Headstocks
Guitar headstocks come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Most guitars have either 6 tuners in a row or 3 per side. This part of the guide shows you the most common headstock variations.
6 Tuners in a row
Fender guitars are made with 6 tuning pegs in a row like the Stratocaster headstock shown here
3 Tuners per side
This Gibson Les Paul has 3 tuners per side. Most Gibson guitars have this tuner configuration
Reverse Headstock
This Jackson guitar features 6 tuners in a row on a reverse headstock
4 And 2 Tuners Per Side
Occasionally a manufacturer tries something different with 4 tuners on one side and 2 on the other
Nut
The strings slot into grooves which keep the strings in place. The nut can be made of plastic, metal, graphite amongst others
Tuners/Tuning Pegs
The tuning pegs are turned which either tighten or loosen the strings therefore allowing the guitar to be tuned
Locking Nut
Guitars which feature the Floyd Rose tremolo systems are equipped with a locking nut. This is where the strings are clamped down with 3 bolts via an allen key. Read our guide on Tremelo’s and bridges for more information
Roller Nut
Some guitars have metal nuts called roller nuts. These are often found on higher end guitars. This kind of nut is used as it helps with tuning stability