The Voice Of An Electric Guitar

By Victor Epand

Acoustic guitars and electric guitars sound quite different to each other, and even a non player can tell the difference by listening to each being played, and identify which is which. The reason for this difference in sound and tone is due to the way in which the sound is actually created by the guitar itself. Although both acoustic guitars and electric guitars look very similar in many ways - they both have a curved body, a long neck and a number of strings, and in fact the way in which they are played is very similar, the actual method used to produce the sound is completely different.

Acoustic guitars generate sound by using the hollow chamber of the body of the guitar to reverberate the vibration of the string. In other words, a string is plucked, the this sets up a vibration. The air around the string vibrates, and pulses, this is then amplified in a natural way by the body of air held inside the body of the guitar. Having this uniquely shaped body chamber allows the sound of the string to be amplified and given a tone and feel which sounds delightful and carries very well.

Electric guitars don't generally have a hollow body - although there are some that do. The reason for having a solid body is simply because the amplification is entirely electric, and there is no need or use for air to be used in creating or amplifying the note. Instead, rather than using the air to vibrate and create the note, it is the physical movement of the string which interacts with a series of small magnets which creates the note. The metal strings vibrating near the small magnets, known as pickups, actually create a small electric charge - a little like a motor. This electric charge is detected, and sent to the external amplifier, which greatly increases and boosts the signal, creating the note we hear. Without an electrical amplifier the electric guitar actually sounds rather feeble.

Of course, using an external amplifier which magnifies the electrical signal also allows the player to play around with the electrical signal in such a way that a whole variety of effects can be created, drastically altering the voice of the guitar. In many ways the voice of an electric guitar is creating externally from the instrument itself, whereas an acoustic guitar's voice is generated through the overall shape and design of the instrument, and little, or nothing, affects this externally.

Some of the more popular effects created and used by those who play electric guitars include a stereo chorus, creating the impression of accompanying instruments or players, fuzz, which is a type of distortion, wah-wah, which creates an almost nasal quality to the sound, and a very rich note, and flanging, which is a pitch distortion effect. Additional, the sustain of the note can be changed greatly, as well as the reverberation of the sound and any delay. All of these effects can be included for a brief period during the song, or as an overall general effect included as the standard voice of the guitar and its player.