, plant your fingers on several strings to keep them from sounding. 

Muting with your strumming hand prevents you from accidentally hitting a string you want to keep silent.

Use this technique to:

• Stop the sound for rest notes 
• Transition from one note or chord to another
• Block off unwanted strings

3. Mute with the side of your palm as you strum

With palm-muting, you use the side of your strumming hand to tighten up your strumming patterns. Place the side of your palm against the strings as you strum. This technique muffles your sound and creates a soft piano dynamic. Your hand should be near the bridge of the guitar. If your hand is too close to the sound hole, it may muffle the sound entirely.

Palm muting adds depth to your music and gives you more control over your strumming patterns. This technique can be helpful for beginning guitarists. It forces your strumming hand to stay close to the strings and eliminates unnecessary movement. 

Use this technique to:

• Add a quieter dynamic to your songs
• Gain more control over your strumming and picking
• Create rhythms

4. Mute with the side of your strumming hand for a hard cut-off

You can add interest to your strum pattern by cutting off all sounds abruptly with a hard chop. Use the edge of your strum hand to mute the strings near the guitar bridge. Lighten the pressure of your hand If you hear the guitar strings click against the fretboard. 

Intersperse this hard cut-off with an up-and-down strum pattern to add rhythm to a piece. You can also use this technique to end a song dramatically.

• This technique is compatible with electric and acoustic guitar playing.

5. Create fade-away endings with the side of your palm

If you want to be less abrupt with your muting, try fading away your sound. For this technique, use the side of your palm on the bridge. However, instead of chopping the sound off, roll your hand forward. This technique creates a subtle ending. 

• Use this technique to end a piece or a movement. 

6. Try palm muting and plucking with the pizzicato method

Pizzicato is a guitar-playing method that also uses the side of your strumming hand. You can place the side of your hand on the guitar bridge, saddle, or in front of the saddle. Mute all the strings, just the bass strings or the treble strings depending on the sound you want. 

As you rest your hand on (or near) the bridge, pluck the strings instead of strumming. This technique gives you a unique sound on the guitar. 

• The pizzicato guitar playing method fits well with the classical guitar genre.

How to avoid muting guitar strings by mistake.

Muting can be a desirable technique when it is intentional. However, accidental muting can make your playing sound muddy. Try these tips to avoid muting guitar strings by mistake. 

Check your hand position

To avoid muting strings accidentally, check your hand position on the guitar. When you play the guitar, you want to curve your fingers and press with your fingertip instead of the pad. This position lets you only fret the string you want. (You may need to trim your nails!) Then, keep the thumb upright behind the fretboard for support and point your elbow down. Using the correct guitar posture allows your fingers to play from a position of strength.

Bring the guitar close to your body

Holding a guitar too far away can cause your fingers to blunder notes and mute strings. 

Pulling the guitar closer in can help you avoid unwanted string muting. The guitar body should touch your torso. Now, the guitar neck is easy for your fingers to reach. 

Simplify the chords

Instead of playing overcomplicated chords messily, focus on playing simple chords well. Beginner guitarists need time to build hand strength and finger independence. You may unintentionally mute strings if the reach is too much for you to master. Often beginners choose to play open chords or even drop a note from a difficult chord. Try out these 7 Easy (But Impressive) Guitar Songs for Beginners with simple chords. When guitar chords are easy for your fingers to reach, you can get a more distinct sound. 

Practice, Practice, Practice

Unintentional guitar muting can ruin great songs. But practice can help you avoid buzzing strings and muffled sounds. Focusing on reaches and simple chord transitions can help you improve your finger accuracy. You can also warm up before you play with these 5 Finger Exercises for Every Guitarist.  With practice, you can strengthen your hands and eliminate unwanted muting.

Try new guitar muting techniques.

Guitar muting can add depth to your pieces while granting you more control over your guitar. However, accidental muting can negatively affect your sound. To mute guitar strings effectively, practice makes perfect. Take one technique and practice until you master the skill. You are closer to becoming a guitar expert with each new guitar trick.

If you want to learn guitar but don’t have much free time, download the Simply Guitar app to learn how to play on the go. 

This app takes you through the basics of playing guitar. It also gives you feedback in real time. Once you conquer one skill, you can move on to the next. Watch your guitar skills improve in five minutes of focused practice daily.

FAQs.

