The Bridges of a Guitar – A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding Guitar Bridges
Aspiring guitarists across the world want to learn how to play the instrument and become proficient in their musical style. Among the essential components of a guitar, bridges not only influence the overall sound quality of the instrument but also determine how easy or difficult it is to play. Let’s take a look at the most common types of guitar bridges, and how they influence sound and playability.
A guitar has two essential parts – a fret board and a bridge. The fret board consists of the fret wire which is raised off the guitar body and secured to a truss rod, and the string nut which is located at the headstock. The strings are fed through the bridge and then over the fret wire until finally secured to the headstock. The bridge determines the spacing between the strings, called the scale length, as well as the tension of the strings, which affects the pitch.
Fixed bridges are the most common type and are most often seen on Stratocasters and Les Pauls. Those bridges are either directly mounted to the guitar body like the Stratocaster, or mounted to a metal plate on the body like the stop tailpiece of the Les Paul. The strings that run through the bridge are locked in place which allows them to be changed quickly and easily while also allowing the strings to remain in tune.
Tremolo or trem bridges are also quite common, and are commonly found on Stratocasters and some Les Pauls. Tremolos usually consist of a metal bar that is mounted to the body of the guitar and six springs which are connected to the underside of the guitar body. Players use this type of bridge to create a vibrato effect or wiggling of the strings with their right hand by pushing or pulling the arm of the guitar.
A third type is the tremolo bridge, also known as the locking tremolo. These typically consist of a metal bar that is mounted to the body of the guitar and locking posts mounted to the underside. The strings are fed through the tremolo, then locked into place by the locking posts. With these types of bridges, players are able to use either the locking mechanism or the tremolo arm to create a vibrato effect on the strings.
The fourth kind of bridge is a floating bridge, which is used on guitars such as the Tune-o-matic. These bridges have no direct contact with the guitar body except for two bolts on the tailpiece which allow them to move in response to the tension of the strings.
Finally, there is the piezo bridge, which uses electric signals instead of mechanical means to create sound. Most often found on acoustic guitars, piezo bridges require the use of an electric pick-up in order to turn the mechanical vibrations of the strings into electrical signals which can be amplified.
Understanding the various types of guitar bridges is key to unlocking the fullest potential of your instrument. With a deeper understanding of what type of bridge works best for your particular style and playing technique, you can take your guitar playing to the next level.