sähkökitara

Sähkökitara, or electric guitar, is a stringed instrument that uses a pickup to convert the vibration of its strings into electrical signals. These signals are then amplified by a guitar amplifier, producing a sound that can be significantly louder and more versatile than that of an acoustic guitar. The invention of the electric guitar in the late 1930s revolutionized music, particularly genres like blues, jazz, rock and roll, and later, heavy metal.

The basic components of an electric guitar include the body, neck, fretboard, strings, pickups, bridge, tuners, and controls. The body typically houses the electronics and bridge. The neck, usually made of wood, is attached to the body and features a fretboard with frets that allow the player to change the pitch of the strings. Pickups, made of magnets and wire coils, are positioned beneath the strings. When the strings vibrate, they induce an electrical current in the coils. The bridge anchors the strings and can affect sustain and intonation. Tuners, located on the headstock, are used to adjust string tension and thus tune the instrument. Controls, usually knobs and switches, allow the player to adjust the volume and tone of the amplified sound, as well as select different pickup combinations.

Electric guitars come in various shapes and sizes, with different wood types and pickup configurations influencing their tone and playability. Solid-body guitars, like the Fender Stratocaster and Gibson Les Paul, are the most common and are known for their sustain and resistance to feedback. Semi-hollow body and hollow-body electric guitars, while less common for rock music, are favored in jazz and blues for their warmer, more resonant tones. The versatility and expressive capabilities of the sähkökitara have made it a central instrument in countless musical styles worldwide.