Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
Don't miss these
Quentin testing a Yamaha piano
Keyboards & Pianos Got a new piano or keyboard for Christmas but struggling to get started? Here's my pick of 12 accessories that will make learning easier
A PRS McCarty 594 on a hard case
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars 2026: Our pick of guitars to suit all budgets
Taylor Academy 10E
Acoustic Guitars Best acoustic guitar for beginners: Strum your first chords with our choice of beginner acoustic guitars
Close up of a Taylor GS Mini acoustic guitar lying on a wooden floor
Acoustic Guitars Best acoustic guitars 2026: Super steel string acoustics for all players and budgets
Close up of Squier Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars under $500/£500 2026: Affordable electrics
MusicRadar author Matt McCracken plays a Manson 007 electric guitar at The Guitar Show in Birmingham, UK
Guitars Here's 7 of the hottest guitar gear releases I tried at The Guitar Show this weekend that are available to buy right now
Man plays Alesis Nitro Max drum kit with black sticks
Electronic Drums Got a new e-kit for Christmas? Transform it with 15 day one upgrades that will make it sound better and play quieter
Harley Benton NAMM 2026 releases include left-handed options on its V-style electric and offset bass guitars, fresh finish options for the SC single-cuts, and new colours for its HSS S-style
Guitars Harley Benton’s 2026 mega-drop: Metallica makeovers, fresh colours and a baritone SC Custom III, all-solid acoustics for under $250 and more
A boy with brown hair playing the keyboard
Keyboards & Pianos Best keyboards for beginners: Get started with our expert pick of beginner keyboards for all ages
The Fender 75th Anniversary Telecaster collection comprises five limited edition models, including an American Professional Custom Telecaster in 2-tone Sunburst, an American Ultra II Telecaster in Liquid Gold, a Vintera Road Worn 1951 Telecaster in Butterscotch Blonde, an American Professional Classic Cabronita, and a Player II Telecaster in Diamond Dust Sparkle.
Guitars Fender celebrates 75 years of the electric guitar that started it all with limited edition collection
Deals of the week
Gear & Gadgets MusicRadar deals of the week: Save a colossal $500 off one of my favourite Sterling by Music Man guitars, grab $200 off a super cool D'Angelico, plus all the week's biggest sales on music gear
Custom Line King-12 CE NT
Acoustic Guitars "For a guitar that comes in at this price, the overall build is impressive, with a level of attention to detail that’s more than respectable": Harley Benton Custom Line King-12 CE NT review
Deals of the week
Gear & Gadgets MusicRadar deals of the week: Score $600 off one of our favourite Casio pianos, $200 off top-tier Sennheiser studio headphones, and so much more
Deals of the week logo
Tech MusicRadar deals of the week: Score $390 off a divisive Fender Stratocaster, $180 off a stunning Gretsch and hundreds off PA and live gear
Gretsch Synchromatic Flacon close up of pickguard
Electric Guitars Best Gretsch guitars 2026: Nail that Gretsch sound at any price point
More
  • Sly and Survivor
  • In My Life
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • One chord Diamond
  1. Guitars

Got a guitar for Christmas?

News
By MusicRadar Team published 25 December 2014

Here's everything you need to know to get started

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Parts of an electric guitar

Parts of an electric guitar

YouTube YouTube
Watch On
Page 1 of 15
Page 1 of 15
Types of electric guitar

Types of electric guitar

YouTube YouTube
Watch On
Page 2 of 15
Page 2 of 15
How to tune your guitar

How to tune your guitar

YouTube YouTube
Watch On
Page 3 of 15
Page 3 of 15
How to re-string an electric guitar

How to re-string an electric guitar

YouTube YouTube
Watch On
Page 4 of 15
Page 4 of 15
Types of guitar bridge

Types of guitar bridge

YouTube YouTube
Watch On
Page 5 of 15
Page 5 of 15
Essential accessories

Essential accessories

Page 6 of 15
Page 6 of 15
How to use a capo

How to use a capo

YouTube YouTube
Watch On
Page 7 of 15
Page 7 of 15
Plectrums explained

Plectrums explained

YouTube YouTube
Watch On
Page 8 of 15
Page 8 of 15
Straps and strap locks

Straps and strap locks

YouTube YouTube
Watch On
Page 9 of 15
Page 9 of 15
Cleaning a rosewood fingerboard

Cleaning a rosewood fingerboard

YouTube YouTube
Watch On
Page 10 of 15
Page 10 of 15
Types of amplifier

Types of amplifier

YouTube YouTube
Watch On
Page 11 of 15
Page 11 of 15
Connecting a guitar to an amplifier

Connecting a guitar to an amplifier

YouTube YouTube
Watch On
Page 12 of 15
Page 12 of 15
Amplifier controls explained

Amplifier controls explained

YouTube YouTube
Watch On
Page 13 of 15
Page 13 of 15
Achieving basic guitar tones

Achieving basic guitar tones

YouTube YouTube
Watch On
Page 14 of 15
Page 14 of 15
Effects pedals explained

Effects pedals explained

YouTube YouTube
Watch On
Page 15 of 15
Page 15 of 15
MusicRadar Team
MusicRadar Team
Social Links Navigation

MusicRadar is the number 1 website for music makers of all kinds, be they guitarists, drummers, keyboard players, djs or producers...

