With acoustic guitars especially, the non-electric type, different species of wood are important in terms of the sound quality. For the body of a guitar, makers typically use:
Top (sound board-the most important part) Spruce or cedar
Back and sides Mahogany, alder, ash, or walnut
Neck Maple, mahogany, koa, rosewood*
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia_koa
*Rosewood has been under some controversy; it provides the best sound in a guitar, but there has been concern about over-use and whether sales should be banned:
https://www.npr.org/2019/08/27/754509680/musical-instruments-to-be-exempt-from-restrictions-on-heavily-trafficked-rosewoo?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=news
The neck is either hand-carved or cut using a computer-programmed cutter.
Parts of guitars are largely the same, electric/acoustic
The steps in making a guitar:
1. Cut the top and back
2. Cut sound hole or holes in the top. A sort of reinforcing cord is applied at the rim of the cutout. A pick guard may or may not be applied. This is, as you probably guessed, to protect the body of the guitar from being scratched by the pick you hold to strum the guitar, as well as dirt from the fingers like body oils or sweat..
3. Steam the sides to make them pliable, shape them, and let them dry in a mold so they hold the curved shape
4. Attach the sides with bracing to make a strong connection
5. Attach the neck, including the fingerboard and frets
-if the guitar will have steel strings, a metal piece called a truss is fitted underneath the fingerboard for strength
6. Attach the strings after filing grooves and adjusting the truss rod
The finish that coats the guitar will affect its tone. One choice, nitrocellulose is more flexible so allows a better sound. Another, polyurethane is also used often. Both finishes are applied with multiple coats.
Electric guitars are also made of wood, but usually painted colors rather than just clear-coated. Their construction is very similar to acoustic guitars.
The sides are held in place while the glue dries
The strings on a guitar must be 'tuned' by loosening or tightening the strings by using the tuning pegs. A tuning 'fork' or pitchpipe can be used, or you can tune to another instrument that's correctly tuned.
Here someone shows how to tune a guitar:
To play a guitar, some people simply use their fingers. Others use picks held with the thumb and first finger like these:
Others use picks that they 'wear' on their fingers:
Check out these unique guitars:
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=+acoustic+guitar+solo&&view=detail&mid=0C91CA1525A35973C3880C91CA1525A35973C388&&FORM=VRDGAR
There are other kinds of guitars as well: A 'Hawaiian lap steel guitar" looks like this, has a distinctively different sound, and is played laid across the artist's lap:
Mariachi bands include a regular sized acoustic guitar plus a large guitarron, or bass guitar That guitar is much larger than a traditional guitar, and bows out in the back. If you see a guitarron player and wonder why he seems to hold the guitar awkwardly, it's because it can't lay against his body like a normal guitar. Learn a little about Mariachi bands here:
https://www.tripsavvy.com/mexican-mariachi-music-1588856
There are other kinds of guitars as well: A 'Hawaiian lap steel guitar" looks like this, has a distinctively different sound, and is played laid across the artist's lap:
Mariachi bands include a regular sized acoustic guitar plus a large guitarron, or bass guitar That guitar is much larger than a traditional guitar, and bows out in the back. If you see a guitarron player and wonder why he seems to hold the guitar awkwardly, it's because it can't lay against his body like a normal guitar. Learn a little about Mariachi bands here:
https://www.tripsavvy.com/mexican-mariachi-music-1588856
Here is a video from the Taylor Guitar Company, one of the largest guitar makers in the U.S., on their process:
And that's how it's made, Guitar Version.
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