How do you make your guitar stings closer to the neck?

Answer 1

The strings are held away from the neck by the nut (top) Bridge (on the body) and the shape of the neck. http://www.guitars2go.co.uk/ assuming the nut and bridge are ok the truss rod alters the shape of the neck, concave or convex. the shape is determined by how tight the truss rod is and the thickness of strings you are using. Thick strings will pull the strings away from the neck (8's or 11's) and thin strings will allow the strings to get closer to the neck. If you change your string type you need to alter the truss rod accordingly. New electric Guitars are normally sold with 9's. The opposite problem to strings too far away from the neck and slow playability is strings too close and the guitar strings zinging ( nice use of onomatopear : need to ask the question horw to spell that word. Further : Fender guitars allow you alter the way the neck sits on the body, so you have 5 methods to alter string height. Be really careful about altering the bridge because you may alter the intonation and that's a pain to sort

Answer 2

There are a few ways to approach this depending on what you want the result to be.

To lower the action down towards the body of the guitar, adjust the bridge.

Many electric guitars have screws on the bridge to adjust the string height. Accoustic guitar bridges often have a small piece which the strings ride on which can be removed. You can remove this piece and file down the back (not the face) with some light sandpaper to lower the string height.

To lower the action up towards the headstock. You can remove the nut (the small plastic or ivory piece the strings ride on at the top of the fretboard) and file the back of it.

You can also adjust the curvature of the neck by adjusting the truss rod. Tightening the trussrod straightens the neck and loosening it allows it to bend into the pull of the strings. This can have a profound effect on your guitar, but the inexperienced should not attempt it without guidance as the guitar neck can be permanently damaged by over-adjusting the truss-rod.

Note: Never adjust the truss rod more than 1/2 of a turn without giving the neck a week or more to "settle".

Answer 3

A capo is a device used on the neck of a stringed (typically fretted) instrument to shorten the playable length of the strings, hence raising the pitch.