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Learn everything there is to know about guitar saddles, including how to adjust the bridge saddle height and how you can replace it. 

When you learn to play the guitar, you also need to become familiar with the parts of the guitar. It’s easy to see the role the strings, fretboard, and soundhole have as we strum the guitar. However, many other guitar parts affect the final sound. 

The guitar saddle is a piece that is easy to overlook but has a significant role in your sound. It is only about two or three inches long and rests between the bridge and strings. 

But what exactly does it do? 

Let’s look at a guitar saddle’s role in guitar playing and how to adjust its height for the best sound.

What is a guitar saddle?

A guitar saddle is a small piece of bone, brass, or plastic that rests between the bridge and strings. It can transfer the vibration of the guitar strings to the soundboard. When you raise or lower the saddle, you can alter a guitar’s intonation to get a better pitch. 

Why is it important?

A guitar saddle is so small it looks insignificant. However, this tiny plastic has an essential role in guitar playing. 

The strings rest directly on the saddle. The saddle has the job of transferring tones from the guitar strings to the soundboard. You can bring pitches back in tune if the guitar saddle is too high or low. 

If you want to change the height of your guitar saddle, you first need to know what kind of saddle you have. 

The five main types of guitar saddles.

A guitar needs a saddle at the right height to sound its best. But, just as guitars come in many shapes, sizes, and styles, so do guitar saddles.  

What type of saddle does your guitar have? Is it a drop-in, or is it glued to the bridge? Do you need to hire a luthier to do it? 

Here are the five main saddles you usually see on a guitar.

1. The compensated saddle

A compensated saddle is one of the most popular options for acoustic guitar. It has high points and low points molded into it. This shape allows the treble strings to rest higher and gives the low guitar strings a longer stretch. It adjusts the heights for bass and treble strings to keep the guitar’s intonation on the pitch.

2. The straight, uncompensated saddle

The straight, uncompensated saddle is the “Plain Jane” of the different saddle types. It has no grooves or ridges. Instead, it is straight where the strings rest on it. Often, you find an uncompensated saddle on classical guitars with nylon strings. Nylon strings don’t need height compensation as much as metal strings do. They tend to hold intonation better, as well.

3. The adjustable, split saddle

Electric guitars often have adjustable saddles. While other saddles are one piece, the split saddle has six metal pieces that screw into the guitar bridge. Or, you may have three adjustable saddles that couple the strings into groups. This type of guitar saddle is one of the easiest to adjust. Simply tighten or loosen the screws with an Allen wrench to raise or lower the string height. 

4. The drop-in saddle

Drop-in saddles are not attached to the guitar with glue or screws. Instead, drop-in saddles fit into a groove in the guitar bridge. This design makes it easy to change the angle or string height. You can also easily remove a drop-in saddle when you need to replace it. Many acoustic guitars use the drop-in saddle.

5. The long set saddle

Unlike the drop-in saddle, a set guitar saddle attaches to the guitar bridge with glue. To remove or adjust this saddle, apply heat until the glue softens. Without heat, the guitar saddle may break off in the groove when you try to remove it. However, if you apply too much heat, you can damage the finish on your guitar. When you need to replace a long set saddle, it may be a good time to call a luthier for help.  

Guitar saddle vs. guitar bridge.

You often hear about the saddle and bridge as if they are the same thing. Indeed, you can’t have one without the other. However, these two guitar parts have different functions. 

A bridge usually fits on the guitar body and holds the saddle and bridge pins. The strings cross the saddle and attach them.

The saddle rests on the bridge, and the strings rest on the saddle. Raising or lowering the saddle can affect the tone of your guitar. At the right height, a guitar saddle can reduce fret buzz and give your guitar the perfect intonation.

How to adjust the saddle height on a guitar.

As you strum out guitar pieces regularly, you may notice that your guitar keeps going out of tune. You may hear the strings buzzing against the frets, or the frets may be difficult to press down for a clear sound. 

These issues indicate that you need to adjust the saddle height on your guitar. For techniques like slide guitar, you need to raise the saddle higher than usual to allow the guitar slide to move smoothly across the frets.  

So, how do you raise or lower a saddle on a guitar?

