Guitar

Start with a technique or a quiz

The Guitar page brings together resources on playing techniques, guitar types, notes, parts and chords. A useful starting point is the Playing Techniques mind map. It groups terms such as strumming, plucking, slide, tapping, hammer ons and pull offs. Read through the branches first, then return to any terms you want to study more closely.

If you would rather begin with questions, try Electric Guitar Quiz. It asks about pickups, bridge options, the electric guitar body and effects made with the whammy bar. The questions can help you identify terms to look for in the other resources.

Use maps, flashcards and quizzes together

After exploring the technique map, use the Guitar Techniques flashcards to study terms including Drop-D tuning, slide, vibrato and power chords. Compare the terms on the cards with those on the map. Some appear in both resources, while others give you a different detail to study.

For guitar types, the flashcard decks on lead, rhythm and bass guitars include questions about their strings and roles. You can also use Lesson 2 quiz to practice questions about open-string notes and notation. Return to a resource after a quiz if you want more time with its terms.

Explore the wider unit

Guitar is one section of the Musical Instruments unit in Music. Alongside resources focused on guitar techniques and questions, this page lists a mind map on the history, design and construction of back line instruments. Its guitar branch discusses guitars being heard in larger venues alongside brass instruments.

Explore the Guitar section of Musical Instruments and choose a resource to begin with.