Bridge (instrument)

A bridge is the part of a guitar, bass or other stringed instrument where the strings join the body of the instrument. There are many different guitar bridge designs, some of which are fairly cumbersome. However, many benefit from modern design, manufacturing techniques, and materials.

Related Topics:
Guitar - Bass - Stringed instrument - Strings

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Bridges for electric instruments can be divided into two main groups, "tremolo" and "non-tremolo" (also called hardtail). Tremolo bridges have an arm (called the tremolo or whammy bar) that extends from below the string anchoring point. It acts as a lever that the player can push onto strings to change the tension and, as a result, the pitch. On the other hand, non-tremolo bridges supply an anchoring point for the strings but provide no active control over string tension or pitch.

Related Topics:
Tremolo - Lever - Tension - Pitch

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Both bridges have advantages, depending on the playing style, but in general, a non-tremolo bridge is thought to provide better tuning stability and a solid contact between the guitar body and the strings.

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