  • GEAR: We help musicians find the best gear with top-ranking gear round-ups and high- quality, authoritative reviews by a wide team of highly experienced experts.
  • TIPS: We also provide tuition, from bite-sized tips to advanced work-outs and guidance from recognised musicians and stars.
  • STARS: We talk to musicians and stars about their creative processes, and the nuts and bolts of their gear and technique. We give fans an insight into the actual craft of music making that no other music website can.
Read more
Quentin testing a Yamaha piano
Keyboards & Pianos Got a new piano or keyboard for Christmas but struggling to get started? Here's my pick of 12 accessories that will make learning easier
 
 
A PRS McCarty 594 on a hard case
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars 2026: Our pick of guitars to suit all budgets
 
 
Taylor Academy 10E
Acoustic Guitars Best acoustic guitar for beginners: Strum your first chords with our choice of beginner acoustic guitars
 
 
Close up of a Taylor GS Mini acoustic guitar lying on a wooden floor
Acoustic Guitars Best acoustic guitars 2026: Super steel string acoustics for all players and budgets
 
 
Close up of Squier Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars under $500/£500 2026: Affordable electrics
 
 
MusicRadar author Matt McCracken plays a Manson 007 electric guitar at The Guitar Show in Birmingham, UK
Guitars Here's 7 of the hottest guitar gear releases I tried at The Guitar Show this weekend that are available to buy right now
 
 
Latest in Guitars
The Fender 75th Anniversary Telecaster collection comprises five limited edition models, including an American Professional Custom Telecaster in 2-tone Sunburst, an American Ultra II Telecaster in Liquid Gold, a Vintera Road Worn 1951 Telecaster in Butterscotch Blonde, an American Professional Classic Cabronita, and a Player II Telecaster in Diamond Dust Sparkle.
Guitars Fender celebrates 75 years of the electric guitar that started it all with limited edition collection
 
 
Derek Trucks [left] plays his Dickey Betts SG live onstage; [right] a portrait close-up of Jerry Garcia's Tiger guitar, which recently sold for $11,560,000.
Artists Derek Trucks reveals what it’s like to play Jerry Garcia’s record-breaking $11.6mn Tiger guitar
 
 
Melissa Auf der Maur and Courtney Love in 1998
Bass Guitars “It took me one second to understand that she's a survivor”: Melissa Auf der Maur on why she’s “proud” of Courtney Love
 
 
AUSTIN, TX - DECEMBER 09:  Displayed in public for the first time is John Lennon's piano, used to write numerous Beatles songs and part of Indianapolis Colts CEO and Owner Jim Irsay's "Jim Irsay Collection" during a reception at the Four Seasons Hotel on December 9, 2021 in Austin, Texas.  (Photo by Gary Miller/Getty Images)
Keyboards & Pianos "Lot after lot, we felt like we were making history”: John Lennon’s Broadway piano goes for £2.5 million
 
 
JHS Pedals 424 Gain Stage: this computer-gray stompbox is a preamp-cum-distortion that emulates the analogue mojo of the Tascam Portastudio
Guitar Pedals “There’s plenty of output to use the pedal as a conventional boost with tonal options. And there’s a whole area of dirt to be explored”: JHS Pedals 424 Gain Stage review
 
 
The Harley Benton SpaceShip 40 is a pedalboard with an integrated power supply, and battery power.
Pedalboards “Would I take this to gigs and use it with confidence, knowing that my pedals are being powered sufficiently and safely? Absolutely”: Harley Benton Spaceship Power 40-B review
 
 
Latest in News
Roland Melody Flip AI plugin
Tech Roland unveils its first generative AI tool, Melody Flip
 
 
chatdsp
Tech "I knew this device would be controversial": ChatDSP generates instruments and effects in Max for Live from text prompts
 
 
Vinnie Vincent Invasion logo
Guitarists Would you buy “one of the greatest rock albums of all time” from this man for $2 million?
 
 
UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 20:  EARLS COURT  Photo of Mark RONSON and Amy WINEHOUSE, Mark Ronson performing on stage with Amy Winehouse, twin necked guitar  (Photo by JMEnternational/Redferns)
Artists "She had no filter": Mark Ronson explains what made Amy Winehouse such a great musical collaborator
 
 
The Fender 75th Anniversary Telecaster collection comprises five limited edition models, including an American Professional Custom Telecaster in 2-tone Sunburst, an American Ultra II Telecaster in Liquid Gold, a Vintera Road Worn 1951 Telecaster in Butterscotch Blonde, an American Professional Classic Cabronita, and a Player II Telecaster in Diamond Dust Sparkle.
Guitars Fender celebrates 75 years of the electric guitar that started it all with limited edition collection
 
 
A display with exclusive edition vinyl's for Taylor Swift's new album, Life of a Showgirl
Music Industry “Fans are consuming music in more ways than ever”: US vinyl sales hit $1 billion for the first time since 1983
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...