How to Draw a Guitar

Learning how to draw a guitar can be a fun and rewarding experience for both beginning and experienced artists. With some basic knowledge of guitar anatomy and a step-by-step approach, anyone can learn to sketch an acoustic or electric guitar.

In this comprehensive guide, we will cover everything you need to know to start drawing realistic and stylistic guitar illustrations, from the basic shape to intricate details like strings and frets. Whether you want to add a guitar drawing to your song lyrics, design band merchandise, or simply improve your artistic skills — grab a pencil and let’s get started!

Step 1: Sketch the Basic Guitar Shape

When drawing a guitar, it’s best to start with light, basic shapes. This will allow you to lay down the foundations before adding finer details.

Begin by sketching an elongated oval or ‘egg’ shape for the guitar body, and a long, thin oval for the neck. The body shape should be slightly wider on the lower side — closest to where you will add the bridge later on. At the top of the neck, draw a small circle for the headstock.

Once you are happy with the balance and proportions, very lightly sketch in the ‘waist’ of the guitar body to give it more shape. The slimmest part is usually around the 22nd fret.

Step 2: Add the Tuning Keys and Bridge

Most acoustic and electric guitars have six strings, so you want to include all six tuning keys on the headstock. Draw six small, elongated teardrop or leaf shapes in a row, pointing towards the neck.

At the lower end of the guitar body, sketch a trapezoid or small rectangle for the bridge. This is where the strings will end on the body. Make sure to leave enough space for the soundhole (on an acoustic) or pickups (on an electric).

Step 3: Draw the Neck and Frets

The neck of the guitar extends from the headstock to where it joins the body. Lightly sketch a long rectangle for the fingerboard, getting slightly wider as it meets the body. Then, draw vertical lines across the width of the neck to map out the frets — thin metal strips place at intervals along the fretboard.

A typical guitar has around 20 frets, but you can opt for more or less depending on the style of your drawing. Space them roughly equally apart. The areas between the frets are where guitarists press down the strings to make chords and notes.

Step 4: Add the Soundhole and Pickups

If you are drawing an acoustic guitar, sketch a large circle between the end of the neck and bridge for the soundhole. This is where the sound resonates from within the hollow body.

For an electric guitar, lightly draw two small oblong shapes instead of the soundhole. These represent the pickups — magnets that pick up and amplify the vibration of the guitar strings.

Step 5: Draw the Strings

To add guitar strings, very lightly sketch six parallel lines that span from the tuning keys on the headstock to the bridge. Make sure they are straight and evenly spaced. The strings should extend slightly beyond the bridge.

Later on, you can go over the string lines in a darker pencil to make them more defined. For a realistic look, draw the two bass strings (top and bottom) slightly thicker than the rest.

Step 6: Add Shading and Details

Once the basic shape and features are mapped out, you can start refining your guitar drawing. If using pencil, shade the areas of shadow lightly with the side of the pencil tip. The shadows on the body will give the impression of roundness and depth.

Add details like the tuning pegs, knobs, pickup selector switch (on an electric guitar), and fine patterns or textures to make your drawing more realistic. You can also erase stray sketch marks and darken key outlines.

Some elements like strings, fret wire, and knobs may need to be drawn with the tip of a fine liner for precision. For a more artistic rendition, you can skip some details and keep the shading minimalist.

Advanced Techniques

When you are comfortable with the basics, experiment with different poses, angles, perspectives, and playing positions. Some advanced techniques include:

• Foreshortening — Drawing the guitar at an angle to give the illusion of depth. The nearer parts appear larger.
• Two-point perspective — Adding a sense of space by making the guitar’s lines converge at two vanishing points on the horizon.
• Motion blur — Suggesting movement of a guitarist’s fingers with blurred or exaggerated shapes.
• Cross-hatching — Adding tone and texture with intersecting pencil hatch lines.

With practice over time and observation of reference images, your guitar drawing abilities will continue to improve. The most important thing is enjoying the creative process — have fun with it!

5 FAQs about Drawing Guitars

1. Should I draw light construction lines first?

Yes, it’s advisable to start with light, basic shapes and lines when drawing a guitar. This allows you to map out the proportions accurately before adding details. Heavy or dark lines early on can make the sketch look rigid.

2. What pencil grade should I use?

An HB or №2 pencil is ideal for sketching guitars. The soft but firm lead allows you to create light guidelines as well as dark outlines and shading when required. Have a kneaded eraser on hand too.

3. How do I know where to place the frets?

As a guide, the frets are usually placed in increments of 1/2 inch along the neck. For most guitars that’s around 20 frets, but feel free to adjust their placement to suit your drawing style.

4. Should I draw each string individually?

It’s not 100% necessary if doing a quick sketch. You can simply draw parallel lines to represent the strings. But if you want a highly realistic drawing, taking the time to add each string can make a difference.

5. What reference materials help when drawing guitars?

Having actual guitars to observe is ideal, but photos are the next best option. Study images of different guitar makes and models from multiple angles. Tracing from references also helps develop your skills.

Conclusion

Learning to draw guitars opens up an exciting creative avenue for blending music and visual art. With some patience and the techniques covered in this guide, anyone can progress from rough sketches to realistically rendered illustrations.

Start with the fundamental shapes, build up an understanding of proportion and placement, and then increase precision as you gain confidence. Pay attention to perspective and composition for more dynamic results. Most importantly, enjoy the process and find inspiration from the guitars you love. Pick up a pencil and start strumming away!