Electric Guitar

Electric guitars are guitars with solid or semi-solid bodies that use vibration to stimulate electromagnetic pickups, which then translate the vibration into an electrical voltage. This is then broadcast through an amplifier, or amp, creating the electric guitar's distinctive sound. Unlike acoustic guitars, electric guitars don't depend on the hollow body for their sound. Because of this, they can come in many different shapes and materials.

How the Electric Guitar Creates Sound

Because electric guitars use an outside source to produce their sound, they don't depend on the acoustic properties of the instrument. When played alone, they are very quiet and don't have a high sound-quality. This is why amplifiers, which are used to interpret the electrical voltage coming from the guitar, are a necessary part of the instrument. A board on the guitar sends the frequencies into the amplifier. This interprets them and acts as a stereo, creating the unique sound of the electric guitar.

Amps have other uses as well. Because they use electrical currents, these can be controlled and distorted in ways that other instruments using only vibration can't. Distortion occurs when the sounds double back on themselves; it is an effect that many guitarists use as part of their music. Single notes can also be held out for much longer than they could be on an acoustic guitar.

Most electric guitars don't need to be plugged into an electrical outlet; they are self-contained. Amplifiers do need electricity so that they can receive the signals and make them audible.

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