Adjusting the saddle on an acoustic guitar

Adjusting the saddle on an acoustic guitar requires more precision than on an electric guitar. Before you start this in-depth project, you want to be sure that the saddle needs adjusting and that it’s not another part of the guitar at fault. The truss rod, nut slot depths, and the worn fret tops can also be responsible for string buzz.

Here are a few steps to follow to adjust the saddle on an acoustic guitar:

Mark the amount you want to remove.

By marking the saddle before you sand, you can be sure you don’t remove too much material. Even simply drawing a line in permanent marker on the bottom of the saddle can be a good idea. This mark lets you see how much saddle material you are shaving off at a time.

Indicate which side is treble and which is bass.

To put the saddle back in the correct position, subtly mark the treble and bass sides of the saddle. Then, when you put the piece back on the guitar, you know which direction it should face.

Use fine-grit sandpaper.

Place the saddle on a strip of fine grit sandpaper and rub it gently to lower the height.

Rub in one direction.

Make sure you push the saddle only in one direction. This way, you get more control over your strokes. You don’t want to shave off so much that this guitar part loses its purpose. 

Apply even pressure.

Use even pressure as you sand the saddle to take off an equal amount of material on both sides. Then, make sure the bottom is flat. You don’t want a humpy base at the bottom of your guitar saddle.

Work in small increments. 

In music, you don’t need to rush. (Unless you are playing a piece in Prestissimo.) Working slowly and checking your progress can give you the desired result.

When you are sanding down a guitar saddle, less is more.

Adjusting the saddle height for acoustic guitars can be a tedious project. However, changing the height of an electric guitar is much more straightforward.

Adjusting the saddle on electric guitars

Electric guitar saddles are generally the most accessible type of guitar to adjust. You don’t have to sand guitar parts or make permanent changes you may regret later. You don’t even have to remove the strings. Instead, each guitar saddle has two pins you can raise or lower using an Allen wrench. 

Adjust both sides evenly, so the top of the saddle remains straight. You can check your work by seeing if the top of the saddle is level with the guitar top. Lopsided saddles are not what you want.  

How to replace a bridge saddle on the guitar.

If your saddle is worn, you may need to replace it for a better height. Hiring someone to replace your saddle can cost up to $150. Doing it yourself can cost between $15 and $30, depending on the saddle you choose. Here are the steps you should follow.

1. Choose your saddle

Before you start working, you need to find a replacement saddle with the right characteristics. Check your existing guitar to see what type of saddle it uses. Then make your choice.

• Length–Choose a saddle that is slightly larger than you need. Then you can sand the edges to keep it even with the bridge.

• Thickness– Make sure your saddle fits your guitar in the right spot. 

• Height– It’s a good idea to get a higher saddle than you need. You can always take off extra with sandpaper, but it’s hard to put it back.

• Material– Man-made ivory gives a great sound for acoustic and classical guitars. However,  plastic is the most inexpensive version.

2. Remove the strings

To replace a saddle on an electric or acoustic guitar, you must remove the strings first. Then, you can reach the saddle and bridge. 

3. Clean the guitar

Once the strings are off, take a moment to wipe down your guitar. Clean any grime from the frets. You can also rub some fretboard conditioner into the wood with a soft cloth.

4. Remove the saddle

Remove the saddle. If you have a set saddle, you need to unglue it using heat. However, drop-in saddles are easy to remove.

5. Replace the saddle

Once you remove the old saddle, it’s time to add a new saddle to your guitar. Generally, keep the bass strings lower and the treble strings higher for the best intonation. 

6. Restring the guitar

Add new strings to your guitar, and then comes the moment of truth. How does the guitar sound now? Do you notice a difference in the tone? 

Once you finish setting your guitar with the proper intonation, try out your skills for a crowd. 

It can be cheaper to replace a guitar saddle on your own. But should you try it? If you are a beginning guitar student, it may be best to leave the job to an expert. This is especially true if your saddle is glued to the bridge. Better to be sure the job is done correctly than play the guitar with a poorly installed guitar saddle. 

Final words.

As you learn to play the guitar, you master the guitar lingo and memorize the Parts of a Guitar. While saddle may only conjure up thoughts of horses, cowboys, and the wild west, now it has a new meaning. From now on, you can think of a tiny but significant part of the guitar. 

To gain more guitar knowledge in quick soundbites, try out Simply Guitar. This friendly app gives you daily challenges and corrects your guitar songs in real-time. 

FAQs.

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