The guitar is most commonly fitted with six strings, and the neck of the instrument is usually fretted. Generally speaking the guitar is played with both hands by strumming or plucking the strings with one hand, and simultaneously pressing the strings against the frets (so as to alter the pitch of the sound) by the other hand.

Both acoustic and electric versions of the guitar exist; the sound of the former projects the sound of its vibrating strings by means of a hollow chamber, while the latter employs pickups and an amplifier to create the sound.

This musical instrument is a member of the chordophone family, and is traditionally constructed from wood with strings made from catgut, nylon or steel. Historically the guitar has many ancestors such as the vihuela and lute, and can ultimately be traced back the Persian "Tanbur" 3500 years ago.