Anatomy of the Bass Guitar This tour is meant to cover the basic parts of an electric bass guitar. The model shown is a Fender Jaguar, but be aware that other models may have slightly different components. This tour contains clickable links to jump to the major parts of the bass guitar, as well as a ‘home’ icon that can be clicked to return to the second (overview) slide.

Headstock Navigational tip: Neck Navigational tip: As you explore this tour, use the buttons on the upper right to move between the main portions of the bass Body Neck Outlined boxes: These are links. Click on outlined boxes to zoom in on a particular part of the guitar and see more details The upper left-hand menu buttons will be constants on this tour, and can be clicked to easily navigate back to the main portions of the bass (Headstock, Neck, and Body). All outlined boxes are links, and offer jumps to slides with more details on a particular feature. Body

Headstock Neck Body Head-stock Neck Body Here is an overall view of the bass from the front and the rear. Click on the outlined boxes to jump to see more details on any of the main parts of the instrument. Body

Strap Pin Pick Guard Pickups Control Knobs Strap Pin Bridge Strings Head-stock Pick Guard Strap Pin Neck Pickups Body Control Knobs Strap Pin This is the body of the bass. Bridge Strings Output Jack Control Knobs Backside

Additional Tone Control Knobs: Head-stock Neck Body Volume & Tone Pots: Most basses have at least these 2 knobs – one for volume and one for tone Additional Tone Control Knobs: Offer additional options for the settings of the on-board electronics The Fender Jaguar is a bass with a variety of switches and dials to control volume and tone, but the configuration and arrangement of these controls varies a lot with the instrument model. Most basses will have at least 2 basic knobs, one for volume and one for tone. The most basic student models may only have a single knob to control volume.

Head-stock Neck Body Pick Guard: A plastic panel to protect the body’s surface from scratches; On this model, it also serves as a removable cover to access the electronics cavity On some basses, the electronic components can be accessed by removing the pick guard rather than through a panel on the back. Pick guards come in lots of different colours and are commonly used to personalize the look of a guitar.

On many basses contains access panels to electronic components Head-stock Neck Body Body (backside): On many basses contains access panels to electronic components On some basses, the electronic components can be accessed through a panel on the back, rather than via a cavity on the front underneath the pick guard. Front

The patch cord to your amp plugs in here Head-stock Neck Body Output Jack: The patch cord to your amp plugs in here This is a typical location for the output jack on an electric guitar, but on some guitars or basses it is found on the lateral edge of the body. On this model, you can also see a metal plate that can be removed to access the electric components underneath output jack and control knobs.

Attaches to the body and serves as an anchor point for the strings Head-stock Saddle: The contact point of the strings, which can be lowered or raised to adjust the string height Neck Body Bridge: Attaches to the body and serves as an anchor point for the strings The colourful ends of the strings shown here give a good sense of how the strings are fed through the bridge.

Head-stock Neck Body This bass features 2 pickups, but different arrangements and configurations can be commonly found, with most instruments having 1-3 different pickups. Pickups: Take the vibrations from the strings and translate them into electrical sound signals to send to the amplifier

E string A string D string G string Strings: Head-stock Neck Body E string A string D string G string 4-string basses are most common, but some contain more strings to give the player a wider range of possible notes. The strings can also be tuned to other non-standard tunings, which can make certain songs or styles of music easier to play. Strings: Most electric basses have 4 strings, and are tuned to the pitches shown when in “standard tuning”

Head-stock Neck Body Strap Pin Strap Pins: 2 pins to attach a strap, which can be adjusted to hold the bass at the player’s preferred height This split-screen view shows the two strap pins, one on the end of the body and another towards the neck. The strap can be removed if playing while sitting but is essential to playing while standing. Strap Pin (End Pin)

Frets Fretboard Inlays Head-stock Neck Body The front of the neck is covered in the wooden fretboard, which is embedded with metal frets and decorative inlays (usually made of plastic, but sometimes pearl or bone). Fretboard Inlays

Head-stock Neck Body Frets Frets: Metal dividers on the fretboard; a player presses between them to produce a note By pressing down firmly between the frets, the player effectively shortens the length of the string and therefore the pitch it produces when the string is plucked. This is the core basis for how different notes can be produced on a bass guitar. From this view you can see the separation between the darker, thinner wood of the fretboard and the thicker, lighter wood that makes up the neck.

Inlays and dot markers: Head-stock Inlays Neck Body Dot Markers Inlays and dot markers: Help the player to recognize which fret they are playing on Inlays and dot markers at placed at points on the neck associated with musical scales (frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, etc.) and serves as a quick visual reference for the player.

Tuning Keys Nut Tuning Pegs Backside Head-stock Neck Body This is the headstock of the bass guitar. Nut Tuning Pegs Backside

Head-stock Neck Body The nut is often made of hard nylon or plastic, but sometimes of natural materials like bone. If measured or cut improperly the nut can cause serious problems with the intonation of the strings, and may need to be adjusted or replaced. Nut: A slotted hard piece at the end of the neck that holds the strings in place to determine their spacing and height above the first fret

Tuning Keys Head-stock Neck Body Turning a tuning key will turn the peg, and tighten or loosen the string wound around it, allowing the player to adjust (tune) the pitch of the sting Notice how each string has its own tuning peg (which the string is wound tightly around) and tuning key for adjustments. Tuning Pegs

Head-stock Neck Body Tuning Gears: From the back you can see how the tuning keys can be turned to engage the gears and turn the tuning pegs Front

(Or use the menu to keep exploring) Head-stock Neck Body End of Tour (Or use the menu to keep exploring)